Cartwheeling aside Dick flung his chain across the ground. Jerking his arm upward he stomped on the chain and the tip shot up sharply. It shot around the body of the wraith hitting its limbs and wrapping around it quickly. Stumbling forward as the wraith pulled he jerked his arm back and tightened the grip on the chains restraining it.
Samantha ran forward and jumped at it. Slamming her fist into the creatures face it iced over and shattered. Samantha stumbled forward and glanced at her partner.
“That’s the tercero this morning.”
“Yeah, something is going on. I hope Betty and Lily are okay.”
“I don’t know if we’re going to be okay at this rate,” Samantha stumbled backwards slowly and Dick caught her with a hard frown. “Thanks.”
“De nada. I feel it too.” Letting out a slow breath the chains rattled against the ground and came back toward him. Deep down the alleyway he could hear steam hissing at them from a slashed open pipe. The first one had appeared in the middle of the street crushing a car. They’d managed to lure it away and finish it before things go difficult.
The second was trickier hunting in the middle of the park. It managed to get one of the people wandering around but after that they brought it down. And now for this third one, they stumbled out of the alleyway exhausted. Walking toward a nearby restaurant and finding a spot on the railing they both sat down.
“Think the rogues and their wraths are making these minor ones act loco?”
“Only thing I can think of,” Samantha said shrugging. “Never seen anything like this before.”
A bell rang and Dick glanced over his shoulder. He saw a couple leaving a restaurant. One had a smoothie and the other a coffee. Touching the back of his neck he smiled. “Want something to drink? I’ll buy.”
“Mint chocolate coffee.”
“Really? Even in your coffee?”
“Yes. Mint is good. Plus, two bitters together are tasty,” she shrugged her shoulders. “Or you know. Just get me a cup of water. With a bunch of ice. Whichever works.”
“Fine fine. I’ll be right back,” Hopping over the railing and stumbling slightly he walked inside the bell dinging as he opened the door.
She watched him for a moment and let out a breath. He was acting like his usual self for the most part but after the previous night he worried her. The last thing he needed was to run into his brother tonight. She felt her bones creek slightly from new soreness. She could ice it but movement would be better.
Sitting up she rotated and rubbed her shoulders, moving them quickly. Crouching low she jumped back to her feet. Checking her phone, she didn’t see any new messages but it was still early for a check in. Brushing her hands through her hair she took a deep breath and let her head slump forward. “Can’t wait for this stuff to be over with. I want normal again.”
A drink was pressed against her forehead and she glanced up at Dick as he drank from his smoothie, a pinkish red mix. “What’s normal for us Samantha? Come on.” She took a slow sip tasting the warmth of the coffee and mint with a hint of sweetness.
“Even for us. One wraith a night is normal. Two is crazy,” She smiled. “Three in a day though. It’s like Black Friday for us and I get the feeling our shift is just starting.”
“Well we’re on our fifteen so let’s enjoy it.”
He tried to toast but ended up setting the drink down against the table and let his shoulders slump down. A weight settled on his head and he tried to fight it, to shake it off as best he could but it kept chasing him like a bad itch. Unease, dread. Downright fear. Nothing like when he was going to meet the thing that killed his parents. That was simple.
But this, seeing his brother again. Knowing he might have to fight him. Or even kill him. Just the thought of it shook him to his core. Clenching and unclenching his fist he looked at Samantha who met his eyes with a calmness that helped a lot.
“I’ve got your back Dick. And if something happens we’ll figure it out. You won’t have to kill your brother unless-”
“Unless he doesn’t give us a choice,” Dick finished and she grimaced. Her hand wrapped around his own and squeezed it tightly.
“Do you trust me?”
“You know I do.”
“Then trust me to try and help your brother too.”
Lowering his head, he nodded. “Sorry. Just.”
“Don’t have to apologize. I get it. Of all people you know I understand,” She let go of his hand and sipped the drink again. “You should really give it a try.”
“Keep your bitter. I have sweet. And it’s lovely.”
She snorted and they toasted tapping their drinks together as they relaxed for a few minutes. When they finished they agreed to head back into the city proper. Taking the subway, they got a car almost entirely to themselves. Moving around in the middle of the night often meant they could make their way around the rush hours but in the middle of the day they rarely got this lucky. The tunnel walls sparked here and there with the metal of the wheels off the tracks but for the most part it was quiet.
As their stop finally came out the duo and a few others got off with them. Samantha cracked her back and Dick rubbed his eyes slowly. Lowering his hand’s he stopped and started toward the stairs that would have taken them to street level. Instead he watched as an orb bounced down the stairs. It glowed like a tiny golf ball rolling between the bars and off a bench hovering in the air as it glowed even brighter.
“No,” Dick said and turned quickly to Samantha. “Manifestar!” Whipping his hand forward the chain flew toward her. It pulled her away as the second chain flew to wrap around him. The orb exploded and Dick was sent flying backwards across the platform and onto the next.
The few people in the area screamed and darted to get to the exits as fast as possible. One of the pillars collapsed in a pile of rocks and ceramics. The dust settled and Dick tried to get his bearings. His chains darted to the ground and pulled him forward safety.
Rolling to his feet slowly he was suddenly dragged to the right, as if invisible hands were pulling him in that direction. Both of his chains darted and dug into the ground yanking his arms back in their sockets and resisting the pull. The ground shook and Dick looked down the hallway to see the rouge come forward.
He cracked his massive neck and pointed the hammer at him, it glowing brightly. Instead of being drawn forward he was blown backwards, his chains getting dislodged. Before he crashed into the ground Samantha slid forward and caught him. They landed on the train tracks unsteadily.
“Looking good you two,” Hunter said clapping. “You know I wasn’t thinking we’d find you. And here’s Bruce with a great idea. Especially after all the wraiths that you’ve been dealing with. Isn’t that right?”
Bruce grunted and hit the hammer against the ground. “Just glad to be out of that damn tunnel.” He narrowed his eyes at the pair of them and let a smirk form. “I remember you. Glad we could meet again. Finish what we started.”
Samantha glared at Bruce then glanced at her friend. “We should do our best to get out of here. These two are bad news for us right now.”
“I agree. But we don’t exactly have a lot of options.”
“We’ll have to double up on one of them.”
“The skinny guy?” Dick suggest and she nodded. “Alright. Let’s do this.”
She traced her boot against the ground it flashed before a pillar of ice threw them forward. Flipping forward she landed fist first ice exploding around her and knocking Hunter off his feet.
Dick landed next and threw his hand forward the chain flying forward. It struck and wrapped around Hunter’s body before tightening as Dick pulled him down. Raising his other arm he almost commanded the second chain when suddenly he was lifted off the ground and dragged backwards across the ground.
Glancing over his shoulder he saw Bruce and his glowing hammer. Samantha turned around and hit the ground sending a pillar to appear in front of Dick stopping him from going further. Despite the pul grinding him into the pillar he was able to get his bearings.
“Gracias,” he shouted and his chains rattled against the ground and coming back to his aid.
Samantha dropped her gaze from him and went back toward Hunter. He stood up and clasped both hands together, both of them glowing brightly as he smirked. “Oh. I’m going to enjoy blowing you up.” Tossing both arms forward a net of glowing orbs sailed her way, some glowing brighter than the others.
Samantha raised her arm and dragged her hand across the gauntlet. Darts of ice flew from the gauntlets shooting the orbs before they got close. She managed to shoot down some but not all of them. Exploding one by one the explosions blasted her off her feet and back onto the train tracks.
The explosions cracked the ice pillar behind Dick but didn’t break down. Suddenly the pull lessened and Dick looked behind the pillar but Bruce was gone. Just as he went to move toward Samantha the pillar shattered and something struck him in the back sending him flying across the platform.
Whipping his chain outward it wrapped around a subway pillar and he swung toward it. Raising his feet, he slammed into it then slid to the ground pain groaning. Every movement radiated with pain but he moved his chains back and wrapped around his arms.
Bruce twirled the hammer and started sprinting toward him. Dick grabbed his chain and started spinning before throwing the chain. Bruce raised the hammer to block the blow but the chain dipped slightly and quickly wrapped around the weapon. Bruce raised the hammer and it glowed for a faint second and then went away.
Bruce frowned in response but then yanked the hammer. The chain went taut and suddenly Dick was being dragged forward and off his feet. Flying toward the rogue Bruce took a step back, ready to smash the hammer into Dick’s face. Thinking quickly Dick’s eyes went wide and he threw his chain to the ceiling.
Embedded deep within it he raised his legs and swung over Bruce. He landed, rolled, and whirled around swinging both chains at Bruce. They wrapped around one arm each and he tried to pull Bruce forward but the man was big enough that Dick was getting dragged instead.
Samantha stepped to the side leaving a clone of ice in her place as an orb crashed into it. The ice took the brunt of the explosion and she sprinted right back toward the platform. Hunter molded another orb before pitching it right after her. Samantha narrowed her eyes and her hand darted forward, plucking it from the air and throwing it at Bruce.
The orb slammed into his back and exploded sending him stumbling forward. Dick yanked with both arms pulling him to the ground as Samantha climbed onto the platform. The hammer clanged against the ground and Dick struggled to keep the man down while he was winded. She glanced at her hand and saw that the gauntlet was slightly singed.
“We need to make our break for it,” She said to Dick quickly. “If we’re fast enough he won’t be able to get his hammer.”
“Alright Captitan.”
Letting go off the rogue the chains whipped back to his side as they ran. Hunters hands glowed but she slid low, sliding toward him on a sheet of ice. He jumped aside and watched as Samantha whirled around and watched as Dick’s chain flew toward her. She grasped it with both hands and yanked him forward along the same path.
“No you don’t,” Hunter mumbled and flexed his fingers before slapping it against the ground.
It glowed and suddenly Dick was being launched backwards, the ground shattering by a new explosion. Samantha stumbled forward, the chain slipping from her hands. Scrabbling to his feet and ducking through the smoke Hunter shouted, “Bruce! Grab him!” Clasping his hands together he turned toward Samantha throwing a small array of bombs at her.
Samantha ran forward then covered her face as the bombs went off, peppering her with explosions. Stumbling backwards she stomped the ground and slid backwards out of the haze of dust. “Dick run!”
Dick grunted as he started to stand when he was suddenly being sucked backwards. The pull was stronger than before and he couldn’t get his chains to cooperate. Colliding with his chest, Bruce wrapped his arm around Dick’s throat keeping him down. Stomping the hammer against the ground he used it again and Hunter all but flew over to them.
“Let me go!” Dick shouted as he struggled against them. He flexed his hand and one of the chains flared to life darting at Bruce like a snake.
“Take a nap,” Hunter said moving over and resting his hand on his face. It flashed with light and then exploded knocking Dick’s face backwards. His head slumped forward almost limply, hair a little singed. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Agreed,” Bruce turned and started running into the train tunnel.
Hunter followed quickly and he spared a glance back at the platform to watch Samantha sliding forward. She jumped off crafting a spear between her hands. Hunter had already spawned a bomb and threw it toward the ceiling. It exploded and with it the ceiling came down in chunks of concrete.
Letting out a scream of frustration she stabbed the rocks with the spear and it shattered on contact. Punching the rubble, she shattered some of the stone but her gauntlet jolted and she sank to her knee letting out a whimper of pain. Glancing at her gauntlet she saw part of the knuckle had broken off.
“Dammit!” Staring at a hole in the rubble she saw nothing but darkness from beyond it. Gripping her hair, she let out a long string of profanity as her Geist faded away and left her with shaking and cold hands. Taking a shuddering breath, she forced herself to get it together and get to her feet. She had to get out of here before any authorities showed up. Explaining the fight that happened here wasn’t going to fly. Climbing back onto the platform she ran toward the stairs and ducked her head down exiting the station.
There was a crowd gathered out there and as she left she slumped against one of the hand rails and coughed keeping her head down. Someone came to help her out and she coughed mumbling a thank you. Flashing lights were everywhere but she shut her eyes and focused. There was no ringing which meant no wraiths.
She was told to wait there and a paramedic was going to come see her but she ignored that. Slipping out of the crowd she walked over to a drug store. She bought some bandages to wrap around her hand and a bottle of painkillers. Taking a few she shuddered and turned to stare in the direction of the construction site.
If they were taking Dick anywhere it was there. She checked her phone and there weren’t any new messages from Lily or Betty. Her heart sank and she shoved her phone into her pocket with a hard shake of her head. “First Dick and now Captain and Lily.”
She wiped her eyes and glared. “I’ll find you and I’ll get you out of there,” she mumbled.
Moving quickly down the street she got to two corners down and leaned against a bus stop and got her phone out again. Opening a browser, she goggled quickly to learn about that construction site. If she was lucky she could find some other way in there.
The bus creaked to a stop in front of her and paying for her fair she hopped aboard and sat near a window in the back. Her phone loaded up a few articles but she found the one immediately relevant to her. “The old library. It was the main library until a decade ago. A lot of water damage to the basement caused the destruction of a lot of books and started the movement to build a new building.”
She left that article and moved to another one that was a follow up only a few years prior. “The grand reopening of the library after several renovations and movement of books to the new property. With this new property the old was slated for demolition. To be commenced sometime in the coming years.”
Lowering her phone, she stared out the window holding her chin in thought. “So that’s what the construction is. And that flooding would explain the digging underneath the property. If there were flooding issues then maybe there was something under there that needs to be filled in.” Going to another sewer was not what she was eager to jump into but she started searching up old maps of the city.
The bus jolted her out of her thoughts but she kept the browser open as she got off it. As she got to the side walk she recognized where she was and knew that she was close. Ignoring the site itself she crossed the street and found herself stumbling into a park. Trees deep in the middle but walking paths curving around it.
The paths converged to a small pond with a few benches set up. She could easily imagine ducks and geese hanging around for people to feed despite the number of signs that said do not do this. But at the present it was frozen over. What she was looking at though was a gate. It kept things from flowing out of the pond and into a sewer drain. The entrance was big enough that she could crouch and get through it at best.
Walking towards it she stepped onto the pond then skated forward like she made the ice herself. Sliding toward the gate easily she grabbed the bars and her geist flared to life. Gripping it tightly she watched it freeze over then punched it in. Glancing behind her she made sure no one was immediately near her then dove in feet first. She was in the tunnel for what felt like hours but in reality, just a few seconds. Cold water sloshed around and she ignored anything that felt solid around her.
Finally, she came out and gasped jerking her legs forward as she crashed onto the ground. Rolling forward and through the water she groaned at the smell and brought her mask up around her face. Glancing around it was dark and she got her phone out using the flashlight.
She was in a curved dip in the ground, sludge pouring in from various drains from god knows where in the city. The stone was formerly concrete but it was stained to a much darker hue. Shivering she pulled her jacket closer and glanced at the map that she had pulled up on her phone. It took some reorienting but she got settled and pointed herself back toward the construction site.
Keeping her eyes ahead and not thinking about what was around her feet she started walking forward. Each step splashed in the muck and a few times she heard squeaking and swear she saw some tiny glowing eyes in the darkness, catching the light from her phone. As she walked she couldn’t stop picturing her friends hurt. Taken captive.
Letting out a shout she stomped her foot into the ground and a lance of ice spiked from the water and into the ceiling. Bringing her fist back she shattered it and felt the ice clink against her armor and back.
“Get it together Samantha. They need you to be together. To be the captain you trained to be.” Betty, Lily and Dick’s face appeared in her mind, smiling and staring at her. They were confident in her, they trusted her and she hadn’t let them down.
Taking a deeper breath, she raised her head and looked at her map again to double check where she was going again. Slowing and taking another deep breath she started down the path with her back straight steeling herself for what was coming next.
The Harlequin Library 