I’m here unwillingly, I had to remind myself. On any other occasion, I’d be somewhere else without these damn heroes giving me all these restrictions. It was just a different day, I guess.
The room was cold and dark. I didn’t get a good look at it when I was thrown in. There was little light. In fact, the room was pitch black and I was sure that the men who had caught us and put us in there were keeping the light out for a reason. It would make sense. That or they were too stupid to provide us with light.
I felt around the ground in the dark until I felt a wall. Using it to stand, I took a breath and closed my eyes. I’m not sure why I closed my eyes – I couldn’t see anything anyways. Nevertheless, I concentrated, trying to sense the others around me without having to tap into their minds.
The world exploded in colour a second later. I could see where everyone was. There was still no light, but I could sense their auras, the multicoloured lights radiating from them. I recognised everyone. The bright red aura was, no doubt, Claire Hamler. She was the woman who dragged me into all this. She was a flier and another hero. I sighed and navigated my way through them. John Blakely was to my right. He was a noble man, although I still didn’t like him much. I realised that I didn’t like many of the heroes.
When I reached the far wall, I felt around, searching for the crack that gave way to the door. I smirked when I found the wooden door. They aren’t very smart, I thought. Wood was clearly not the right material to make cell doors. I took a step back and kicked the door but was disappointed to find it was lined with metal. “Damn it,” I muttered.
“Blanche! I know that’s you. What the hell are you doing?” I looked around to see that the auras were starting to fade. I sighed. It would take me a while to use that power again.
“I’m not sure, Miss Hamler,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Perhaps I’m trying to escape?”
“Well it’s obviously not working.”
“Obviously.” I knelt down to check the damage I had done. The wood had broken away, and I could feel a dent in the cold metal.
“Hey, Chris, let me try.” I heard Blakely stand up and walk towards me. I couldn’t exactly place how he’d be able to try. Super speed wasn’t exactly best used in these situations.
I moved out of the way right before Blakely landed a punch on the door. I heard the wood crack and his fist dent the metal. The sound of the impact echoed in the small room. Blakely swore and tried to make his way back to where he was previously sitting. I heard a knock on the wall and grinned when I realised that it was Blakely hitting his head. “Damn it,” he swore.
“Try to be more careful next time,” I teased.
“Shut up, Blanche.” It was at times like this I wished that I could see him. I would have loved to see him in pain.
There were voices at the door. I sensed Claire tense and Blakely sit up straight. I stayed where I was, quiet and unmoving.
“They’ve stopped trying,” said a voice from outside. I smirked. Good, someone to help us escape.
A man laughed. “I figured as much. They probably gave up after hitting the metal.”
“Typical of hostages,” the first man scoffed. “We only need to keep them in there for a few more days. The ransom date is coming up.”
“Hostages,” I breathed. “That’s just brilliant.”
“So how the hell are we getting out of here?” asked Hamler.
I smirked. “Don’t worry, Miss Hamler. You needn’t do a thing. You did bring me along for a reason, didn’t you?”
“Blanche...” she started, but I was no longer listening. I focused on the people on the other side of the door. A moment later, I was in a hallway with naked light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. The hallway itself was narrow and bare and its gray walls only gave way three times -- all to wooden doors. There was a man in front of me. Tall and brooding, I was sure he was in charge. He was clean cut with dark serious eyes and an expensive suit. The man whose mind I was reading was named George Tanner and the man in front of me was Peter Graham, courtesy of Tanner, of course.
I was glad I could see them now. I knew who to control and what they had to do. I retreated from Tanner’s mind. Taking a deep breath and ignoring Hamler and Blakely, I focused on Graham. I had to start with something simple to know I had a hold of him. Mind control was a power I had only learned about recently.
You are going to hit yourself in the head, I thought, trying to send it to him. I heard a thud and smiled when I realised it was Graham. Good. Open the cell door, I sent him. Set us free. There was a sliding sound and the door opened wide. I stood up smirking at Tanner’s and Graham’s shocked faces. Graham looked as if he was confused about what he had just done. Tanner was fuming. There was a blast of air and a blur when Blakely ran past me. I heard him close all the exits and run back behind Tanner.
Hamler was already in the air, hovering behind Graham, who was just regaining his composure. I stood in front of all of them, staring Graham in the eyes, a smile on my face. I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out my gun. The Glock shone the in the artificial light.
“Hey kid,” started Blakely. “We don’t want to hurt these guys. We just want to bring them in...”
I took no notice. Of course I wanted to hurt them. People hardly ever caught me like they did without paying for it. Just as I was about to pull the trigger, Blakely ran in front of me and took it from my hand. “Damn it, Blakely. What the hell is your problem?” I glared at him, fuming.
“Seventeen-year-olds shouldn’t be playing with guns,” he said simply.
“I don’t play, Blakely. I rather think I know how to use that gun better than you do.”
Blakely narrowed his eyes. I ignored him and continued to stare down Graham. He smiled down on me as if I were a child. I saw Tanner reach into his jacket pocket, smiling as well. I tensed and felt for the knife hidden in the folds of my jacket. Hamler flew a bit higher, now towering high above Graham. Blakely was ready to move. I breathed in when I felt the hilt of my knife. It was in the back pocket. I pulled it out and hid it in my sleeve.
Tanner took out a phone and dialled a single number. Hamler looked to Blakely, confused. I expected the doors to burst open and the small corridor become filled with men with guns. Instead, Blakely reacted. He ran past me when I raised my arm. A second later, the men were gone and the doors were open. Hamler flew after Blakely. I sighed, exasperated, and followed. Halfway down the hall, I saw my gun on the ground. I smiled and picked it up. Blakely’s an ass if he thinks he can keep me away from my weapons, I thought and pocketed both the knife and gun.
I was hit by the heat once I stepped outside. There was an open alley with dark bricks and tarnished doors. The sun was shining brightly and I took a deep breath of the humid summer air. I could smell the car fumes. A typical summer in Los Angeles. Blakely and Hamler were being held by gunpoint when I saw them. Graham had Blakely by the arms and a gun to his head. Hamler was detained by Tanner. She actually looked scared for once. I smiled. “Now now, gentlemen, do we really need to shoot anyone?” I looked past the smug faces. There was a woman standing behind them with blond hair and grey eyes. She looked familiar.
“What’s a boy doing here?” she asked, smiling. “Don’t you think it’s a bit dangerous to be out on your own?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Dangerous? Please. This is mild compared to what I do on a regular basis.” It was then that I placed her. “Clara Bellandi?”
She shifted uncomfortably. “Bellandi? Where did you get that name from?”
“My mother,” I stated. “Natalia Bellandi. I believe she’s your sister.” She stared at me. Tanner and Graham exchanged glances. I forced myself not to grin. I was about to win this. “I’m right, aren’t I? These men belong to the division my grandfather gave to you when you left Sicily with my mother. She didn’t want anything to do with the Mafia. But my grandfather insisted, and before he died, he gave her all his money. You were stuck inheriting the division in Los Angeles, but none of the money. You were disappointed, weren’t you? And don’t think Mother hasn’t told me anything.”
Clara was shocked. Tanner and Graham were both confused. In the split second it took for Graham to lower his gun, Blakely made his move. He ran around the two men while Hamler flew into the sky. Tanner and Graham were both on the ground before they even realised what had happened.
I looked my aunt in the eyes and scanned her mind. I saw small parts of her life, quick flashbacks of her at a government office, changing her name, working with a tall and brooding man, the images of three men with bullet wounds to the head and two kids – a boy and a girl. “Of course it took me a second to realise who you were. You dyed your hair; you’re wearing contact lenses... And you changed your surname. Clara Sweete? Pray tell, why choose that name?” Clara stood stock still. I smirked. “I guess it doesn’t matter anymore, does it? Your soldiers know. And they’ll be in custody. What do you have to say, my dear aunt?”
“Blanche, stop the monologue.” I looked up to see Hamler.
“What?” I sneered.
“Don’t bother with her. It’s not like we can press charges.”
Blakely walked over. Tanner and Graham were both tied up. “Yeah,” he nodded. “The police are coming. You did a good job, kid.” I shook my head and turned back to Clara. She was gone.
“If you say so,” I muttered. “But I’m done. No more playing hero for a while.” Until then, I thought, I can try to figure who Xander Harle and Lexi Lawrence are.
