Yumi rested her arms behind her head, leaning back on the couch. The TV was down to a dull buzz in the back ground but she was content. Balancing a paper plate on her stomach she was teasing around slices of banana that Echo had made. The determinism from that woman to make sure they ate some modicum of healthy food was remarkable really.
And beside her was the wide faced Rottie with her tail wagging slowly and eyes trained on the plate. She looked from the plate to Yumi and back and continued to stare. Yumi stared back picking up a slice and biting into it herself. She was very aware of the greedy dog gaze on her.
“Hey Echo can the dog have bananas?” Yumi called toward the kitchen.
“Yes Yumi. I got us bananas for exactly that reason actually,” she said from the kitchen over the sound of the sink. It turned off and then Echo came climbing into the armchair and at with her legs crossed, balancing a small bowl in her lap. “Come here Roxie. Do you want a treat?”
She barked and jumped over quickly as Echo picked one out and held it. The dog lapped it up quickly and chewed her tail wagging eagerly. Echo gave her another and stroked her head slowly. “Good girl.”
“Spoiled girl,” Yumi said finishing another slice. Roxie turned around staring at her and padded over to Yumi’s side and then lay down beside her, looking up at her. Yumi sighed and scratched her head lightly getting her fingers licked quickly before relaxing. One of her toys was under the table and Roxie looked at it but didn’t go for it, content to lay down.
“We should get more toys for Roxie,” Echo said thoughtfully. “She’s been tearing through most of them.”
“She’s got like four scattered around here. Actually, stepped on one earlier today,” Yumi said not having taken her eyes of the dog. “Leave your block thing in front of my door again and we’re going to have problems.” Roxie stared back and licked her lips quickly. Sighing Yumi tossed her another banana.
“She needs plenty of stimulation. We’re not always here,” Echo replied. “Plus she’s a good girl and deserves the best.”
“Why not just get another dog,” Yumi shrugged but saw the way that Echo’s face lit up in response. “That was not a serious suggestion.”
“But we could do that,” she replied. “It would be great. And Roxie would love it. We should do it. Yes. I am convinced on this choice.”
“Convinced on what?” Feint asked walking into the living room.
“Probably something Yumi didn’t mean to say,” Shade said from her shadow and breaking away to walk around the couch and lean down kissing her lightly. “Am I right?”
“Yes,” Yumi pouted.
Echo smiled. “Yumi said that we should get another dog to be a friend for Roxie. So she won’t be lonely while we’re gone.”
Feint raised her eyebrow and finally gave a small smile, “I don’t hate the idea. I do feel guilty about leaving Roxie alone for long periods of time.”
“We’re rarely all gone at the same time though,” Shade said. “And two dogs is twice the handful of one. Obviously.”
“Thank you Shadeow. For speaking sense,” Yumi said sitting up again. “Roxie is more than enough.”
“She’s also very much Phase’s dog,” Feint said. “So he’ll probably have some thought about it when he and Rogue get back. Whenever they get back.”
“If Darren is any indicator the job should be wrapping up and they’ll be home soon and then leader can veto this idea,” Yumi said finishing the banana slices. Getting off the couch and stepping around Roxie she went to the kitchen and tried to toss the plate like a frisbee. She missed hitting the wall and sighed.
“Pick it up Yumi,” Feint shouted.
“I’m doin it,” she shouted back grabbing it off the floor. Shoving it into the trash with a quick punch she spun back toward the living room but stopped feeling her phone vibrating. She flipped it out and saw a number she’d never seen before. Frowning hard she shook her head and muted the vibration.
Coming back to the living room she hopped back onto the couch joining Shade who had sat down with her. She lay down on his lap rolling over to the side and watched as Feint had gotten into the TV with her phone. She was going through an app that she and Darren had written going through movies for them to start up.
Her phone started ringing again though and she pulled it out seeing the same number as before. “Someone you don’t know?” Shade asked looking down at her.
“Nope. But this is the second time they’ve called.”
Feint shrugged, “Answer them. Can’t hurt considering.” She waved around the house and motioned toward Darren’s room and herself.
“Fair,” she swiped onto it and held it to her ear, “Hello?”
“Yumi. Oh thank God I got you.”
“X-Ray?” she sat up slowly. “You okay? You sound out of breath. How are you calling me?”
“I’m using Hanako’s phone. From her office. Theo helped me. Yumi you need to come here. Right now. As fast as you can.”
She jumped to her feet then, “What’s going on? What’s happening? Is everyone okay?”
“Nothing yet. But I saw a vision. The shelter was on fire. And people were screaming. And there were people with guns.” He grunted sharply and she could hear shuffling on the other end. Someone’s muffled voice and then she swore she could hear Flair.
“You okay Ray?” Yumi asked again.
“Yeah. Just. Needed to sit. Headache,” he forced out. “Just hurry Yumi. I don’t know how or when it’s going to happen but.”
“I’m already on my way.”
“Okay.”
She hung up and was already moving toward the rack on the wall and took her mask. Beside them now were the pair of gloves, a unique set for each of them. She fastened them on and glanced back at Shade as he came forward. She gave him with a quick smile. Feint and Echo both came forward as well and she frowned. “You guy’s don’t even know what’s going on.”
“No but it’s the shelter and it’s serious,” Feint said turning her mask in her hand. “So of course, we’re coming. Just let me get some pouches so we’re not going totally blind.”
She went to the tinker room and came back with four pouches, handing them out to the others and nodded at them. Finally taking her mask she slid it into place on her face. Yumi looked at everyone one more time and then walked toward the balcony and paused. Roxie was sitting nearby staring at them.
She shook her head and pat her head lightly, everyone else doing it as well before going to the balcony. She sprinted forward and leaped off the edge shooting her arm out and let the wire take hold. She swung forward moving throughout the darkness with the others behind her.
Normally she took the train to the shelter but this time swinging there was infinitely faster. But that didn’t mean she ignored it. Using her mask to pop out the directions she followed behind the train tracks itself. Swinging onto the tracks themselves she ran along with it leaping off and swinging again.
While they swung she kept her eyes open and tried to see anything coming that was dangerous. There weren’t any strange cars on the streets, none moving fast out there or even erratically. It was business as usual out here.
“Now that we’re on the move fill us in on what’s going on Yumi,” Feint said swinging past her.
Yumi ran across the side of a building horizontally and flipped forward taking another line. “Me and Echo found a pair of twins a month ago. I introduced them to the shelter and they’ve been doing a lot better. They both took Enhance and the brother has a weird power. He can kinda see the future.”
“See the future?” Shade repeated. “That’s right. He saw you and the clone before the casino thing.”
“Exactly,” Yumi replied. “He saw Mei before we even knew she existed. And now he saw the shelter under attack and burning down to the ground. Or something close to that.”
“How sure are we on his visions?” Feint asked.
Yumi shook her head, “Honestly I don’t know and I don’t want to risk it either.”
“Neither would I,” Echo agreed. “It’s better safe than sorry.”
“Exactly. We’re almost there,” Yumi said quickly.
The buildings stopped being tall enough for them to swing comfortably and they were back to running on foot. Clearing stores and apartments like it was nothing. Hopping forward again Yumi slid to a halt across from the shelter. The others landed beside her and she stepped forward staring at the shelter.
Nothing was amiss from what she could see immediately. The lights were down, a pseudo bed time being called for them. There were a few cars parked around but none of them were on or even occupied. She scanned both sides of the street and they were just as clear. Her heart beat calmed down slowly and she folded her arms.
“All clear,” Feint said softly and stood beside her. “Should we go inside?”
“Me and Shadeow yeah. You guys hang around just in case,” Yumi flexed her fingers lightly and felt Shade squeeze her hand.
The two of them jumped off the edge and shot a quick line swinging across the street and landing in front of the shelter. Yumi touched the door and pulled it open working her way inside. Instead of meeting Rhodey outside though Theo was inside. He looked spooked and when he saw the two of them he almost shouted raising a wrench.
Yumi held up her hands quickly, “Whoa Theo. Chill out it’s me.” She took the mask of her face slowly and Theo blinked quickly staring at her.
“Yumi? You’re. You’re one of them. Those masked thieves on TV,” he was trying to process this brand new information and Yumi nodded.
“Yeah that was me. Not as bad as the news says. What are you doing here this late?”
He paused confused and finally nodded, “I was staying overnight to help out with my mom.”
“Is she here?”
“No. She left to run an errand,” he frowned. “She said she’d be awhile.”
“Good. Where are the twins?” she asked.
“My mom’s office. Who’s that?” Shade took off his mask and Theo pointed shocked. “You to?’
“There’s a lot of us,” Shade said grimly.
Yumi walked past the two of them and bee lined back toward the office. The door was open a crack and light streamed in. She pushed it open further and she could see Ray sitting in the chair. His head was in his hands and he was hunched forward. She saw Flair’s back. She sat on the desk bent forward rubbing her brother’s shoulder. He had a tissue pressed against his nose and she could see flecks of red on it.
Both looked up when they entered and relief washed over Flair’s faces. Yumi came around the desk and crouched in front of the chair touching Ray’s other shoulder. He looked her way and grimaced slightly, “You got here fast.”
“You told me to hurry,” she smiled at him but that turned to a quick frown as he grabbed his head again. “Are you okay?” she looked toward Flair. “Is it because of the vision or whatever the heck?”
“Yeah. After he called you he’s been like this.”
“Are they all like this?” Shade asked as he entered the office.
“No. Usually it’s just a headache that goes away after a few minutes. But this is something else entirely,” Flair frowned hard looking at her brother. “This is scary.”
Yumi nodded and turned her eyes back onto Ray, “We came and looked around. There’s no one around and nothing going on. Everything’s fine.”
Ray squinted and looked at her, his eyes homing in on her face, “Not yet. I hope that I’m wrong but I have not been yet.”
That did nothing to inspire confidence in her. Ray moved to stand up, wobbling slightly and both she and Flair moved to catch him but he managed to keep himself upward. They walked forward slowly leaving the office. Yumi slowed though and glanced toward Theo giving him an apologetic smile.
“Sorry. This is all kinds of crazy for you right now isn’t it?” she asked.
Theo stared at her, making a face somewhere along a grimace and he finally nodded, “You’re one of those thieves from TV. And you have powers right? Shade too and all the others. It just feels. Crazy. Is the shelter going to be okay?”
Yumi frowned hard, “I don’t know. But I’m going to protect the shelter best I can.”
Theo stared at her closely and Yumi met his gaze with the same hard honest determination she always had. Theo nodded slowly and held his hand out to her. She glanced at his hand and then clasped her hand in his squeezing it. They nodded to one another before going back to helping Ray and Flair. As they walked though Shade lingered behind grunting as he pressed a hand to his head.
“Shade can you hear me?” Echo asked.
“Yeah. What’s going on? Everything alright up there?”
“No. We did some reconnaissance around the Shelter. There’s a bunch of cars on their way. At least three or four and they’re coming your way.”
“You sure they’re coming to us?”
“No but I’ve gotten some words from their minds. Whatever they’re going to do is trouble. Me and Feint are on our way back to you.”
“Alright,” he shook his head free of the mental conversation and caught up to the other three. They were sitting at the bed that the twins used. Ray had pulled the tissue away and his nose had some dried blood but he was fine otherwise. Shade walked over to Yumi and squeezed her shoulder lightly, “We may have a problem.”
“Lay it on me Shadeow.”
“Feint and Echo have spotted people coming our way. A few different cars. Not sure if it’s them but its weird and we need to be on the watch for weird.”
“Right,” she shook her head. “Should we go meet them?”
“Pick the roof and watch what happens.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Flair asked sharply. “Sorry. Didn’t meant to come off like that.”
“It’s fine. Our friends have seen something that spooked them so we’re going to meet up with them. Just in case things get crazy stay away from the windows. Don’t tell anyone. Don’t want to freak everyone else here out. But if things do get crazy, Theo get these people out of here.”
Yumi and him met eyes and she could see the uncertainty flitter through them but he nodded quickly giving her a thumbs up. She looked at Flair and Ray both before taking her mask and putting it on her face. Shade did the same and they walked out the front door. Pointing their fingers toward the sky, they climbed quickly getting onto the roof.
Echo and Feint waved once they got up and walked over. Feint pointed toward the street and all of their masked zoomed in on the cars as they approached. They were stopped at a light a few streets away but even from up here Yumi had to agree with what they had guessed. Just staring at the cars made her uneasy in more ways than one.
“Did you find anything out from Ray?” Feint asked.
“No. He doesn’t know any more than what he saw. So be on guard.”
They spread out from the roof going to their own nearby buildings and staying in cover. Each of them had an eye on the street to make sure nothing slipped by them. The cars passed the nearest intersection and then broke apart. Two turned while the other two stayed straight. One of the ones going straight kept going but the other stayed on the street. The other two went around the back and parked behind the shelter.
The fourth car was so far off the track they ruled it out of being an issue and just focused on the main three. One idled in front of the shelter no one getting out. The two behind it had about seven guys get out while another just sat inside the car. They stood around smoking and passing around a flask.
And then like a signal had been giving they started moving. Stamping out their cigarettes and tossing the flask into the back of the car. They worked around to the backs of the car popping open the trunks. They got bats and each of them picked up bottles from crates. They stuck strips of cloth into the necks of the bottles.
They only managed to light one of them before Yumi came down from the sky. She landed on the car crushing the roof down and smirking. “Hey there guys. What’re you doing with that?”
“Who the fuck is this?”
“It’s that chick. One of those masked freaks.”
“Don’t fucking matter. Just light her up!”
They all pulled out guns like it was one practiced move and she was ready for that. What she wasn’t ready for though was the one who just thrust his hand forward and sent a torrent of fire at her. She let both her hands glow to life and caught the flames but the impact knocked her off her feet and into the wall behind her.
The walking flame thrower turned toward one of the others, grabbing the bottle and torching the end of it. It burst to life and they laughed throwing it after Yumi. Before it hit her it shattered above the car raining liquid fire down over them. They flinched away looking around them but couldn’t find the cause.
Shade appeared through the shadows and punched one of them in the jaw knocking him down. The others heard the noise, turning to face him but he just disappeared into the night their eyes unable to track. “Where the hell did he go?”
“Not important where he went,” Feint said jumping through one of the cars and kicking someone’s arm straight up. She grabbed their wrist and flipped them over taking the gun from their hands. Kicking them away she turned around and pointed the gun at another and lowered it firing at their knee.
The flame thrower turned onto Feint and unleashed the fires on her. She dove to side out of the brunt of the flames. It illuminated the entirety of the back street and Feint flinched feeling the heat. Shade had also ducked down into an alley avoiding gunfire as they hammered at him spooked by every shadow. One them pulled out a lighter throwing a bottle at his spot.
“Light these freaks up and then hit RAST.”
“Yeah good luck with that,” Yumi dove over the hood of the car, avoiding the still burning flames and rolled toward the flame thrower.
He turned around to point at her but she fell down quick, sliding under the flames. She watched them go above her head. As she got closer she rolled over and swept his legs from under him. He let out a shot sending the flames into the air. Rushing forward she stomped on his face and then kicked him in the ribs hard. He grunted and the flames went away.
She whirled around raising her fist but everything was pretty taken care of. Shade and Feint were in the middle of their own fights. A few were trying to line up a shot while others had just dropped their bottles and ran away. Yumi smirked going toward another when she heard Echo in her head.
“Yumi. I managed to hold most of them off but one of them got past me,” To emphasize this Yumi heard glass shattering followed by a scream and her head jerked to the side.
“Go,” Shade said quickly. “Me and Feint have this handled.”
Sprinting back toward the shelter she saw that whoever had broken in through the side door. As stepped over the glass she saw a bright flash of light. A good chunk of people had woken up by the noise and were even more freaked out by the light and her appearance. She looked left then right and stared.
The woman who’d broken in had a broken bottle at her feet with some small black scorch marks from a stamped out fire. She was on the ground and both Theo and Flair were standing over her. Flair’s eyes had a residual glow fading away from them and Theo was holding the wrench from earlier his eyes wide. But he looked at Yumi and his shoulder sagged slowly.
She looked at the two of them surprised and smile, “What happened?”
Flair and Theo looked back at each other then at Ray as well, “We took care of it.” Theo said finally. He and Flair fist bumped while Yumi stared at them a little confused but nodded. Grabbing the woman by the ankle she dragged her back outside and tossed her into the courtyard.
She groaned holding her head and then looked at Yumi with wide eyes. Yumi scowled behind her mask, “I don’t know why the fuck you guys came here and I don’t care. Get this straight now and tell your boss. This place is under our protection. You fuck with them you fuck with me and you don’t wanna fuck with me.”
The Harlequin Library 