Vanguard: The Complete Second Season: A Superhero Serial (Vanguard: The Collected Seasons Book 2) by Percival Constantine Page A

reason.”
    Koji sighed, running a hand through his quickly-drying short hair. “Okay, let’s hear this ‘good’ reason.”
    “I’ve been keeping up with a bunch of communities and blogs about specials online over the past few months. And I’ve discovered some pretty weird stuff.”  
    “Like what?”
    “Usual conspiracy theory stuff. Some people say Cerberus is killing specials who get out of line.”
    Koji waved her off with his hand. “Oh come on. We both know Jim wouldn’t involve himself with anything like that.”
    Erin rolled her eyes. “I know it’s not like Jim. Maybe there’s more to Cerberus than he knows.”
    “Or maybe it’s a bunch of nutbags with tinfoil hats.”
    “Okay, maybe. But I also found out something new. Have you ever heard of Arcadia?”
    Koji cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t think so.”
    “I’ve seen a lot of stuff about it lately on the web. A hidden island for specials. A place we can go where we can be ourselves, away from the rest of the world.”
    Koji scoffed. “Oh come on.”
    Erin gently bit her lower lip. “What? It’s worth looking into, isn’t it?”
    “For what? You gonna go live there or something?”
    Erin shrugged, looking away. She brought her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs. “Maybe.”
    Koji studied her face. “You okay?”
    Erin shut her eyes and shook her head. “Things…they’ve been better.”
    Koji put a gentle hand on her back.  
    “Y’know, when I first got to Atlas, all I wanted was to go back to Madison. Go back to being a normal girl. And now, I can’t stand being back in that world.” Erin opened her eyes and snickered. “God, talk about first-world problems, right? Poor white girl, she can’t be a superhero any more.”
    Koji rubbed her back. “It’s okay, no one said coming back would be easy. After everything we’ve been through, kinda hard to just leave it all behind.”
    “My friends just annoy the crap out of me now,” said Erin. “All they talk about is who’s wearing what or who’s dating who and I just want to scream at them, ‘Do you know how stupid this is?’ And then my mom…Jesus, she can’t even stand to look at me.”
    “Sure it’s not like that.”
    “Oh?” Erin turned to Koji. “Every time I change into my real form, she freaks!”
    Koji sighed. “Wish I could say I know more about what you’re going through. But me…I was kind of a loner before Vanguard, so being on my own isn’t so bad.”
    “I know, but you’re also the only one I can talk to about this stuff,” said Erin. “Listen, just come with me to Arcadia, okay? Just to check it out.”
    Koji sighed. “I don’t know…”
    “Please, Koj? I just need to be around people like us, if only for a little bit.” She reached for his hand, clutching it tightly in both of hers. “You’re not gonna make me turn into a puppy and beg, are you?”
    Koji chuckled. “As funny as that would be, no.” He took a breath. “Okay. But just to watch your back, got it? And we’re only visiting.”
    A wide grin spread on Erin’s face and she threw her arms around Koji, knocking them both onto the sand. “You’re the best!”
    Koji laughed, hugging her back. “Yeah, I know. So how do we get to this place?”
    “There’s an island near here, word has it they’re picking up a group of specials tomorrow.”

CHAPTER 3

    Koji was surprised at the number of people who were waiting on the island when he and Erin climbed off the small boat. The small island had at least two dozen people waiting. Most looked fairly normal, but there were a few who wore hoods or wide-brimmed hats to keep their faces hidden. He caught only the smallest glimpse of some of them, noticing the deformities caused by their abilities.
    It never occurred to Koji that not all specials who undergo physical transformations would be able to change back into a human form like him and Erin. At first he wasn’t so sure about a place like Arcadia, but now he began