Chase glared at the crutches standing in the corner of his room. Not only did he hate using them, but the mere sight of them brought back memories he wished to ignore.

The battle at the Pentagon had been two weeks ago. By Atlas' standards, the mission had been a success. No casualties had been reported and only a few civilians and government workers sustained minor injuries. Mr. Lwando and Senator Crane had also survived the attempt on their lives.

But the team didn't feel like they won.

After they had returned to The Acropolis after their fight, no one felt like celebrating. In fact, no one had really spoken to each other much since then. They may have defeated and arrested the rogue Primes, those who survived anyways, but their futures were still hanging in the balance.

Chase had hoped saving Mr. Lwando's life had been enough. The man had been their last hope of combatting the PRA.

Then a few days after the battle, the news report came in. Footage from an emergency United Nations summit in Geneva played across every news channel in the nation. They had met to cast their second vote on the PRA.

It was accepted with a unanimous vote.

Atlas had been thrown into the lurch ever since. It was only a matter of time until the United Nations officially stepped in and seized the company from Director Shaw. Could Chase even call the man 'director' anymore? He wasn't sure, but he was sure he would find out soon.

To make matters worse, Senator Crane was head and shoulders above his opposition in the presidential race. No one was catching him. If he was elected as the next commander and chief of the United States of America in the coming weeks, no one would have been surprised.

Things had quickly gone from bad to worse.

Next to him, his cellphone vibrated as he received a text message. He glanced at the screen and saw it was from Emily. She had called a meeting in the common room and wanted him there in five minutes.

He wasn't in the mood for a meeting, but he figured it was important. With a grunt, he rose from his bed and limped over to his crutches. He then opened his door, entered the hallway, and made his way to the common room.

#

"We need a plan," Emily said with her arms folded across her chest.

"A plan?" Chase said as he stretched out on the couch. "For what?"

"We can't stay here," she told him. "I know I can't. There's no way I'm working for...what's the name of that prick they're putting in charge?"

Chase rolled his eyes. "General North." He glanced around the room as she went on a tirade about how corrupt their government was. While he knew she was right, he wasn't in the mood to entertain her conspiracies.

He had a lot on his mind as it was.

Emily had only called upon himself, Kai, Andre, Danai, and Archie for the meeting. They were the only ones from their group who had previously expressed their doubts in Senator Crane. Oscar would have been there too had they known where he was.

Chase frowned at his hands as he peered at the dented portion of one of the common room walls. He could still see the fear in Oscar's eyes after he had tossed him into it.

He wished he had done things differently when the boy revealed he had been the mole within their ranks. While he hadn't totally forgiven him, he understood why he did it. He was just trying to protect his family.

Had Chase been in the same position, he probably would have done the same.

He wished he had been there for him when he found out his family died. No matter what, they would always be family. Oscar wouldn't know that, though.

The guy probably thought he was alone. And he was. He had no more family. No more friends. Director Shaw still had Atlas agents looking for him. Soon, the United States military would launch their own search for the pyrokinetic.

Chase wanted to find him first—just like how he wanted to find Victor first. But he feared neither of them would be found. At least not by him. Despite the things they had done, both Oscar and Victor deserved better. He didn't want to see either of them locked up in The Vault.

Sadly, that was probably what fate had in store for them.

He clenched his jaw and averted his gaze to the crutches laying across his legs.

He failed them both.

"Chase," Emily said, gently pulling him out his thoughts.

He looked up at her.

"We can't stay here," she repeated. "You know that." Around her, Kai and Andre nodded. Archie, sat in his wheelchair, fiddled with his thumbs.

"Atlas won't just let us leave," he said. "They'll come after us."

"Then we hide," Emily said. "We go underground." She faced Chase. "Are you in? I need to know if you're in." There was a sense of desperation in her voice. She didn't beg. He knew that. He also knew this was as close to begging as she would ever get.

"We need you, Chase," Kai said. Andre nodded.

With his lips pursed, he looked down at his hands and said nothing.

"You know, you can be a real pain the ass sometimes," Emily said. "But you're a great leader. You're our leader. I don't want to have to do this without you, but I will. You know I will."

He kept his mouth shut.

She was asking a lot of him. As Archie said, Atlas would come after them. Senator Crane would label them fugitives. They would never be safe. They would never be able to stop running.

Is that how they really wanted to live the rest of their lives? Always looking over their shoulders?

But Emily was right about one thing. They couldn't work for Senator Crane. They couldn't be a part of his new regime.

He stood up from the couch and hobbled over to the door.

"Where are you going?" Emily demanded.

He peered at her over his shoulder. Through the agitation on her face, he could see she was worried.

"I need to clear my head."

And, without another word, he left the room and treaded aimlessly down the halls of The Acropolis.

#

The next day, Director Shaw called everyone into his office. Moving boxes populated the large room, filled with the man's decorations, priceless paintings, and personal documents.

For once, he wasn't wearing a suit. Chase couldn't remember the last time he had seen the man in anything less than a dress shirt and slacks.

He donned a plaid, button-up shirt and jeans. A bit of black-and-white stubble dotted his face. A wistful smile rested on his lips as he sat behind his empty desk.

Chase's heart dropped when he realized what was happening. Tears welling in his eyes, he shook his head at the man. "Please tell me you're just moving offices."

"I wish that was what's happening."

Angus and Lucky shot the man confused glances.

"What's goin' on, sir?" the ginger boy asked. "Why're ya' packing all your stuff up?"

Stella sighed. She was sat in a loveseat near the windowsill with her knees pulled to her chest. Her sad, hazel eyes stared out the window and at the ridge of rolling valleys outside.

"He's leaving," she said, her tone emotionless. Her gaze never left the window.

No one said anything. They all knew it was coming. The writing had been on the walls. Yet, they all looked surprised. Shocked. Stunned.

Chase thought he would be prepared when Director Shaw eventually left his position as CEO of Atlas. He wasn't. Nothing could have prepared him for this.

"What's going to happen to us?" Lucky asked. His fingers were pulling at strands of his long, black hair. His brows were tightly knit together. "What's going to happen to you?"

The skin around Director Shaw's eyes crinkled as he smiled at the boy. The creases etched into his pale skin had grown more visible over the past few months. Chase couldn't believe how old he had started to look.

"I'm going to be fine. No need to worry about me," he replied. "And you all will be too. As I'm sure you've heard, General North will be taking my position. Senator Crane and his team have ensured that you all will be treated with the utmost respect and compassion during this transition period."

Emily huffed. "I doubt it."

Director Shaw shot her a look and she immediately mumbled an apology.

"Our journey together is coming to an end. I want you all to know that I am extremely proud of you. You all answered the call when no one else would. You put your lives on the line for people who want to see you thrown in cells like animals." He removed his glasses and wiped his eyes before facing the senior members of the team.

Emily glared at her combat boots. Andre and Theo were struggling to keep their tears from falling. Stella was still staring out the window. A hint of a frown could be seen on her lips.

As for Chase, he felt like his chest was caving in.

"I'm sorry it had to come to this," Director Shaw told them.

Memories of their time together flashed through his brain as if he was seconds away from death. It still felt like yesterday when Chase first woke up in The Acropolis' infirmary. He had been scared and confused. Director Shaw was the first face he saw in that place. The man had saved him from Kane and Kismet. He saved them all.

Had it not been for him, they would have ended up like his son.

Director Shaw gave them a place to live. He helped them hone their abilities and use them for good. He protected them like how a parent safeguarded their children from the world.

And now he was leaving.

Tears welled in Chase's eyes. He angrily wiped them away.

The man taught them how to be heroes even when the world saw them as villains.

King's last words to Chase echoed in his ears.

"Being the hero gets you nothing..."

He had rejected those words then, but he was starting to believe them now. Director Shaw didn't deserve what was happening to them. Holly didn't deserve to die. Oscar didn't deserve to lose his family. They all were kids who had their lives stolen from them.

"What are you going to do?" Theo asked with his bottom lip shaking. Andre wrapped an arm around him.

Director Shaw shrugged. "I always wanted to live in Maine. Before my wife died, she would always joke about buying a house by the water in Bar Harbor."

"What about Victoria?" Chase asked him.

The man's gaze darkened. The smile that had been on his face faltered. "She has made the decision to stay here."

Sorrow coiled around Chase's heart like a boa constrictor.

Director Shaw had lost everything. His wife, his best friend, and his son. Now he was losing his company and his daughter.

He had no idea how the man was still willing to carry on.

"Things will be different from here on out but I trust you all will be able to handle the adjustment," Director Shaw said. "You all pledged to use your gifts to protect the world. I hope that this situation hasn't jaded you."

Chase clenched his jaw.

Is the world really worth protecting anymore?

If he stayed with Atlas, he wasn't even sure if he would be able to protect it if he tried. Senator Crane had no plans on making the planet a safer place. He ruled with fear and force. Chase didn't want to be his pawn.

But if he left, if he went with Emily and the others, what would they do? They had no power, no resources. They couldn't do anything to hurt Senator Crane.

"However," Director Shaw continued, "there are two ways you can keep your vow. You can conform and uphold the system or you can evolve and become something greater than you ever imagined." He panned around the room, taking the time to look everyone in the eye. He landed on Chase last and nodded knowingly at him. "The choice is yours."

The words were addressed to everyone, but Chase knew they were meant for him.

Director Shaw stood up from his desk and grabbed the jacket draped across his seat. "You all will do great things. I truly believe that. No matter what happens, I'll always be proud of you." He smiled at the teenagers staring at him with expectant looks in their eyes. "It has been a pleasure leading you."

Exhaling heavily, he put his jacket on and walked out of the room.

Chase fixed his gaze on the man's desk. He couldn't save the man's job. But he could still save his son—wherever he was. He nodded to himself.

Regardless of what would happen next, he would find Victor. No matter what it took. He owed Director Shaw that much. After everything the man had been through, he deserved to see his son again. He also vowed to find Oscar before Atlas could. No one—not even him—deserved to feel like they were alone; especially not in a world that hated their kind.

He would find them both.

"So..." Zach's green eyes darted around as he wrung his hands. "What now?"

"I guess we wait and see how this all plays out," Lucky suggested. "There's not much we can do right now."

Angus nodded. "What he said."

Emily scoffed. "I don't know about the rest of you guys, but if Shaw's gone...then I am too. I made this clear before. You all can become Crane's personal soldiers and work for whatever the hell that General's name is, but not me." She shook her head. "I'm not having any part in this."

She walked over to the exit of the room, but not before motioning for Kai, Andre, and Danai to follow her. The three of them rose from their seats and joined her at the door. Chase watched them all. His heart rate picked up speed.

He had been dreading this moment ever since the PRA was ratified. His stomach churned whenever he thought about it. He could already feel the sweat beading above his brow. It was time.

Time for him to choose.

Emily set her expectant gaze upon him. "You coming or what, Goldilocks?" She pressed her black-painted lips into a thin line. Her dark stare urged him to join her and the others.

Chase glanced at Stella.

For the first time all day, she had looked back at him. Her eyebrows were raised and her eyes were slightly narrowed. She silently waited for his response. The rest of his friends all had their eyes on him as well.

This was it. This decision would change everything. Would he become a pawn or chose to fight for justice his way?

Frankly, he had no idea what he would choose.

"Well?" Stella's voice was harsh and unforgiving.

He said nothing, his gaze trained on the hardwood floor.

"Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot an' all," Angus began, "but ya' can't leave us. I mean...you just can't. You're our leader. What're we gonna do if you leave?"

"Not to mention that he can't legally leave." Stella shifted her glare from Chase to the other standing by the door. "None of you can."

Emily rolled her eyes. "I don't see anyone stopping us."

Stella stood up from the windowsill and walked up to her. The two girls stared each other down. Tension rippled in the air between them like electricity.

"They won't just let you leave. And even if you do make it out of here, where are you all going to go? Crane will never stop looking for you." Her eyes slowly widened. "But you already knew that."

Emily turned her head away from her.

Theo materialized next to the two girls in a flash of gray and brown. He separated them, a cautious expression on his mousy features. "Let's just...calm down and talk about this." He glanced at Chase over his shoulder. "We can't leave. You can't leave. We made a promise—"

"We made a promise to Director Shaw, not Senator Crane," Danai interrupted from the front door. "We can be heroes without Atlas. We'll do things our way. The right way."

"Oh yeah?" Stella snapped. "And who determines if it's the right way or not? You?" She snorted. "Forgive me if I don't fully trust your judgment."

Chase stuttered as he tried to formulate a response.

He needed to make a choice.

He grabbed his crutches and balanced himself on the cushioned pads. After waddling over to Stella, he grabbed both of her hands. She looked back at him with tears in her eyes. Her bottom lip trembled as she shook her head at him.

"Don't do this," she pleaded. "Please, don't do this. We can figure it out. If you just stay, we can—"

"There's nothing left to figure out," he told her. "I have to do what I think is right. All this time, I've been doing what I thought other people wanted me to do. It's time I start doing what I want to do."

"They'll never stop hunting you, Chase. I don't want that for you."

"I know."

Stella slipped her hands out of his. She dipped her head as a tear slid down her cheek.

"Stella..."

She refused to make eye contact with him. His shoulders slumped as he sighed.

Theo faced Chase. An air of caution surrounded him. "Think about the mistake you're about to make. Once you leave, there's no turning back. I hope you know that."

He released the pent up breath that had been building in the center of his chest for the past few minutes. It felt like someone had pulled a stopper out of a tub. Instead of the water going down the drain, it was the stress and turmoil plaguing his heart.

For the first time in months, he finally felt like he was doing the right thing.

"I know." He offered his friend a tight smile before turning back to Stella. He gently lifted her chin with his knuckle, bringing her gaze to his. He lost himself in her hazel irises for what felt like the last time.

For that moment, nothing else existed. It was just her.

"I love you. I always will."

"I...I love you too."

He cupped her face and she closed her eyes. He did the same. Then they kissed. She pressed her hands against his cheeks. Their lips fit together pieces of a puzzle.

But it didn't feel the same. The emotion was gone. The kiss was empty and cold. The connection they once shared had been severed by their divisive choices. She broke away from him, her breaths heavy and her cheeks tinged red.

Silence lingered between them as everything around them slowly came back into focus. Another tear rolled down Stella's face. He wiped it away with his thumb.

At the door, Emily cleared her throat. She stabbed her foot into the ground and motioned toward the hallway with her head. Nodding, Chase turned around and joined them. He cast those who decided to stay with Atlas one last look.

"I'm sorry about all of this," he said. "I really am."

He then left the room with Emily, Andre, Kai, Danai, and Archie behind him.

It was done. He had made his decision. There was no turning back now.

Everyone in that room would always be his family. There was no changing that. But he knew things would be different from there on out. They were on different sides now. With Crane's orders, they soon would become enemies. Their paths would cross again—he was sure of it.

Emily, Andre, Kai, Danai, and Archie were his new team now. He would have their backs and they would have his. Together, they would change things. 

They had to.

As they all walked down the corridor to the elevator at the end of the hall, he thought about what Theo told him. The boy said they were making a mistake.

Maybe he was right.

But something told Chase he wasn't. It resonated deep in his bones and in his heart.

They had a chance to make a difference now. A real difference. They could become the heroes Director Shaw always wanted them to be. The heroes they were supposed to be.

He just hoped they had the strength to do it.