Graffiti lines the walls, some fresh while others are long faded. Full murals of hand-painted masterpieces and messages of peace are scattered amongst the hate, but the anger takes center stage.
Sloppy spray-painted curses, an ongoing back and forth of threats, and promises to reclaim the city. Trepidation tickles my spine as I stare at the words that feel like a bullseye on my forehead.
Kill the beasts.
The monsters must pay.
Spill their blood.
Pictures join the threats—knives covered in red splatters and orange flames surrounding screaming silhouettes. My throat works in a nervous swallow as my gaze darts around the dark tunnels.
The anger is justified.
It’srighteous, aimed at a group of people who made themselves the enemy from day one.
“You okay?” Bash murmurs from beside me.
I glance at him with my lip bitten between my teeth. My reaction is to smile and say I’m fine, and wear the mask that’s become so much a part of my identity it’s seamless.
But I’m so damn tired of hiding behind it.
I gesture at the walls and the ugly words written across them. “It just kind of hit me that I don’t have a lot of friends.”
He tilts his head in question, the balls of his brow piercing reflecting the light with the motion. “What do you mean?”
“Everyone hates me,” I say, casting another glance at the graffiti. “My kind are hunting me, and your kind want me dead, too. Doesn’t exactly bring the warm fuzzies.”
Bash slides closer and hooks his arm around my waist. We’re a little clumsy as we walk like this, struggling to sync our footsteps, but I’d never push him away.
“You know I’d protect you, right?” he asks, watching me closely.
I glance over. “Can’t protect me from the entire world, I’m afraid.”
His hum sounds unconvinced. “I can certainly try. I won’t even need a gun—”
“Because you have horrible aim,” I tease, a tiny grin sneaking onto my mouth.
He rolls his eyes. “—but give me the right chemicals and I’ll go scorched earth on their asses.”
I chuckle as I lean in and press a kiss on his lips. “Saving the world one makeshift bomb at a time.”
“Damn straight,” he says with a nod. “Don’t mess with the nerds.”
“Mistake number one,” I agree with a widening smile. “You’re a triple whammy too. Comic nerd and a hero complex mixed with all that science shit.”
Bash snickers as he playfully shoves me away, but quickly takes my hand again.
“You two are sweet,” Ego chirps from her place in the lead.
Cato scoffs and mutters, “Too much sugar is bad for your health.”
I lean forward just enough to catch Cato’s eye over Bash’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, big guy. I’ll make sure Bash gets his daily dose of protein to balance it out.”
Bash
EgoandSakaneleadthe group along the abandoned tracks, and the echo of our footsteps in the empty tunnel makes me jumpy. Every noise in this place is a threat. Creaks and drips emerge from the darkness and put my nerves on edge, and I’m ready to be somewhere I can breathe again. My anxiety can’t handle this suspense.
My stomach knots, but I try to keep my face neutral. Whatever stress I feel is amplified tenfold for Xeni. He’s worrying about escaping, but beneath that lies the nagging fear of his father that’s engrained so deeply it’s written on his bones. I don’t want to cause him any more worry than he’s already carrying.
