was going to die.
I screamed and tried harder. The power box exploded and the current of energy siphoned into me. I collected it and then let it out in a contained explosion to keep from hurting my team.
The creatures exploded, bits of fur, meat, blood, and electronics raining down.
“Lucy!” Hurricane yelled as he ran to me. He dragged me out from under the creatures’ debris.
I smiled. “Drinks are on you tonight.”
He plucked a shard of metal from my cheek making me wince. “Fair enough.”
Cobalt stood over me with his arms crossed. “You’re not supposed to purposefully destroy property.”
Hurricane’s jaw clenched. He stood, faced Cobalt, and punched him right on the nose.
Blood sprayed, bones crunched, and Cobalt wailed.
“You alright?” Crystal Woman asked as she knelt by me. “Medics are en route.”
“Can I call you Crystal?” I asked. “Or CW?”
She smiled. “You can call me whatever you want, as long as it’s not late for dinner.”
I laughed and then grimaced and closed my eyes against the pain.
“I don’t envy you for all the interviews you’re going to have to do after this,” she said and tapped my forehead until I opened my eyes again.
“I didn’t even get to do any from the last battle yet.”
She whistled. “We probably won’t see you for the next month at least.”
“I should make you come with me,” I threatened.
“She still conscious?” Hurricane asked and squatted by me.
“Barely,” I answered.
A helicopter landed near us and the wind blew dust into my face.
Hurricane covered my eyes with his hand. “Keep your eyes closed, but stay conscious, okay?”
“You’re kind of bossy,” I teased.
“Violet Strike, can you hear me?” a woman asked.
“Yes.”
“We’re going to put you on a stretcher, okay?” she said.
“Yeah, my spine is fine. I’m just cut up a bit,” I said and tried to smile.
“A bit.” Hurricane scoffed.
“Will you ride with me?” I asked and opened my eyes to look at him, but his hand still covered them.
“Close your eyes. Yes, I will,” he answered.
“Sir, that’s not—” the medic started to protest.
“Either she shocks me while we’re flying or she’s going to electrocute you and the helicopter, likely causing it to crash. Which would you prefer?” He asked.
“Let’s go,” another woman said.
My body levitated off the ground and onto a hard surface—the backboard.
Hurricane kept his hand over my eyes all the way into the helicopter. Once seated, he removed it and then slipped his hand into mine where it lay on my stomach.
I smiled weakly at him and closed my eyes. Maybe I should have said something, but my mind was getting fuzzier by the second.
“Violet Strike?” the medic asked.
I tried to respond, but my lips felt swollen and too large.
“Lucy?” Hurricane asked. “Can you open your eyes?”
I tried. I really did.
Hands touched me in several spots.
“Step back,” Hurricane snapped.
“Sir! You can’t—” the medic shouted.
My ears began to ring, cotton filled my mouth, and then just as I fell into the black hole of unconsciousness, Hurricane zapped me.
I gasped, and my body arched up off the backboard.
“Come on!” Hurricane yelled. “If you die on me now, you won’t get free drinks and to talk with Vortex and me tonight.”
He shocked me again.
Warmth seeped back into my bones.
“If you open your eyes right now, I’ll punch Cobalt again.”
He zapped me so hard that my entire body zinged with energy.
My eyes flew open, and he smirked before sagging back into his seat and resting his head on my arm. “I thought that might do it.”
“I really enjoyed watching you punch him,” I whispered.
He chuckled. “I really enjoyed doing it, too.”
We landed and before I could protest, they took me away from Hurricane and into the med bay.
Hours passed before they finally finished healing me and let me go.
I took two steps out of med bay and then Hurricane scooped me up and hugged me against his chest.
“Were you waiting here this whole time?” I asked. My heart sunk at the obvious worry and care.
He raised his head and smiled. “I owe you drinks, remember? I am a man of my word.”
“Can I change first?” I asked.
We both looked down at my torn and bloodstained outfit.
He nodded and carried me to the dressing rooms. “I’ll wait right here.”
“I’ll be quick,” I promised.
Once I changed, I took a breath and grabbed my phone. Hundreds of missed calls and texts from Transistor and Austin greeted me.
The room was empty, so I called Transistor.
He didn’t answer, so I left a message. “I’m sorry I left my phone in the changing room. I’m back