Page 60 of No Capes

I have nothing to escape from this time. No adrenaline to fuel any sort of superpower, but maybe I could trick myself. I could try to believe that Arielle really is in danger, rather than playing some weird game with her husband and guests, and I’m her only hope.

I run through the tall hallways, sprinting to feel any kind of fire. Because if there’s a fire, the water part of me may want to put it out. Maybe that’s how I exploded the bottom of city hall. I race down the halls until I can’t remember where I’d come from, or how to get back to the ballroom, and I’m lost in Arielle’s house. Alone.

This is why Fox wanted to come with you.Carpeting keeps me from hearing any footsteps; my own. Or Arielle’s. Classic that all of this spookiness is happening on Halloween.

A flirtatious shriek rings around the next corner, and I jog to find its source. As my eyes adjust to the dim hallway, I make out a figure.

“Zane, stop.” A second laugh. Make that two figures.

“Arielle?” I whisper.

They break apart, but neither of them is Arielle. It’s two tuxedoed men—one I don’t recognize, wearing a green tuxedo and mask, and one wearing a bright red mask and bow tie.

Damian.

Damian.

“I’m sorry.” I say, “I was just looking for Arielle.” I turn and hurry away, not expecting thisat all.

“Wait, Madeline.” Damian follows me, and I let him catch up.

This whole time, I thought Damian might be D.S. But he said stop to Zane, who must be Zane Milligan, in the green mask.

Now I understand why he broke up with Molly. Now I see what was going on in the comic shop.

“I’m sorry.” I say, “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I won’t tell anyone.”

“No, it’s okay,” he says politely. “Why are you looking for Arielle?”

“Phil can’t find her, but it’s fine, I doubt she went far.”

“Good luck,” says Damian, sounding like he means it.

“Thanks, you too,” I reply, shuffling away.Why did I say that?I pinch myself as I find yet another staircase.

I can barely believe what I saw, but some events from the past 24 hours have fallen into place. Damian’s parents don’t consider that love can exist between two men, and I can’t imagine the lengths Damian has had to go to keep that secret.Does Molly know?Is that what they’d been arguing about at Brynn’s party?

And. If he was with Zane…Damian isn’t D.S.

On the fourth floor of the mansion, my palms sweat, moisture beading near my wrists. In my clammy state, a faint idea of a destination forms, and I visualize the last drops from a jet falling into a bathtub’s basin.Maybe…

As I concentrate, something at the end of the hallway pulls me past another 2,000 portraits and wasted rooms.DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.I find a door left slightly ajar, as if someone had wanted to close it, but was in too much of a rush.

I push the door open to discover what it’s hiding. Dizziness overwhelms my entire body as I step into the room. The color pink dominates every centimeter of space.

Pink couches, pink chairs, pink coffee table, pink shelves with pink trophies on them. Yep, I’ve found Arielle’s suite. Inside the room is an adjacent bathroom, which is immaculately tiled with faint blue and purple checkers, and built right into the corner is Arielle’s massive jacuzzi.There ya go, Mads. I revel in my triumph.

Despite this, Arielle is nowhere in sight.

“Arielle?” I shout, peeking around the jacuzzi.

Click.The bathroom door swings shut. I have company.

“Shhhhhhh,” whispers D.S. “Roberts. What are you doing?”

Dark Static has changed into his super suit, his spandex armor showing off his athletic figure, and his long boots making him look lightning fast.

I lean against the jacuzzi for balance. “Arielle’s missing, or haven’t you heard?” Wait, D.S. can track people. “Can you find her? With her phone?”