worry.”
“I would die,” Lindsay says. “You’re so brave.”
“Thanks.” Stealth slides down to the floor and pulls at her uniform. “I’m terrified to meet the ShadowBlades, but I can’t show fear.” Her eyes slowly meet mine. “You never really mentioned why you want revenge on the Blades.” She looks from Kale to me. “Are they the ones who killed your friend?”
I nod while Kale says, “Yeah , and Glen, too. Their leader screwed up his mind and he died.” He puffs out some air and sits down near Lindsay on my bed. She takes his hand.
“I’m sorry,” Stealth says.
“It’s okay,” I say. “The important thing is that we’re working on avenging their deaths.” I join her on the floor. “Are you nervous? Want to talk about it or plan?”
She’s quiet, then says, “I don’t know if there’s anything to plan.”
Kale laughs a little. “Yeah, you just gotta keep being kickass.”
Chapter Sixteen
After taking a shower and throwing on my League uniform, I contact Kale through my mind. He’s resting from this morning’s simulation. I missed it, due to my rough night. Thoughts and memories of Stretch, Glen, Stealth, and the Blades didn’t leave my head.
Come with me ? I ask.
It’s too painful to tell him where I want to go, and I’m glad he can read my mind.
Sure . He makes a move to get up, but stares at his door. You sure you want to do this ?
I need to .
Okay . Meet you outside .
I head for the back entrance. We usually exit through here when we’re not in uniform. Even though I’m wearing mine, I don’t want to leave through the front because I don’t want any normies or reporters to see us. They don’t lurk out back because we don’t allow it. The security beams would detect them.
Sitting down on the grass in the backyard, I look around. I haven’t been around here much, haven’t really enjoyed the outdoors. I’ve been too focused on the mission. I’m nervous for tomorrow—for what awaits Stealth, but I can’t think about that now.
Footsteps approach. It’s Kale. I expected him to bring Lindsay along, since he does that each time he visits Stretch’s grave. But he’s alone now.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hey.”
“You sure you’re okay with this?” His voice is filled with concern.
I nod, because I fear my voice will crack.
We grab our bikes from the garage and head toward the cemetery. All the superheroes are buried there, in their uniforms. Stretch and Glen included.
It’s a long journey, about an hour and twenty minutes. The League mansion is located in upstate New York, free from civilization where we can live without harassment from normies. The cemetery is also in upstate New York, but closer to the normies because it wouldn’t be right not to let them visit their favorite heroes’ graves.
I’m glad you’re doing this , Kale says.
I nod again.
We’re quiet as we pedal. Normally , I like the silence, but I need to distract myself from these thoughts and feelings. Visiting Stretch and Glen’s graves for the first time feels like someone’s wrapping his hand around my heart. I think I may pass out.
We can stop to rest ,” Kale suggests.
I shake my head. Let’s do it . I might lose my nerve.
As we pass the normies, some wave, others clap. Some who are on bikes follow us, probably assuming we’re off on a mission.
We zoom by more normies and a few take pictures and videos. A group of kids playing in the sprinklers in the park take sight of us and chase us. They can’t be more than seven years old.
I don’t want an audience as I visit my best friend for the first time. Kale turns his head and frowns. Unfortunately , there isn’t anything we can do about that.
Sorry , Kale says. It’s never this bad. Probably because it’s summer and school’s out.
Yeah .
We reach the cemetery and bike inside. There are quite a few people in here, all around various graves. Kale points his thumb to the left and I follow him down a narrow
“I would die,” Lindsay says. “You’re so brave.”
“Thanks.” Stealth slides down to the floor and pulls at her uniform. “I’m terrified to meet the ShadowBlades, but I can’t show fear.” Her eyes slowly meet mine. “You never really mentioned why you want revenge on the Blades.” She looks from Kale to me. “Are they the ones who killed your friend?”
I nod while Kale says, “Yeah , and Glen, too. Their leader screwed up his mind and he died.” He puffs out some air and sits down near Lindsay on my bed. She takes his hand.
“I’m sorry,” Stealth says.
“It’s okay,” I say. “The important thing is that we’re working on avenging their deaths.” I join her on the floor. “Are you nervous? Want to talk about it or plan?”
She’s quiet, then says, “I don’t know if there’s anything to plan.”
Kale laughs a little. “Yeah, you just gotta keep being kickass.”
Chapter Sixteen
After taking a shower and throwing on my League uniform, I contact Kale through my mind. He’s resting from this morning’s simulation. I missed it, due to my rough night. Thoughts and memories of Stretch, Glen, Stealth, and the Blades didn’t leave my head.
Come with me ? I ask.
It’s too painful to tell him where I want to go, and I’m glad he can read my mind.
Sure . He makes a move to get up, but stares at his door. You sure you want to do this ?
I need to .
Okay . Meet you outside .
I head for the back entrance. We usually exit through here when we’re not in uniform. Even though I’m wearing mine, I don’t want to leave through the front because I don’t want any normies or reporters to see us. They don’t lurk out back because we don’t allow it. The security beams would detect them.
Sitting down on the grass in the backyard, I look around. I haven’t been around here much, haven’t really enjoyed the outdoors. I’ve been too focused on the mission. I’m nervous for tomorrow—for what awaits Stealth, but I can’t think about that now.
Footsteps approach. It’s Kale. I expected him to bring Lindsay along, since he does that each time he visits Stretch’s grave. But he’s alone now.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hey.”
“You sure you’re okay with this?” His voice is filled with concern.
I nod, because I fear my voice will crack.
We grab our bikes from the garage and head toward the cemetery. All the superheroes are buried there, in their uniforms. Stretch and Glen included.
It’s a long journey, about an hour and twenty minutes. The League mansion is located in upstate New York, free from civilization where we can live without harassment from normies. The cemetery is also in upstate New York, but closer to the normies because it wouldn’t be right not to let them visit their favorite heroes’ graves.
I’m glad you’re doing this , Kale says.
I nod again.
We’re quiet as we pedal. Normally , I like the silence, but I need to distract myself from these thoughts and feelings. Visiting Stretch and Glen’s graves for the first time feels like someone’s wrapping his hand around my heart. I think I may pass out.
We can stop to rest ,” Kale suggests.
I shake my head. Let’s do it . I might lose my nerve.
As we pass the normies, some wave, others clap. Some who are on bikes follow us, probably assuming we’re off on a mission.
We zoom by more normies and a few take pictures and videos. A group of kids playing in the sprinklers in the park take sight of us and chase us. They can’t be more than seven years old.
I don’t want an audience as I visit my best friend for the first time. Kale turns his head and frowns. Unfortunately , there isn’t anything we can do about that.
Sorry , Kale says. It’s never this bad. Probably because it’s summer and school’s out.
Yeah .
We reach the cemetery and bike inside. There are quite a few people in here, all around various graves. Kale points his thumb to the left and I follow him down a narrow
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