At the entrance to the hospital, a man stepped through the automated doors. The chances a guy dressed in all black without a face happened to be a superhero were low. The trench coat of billowing smoke and the lines of dark clouds pouring off his head all pointed toward villain.
I knew the figure, but I couldn’t—the bridge. His arms weren’t as lengthy, and he had replaced the talons with smoky hands, but it was him. This time, I wouldn’t be able to rely on Lei mowing him down with the truck.
“What now?” asked Aiden.
“I choose guard,” I said.
“Dude has a gun,” Aiden said.
I noticed that. An average person with a gun didn’t worry me as much as the dude with smoke for a face. A woman screamed, running in our direction with her fingers poised to scratch my eyes. Before she reached us, Aiden jabbed her in the throat, dropping the attacker.
“I’m impressed.” Impressed and turned on. As a trio of nurses wrestled with a doctor, it was not the time to think with my cock. Whatever madness had spread through the hospital, I had to assume it had something to do with Mr. Monochrome.
“I’m going for the guard. Moment he’s down, run downthe hall. Past the nurse’s station, there’s an exit that should get you to the parking lot.”
“But—”
“I’m not asking.”
The guard’s eyes had turned black, consumed by whatever madness seeped into the hospital. I didn’t want to slug the guy, but if it got us out of here, I’d slap him and his mom. His hand fidgeted with his holster, his fingers not as nimble as normal.
Jumping over a man in a hospital gown, I threw my arms out wide, ready to tackle the guard just as he freed his gun. Twenty pounds lighter, I took him off his feet. We hit the ground, and I didn’t waste time yelling at Aiden. “Run!”
He ran toward the swinging doors and hesitated while I attempted to bat the gun out of the guard’s hand. “Go, I’ll be right behind you.” I slugged the man under me, less concerned with him and more with the supervillain waltzing through the emergency room.
Aiden vanished, and as the doors swung back and forth, I could see him bolting. A few seconds later, the gun fired. The tip of the weapon rested against my shoulder, and like before, I could feel the impact of the bullet. No pain. I didn’t wait for a second shot. One punch, two, three, and on the pull back for a fourth, the guard’s body went limp.
“Stay down,” I mumbled.
“Can it be? A hero?”
I rolled off the guard to see the villain had worked his way across the lobby. His leather jacket moved awkwardly until I figured out it was smoke wafting into the air. Even his head, features hidden in the black, rose off his shoulders like he was composed of fumes. Half a dozen of the black-eyed citizens of Vanguard stood at his back, a squad of backup dancers ready to put on a show.
“I’m not a hero,” Xander barked.
“Not for long.”
8
With a simple swatfrom the back of his hand, he sent me flying across the emergency room. The reception desk broke my fall and, quite possibly, one of my ribs. A man that thin shouldnotbe that strong. Before I could make sure my bones were pointing in the right direction, one of his crazed nurses jumped on me.
I braced my forearm against her throat, keeping her at bay as she snarled. A beefy gal, she should have weighed more or at least required some effort to stop her chomping teeth from sinking into my cheek. My knuckles connected with her jaw and she flew off, rolling into the uncomfortable waiting room chairs.
“Take that, hose beast.” The days in the gym had paid off.
The man in the trench coat paused his approach, eyeing the woman lying on the floor. I had a moment of worry. Did I kill her? Was she savable? Oh God, what had I done? Staring at my hands, I quickly realized that being bulletproof might not be the only ability Prometheus had bestowed upon me.
“You’re not depowered.” He sounded shocked at the revelation. “When I’m done with you, perhaps I’ll find your friend.” The man’s voice had a chalky quality, as if he’d spent most of his youth sipping whisky and smoking cigars. It made me want to punch him even harder. Okay, everything made me want to punch somebody. This time it’d be justified.
“Ass clown, if you go near him, I’ll tear out your insides.” I let out a sigh of relief as the nurse rolled onto her back, shaking her head. When she sat upright, she checked her limbs, then patted down her chest. She had returned to normal. Once I knew the rules of the game, I could play.
“You and what army? You can’t even handle my faithful followers.” Griffin was right, give a villain a chance to talk and they’re going to spew some cryptic bullshit. His love of superheroes might actually be an asset right now. I needed to give Aiden time to get away.
“What’s your name? I want to know what to put on your tombstone.” This punk had ruined my shift, and somebody was going to be on the receiving end of my rage. It might aswell be a villain. I was starting to understand why heroes got such a thrill from bashing bad guys.
The people in the room, still consumed by his influence, stopped fighting. They moved as one, standing upright and turning to face me. The man, with smoky wisps emanating from his head, quickly became the least scary thing in the room. I could drive my knuckles into him, but his minions, it was harder to justify hurting innocent people.
“Smoke,” they said in unison.
