“Not exactly. I mean, Matt’s been in danger plenty of times, but the other Warriors usually come to his rescue.”
“Sure, but I guess what I mean is, what does Warrior Nation do to keep you safe?”
I scratch at the back of my neck. “Um…there isn’t like a security detail or anything, unfortunately. There’s a help hotline, and we can always stay at HQ if we feel more secure there.” Though I’ve always felt like staying underground is no way to live, regardless of the circumstances.
Mary sits down next to Claire, trying to reach for her daughter, but Claire jerks away, whipping her braid over her shoulder. Her mom takes a sharp breath, swallowing down whatever it is she really wants to say. “Claire said you thought staying together would be best…. You’re welcome to stay here, if you like. It would make me feel better to know Claire is home safe.”
“Mom, no! I said we need to get back to HQ!” Claire spits. “We have stuff to do!”
“Claire,” Mary says through her teeth, clearly reaching her frustration limit. “There are professionals who can handle this.”
Claire jerks around, fire in her eyes. “Yes! ME. I’m the professional!”
“You are only seventeen! You are not a hero!” her mom shouts, the mural of Warriors from decades past staring down from above. “Do you think this is why Blue Streak saved you all these years ago, so that you could throw your life away? This is not your fight!”
“Yes it is! Why won’t you listen to me?” Claire begs, struggling to hold back tears. “Bridgette and I just stumbled onto something big, something that could put an end to all this. Right?” She looks to me for support as Mary silently begs me to back her up too.
In all my years of watching the Warriors fight, I never wanted to jump in. There’s nothing in me that feels the need to chase danger and beat it to a pulp. The only part of battle I enjoy is the end, when the villain is defeated and everyone can go home to the person they love. I crave those quiet moments, the afterglow of safety and peace. But I know all too well there is no calm unless you face the storm.
“Claire’s right,” I start as Mary shakes her head in frustration. “And trust me, I’m not looking to put us at risk.” I hold up my cast for dramatic effect. “But we can’t just stay here and hope it all works out.” Claire wipes her face, beaming at me.
“You’re both too young to be dealing with this,” Mary croaks.
“Well, so is Joy! And Matt!” Claire explains. “They’re the same age as we are.”
“But they have powers, they have…training!” her mom exclaims, not backing down from this fight.
They continue to argue as my phone buzzes with a text message from Becca:
ARE YOU WATCHING?!?!?
Huh? Watching what? I send back a “?” and she immediately sends a link to ABC 7 News, which is live-streaming a Warrior Nation update. But this is not some official organization-produced segment: There’s no branding, no upbeat theme song. The screen is black, with a line of white text that reads:
Stand by for the Fate of Your Heroes
“Oh god,” I whisper, silencing the room. Claire and Mary instantly stop bickering, jumping up to watch over my shoulder.
I can’t look away, fingers gripping the phone for dear life. What is about to happen? What are we going to see? My mind races with dark possibilities: Matt, broken and bloody, hollow eyes giving in to the fear that no one is coming to his rescue. All the Warriors gagged and tied together, an entire chapter worthless and defeated. This Siege has yet to make any demands, and literally anything could be waiting on the other side of this warning.
Suddenly the screen changes, with a close-up on a dark, familiar helmet. The camera holds on a person draped in black, instantly striking fear in my heart.
“Claire!” I yelp. “That’s him! The guy from our kidnapping!”
“That’s the person who took you?” Mary gasps, covering her mouth in horror. Then the camera pans down to a shot of Matt’s face.
I almost drop my phone.
He’s only been gone for two days, but he looks like he’s been to hell and back. Most of his mask is pulled up into his dark, sweaty hair. An eggplant-colored bruise covers his right eye, so swollen it can’t even open, as only his left stares hopelessly at the camera.