Quake stood in the middle of the field, palms facing the grass, making everything wobbly.
Dread mixed with the angry fire pinging around Joan’s body.
A light blur knocked Quake over. Race stopped and said something to him. Flight divebombed Squawk but got blasted back with a shriek.
“There’s Lunk,” Sadie said, pointing to the left. He was trying to muscle his way through the horde of onlookers too stunned to move.
The crowd around the food trucks didn’t know which way to go. Morris and Tenia furiously tried to shut their metal awning.
“We have to help these people,” Joan said. Pandemonium created more potential for danger. “Sadie, get them out of the park.”
Sadie nodded and waved her arms toward the street. “Everyone get out of the park!” she shouted.
She moved to a group of frightened LARPers and guided them behind Hot and Cold to safety.
Catch ran across the grass, throwing herself on top of Squawk. Apparently using Lunk’s strength by how he dropped. Lunk tried to grab Prowl, only Prowl climbed up on his shoulders and batted at his face.
Quake moved the earth around him, making Zee tumble. No doubt he wanted to destroy the park created in the wake of his previous misdeeds.
“It’s a fucking free-for-all,” Joan seethed.
“They’re not working together.” Mark shook his head in short, jerky movements.
Her fire roiled, frustrated at not being released. “What can we do? We don’t have our bodysuits.”
“Fuck if I know.”
A hugekaboomcrashed, and a compact car went flying end-over-end into the park. A big dude in orange jumped on top of it roaring, “TheSmash is back!”
“What the fuck?” Mark said. “They caught that guy.”
Flight soared over the Villain, his face saying the same thing. “How did you…?”
“I got broked out on the way to jail!” Smash bellowed with glee.
Quake laughed loudly. “For the right price, you can pay prison transporters to do just about anything.”
This was another ring of hell. Flight flew toward Smash, but he held his ground and tossed Flight aside like a ragdoll. Panic flared up as Joan searched for?—
“I’m back here!” Sadie called.
Joan turned to blessedly find Sadie in the opposite direction. She ushered a terrified mom and kids quickly down the sidewalk.
“Be careful!” Joan called back.
She wanted to go to her, but there was so much madness. And Sadie was capable and smart and this wasn’t her first rodeo.
Lunk tripped on discarded shields and swords. Prowl nimbly hopped off him as he went down hard.
Zee got up and prepared to run. Quake stomped on the ground and sent them rolling to the side.
Catch was close enough that if Joan could get to her, she could give her some firepower. Only Catch was focused on keeping Squawk from opening his mouth.
Through the chaos and the noise, a moment of stillness settled between Joan and Mark. He met her eyes, and they knew what they had to do. No hiding anymore, no pretending. This was their fight.
A glint of silver caught in the sunlight. A Viking-style helmet lying on the grass. She tugged Mark’s arm and hurried over to it, plopping it on her brother’s head. The long metal piece in the center covered a large portion of his face.
Joan scanned the discarded items and found a heavy, hooded black cape. She whipped it on and pulled the hood as low as it would go.
