“We should move inside as fast as we can,” said Aiden.
Across from him, Mini—and even Brynne—looked thoroughly creeped out.
“It’s okay,” said Aru, even though that was far from how she felt. “There’s no one here.”
On her wrist, there was a surge of heat fromVajra.
“I think you spoke too soon, Shah,” said Brynne.
When Aru looked up from the flyer, she nearly stoppedbreathing.What had been an empty street before was now filled with Heartless. There were at least fifteen stalking toward them, each with a blank, slack-jawed expression.
Aru heard aclickas Aiden snapped a photo.
“This issonot the time for that!” she said.
But Aiden ignored her.He seemed to be focusing on something she couldn’t see.
“We’re blocked off!” said Mini, pointing at the entrance to the aquarium.
Kamadeva’s instructions had been clear:Take the door on the left.But they couldn’t get to it. A line of Heartless stood there, as if they knew that was where the Pandavas and Aiden were headed.
One Heartless stalked closer. He was wearing an Apple store shirt thatsaidHI!I’M A GENIUS.HOW CAN I HELP? In one sharp move, Aiden hit the pavement with his scimitar. The Heartless hissed and reared back.
“What happened to your aim?” demanded Brynne.
“I did it on purpose,” said Aiden. “If I hit one with a sword and he doesn’t get hurt, they’ll all just attack.”
“Oh right. We can’t use our weapons against them,” said Brynne grimly. She raised her fists in afighter’s stance. “So be it.”
“Hold up, Rocky,” said Aru. “We have to get to the door on the left. But we can’t let them see where we’re going….”
Mini brandished Dee Dee and a shield flickered around them, but the Heartless didn’t stop. They groaned and shuffled closer.
“We can’t fight them,” said Aru. “We have to do something different.”
“Like hide?” asked Mini.
“Don’t be such a baby,” Brynnescoffed.
That made Mini stand up straighter. In her daughter of the god of death outfit, shelookedscary in that second.
“I’m the oldest Pandava, remember? And I meant what I said,” asserted Mini. “We can still use our weapons, just not to fight. We can use them tohide. What if I turned my shield into a mirror?”
Aru snapped her fingers. “YES! That’ll trick them!”
“Good idea,” said Aiden.
Guilt flickered on Brynne’s face. Aiden gave her a gentle nudge.
Brynne looked at the ground, fidgeting with one of her trophy bracelets. “Um, I can add to that?”
Mini nodded. “Good.”
Mini’s purple shield ballooned over the four of them. It was her best casting yet. Brynne turned her choker back into a mace and swung it over her head. A cold wind picked up. All at once, the sheets of paper coveringthe sidewalk lifted into the air. Brynne twirled the mace as if she were going to lasso the papers, and they spiraled like a cyclone toward the charging zombies. At the same time, Mini made a quicksilver substance pour over her shield. It made a one-way mirror they could see through but the zombies couldn’t.
The Heartless stopped short.
“HNGHHHHHH?!” the Apple-Genius-Heartless zombie shoutedin confusion.
