Page 91 of No Capes

“You need a Super name,” says Golden Ace.

D.S. puts one foot on the boulder, testing it with his weight. “Unfortunately, that’s the one thing we can’t help you with.”

“Supers rarely name themselves,” says Golden Ace. “Usually, the first time the media sees you, someone offers a name and it sticks. Who would ever callthemselvesSuperman?”

“Ahem,” says Dark Static. “You can pick your own name. You just gotta get it out there before anyone else. I picked mine.”

Of coursehe did.

I have powers, the best costume, and my very own mask… But a Super name?Awesome.

Dark Static and Golden Ace drag the boulder over Arielle’s flowers. Underneath is a metal door, which creaks open.

“Uh…” says Golden Ace.

“You’d better come over here, Water Girl,” says Dark Static.

I approach the passageway. “Seriously?” The cellar clearly has never fully drained, and water reaches its ceiling.

“Back up.” I crack my knuckles. The Supers back away.

Three… Two… One.I focus on draining the passageway, soaking up the water myself and taking even more energy. Within a minute, the three of us can go underground.

“Nice job.” Golden Ace goes first. The tunnel is pitch-black, but luckily my fancy mask comes with night vision, and every detail of the tunnel is visible… especially the mold and water spots on the cement walls. D.S. pulls me behind him. We fly through before can we get sick.

~

Of all places the secret passageway could lead, the other door to it is in the Bridges’ dining room, right under their expensive table and hardwood floor. The floor we are now stuck underneath, according to Dark Static.

“Why are we here, again?” asks Golden Ace.

D.S. defends himself, “This is the only passageway I found without cameras. There used to be cameras, but the water took them out. It’s entirely possible that the Bridges gave up on this passage and tried to seal it off.”

“Entirelybeing the key word,” Golden Ace grumbles.

“Anyway.” Dark Static touches his temple. “It’s laser time.”

“There’s no one in the dining room,” Golden Ace says before Dark Static can use his powers. “But I can hear thoughts from farther up. Can’t tell whose they are. Do whatever you need to get us in.”

D.S. shoots red lasers at the ceiling and the floor rips apart, landing at our feet. I cover my nose to block the smoke.

“Boom,” says Dark Static.

Golden Ace leads the way up the final steps, entering the mansion.

“Can we cover this?” I ask. “What if we need a secret way out?”

When all three of us stand in the ornate dining room, D.S. shoots lasers at the rest of the floor, making it seem like a tornado had gone through all of it, rather than just a tiny part. Our passageway is hidden under the chaos. Unfortunately, Arielle’s long polished table got caught in the crosshairs—previously seating thirty guests, it looks like it now only comfortably seats two.

The mansion feels too quiet, and we have to hold our breaths so Golden Ace can listen for thoughts. “I found Mr. Roberts,” he says. “I think he’s the only person here. I’m not hearing any other thoughts on the entire property, only ours and Mr. Roberts’.”

“That’s either very lucky or too good to be true,” D.S. muses.

“Where is he?” I demand.

Golden Ace strains, as if reading something invisible. “Upstairs. Third floor. In the library.”

“How do we get there?” I ask D.S., who has the place memorized from studying the blueprints. I’m essentially useless with directions due to hardly ever visiting Arielle.