Page 123

Electricity snarled as Miss Conduct stepped forward. White-hot lightning flew from her fingertips, striking the shattered glass and water. The electricity snapped across the water with a burning sizzle, fusing the glass around Shadow Star, trapping him inside. For a moment, Nick thought that was it, that it was over, finally, at last. But then Shadow Star screamed, and the glass ball detonated into powder, the waterspout swaying, starting to diminish.

“Huh,” Miles said. “Didn’t expect that.”

“Amateurs,” Bob muttered, taking a step forward, belly jiggling slightly. “Let me show you how it’s done.” The fireball began to grow in his hands, flames licking his fingers. “Seth, are you watching? Look at this! Pretty cool, right?”

“Very cool,” Pyro Storm agreed.

“Yeah,” Bob said. “I thought so, too. Now I just have to figure out how to throw the darn thing.”

“Bob!” Dad yelled.“Duck!”

Bob immediately dropped to the ground, twisting over onto his back as Shadow Star flew toward him, and right when he was above the fireball, Bob pushed itup.The fire hit Shadow Star in the stomach, flipping him over. He hit the pavement, skidding toward the tow truck. He was up before he stopped sliding, rushing back toward them, hands outstretched, mouth hanging open.

“Our turn,” Gibby said, stepping away from Nick and Seth. “Jazz?”

“Oh, I’ve been waiting for this,” Jazz said. Raising her voice, she cried, “Cap!”

Cap stuck out his foot right when Shadow Star passed him by, causing him to trip. He stumbled forward, momentum carrying him. Before he could recover, Gibby crouched low in front of him, then threw herself up. Her shoulder hit Shadow Star in the stomach, his breath exploding from his mouth in a wheezing grunt. Not to be outdone, Jazz stepped forward as Gibby moved out of the way. She cocked her fist back and let it fly. Her knuckles collided with Shadow Star’s bared teeth, knocking him back against the guardrail. For a moment, Nick thought he’d go up and over the railing, but he managed to keep from falling.

“Punching doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would,” Jazz said as Gibby snorted. “I hope I get to do it again soon. Maybe even in the next few seconds, because Owen doesn’t seem to get it yet.”

Shadow Star rose unsteadily to his feet and stalked toward them, but Miss Conduct moved in front of him. “I don’t like hurting other queer people,” she told him. “But for you, I’ll make an exception.” She clapped her hands together, and electricity arced around her. When Shadow Star threw a clumsy punch, she sidestepped it easily, slamming her glowing hand into his back, causing him to seize, teeth grinding together. Electricity coursed through him, shredding his costume, revealing lines of tan skin. The costume struggled to re-form as he took another hard step forward. Miss Conduct crouched low as she spun, leg kicking out, hitting the back of his knees. Shadow Star fell forward, landing facedown on the ground.

Miss Conduct rose above him, glaring. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay down.”

He did not, apparently, know what was good for him, because he started to push himself up. He laughed harshly, head bowed. “You think… this is enough… to stop me?” He raised his head, looking directly at Nick. “You werewrong.”

“Heard you liked to play catch,” Dad called, and thesoundNick made when he saw his father standing on the bridge was something he wasn’t proud of. It came out in a high-pitched wheeze, similar to a tire deflating, but he thought he could be forgiven for this, seeing as how Dad had a red Mini Cooper floating above his head. “Catchthis.”

The Mini Cooper flew toward Shadow Star, who screeched as he dove to the ground. The car bounced off the bridge only a few feet from Shadow Star’s head, flipping over him and into the water below.

“Oops,” Dad said. “Hope that was insured.” He looked at Nick. “Whenever you damage someone else’s property, you need to own up to it. Did anyone get the license plate?”

“Maybe now’s not the best time,” Nick said. “Seeing as how Owenwon’t stay down.”

“You’re damn right I won’t,” Shadow Star snapped as he pushed himself up once more. He looked a little unsteady, hands shaking, panting heavily. “You think you’re all enough to stop me? You’renot.I could do this forever. I will…” He groaned, wrapping his arms around his stomach as his eyes squeezed shut.

Nick took a step toward him, only stopping when Pyro Storm grabbed his wrist. “Don’t,” he whispered harshly. “It’s a trap. He’s trying to catch us off guard.”

“Something’s wrong,” Nick said, never looking away from Owen. “He’s…”

Shadow Star collapsed to his knees, head bowed in front of him.

Pyro Storm—Seth—tried to hold Nick back, but he pulled free. Dad called his name as he rushed toward Shadow Star. Falling to his knees, Nick hesitated before putting his hands on either side of Shadow Star’s helmet. Lifting it off, he tossed it aside.

Owen Burke blinked slowly, dazed, eyes unfocused. Nick gasped when he saw Owen’s skin was almost translucent, black shadows swirling underneath. “The pills,” Owen whispered. “It hurts, Nicky.”

“I know,” Nick said, touching the side of Owen’s face. He recoiled when Owen’s cheekbulged,a shadow trying to force its way through. Owen had done so much to hurt them, to hurt others. He’d taken lives, stolen people away from their families. He had to be stopped. But no one deserved this. “We can help you. You don’t have to do this anymore. You’re not your father. You’re not Patricia.”

Owen smiled weakly. “You think?”

Nick nodded.

Owen stared at him for a long moment. He turned his face into Nick’s hand. “We had something once, didn’t we?”

“We did,” Nick agreed quietly. “For once in your life, do the right thing.”

“If I say no?” Owen asked, eyes narrowed.