9. A-Rankers

Fira tensed. “Edwin’s in trouble.”

“If you’re gonna unalive yourself, do it on your own time. You don’t have the time to worry about others right now. If you stick around, that’s it for you,” Levi said. He half-walked, half-jogged away, leaving her behind without hesitation.

Looking over her shoulder one last time, Fira followed after him, jogging to keep up. “The A-listers?”

“When you think of Alpha’s goon squad, these are the first guys you think of. Some of the strongest Players on the planet, with the kill count to match,” Levi replied.

“Players?”

“Supers, whatever.”

Fira snorted. “You sound like my dad. Still calls people Players sometimes. No one’s done that forever, since right after the first Outbreak.”

“I’m an old soul,” Levi said flatly. “Point is, they’re some scary-ass badasses. We stick around, you can kiss that skill of yours goodbye. It’ll be Alpha’s before you can say ‘boo.’”

“Edwin—”

“Got himself into trouble, and he can get himself out of it,” Levi said shortly.

Fira pressed her lips together, but said nothing.

Behind them, the light grew brighter, then descended into the stadium. Fira went to look over her shoulder.

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Fira froze mid-turn. “Why not?”

“The A-listers are all crazy powerful guys, but Alpha didn’t slurp up their abilities for a reason. Sure, some of them are his friends, but some of them just have powers with problematic side effects. Like Sunlight over there.”

“Sunlight?”

Levi shrugged. “Or whatever he calls himself. Point is, he gives off full-spectrum light at all times. Can’t turn it off. How do you feel about making everyone around you go blind if they look at you, and also giving everyone around you a sunburn?”

“Ah,” Fira muttered.

“Alpha craves a career in politics, so that one was a no-go. Doesn’t mean Sunshine isn’t powerful, it just means Alpha thought he was better left as a side dish rather than incorporated into the main meal.” He paused and met Fira’s eyes. “By which I mean, absorbed into Alpha.”

“I—I got that, thanks,” Fira replied.

They jogged on in silence for a few moments. Around them, a few other concert-goers fled, a few others just walking toward their cars to get ahead of the crowds. Levi took the lead, winding through backstreets. With a few turns, flickering neon replaced glittering storefronts, friendly, scantily dressed women beckoning from the doorways. Fira flinched away, keeping her eyes trained on the floor. The sound faded, and the sky grew dark once more.

Another street or two over, and the filth vanished again, instead replaced by ordinary desperation. Old townhouses leaned into one another, on the verge of breakdown. Rundown apartments loomed, advertising cut-rate prices. Cheap signs advertised homestyle businesses with misspelled and taped-over, markered-on signs. Slightly sketchy medical practices jostled with mom-and-pop cafes, small pharmacies, and laundromats.

Fira looked around, then glanced at Levi. “Are we going back home?”

“No. You’re too hot. I’m taking you somewhere else.”

“Too hot?” Fira asked, giving him a look.

“Like how merchandise is hot, and cars are hot,” Levi murmured. He looked left and right, then took a sharp right.

She touched her neck. “I don’t even know why I’m still following you.”

“Because you’re not suicidal,” Levi said.

“You threatened to kill me! I should run the other way.”

“Only to stop you from killing yourself. If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead,” Levi replied distractedly.

“You, your healing factor, and what army?” Fira asked, looking him up and down.

Levi glanced over his shoulder. He smirked. “If you think abilities are all there is to a fight, I’ve got news for you.”

“Well, what else is there, then? Illuminate me,” Fira said, crossing her arms.

“Big guns. And persistence.”

Fira chuckled. “Right. When you roll back up here with the cannons, I’ll hoof it.”

Levi turned back. He patted her on the shoulder, a warm smile on his face. “A chuckle! There we go, there we go. Let’s not stay depressed, okay? We’ve got lots of work ahead of us.”

He hesitated. “Lots of work ahead of you,” he amended.

“That’s right. I’m not giving up until I save my brother. Alpha or no,” Fira resolved, clenching her fist.

“By the way, what are his skills? I mean, that slow-down ability was pretty cool, but like, what are the principles of it? How does it work? Time-based? Slime-based?” Levi guessed.

Fira pressed her lips together.

“What? Come on. We’re trying to save the boy, surely we should know something about him,” Levi cajoled.

“It’s not—that’s not his power. That’s the thing. I have no idea what he was doing. Maybe he was cooperating with someone, but…” Fira trailed off. She looked at Levi, her eyes soft.

Levi ran a hand over his hair, a little nervous. “What? Is there snot on my face?”

“We’re saving the boy?” Fira queried. Hope bloomed on her gentle face like a delicate blossom.

Waving a hand, Levi backed up. “No, no. Slip of the tongue. You’re saving the boy. I’m just an innocent, powerless passerby. The kind who wouldn’t harm a fly or dare dream of breaking a law.”

Instantly, the blossoming hope crumpled. Fira snorted. “Yeah. What did I expect.”

“Now you’re getting it,” Levi said. He checked the street, then walked up to a telephone pole and knocked on it.

Fira squinted. “What are you doing?”

He walked over and grabbed her shoulder, walking her off the sidewalk and onto a garden box in the front yard of the townhouse behind them. Looking around, he checked for something, then stood beside her.

“Seriously. What are you doing?” Fira repeated.

“Keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times. Remove your hats and glasses, and place them inside the seat pouch in front of you. Please do not ride if you are pregnant or have any heart conditions.” He turned and squinted at Fira.

“Are you seriously asking if I’m pregnant?” Fira said, giving him a disgusted look.

Levi blinked innocently. “I was wondering about the heart conditions.”

She sighed and rolled her eyes. “So what the hell are we—”

Levi snatched the hat off her head and held it to his chest, tucking both of his arms in close. “I’d cross your arms if I was you.”

Fira gestured around them, at the semi-urban townhouses with postage stamp lawns. “But why?”

And then the floor dropped out from under them.