Fall of Heroes by Jeramey Kraatz

if absorbing its energy. Lux stood near him, in a similar pose.
    â€œThe sun,” she said quietly. “I never thought I’d feel it on my skin again.”
    â€œHow are you?” Gage asked.
    â€œTired,” Lone Star said.
    â€œYour powers, though. What about them?”
    â€œI . . . I can’t feel them,” Lone Star said. He stared down at his hands.
    He looked over to Lux. Before they’d been in the Gloom, her hair had always shone as if it were made of moonlight, silvery strands of pure brilliance. Now it was simply a dull, near-white color. She shook her head.
    â€œDon’t you feel them returning?” Amp asked, stepping away from the wall. “I mean, I’m already absorbing sounds and feel stronger. It usually only takes me a few minutes to get back to full power. Aren’t you recharging? We can go fight Cloak right now . This can all be over in minutes.”
    Lux and Lone Star said nothing. They didn’t have to.
    â€œYour powers will come back,” Amp said, though more to himself than to them. His voice was verging on panic. His eyes were bleary. He pounded a fist against the wall. “We rescued you. They have to come back.”
    â€œUntil then,” Gage said, “Misty, if you’ll—”
    Misty stared at Lux and Lone Star for a beat before giving them both a slight curtsy.
    â€œMr. Lone Star, Ms. Lux—I’m the Mist. Take my hand and I’ll get you off the roof. Then I have to go save the rest of our teammates.”
    Reluctantly, the two adults put their hands in hers, as the rest of them touched her shoulders and arms.
    â€œI hope the others are safe,” Bug said.
    â€œWe’ll know soon enough,” Gage replied as they all began to break apart.

5

TRAPPED IN A BUBBLE
    A lex tried to orient himself as he flew backward, but the air was full of smoke and debris. Somewhere near him, Kirbie was screaming, but he couldn’t find her. He couldn’t even tell which direction was up. He curled himself into a ball like he’d been trained to do in situations like this, surrounding his body with a telekinetic shield. The next thing he knew, stone was breaking against his back as he smashed through one of the few pieces of the Stonehenge replica that were still standing. His body slammed against the grass on the other side of the display. Kirbie rolled to a stop beside him. The blast had caused her to change back into her human form.
    â€œYou okay?” Alex asked, scrambling to stand and looking for cuts on himself. Kirbie did the same.
    â€œI think so,” she said. “What was that?”
    Alex’s ears were ringing, making Kirbie sound muffled and far away. His eyes scanned the cloud of dirt and debris in front of them, looking for his mother. She was nowhere to be found.
    â€œConcussion grenade.”
    â€œYour cheek,” she said, looking worried. “You’re bleeding.”
    How sweet. Shade’s disembodied voice rang clear in his head. I’m glad to see someone’s been looking after my son in my absence.
    From somewhere across the lawn, Alex could hear the sound of a fight continuing: the cracking of thick wooden limbs and pings of metal alongside shouting that was just distorted enough by the ringing in his ears that Alex couldn’t distinguish who was yelling.
    There was a pounding noise behind him, low and resonant. Someone was trying to get through the sealed-off museum exit. Deputies.
    You probably think that was a clever move, what you did with the doors, Shade’s voice came again. But I control the one who has mastery over metal. You’re not keeping anyone out. You’re trapping yourselves in.
    â€œMake sure the others are okay,” Alex whispered to Kirbie, who nodded and disappeared into the wall of dust.
    There was a glint of silver amid all the debris, and the outline of his mother’s head. Alex wrapped his thoughts around a Gasser in his