the stuff here, and someday you’re going to be this successful artist. I don’t want some random dude at your side; it should be me, the one who’s seen all your drafts, your experimentation, your evolution. I’m the one who understands, and I want to be in it. Part of the action, supporting you however you need. I want to stay in your orbit.”
It’s so much, so sudden, and I don’t know what to do. My heart wants to trust what he’s saying, but my head says no. “I need time, Matt, to figure this out. We just broke up, and I’m trying to understand how I feel. Because, to be honest, I’m not sure I can be just friends with you. I like the idea, but it’s too soon. I need to do stuff on my own for a while, you know?” I feel breathless, light-headed, letting it all out before I change my mind.
He frowns but then pinches his mouth in acceptance. “I don’t, but I want you to be happy.” He leans in, kissing my forehead lightly, heat spreading from his lips. “I’ll disappear if you want—” But before he can finish his sentence, the lights flicker, and the entire room descends into darkness. A few screams ring out, and Matt steps closer to me, our arms touching. It’s pitch-black, my eyes yet to adjust, but I look up to where he is just the same, knowing his hero senses are probably on hyper alert.
The TV screens throughout the gallery flick back on, only this time they’re not showing pretty images of glitter and sparkly jewelry. A man wearing a black helmet that hides his entire head flashes onto the screens. An uneasy murmur ripples through the crowd. He doesn’t move, staring at us all from many vantage points, and after a few seconds that feel like years, he speaks, though his voice is distorted.
“Warrior Nation, your time has come to an end,” he threatens, in a strange, robotic voice. “Your powers shall no longer reign supreme. Surrender your capes, or the siege will continue.” The longer I stare at his image, the more I realize it’s not the first time I’ve seen this villain in black. That weird voice, the huge helmet…he was at my kidnapping!
“Matt!” I whisper-screech, reaching for him in the dark. “I know that guy! He was there, at the warehouse where I was kidnapped! He had some other lackeys with him, and Claire thought maybe he was their leader!”
My eyes finally adjusting to the dark, I see him nod in recognition. “We don’t know who he is, though,” he says, worried. “I, um…haven’t been able to sleep, so I’ve been digging around HQ for more information on all of this. There’s no record of him. He’s the only guy in this siege we haven’t been able to identify. I’m going to keep looking—”
The screens cut to black, but the show isn’t over, because spraying from the vents above is a white vapor that descends over us with terrifying efficiency.
“It’s poisonous gas!” someone screams, and the room erupts, everyone pushing and shoving to get to the front door. Matt picks me up and throws me over his shoulder, quickly darting in the other direction to find a less congested exit. I hold on to him as he moves through the panicked throng, glasses breaking as tables flip over and artwork is forever ruined.
“Hold your breath!” he demands as the vapor reaches the middle of the room. I fill my lungs and pinch my mouth shut, eyes starting to sting from whatever is trying to kill us. Using his shoulder, Matt opens a back door, setting me down on the concrete in the alley. “Are you okay?” he exhales, out of breath, running a hand through my hair.
I nod, taking some deep breaths, and then he removes his suit jacket and covers his face, diving back into the poisoned room to help others get to safety. With his help, several more people join me on the ground, each of us awkwardly sitting in our cocktail attire. Finally, when the gallery is cleared, Matt flops down beside me, hair sweaty and eyes red.
“Breathe,” I tell him, placing a hand on his chest, feeling it rise and fall. He saved me—again—but I can tell these back-to-back rescues are wearing on him. Normally, he’d be working the crowd, posing for pictures and making dumb puns like “Well, that was a gas!” or something, but instead he just