FIVE

It’s okay. No one is going to get hurt. That little girl is going to be okay.

The robbers had masks on, carrying semi automatics. The hostages were huddled in a small group. Tears stained some of their cheeks. The only child, a little girl, whimpered beside her mother. The woman kept her arm around her, yet she had positioned her daughter behind herself, as if to shield her from the criminals.

One of the robbers was squirming, shifting his weight from side to side. Zach smirked behind his hand. Hikaru wasn’t even using any kind of special power for this effect. She had this way with her tongue, making it clip like droplets of water. Simply whispering in someone’s ear did the trick.

“What is wrong with you?” demanded one of the men, his attention on the squirming man.

“I think I’ve got to go.”

“Go? Go where?“

“To the john.”

“What?! Not you, too!”

“Hey, sorry, but when nature calls, a man’s gotta do his duty.”

Zach shoved his hand into his mouth, biting down on the fabric of his glove. His body shook. He was going to have to tell Drake that one. It was a good thing Drake hadn’t been around to witness it, though – he’d have blown their cover with a burst of uncontrollable laughter.

There was a groan from the first robber, while the other man snickered. Thus, the third victim to Hikaru’s attack made his way down the hallway. Zach curled closer to the wall, keeping out of sight as the man passed by. Down the hallway, a few moments later, he could hear the soft sounds of a scuffle.

Then, silence.

Three down, two to go.

Zach watched the remaining two men. The one he assumed to be the leader of the bunch paced back and forth in the lobby. He kept looking back at the hallway every few seconds, appearing anxious and suspicious.

I hope Hikaru will hold off on the next guy. The boss looks like he’s catching up with the plan. At least one of these dumbheads have a brain.

“Something’s wrong,” said the man, pausing midstride. His head whipped from side to side, as if someone would suddenly pop up beside him. “How long does it take to take a whiz, anyway? Why haven’t they come back?”

“Beats me,” said the other man with a shrug of the shoulders. “Maybe they had to take a dump.”

“Now? All of them?” demanded the first man incredulously. He threw his arms into the air in frustration, the gun in his hand waving wildly. Some of the hostages flinched. “This is getting ridiculous!”

“Uh, yeah… About that… Here’s the thing: my stomach didn’t like that late night burger—”

“Oh, just shut up and find them!” shouted the first man, grabbing his companion by the collar and thrusting him forward. The other man stumbled. “And watch for any funny business. Something’s wrong. It’s gotta be them—you know, those hero freaks!”

Zach sucked in his breath, his stomach dropping; he narrowed his eyes. The next criminal walked towards the hallway, passing by Zach without noticing him. The first man pointed his gun at the hostages. They clustered closer together, whimpering.

“Nobody move!” shouted the man, a furious, wild light in his eyes. “Move and you’re dead!“

Zach watched the other robber walk down the hallway towards the bathroom. He took each step slowly, alert as he looked around. Once he reached the bathroom, he pushed the door open, keeping his distance. He peeked inside.

“You guys in here? What’s taking so long?”

He gasped; a fist smashed into his face.

Four minions down and one boss left to go.

As Zach turned his attention onto the main room, a seed of panic sprouted. The last man was waving his arms, trying to feel for something in the air. There was a soft intake of breath, barely audible – but the man heard it: he swung his arm suddenly. Hikaru cried out; she hit the floor, shimmering into visibility. She didn’t move at first, dazed briefly.

The man grabbed her around the neck. Hikaru gasped in pain as he jerked her back, his arm tightening on her neck. She clutched at him, pulling on the fabric of his sleeve, trying to break away. He jabbed the gun against her temple. She stopped struggling.

“All right, the game is up!” shouted the man.

Zach’s heart stopped.

“I know there’s more of you!” snapped the man, digging the gun further into her skin. “I’ll shoot her, you hear?! If you don’t want this girl dead, then you better come out, the lot of you!“

“No!” cried Hikaru, struggling once again. The man jerked his arm against her neck; she gasped out a cry of pain, her eyes squeezed shut. Her mouth opened in gulping breaths.

“You better stop, girl, or I’m gonna blow your brains right outta your head!”

“Stop it,” said Zach, coming out into the open. He took a step closer. “Just stop, don’t hurt her. I’m the one you want.”

The man whirled to the side, his attention now on Zach. He snapped Hikaru around with him and she winced in pain. “Where are the others?” he demanded. “Where’s the rest of you freaks?”

“We’ve taken out your buddies,” said Zach, keeping his hands in the air. He kept his gaze on Hikaru. He could see her dark brown eyes; they were wide with fear, a shining beacon through her black mask.

“Take me to them!”

“Look,” said Zach, licking his lips. His throat stuck with dryness. He swallowed. “It’s over for you. Your buddies are knocked out. You’re alone,” he said, taking a step forward. The gun whipped from Hikaru’s temple and pointed at him. Zach stopped. He continued, putting all his effort into speaking with a clear voice, enunciating each syllable carefully. “Put the gun down and surrender. You do not want to steal. You do not want to hurt these people. You do not want to kill anyone.”

The man barked out a laugh.

The hostages stared at the exchange with wide, fearful gazes. The mother shielded her daughter, pushing her even further back; the little girl clung to her from behind. Zach heard the soft steps of the rest of his team sneaking down the hallway. He didn’t acknowledge them; he continued to stare at the man.

“Just shut up!” shouted the man, waving his gun wildly. Zach stiffened. “You’re just a little toy from the government! I’ve heard about you. You’re just kids! You can’t do anything when I’ve got the gun. Now bring out the rest of you!”

His heart sank. It wasn’t working. He was failing again. He was facing the barrel of a gun. Any moment, it could shoot. His words weren’t effective; his voice wasn’t effective. Once more, they were failing him. He knew it; he’d known it – and yet, he still tried again and again in some vain hope that the power would work for him.

I can’t fail them.

Zach wasn’t afraid of a gun. Facing that gun himself wasn’t scary. He could dodge the bullet. But if its fire turned onto someone else, how could he protect them? In that moment, Zach was terrified that someone would get hurt – all because he couldn’t get his power working.

Come on, voice, work for me now.

“Just put the gun down,” said Zach in a low voice, a prayer in his heart. Right now. It was going to work – it had to. “You should put that gun down, all right? You don’t want to hurt anyone.”

His heart hoped for it, yet his mind was realistic.

It’s not going to work.

“Shut up, kid,” said the man, coldness flowing through his tone. He cocked the gun. It pointed at Zach’s head. “I’ve got the gun. You’ve got nothing. I’m gonna blow a hole in your head, one by one – and then the world will be rid of six more little freaks.”

We’re not freaks.

The man’s finger pressed against the trigger.

Or are we?

“NO!” screamed Hikaru.

Just as the man pulled the trigger, she stomped on his foot, jabbing her elbow into his side. He grunted, doubling over. The arm holding the gun moved, lowering.

Multiple shots blasted through the bank.

Screams instantly followed.

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