The Secret of the Supers (The First Superhero Book 4) (4 page)

I
didn’t bother picking
my feet up as I shuffled through the dark forest, my glowing blue eyes lighting the way. I scanned the ground, exactly what I was looking for I wasn’t sure. Anything at all, I guess.

After mine and Selena’s encounter with Genna and the other white-eyed Supers, I spent an hour or two trying to get some rest. That didn’t seem as if it was going to happen, so I decided to fly out to the woods I was in now. The woods were where I last saw Samantha.

Just a few miles straight ahead sat the remains of the army base we’d commandeered before Raven took over. It was a base that Samantha had found, brought everything over from where we were standing, and convinced some of the troops there to help our cause. She’d done that all on her own while Selena and I were overseas, fighting our own battles. She was so strong and courageous, I couldn’t help but smile thinking about her. She could’ve just stayed at the store we’d been camping out in. After going through the destruction of Dallas, nobody would’ve blamed her. She and the guys could’ve used a week of rest. But that wasn’t good enough for her. She needed to make progress. The evil in the world wasn’t going to rest, and neither would she.

I walked on through the forest, searching for any sign of her that was surely gone by now. I reached a tree that had a large growth on its side like a massive tumor, and sighed. It was the same tree I’d seen a million times by now. I wasn’t making any new ground. No new discoveries. I wasn’t any closer to finding her than I was the first nine-hundred ninety-nine thousand times.

“Where’d you go, Samantha,” I said, looking down at the ground as if I’d find a map straight to her sitting on top of the dirt. The crickets chirped around me and the trees whispered as they blew through the wind. The smell of pine and dirt filled my nose. A wonderful smell that I loved, but didn’t care to appreciate at the moment.

I sat down on the tumor-tree the best I could, although it was more of a lean than a proper sit. I sighed as I looked around, the green woods being tinted blue by the light from my eyes. I let my mind wander. I thought about my parents. It’d been so long since I
actually
talked to them. Face-to-face. Not through Samantha, but an actual conversation. I didn’t even know if they were safe. What if someone found out who they were? What if one of the other refugees told the STF just so they could get more food, or a bigger bed? Would they do something like that, or would they know better? Surely if someone knew whose parents they were, they’d know to leave them alone. Because if I ever found out that something happened to them and that there was someone responsible, I wasn’t going to be very happy with them to say the least.

The sound of a twig cracking rang through the night like a blast from a shotgun. I sat up straight and looked around for the source of the sound. It was probably just an animal, but I wasn’t going to take any chances. Especially not after having to fight as many Supers as I had to that day. Of course with just my luck another one would show up, not letting me end the day without just
one
more confrontation.

A blue light shone through the trees right at me. “Who’s there?” I asked.

“It’s just me,” Selena said as she emerged from the trees and walked towards where I was resting.

I relaxed and sat back. “What are you doing out here?”

“Probably the same thing as you,” Selena said. She stopped in front of me, getting down on one knee to rest.

“Want my seat?” I asked.

“It doesn’t look like much of one,” she said with a smirk. “Keep it, you earned it today.”

I smiled and sat back. “Out here looking for Samantha?”

Selena nodded. “Yeah, or at least that’s what I’m telling myself. Really it’s nice to just get out and be on my own. That house can get a little small sometimes.”

I nodded. “It’s pretty nice out here. A great place to think.”

“That’s for sure. I was flying over to the place I normally go to when I saw a blue light down here. Figured it was you, but just wanted to swing by to be sure.”

“Yep, it’s just me.”

We sat in silence for a few moments, our minds wandering off. “Do you think we could rescue my parents?” I asked before I even knew what I was saying.

Selena looked up at me. She paused for a few moments, going over the possibilities in her mind. “Well, if anyone could do it, I think we could. I’m not sure why, though.”

“Why not?” I asked sitting up, agitated with her response.

“I think they’re safe where they are. I mean, you had to defend two different communities today from attacks by Supers. It’s getting crazier and crazier out here by the day. No one knows exactly where the STF bases are. Besides, the STF’s goal is to keep humans safe.” Selena stood from the ground and shrugged. “I think your parents are going to be perfectly fine.” She brushed the dirt from her jeans and stood up straight. She began floating in the air up towards the tree line. “I’m gonna go look around. Try and get some rest though, Kane. You could use it.” With that, she turned and flew into the night sky, the trees bending as the wind from her flight brushed through them.

I sighed and stood from the tree. My eyelids were feeling quite heavy. Selena was probably right. I needed some rest. I was betting that maybe after shutting my mind off for a few hours, I’d be able to think things through much more clearly. I was feeling better about my parents at least, so that was good.

I took off and flew towards the house that we called home. I flew right towards my bedroom window, opening it up and floating right through. I didn’t want to wake anybody up by going through the front door, which had hinges that screamed like a banshee. After switching from my jeans and t-shirt to just a pair of sweatpants, I climbed into bed, sleep finding me much easier than I’d anticipated.

“
K
ane
!” Samantha screamed.

My eyes shot open, and I was surrounded by white. I floated above a sea of white liquid. It rippled like the ocean, its pure white beauty stretching out as far as I could see, before disappearing into a gray fog. I looked behind me, and it was the same sight as the one in front of me. White ocean, gray fog. I looked up, and all I could see was white as far as the eye could see.

“Kane!” I heard Samantha scream, a bit quieter this time.

“Samantha!” I shouted. I flew towards the direction of the sound as fast as I could. The water—or whatever it was—below me shot into the sky as I flew above it fast. The fog continued to envelop me, revealing nothing new about my surroundings. I slowed down and looked around, searching for any sign of Samantha. “Can you hear me?” I shouted. “Call out again! I’ll find you!”

“Kane!” She shouted, even quieter this time.

I panicked as I realized I wasn’t getting closer, but had been flying further away. I flew back the way I came, forcing myself to go as fast as I could, although still being aware of my surroundings, trying to search for any sign of her. But there was nothing. I couldn’t find a single clue besides the few times she shouted my name.

I stopped, breathing heavily not because I’d exerted myself, but because I was panicking. She was slipping away from my grasp. I was losing the closest chance I had to finding her.

“Kane!” I heard her shout, barely above a whisper.

“Samantha,” I said, my eyes watering from frustration and disappointment. “I can’t find you, Samantha,” I admitted, each word piercing my chest like a knife.

“Kane,” I heard someone say behind me, clear as day.

I spun around, and saw her walking towards me on the white water below. The woman who I’d made a deal with. The woman who brought Doug back from the dead.

Athena.

She stood on the white water. It rippled around her feet, buzzing with energy. Her white silky robes floated around her, breezing in a soft wind I hadn’t even realized existed until just then. “Did you do this?”I asked her as I floated down. “Did you take Samantha?” I shouted as I reached her. I wanted to reach out and grab her, force her to tell me what I wanted to know. But something in my mind told me that probably wasn’t the best idea.

She smiled at me, her teeth were so white they were practically glowing. Her flawless tan skin shone with vibrance and youthfulness. She was the epitome of beauty and grace. “Of course not, Kane. I’m here to help you, just as I helped you before.” Her smile turned mischievous and she cocked her head at me. “You do remember that, don’t you? The fact that I’ve only always helped you?”

“You helped me once, that doesn’t mean anything,” I said, taking out the little frustration I had left on her.

“Hmm. I’d think that you’d be a little grateful after I brought back one of your friends. You’d think your mother would’ve raised you to know that,” she said, the smile slowly disappearing from her face.

I realized what I’d done, and did my best to recover. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m just really frustrated right now. I have no idea what this place is, where my friend is, what’s going on…” I clenched my eyes shut, trying to get the thoughts straight in my head. I needed to focus. I couldn’t screw things up.

I felt a hand placed on my shoulder, and a buzz of energy shot through me. I opened my eyes and saw Athena had her hand on me, her maternal smile causing a warmth to wash over me. “Kane, do not fret. You’re safe here. As I said, I’m here to help you. You made an oath to repay me after I brought your friend Doug back from the dead. The time for you to pay your debts is approaching, but I believe we can do so in a way that’s beneficial for the both of us.” Her maternal smile changed to one that had a hard edge to it. The type of smile that said “you’d better agree with me or else.”

I nodded my head. “Of course, I made a promise. I mean to keep it.”

Athena took her hand off my shoulder and nodded. “Excellent. It seems your mother raised you well after all.” Without warning, she turned around and began walking away, back towards the fog. I wasn’t sure if I was to follow her or not, but when she paused and looked back at me, her eyes questioning, I had my answer. I flew towards where she stood, floating next to her as she continued to walk. “You asked me if I was responsible for the disappearance of your friend.”

“Yes,” I said, unsure of whether or not I was going to like what I was about to hear next.

“I am in no way responsible. However, I do know where she is located.”

Excitement surged through me like a bolt of electricity. “You do?” I all but shouted. I stopped and flew in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. “Where is she? You have to tell me where she is. Please, I’m begging you.”

Athena said nothing. She just looked at me, and then looked next to her where I’d just been floating moments before. I got the message, and returned to my spot by her side. “I will tell you, Kane, do not worry,” she said as she began walking. “But I’ve already given you one favor, one that you have yet to return.”

The excitement floated away, replaced with trepidation. Now it was time to find out what Athena really wanted. “What do you need me to do?”

“Soon you will get a call for help from your friends in London,” Athena said as she walked gracefully, her robes flowing behind her. She watched me out of the corner of her eye, and I did my best to keep my gaze forward. “I want you to go to them and do whatever it is they ask.”

“And leave Samantha behind? I can’t just abandon my search for her,” I said, shaking my head. Was Athena really asking me this? Surely she knew that giving up on Samantha was something I’d never do.

“Nevertheless, it’s something you must do. You said you’d do anything when we made our deal to bring Doug back,” Athena said.

“I didn’t mean that, though. I was just saying that in the moment, I would’ve agreed to anything,” I said, searching for a way out.

Athena nodded her head. “I know you would’ve agreed to anything, because that’s exactly what you did. Now you must honor your word, Kane Andrews.” She stopped walking and turned to face me. “You may think I’m just a woman trapped inside a bottle of
asthenés plásma
, but you’d be gravely mistaken. I have a reach that’s stronger than you could imagine.” The water beneath me began to pick up intensity, and the wind began to blow a bit harder. “Do not test me, Kane Andrews. I’m able to enter your mind even though we’re hundreds of miles away. Just think of what else I could do if I
really
wanted to.”

Her eyes radiated with power, and I could tell that she meant business. I nodded my head. “I understand,” I said.

Athena smiled and the seas and wind calmed. “Very good. Now, you will go to your friends and help them, like any good friend should.” The tone she had in her voice felt patronizing. This deal seemed all too simple. “Once you’re there, just do what you would normally do. You’ll hear from me when I need you to do something for me. I just have a few more things to take care of before I let you know exactly what that is.”

I didn’t like the sound of that one bit. “No, if I’m doing this for you, you’re going to have to tell me exactly what you need me to do.”

Athena shook her head as she turned to look at me. “I don’t think so, Kane. You’re going to do exactly what I tell you to, because that’s the deal that we made.” She smiled and placed an arm on my shoulder like she did earlier. She looked at me, her eyes comforting. “I’ve only ever helped you in the past, Kane. I’ve always looked out for you, even when you had no idea. Trust me, I’m trying to help you.”

I furrowed my eyebrows, not quite understanding what she was saying. “What do you mean you looked out for me even when I didn’t know?”

Athena chuckled to herself, shaking her head. “You think the only reason you weren’t totally affected by the
asthenés plásma
was because you were more powerful than all the other Supers around? No, it’s because I allowed you to have just enough of your abilities to give yourself an advantage over your enemies.” She took her hand off my shoulder, and left me standing there, totally taken aback.

She was helping me all that time. Taking away the powers of my enemies, and giving me mine just when I needed them.

“I want to defeat Atlas, Kane. I really, really do,” she continued. “But to do that I’m going to need your help. If you trust me completely, and go to London like I’ve asked you, when you’re done with your task I will tell you where Samantha is located.”

My heart skipped beat at the mention of her name, and I knew exactly what I had to do. I nodded my head. “Okay, I’ll do it.”

Athena clapped her hands together and smiled. “Excellent! I’ll ta—”

A bright flash of lightning striking nearby followed by the deafening crack of thunder interrupted her. I nearly jumped out of my skin as I ducked down, my face floating inches above the white water.

I looked up at Athena, who was searching around for the source of the blast. Another one cracked nearby, even closer this time. The sea below me picked up intensity, and the fog thickened. I looked up at the sky as it was beginning to turn gray.

“Kane, you have to get out of here!” Athena yelled as she ran to me, picking me up.

As I looked into her eyes, I saw fear that turned my insides cold. “I can’t protect you here. I’m losing energy. You
have
to g—” Athena flew backwards as if she had a rope tied around her waist and someone with super strength yanked on it as hard as they could.

“Athena!” I yelled as she flew backwards towards the fog.

“Go!” she yelled as she disappeared into the fog.

I flew to where Athena disappeared, flying as fast as I could towards her. I couldn’t find her anywhere I looked. “Athena!” I yelled, searching all around for her, but I couldn’t find any sign of her. Whatever grabbed her was long gone.

The world around me grew darker and darker. The sea became choppy and waves grew to be a few feet tall. I noticed the lightning begin to take on a greenish hue. The fog was beginning to turn a dark green as well.

Panic gripped my heart. Something was going very, very wrong. Even Athena was afraid. If something could take her away like it did, I knew it’d be able to take care of me easily. I had to get out of here. But how could I do that? Did I just fly and fly until I reached a door and just walk through it?

Lightning struck just a few inches in front of me interrupting my thoughts and sending me flying backwards. My whole body buzzed with electricity has I flew back, stopping myself just before I hit the water. I looked up, and couldn’t believe my eyes.

Floating above the stormy seas, right where the lightning had struck just moments before, was a man. His body radiated a beautiful green light. He eyes shone a radiant green, piercing through the fog. He turned and looked right at me, and my body felt cold to its core.

“Kane!” the man shouted in a booming voice that shook my bones.

He floated towards me, and I panicked. If that was the man that could scare Athena, I knew he meant nothing but trouble for me.

That’s when it hit me. This was all in my head. I mean, I believed it was all
real
, but I mean Athena came to me after I fell asleep. Just like when I made the deal for Doug’s life with her and my body was actually just lying in a storage closet, not standing above Doug’s body in the gymnasium.

I knew that my body was just lying in bed back in the house we called home.

I closed my eyes as the glowing green man was just a few feet away, and when I opened them, I was in my bedroom.

The whole place was lit up in a bright white light.