Chapter 3
Okay Boys, Light 'Em Up

"Where were you?" I watched Grayson jumped at my voice and spun around on his heels before relaxing at the sight of me.

"Oh, it's just you," he sighed.

"That doesn't mean you shouldn't be afraid!" I shoved him against the wall. "I'm mad, in case you haven't realized!"

"Okay- alright! I know I was late!" He put his hands up in defense as he tried to stop me from hitting him further, "Sky, you know sometimes supers-" he paused to look around to make sure no one was within hearing range, "have to deal with stuff. Even during broad daylight."

I clicked my tongue and pursed my lips. I knew he was right, so there wasn't a really big point in arguing. "Fine, next time please just send me a text or something. Can we go to lunch, now?"

"Yes, I'm starving," he grabbed my hand and let the both of us to the cafeteria.

We entered the the large room and I spotted everyone sitting at our table, including Sam.

"Who's the new kid?" Grayson asked me, turning his head.

"His name's Sam." I hissed, like his name was poison in my mouth.

"Hey, you're a superhero," Grayson nudged me as he tried to suppress a smile. "You shouldn't be going around judging people."

"You're not wrong," I mumbled, "I guess he could be a super too for all we know."

"Or Static," this time it was my boyfriend who hissed. I got a gut feeling to come clean and tell my boyfriend everything that happened yesterday, but I didn't.

"Oh! Thank goodness you guys got here!" Katrina exclaimed once she spotted us. I took a spot beside Grayson and her, right across from Sam.

"What's up?" Grayson popped the 'p', while stealing some of Noah's fries, who swatted his hand away.

"Bowling!" She cheered and clapped her hands.

"Bowling. Right," Audrey handed me my burger from across the table.

"Okay so I think we can go bowling tomorrow night," she went on, " it seems most reasonable. Also I was wondering if we should go out for supper first. Maybe get McDonald's? Oh no, never mind. I'm a vegetarian, that would never work. Okay, well maybe we don't have to eat. We could go see a movie before - or maybe after. Does after sound better? Wait, no. Maybe before because we don't know how long we'll be bowling-" she stopped and examined our faces closely and we all fidgeted under her graze.

"You guys don't want to go, do you?" She pouted.

We all screamed out some sort of protest but it was pretty obvious we were lying.

"Babe, it's okay," Noah wrapped his arm around her comfortingly. "There's always next time."

"I think we should go," I pipped, but everyone sent me a look warning me not to speak, so I shrunk back into my seat.

"I think Skylar's right," Sam butted in. "You guys should try it."

We all shared  a look.

"I guess it won't hurt," Noah said, breaking the silence. "You can come too."

"Are you sure?" He asked hesitantly.

"Yes! Come! The more the merrier!" Katrina practically screamed and I frowned at her reaction. She really needs to take chill pill one of these days.

"If you guys insist," he shrugged and we continued to eat as Katrina blabbed on about her magnificent plans.

***

I watched as Audrey- no, sorry. I watched as Luna tried to break up a fight between two girls. I think they were fighting over a boy or something, not that I really wanted to know the details.

I kept my distance and tried not disturb the peace my friend had somehow miraculously made, and watched from where I stood.

I heard something behind me so I whipped around and catch a glimpse of a shadow turning the corner. I glanced back at Luna who seemed to have everything under control, and so I stated off in the direction I saw the shadow.

As I turned the corner, a hand found its way over my mouth, muffling my scream. I thrashed against the arm but it didn't budge.

"Shut up, will you?"

I recognized the deep voice and relax slightly,  just as he loosened his grip on me and I pulled away.

"Was that necessary?" I scowled at his behavior.

Static gained at me. "No, but It was fun."

I placed my hands on my hips. "What are you doing here?" I demanded and motioned to where my friend stood, fighting crime..

"Hey, is it a crime to come visit you?" he questioned in a smart-ass manner.

"No, but it doesn't change the fact that you're a criminal," I pointed out.

"Technically I'm not a criminal because I haven't committed any crimes. People just hate me." He retorted.

I rolled my eyes. "Could you just tell me what you're doing here so I can get back to work?" I waved my hand in the direction of Luna.

"No you can't," he said with another cocky smile, "because in case you've already forgotten, you're supposed to help me figure out who's been framing me."

"Right," I said and paused. "How do you expect we do that then?"

"I've been studying his past crimes, or should I say my past crimes, and realized he's been targeting public figures." He took the liberty to lean against the wall.

"How so?" I questioned.

"Yesterday he set Mayor Mark's house on fire. Two days before that he robbed the bank and stole money from Patricia Harland's account. A week ago he threw a car into the general hospital during Doctor Smith's shift, and in his wing."

"Not all of these have to do with a certain person," I reasoned, "maybe he just wanted to cause trouble."

"You may be right, but I have a gut feeling he's going to attack Sherif Gunner next."

"So what do you want us to do?" I there my arms up in annoyance, "show up and wait for him?"

"No," he scoffed, "Well, I mean, we might have to, actually." He scratched the back of his neck.

I sighed, because I had a feeling his plan would backfire. "Whatever you say, boss."

He smirked at me. "Alright, let's get going then." He then wrapped his arms around my torso tightly, causing me to yelp. We were then flying upwards in the night sky, up into the air.

"You can fly?" I exclaimed with wide eyes, causing him to laugh.

"Obviously." he shouted over the wind.

I started to relax in his arms a bit. If we were going to fly then I was going to at least enjoy it. I closed my eyes and let the wind blow over my face, and I broke out into a smile.

"You like flying?" Static broke me out of my trance

"I love it."

We continued to fly in the direction of the police station and it soon came into view. Static slowed down and landed at the back of the building and finally let go of me.

"Okay, so what's the plan?" I asked him.

Static fixed his mask. "I guess we just wait and see if he'll show up."

We found a spot sit about fifty feet away from the station, in a big bush beside the maintained parking lot. I let out a ragged  breath and cross my legs.

"How do you know this villain is a guy?"  I turned my body so that I could face Static, whose face glistened in the dim light.

"I don't," he told me simply, "I'm just guessing."

"You shouldn't just assume it's a guy though," I defend, "just because he or she has powers doesn't make them a guy. It could be a girl for all you know."

"Here comes Ms. Feminist," Static muttered with a grin and I shoved him lightly with my shoulder, causing us both to smile.

After a few minutes of staring at the quiet and empty station, I turned back to Static. "Are you sure someone's going to come? Are you sure there's even a villain?"

"Positive," is all he said to reassure me.

So I faced the building again and watched the small flicker of a light. I came to the conclusion that this was stupid.

"Can we leave now? I'm bored," I whined at him.

"Then talk to me." he suggested as he kept his eyes trained on the building.

I wanted to spit some nasty curse words at him but I knew he would just laugh in my face so i decided against is. I just wanted to go do something productive, but talking would be okay for now, I supposed.

"Can we play Twenty-One Questions?" I decided.

"Go ahead." He sat back and faced me.

"Alright," I quietly clapped my hands together, "do you have any siblings?"

"Hmm, if I told you I might reveal something." He gave me a playful look.

"Well this game is impossible if we don't want to reveal our identities." I shook my head.

"Well I know yours already, so let me ask the questions," he suggested but I disagreed.

"But then that's not Twenty-One Questions," I complained.

"Then let's call it something else, "He suggested, "How about 'Friendly Evolution'?"

I narrowed my eyes at his suggestion. "Evolution?" I asked, "As in Rock, Paper and Scissors?"

He shook his head and smiled. "I said 'Friendly Evolution,' as in we ask whatever questions we want, however we want, and in the end the goal of the game is to build a stronger relationship, hence the 'evolution,' in the name. "He explained.

"Hm," I smiled at him, "Clever."

He laughed at my response, "So are you in?"

"Sure," I chirped and tired so that he could see me better in the dark.

"What's your favourite colour?"

"Green."

"Who's your best friend?"

"A girl named Audrey."

"That girl you always hang out with who has a nice pair of-"

"Yes, her."

"Okay then. Have you lost your virginity?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I don't think that question has anything to do with building a friendship."

He smirked. "Friends know all your secrets, but moving on, What's your favorite food?"

I thought for a moment. "I hate chicken nuggets."

He chuckled at my response. "I didn't ask that."

"I know. I love ripe peaches."

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Yes."

"Wait seriously? You of all people-"

"Next question." I glared.

"Alright, fine. Do you think you're beautiful?"

I blushed red. "What kind of question is that?"

He shrugged. "I was just wondering if you thought you were, since most girls have a lot of insecurities, or so I'm told. But either way, I think you are."

My blushed deepens. How could he say that like it was nothing? Was his goal to make me feel awkward? "Um..."

"Wait," Static shifted his attention to something behind me, "don't talk."

I turned around to see what he was looking at and spotted two figures on the roof, both obviously wearing capes.

"Told 'ya so," he whispered before crawling closer to the building, me following behind with a scowl.

We both watched them open something up and hop down, or in, pulling a bag down with them.

"What do we do?" I asked Static, my panic rising slightly as I stood up with him.

"We go in through the window," he pointed at the window right across from us.

Before I could say anything he was already jogging over to the window, so I ran to catch up. Once we reached it Static had taken a peek to make sure the coast was clear, which I couldn't since I was too short.

He pulled the window up, which to my surprise was unlocked. He slid through the open window and I followed after him into the dark and scary room.

"Static?" I whispered, "where are you?"

"Here," he called back in a hushed tone and I tip-toed in the direction of his voice but before I got far, I came into contact with something, bumping against my forehead.

"Ouch," I grabbed my head and fell back, but a pair of arms grabbed me by the waist.

"Jeez, watch where you're going," he scowled.

"I'm sorry, but in case you haven't noticed, I can't see shit." I scowled.

He ignored me but helped me up. I checked to my left and spotted a string of light coming from the bottom of a wall.

"There's the door," I said and walked over to the slither of light. I searched the door for a knob when finally my hand grasped it.

I twisted it open and the light from the hallway spilled into the dark room. I walked out with Static behind me, and we made our way slowly and quietly down the hall.

"There," Static whispered and pointed to a door at the end of the hall. The door had a plaque which read Sherif Gunner.

We continued to walk down the hall. When we reached the door, Static turned to me.

On three, he mouthed. I nodded.

We both pressed our bodies against the door and I got ready for his signal. He held up one finger.

One, two-

I prepared to launch myself at any attacker.

Three

We swung the door open but I had no time to react because I was already being grabbed and held down. So much for being ready.

I took a few breaths and gathered my senses. I tried and look to my side but Static came into view and I watched as he struggled under the weight of... A guy dressed the same as the ones I fought last night.

I tried to get a look at my attacker and by the looks of it, he was dressed in the exact same attire, too.

"Came to join the party, eh?" I snapped my neck in the direction of a guy dressed in black, like his minions or whatever, except his cape and mask were white.

"So you're the bastard who's been getting me into some deep shit," Static spat, and the guy on top of him tightened his grip.

"About that..." The guy trailed, "sorry. No hard feelings, okay?"

"Okay," was Static's short response and my eyes widened at how easily he agreed.

"Wait- I mean yes! Yes hard feelings!" Static said again.

"I said," the guy dressed in black said again, "no hard feelings, okay?"

For a moment Static seemed to be hesitating, but then swiftly said "okay." And this time he stayed quiet.

My eyes widened and I turned back to the Villain. "What kind of game do you play?" I demanded.

"A very dangerous one," he smirked and slowly approached me.

"You see, dearest Gone Girl," he crouched beside my body to get a better look at me. "My powers are different. They're stronger, and unheard of. I can manipulate minds."

"Then why go through so much work if you can just get people to get what you want them to do?" I ask.

"I could, but that doesn't mean someone can't shoot me in the back. Mind manipulation doesn't come with a shield like you have," he scoffed like I was an idiot.

He stood back up, "Okay boys, light 'em up." The guy commanded.

Wait, light us up?

Then the minions tied our hands and feet together before letting go and gathering up... Explosives, and placing them in the centre of them room.

"Alright maybe we should calm down," Static tried to reason.

"Wheres the Sherif?" I asked, my eyes widening in realization at the whole reason we came in the first palace.

The guy with the white cape grabbed something big and threw it to the floor in front of us as an answer. I realized it was a body. The Sherif's body.

"Is he dead?" I exclaimed.

The guy with the white cape laughed. "I wish."

I let out a sigh of relief, but then watched as the minions lay a rope leading up to the explosives and trailing it out the window as they jump out.

"Wait!" I called just as the guy was about to leave, "what's your name?"

"They call me..." he paused for a dramatic effect.

"What?" Static asked, " What the hell do they call you?"

"Slick." And with that he jumped out the window, leaving us in a room full of explosives and an unconscious body.