and made more trips to the emergency room than the average person does in their entire life. I know—logically—this pattern of drama and danger will go on until the end of time, yet a piece of my heart still hopes Matt and I can make it to a place where the world isn’t always on fire. Where we can just be, together. It’s a pointless dream that will never come true, but I’m still having trouble letting it flame out.
“At some point, Bridgette, you’ll need to ask yourself what you want more.”
Just then, the front door opens, and my classmate Jilly comes walking in, wearing a blazer and holding her portfolio. She gives me a wide grin, a bit of coral lipstick smudged on her teeth.
“Hi, Bridgette!” She beams. “Nice to see you!”
“Hey…” I return, wondering why she’s here so early in the morning. And so professionally attired.
“Jilly, wonderful. Right on time.” Terese nods, ushering her past me. “Let’s head back to my office and we’ll get you started.” She gives me one last pitying look, then turns on her heel.
Jilly clasps my arm before following. “Wish me luck! It’s my first day. I never would’ve gotten this job if it wasn’t for your event! Thanks, girl!” She skips off, happily taking the role that should have been mine, leaving me with my mouth hanging open in shock.
Jilly got the job? Jilly, who up until very recently didn’t know the difference between acrylic and watercolor paint? Art isn’t even her major; she was only taking a few classes for fun. Why would Terese hire her? Why? Don’t get me wrong, Jilly is a sweet girl, but she doesn’t have the kind of drive or passion I do for this field. She doesn’t spend all of her free time at the Museum of Contemporary Art or dream about owning an art gallery one day. She once told me she’s not sure what she wants to be when she grows up, and she’s twenty-one!
I storm out, sunshine smacking me in the face, though a rain cloud would be more appropriate. I speed-walk through the River North neighborhood, upscale bridal shops and trendy taco bars in my peripheral view. It’s not fair…it’s not fair! repeats the voice in my head, stuck on this true but pointless thought. The world doesn’t care about fairness. Ask any innocent person who found themselves at the wrong place at the wrong time when a villain chose to attack. It’s never fair that bystanders get caught in the cross fire, but it happens all the time. They are victims.
I am done with being a victim.
Do you have superpowers?
Can you fly, fight, or fend off enemy advances?
Have you auditioned for Warrior Nation only to be rejected?
Do you want to do more with your gifts?
We want to talk to you.
TEDDY’S INSTRUCTIONS DON’T MAKE ANY SENSE.
I’m standing in the alley behind the Chicago Theatre, looking for yet another HQ entrance. According to the secure email Teddy sent me at five a.m., I have to use a separate entrance every time I come to work, so as not to draw the attention of people in the area. But this plan has already epically failed, because a teenager on the verge of a panic attack searching for a hidden door screams SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR!
Gah, 8:55! I cannot be late on my first real day! I reread his email for the forty-seventh time:
Entrance 9: Chicago Theatre
Pass box office, turn into alley. Walk exactly 63 steps.
Press hand into door.
Either I take non-average-size steps, or his directions are wrong, because I’m currently standing between two different yet almost identical metal doors, and touching my hand to both of them has produced zero results. I’ve rubbed my fingerprints all over these rusty rectangles! Just open up already! Teddy didn’t give me a number to call, and I’m sure Millie would look down on me for tardiness.
Well, not literally. But still! Not good!
I lean up against the second of the two, head banging on the metal surface. What would Blue Streak do? I think. He definitely wouldn’t admit defeat, especially after spending an hour putting on makeup and getting all dressed up in a skirt and tights. No! I make a fist, punching the door behind me, and hear a faint click. Turning around, I notice a small crack in the entrance. Aha! Yes! Prying it open, I slide inside, finding myself in an incredibly small room, not unlike the one at the bottom of the slide. Only this