Dad’s shoulder. “Okay,” he managed to say. “I’m okay with that.” His arm was hurting where it was pressed against his dad, but he didn’t care. They were all right. They were—
Then:
The cops around them shouted in warning.
Nick whirled around.
Shadow Star stood on the bridge where Nick had landed. His costume had been burned away on his right shoulder and left leg. He was breathing heavily, head bowed, blood dripping from his mouth. Behind him, cops pulled their guns, pointing them at Shadow Star, shouting at him to stand down, now! They hid behind their cruisers, some near the trunks, others behind open doors.
Their light bars were lit up, red and blue spinning.
Much like the lights on the cruisers behind Nick.
The spotlight from the helicopter was directly on him while it hovered overhead.
The shadows danced around the debris in the roadway.
Shadow Star lifted his head and looked directly at Nick. He grinned wickedly. His teeth were bloodied. Part of his helmet had broken off, and a single eye was visible. It was wide and crazed. “Well,” he said, panting. “This has certainly been exciting.”
“I am ordering you to stand down,” Cap barked into the megaphone.
Owen shook his head. “Already taken it this far, haven’t I?”
Dad tried to drag Nick back toward the line of officers, but Nick pulled away. “Nick, no. We gotta go.”
Nick looked over his shoulder, smiling tightly. “Dad, I know—it’s Owen. I can get through to him.”
Dad frowned. “Owen.” Then, “Owen Burke? Nick, what the hell?”
Nick turned back toward Owen. He raised his voice and said, “It’s over, Owen. No one else needs to get hurt.”
“Nova City is mine. I won’t let anyone take it from me.”
Nick groaned. “Man, that shtick gets old real fast. You have to know how ridiculous you sound. Legit, man. Take the high road.”
“Maybe don’t piss him off more,” Dad growled behind Nick.
Owen’s mouth twisted into a snarl. “I’m the hero. I’ve always been the hero. Just because none of you can see it doesn’t mean you can take it away from me. I’ll show you. I’ll show you all.”
He raised his hands. The shadows rose around him, taking shape, becoming corporeal again.
The police on the other edge of the bridge took aim. Without turning, Nick knew the cops behind him were doing the same.
They would slaughter one another.
Dad grabbed his good arm, trying to pull him to safety.
“No,” Nick snapped, trying to get free. “Dad, you don’t understand, he’s—”
Seth Gray landed between Nick and Owen.
His cape hung in tatters over his shoulders. His costume was shredded on his back, revealing bloodied skin. Somehow, he’d lost one of his boots, and his foot was bare. That hit Nick hard—for reasons he didn’t understand.
Seth took a limping step toward Owen. “You won’t hurt them. I won’t let you, Shadow Star.”
The shadows swirled around Owen. “You think you can stop me? There will always be darkness, no matter what you do. You can’t stop it. Not now. It’s too late. I’m going to show you what I’m truly capable of.”
Seth took another step forward as the shadows grabbed support beams and lifted them off the ground, wielding them like oversized weapons. Cap was barking into the megaphone, telling both Extraordinaries to stand down, and the cops were getting restless, barrels tracking every movement Owen and Seth made.
This wasn’t going to end well for anyone.
There will always be darkness.
This is how we burn the world.
You need to burn away the shadows.
Nick’s eyes widened. “That’s it.”
He looked up at the helicopter. The spotlight still shone.
He looked over his shoulder. The cruisers were all pointed toward them.
Same on the other side.
He spun on his heels. “Dad, you have to get all the lights on. Spotlights. Headlights. All of them.”
Dad’s brow furrowed. “What are you talking about? We’re getting you out of here now.”
Nick shook his head. “I know what I’m doing. I need you to trust me. Please. Tell Cap. All the lights. Everything you’ve got.”
Dad looked like he was going to argue, but instead, shook his head. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
Nick grinned at him. “Come on. Who do you think you’re talking to?”
Dad gave him one last look before turning back toward Cap, hospital gown billowing around him. Nick was going to give him so much crap for not putting on pants if they survived this somehow.
Owen and Seth were advancing on each other. The shadows moved like some Lovecraftian nightmare. Nick almost froze at the sight of them, but there was no time to be