“This is an awful idea,” Dean complained as we walked up the cracked sidewalk.

  “Yup,” I replied, popping the 'p'. Huh, when did I start doing that? “Got a better one?”

  “Tell the director and Miss Militia,” he said tensely. “Get reinforcements, come out in force to take Bonesaw down.”

  “Won't work,” I said, shaking my head. “Cherish is feeding her intel, she'd notice if a bunch of heroes suddenly showed up.”

  “And she won't notice us?” I shrugged. “Am-- Lia...”

  “She might,” I admitted, shivering as the Crater Lake flashed through my mind unbidden. “You're an emotional manipulator though, you should be fine.”

  “And you?”

  “I'm a candidate,” I said, sighing. “She'll either test me or leave me untouched, for Jack's shitty game. I'm probably safer than anyone else around here, Masters excepted.”

  “That's not exactly reassuring,” he said dryly.

  “It's not meant to be, Dean.”

  It felt weird using his name, but we were in civvies. Well, both of us were wearing our costumes under them. I wasn't sure where he found clothes that went over his power armour, but it actually looked okay. Beefed him up, gave him shoulders like a quarterback, next to him I probably looked even tinier than normal. God I hoped I'd get a growth spurt. Being five-four in a city where half the fucking capes were six plus feet...I didn't want to relate to Vista.

  “Okay, I need details,” Dean spoke up after a minute of silent walking. “I was trying not to be pushy but...oh, fuck sake Lia we need to be ready!”

  “Sorry,” I apologized, wincing. I hadn't exactly been in a...state to talk about it earlier. “Okay, so, Bonesaw's got--” I cut off, flinching as loud howls sounded through the evening air.

  “Hellhound.”

  “Bitch.”

  “Language.”

  “No, I, Dean that's her name!” I rolled my eyes. “Like, the one she actually uses.”

  “We can't use that,” he said, in an 'adult' voice. Ugh. “It's not appropriate.”

  “It's fine,” I retorted. “It's literally the term for female dog, and it's Bitch.”

  “Wait.” He looked over and knitted his brows. “Do you...actually think that's why she chose it?”

  “Sure, if it means I can call her that.” He grinned. “Wait, shit, Dean how far are we?”

  “Uhh, normally or...”

  “We need to run now.”

  And we did, sprinting through the cluttered, waterlogged streets. I checked the skies, but couldn't see Victoria flying off. I was hoping it was because that was the first howl... Sweat stung my eyes as I pulled up my hood. Not time to mask up, not quite.

  “Okay, deets,” I huffed as we ran. “Bonesaw plus a bunch. Power nullifier slash teleporter, Oni Lee and Hatchet Face.” I panted to catch my breath before continuing. “Murder Rat, dunno what she does.”

  “I do,” Dean bit out, grimly. “Don't get cut by her.”

  “Okay.” Easy. “And brain spiders. Metal spider things.”

  “How many?”

  “Too many.”

  “Fuck.”

  I silently agreed, saving my breath for the run. I had a lot to think about anyway, like the fact that Amy seemed dead set on running away from home. I could understand why now; with a nomination hanging over my head, I wanted nothing to do with other people. Still, this obviously wasn't something I could handle on my own. Unlike Amy, I didn't get a choice but to try and rely on people.

  That was a setup for failure, without question. It was pretty clear that, tonight being an emergency exception, I was basically confined to quarters. Oh they'd never say it outright, but until Jack was out of town they clearly didn't want me at risk. Not that it would actually change things, and god dammit I'd told them as much. Not that they listened.

  Fuckers. Sure Dean would listen when people he cared about were on the line, but did he care how many people would die if Jack, or Crawler, or the Siberian visited the headquarters? Maybe he did, maybe he and everyone who worked for the Protectorate, PRT, and Wards would give their life in a heartbeat to protect mine.

  It didn't change the fact that they shouldn't have to. None of this should be happening. Jack should have picked Oni Lee, been disappointed, then gone on to pay a visit to the most destructive Nazi in town. But because of me, that didn't happen and now peoples' lives were on the line. Granted, one of those was a person who also shouldn't even be alive, but that fact made it that much more important.

  The thinnest silver linings in a deep, dark cloud.

  In the distance I heard a loud 'bang' too deep to be gunfire. The way it echoed in my bones...an explosion. Dean pulled away from me, sprinting faster even as he dug into his bag and pulled on his gauntlets and helmet. I raced to catch up, huffing for breath even as I pulled on my tight hood and mask.

  The noise got louder as we approached. We rounded the corner and I heard another explosion and the splintering of wood. Another explosion echoed out, clacking my teeth together, then the street went silent. My stomach sank as we charged up the front lawn to the battered Dallon house. The large window at the front was gone, exposing the ruins of their living room. Gallant didn't even bother with the handle, shoulder-checking the door out of the way. I ran in right after him.

  “Gallant?” Mark put down the phone, looking startled. “Amaranth, what are you--”

  I barged past him and narrowly missed tripping on the corpse of one horror or another. Amy wasn't down here which meant she was either upstairs or...or I was too late. Again. My feet pounded the stairs, echoing the frantic drumming in my chest. I remembered, unbidden, her door was second on the left. Thanks Vicky. I shoved the door opened and was greeted with the sight of a startled Amy, packed bag in hand.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “The fu--”

  “Don't,” I gasped, interrupting her, then inhaled deeply. “Please don't run, please. Amy it's going to be so much worse.” She paled as I swallowed, panting for breath.

  “What?” Her voice was like brittle china trembling in a violent earthquake.

  “Stay,” I managed through another gasping breath.

  “Amaranth, get down here!” Gallant bellowed from the foot of the stairs.

  “Amy, I get it,” I said through gritted teeth. I was already disobeying order, why not a couple more? “I'm...I know, okay?”

  “What the fuck do you know?”

  “About your...nomination.” I picked my words very carefully. I was trying to avert disaster, not cause it. “I'm in the same boat floating down shit creek, okay? But if you leave, it's going to be...” I shook my head, out of breath, out of words.

  “Hey.” An armoured hand grabbed me and dragged me back down the hallway. “What the fuck are you doing?” Gallant hissed. My eyes flicked aside and I saw Mark standing at the bottom of the stairs; he looked pissed.

  “Try to do what we came here to do and help!” I whisper-shouted back. “She's like me, don't you fucking get it? A psychopath picked her as her favourite person in the bay.” I wasn't going to share what would happen...or what hopefully wouldn't.

  “Explain.” His demand was sharp, but I clamped my mouth shut. “Amaranth, we don't fucking have time for this. Tell me what you mean now.”

  “I mean everything you're fucking afraid of, Dean.” I bit my tongue and looked away. I knew I'd gone too far when he slowly pulled away from me.

  “Downstairs.” I nodded and went. There was no more arguing, not without an actual fight.

  I sat on the couch silently as Gallant and Mark muttered in the hallway. My face burned and I pulled down my mask, huffing and panting, trying to catch my breath. It may have cost...god only knew what, but I'd done it. No, I couldn't rest assured yet. I'd been dragged away before I could do the same to Amy and...

  No, it would be fine. I had intervened directly, more than I'd ever done before. Well, maybe not more directly; I hadn't dragged her away from Leviathan or hosed her with pepper spray. But it had to count for something, it had to.

  “Start talking,” Gallant said as he suddenly loomed over me. I looked up, eyes wide.

  “She was going to run away.” The words stumbled off my tongue, making him flinch. “Of fucking course she was, it's what I want to do. You think people just get nominated by the Nine and are fine?”

  “Amaranth.” The tone made me flinch right back. “What did you mean upstairs?” I swallowed hard. “What do you remember?”

  “I don't want to talk about it,” I whispered, tears slowly leaking. “Please don't make me.” I heard a frustrated sigh.

  “You know.” There was no emotion in his voice at all, but it felt like the click of a hammer.

  “Yeah.” Bang.

  “Brandish and Glory Girl are back,” Mark interrupted us, half-dressed as Flashbang. “Reinforcements?”

  “We're it,” Gallant replied grimly, glancing at me briefly. Oh. “Can't spare anyone else.”

  “Right,” he replied, shaking his head. “Okay, first we need to sweep this floor, make sure Bonesaw didn't leave any nasty surprises. Amaranth?”

  “Yeah I'll play minesweeper.” I sniffed and shook my head, wiping my eyes. Come on, “One of you should check on Amy, make sure she's ready to...go.” I stared pointedly at Gallant for a moment, then began slowly walking through the halls.

  Jesus they'd done a number on this place. The house was going to need serious renovations...and a new wall. I walked into every room, checking for tripwires or any other nasty surprises that may have been left behind. Not that I expected any, Bonesaw hadn't exactly dallied in her exit. Better safe than sorry though, and I was the safest one to do it. Being angry at them for making me do it was irrational. I started and bumped my head, checking under the stairs as someone ran down, and swore violently. I came out, rubbing the back of my head, just in time to see a distraught Mark speaking to Brandish and Vicky.

  “Amy's gone,” he said huskily, sending a bucket of ice water down my spine. “We need the heroes' help for this Carol, come on.”

  “It's family,” she replied tensely, hesitating on 'family'. Bitch. “Sarah and Crystal are already coming, we don't need more hands.”

  “You gotta be shitting me,” I swore under my breath. I shut the understair cupboard and walked over. “Due respect ma'am, that's fucking stupid.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “What the fuck Amaranth?” Victoria looked shocked, and I saw Gallant standing at the foot of the stairs.

  “Sorry,” I lied. “But seriously, there are at least two Slaughterhouse Nine members out there, plus Bonesaw's creation. More hands is exactly what you need.” And maybe this time I could prevent something worse...

  “While I don't agree with her sentiment,” Gallant added, giving me what was probably a withering glare behind his helmet. “She's right. More of us means a better chance of finding Amy and keeps us safer from the Nine. Besides, Amy's like a sister anyway.” Now who was lying?

  “Hm.” None of the Dallons looked happy with me, Brandish least of all. “Fine. Once Lady Photon and Laserdream arrive, we'll sort out search areas.”

  “We're wasting time,” I countered. “You were ready to do this with five? We're five.”

  “They can fly, retard,” Victoria retorted bitterly, earning a glare. “Unless you grew wings that I can't see, you're about as useful as any PRT officer.” My teeth creaked in my ear.

  “Enough,” Brandish snapped. “What we don't have time for is this childish bickering. Glory Girl, not another word.”

  “Shut up Amaranth,” Gallant muttered and I swallowed the ugly insult that had been laying in wait.

  At least they didn't take long to arrive, presumably the bitchily aforementioned flight. A tense, ten minute discussion later, we were on the move. I'd been put with Gallant, of course, since neither of us were 'family'. Actually, it was sort of ideal if we ran into Cherish like the last time I'd joined the search team. With any luck though, she was long gone.

  Now was the question of where the fuck that god damn slippery little olm of a healer went. I couldn't see Glory Girl, or any of the other New Wave flyers. They were up there, but probably pretty low altitude to actually see shit.

  “What's gotten into you?” Gallant spoke up a while into the search. “It's like someone flipped a switch after the ceremony.”

  “I'm just stressed,” I replied, trying to keep my voice flat.

  “Obviously,” he said dryly. “That's not it though. Amaranth I mean your palette is different, almost entirely.”

  “The hell are you talking about?” I knit my brows and looked up at him. “This your emotional bullshit?”

  “Empathic sight,” Gallant countered. “It's like one morning you were one person, and then that afternoon before your first patrol...” He shook his head. “I didn't see it first hand, but I heard. Then I saw you after your patrol.” He sighed.

  “I told you,” I said, a little more tensely. “I'm just stressed. Really stressed, now that I know things that are going to happen but not how to stop them.”

  “Is it that bad?”

  “The fuck does that mean?” I snapped.

  “I mean,” Gallant continued evenly. “I have never met a precog that's like...this.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Amaranth, it's a problem.” He put a hand on my shoulder, halting me. “If that part of your power is causing you that much distress, stop using it.”

  “What?” I shook my head. “Sorry did the leader of the Wards just tell me to let shit happen?”

  “No.” His grip tightened. “I mean that, right now, if you keep using it like this it's going to hurt you more than it'll help. If you have to wait until things are...easier, then do it. You've been a Ward for three days, Amaranth.” Plus or minus a couple weeks.

  “I can't,” I said grimly. “I really, really can't Gallant.” Because there wasn't much else I remembered beyond vagueness. “Maybe later, but now? People need me.” He sighed and let me go.

  “They do,” Gallant agreed as we began walking again. “Try and remember that you need to be around to actually help.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means I don't want any more dead Wards in this fucking city.”

  I had nothing to say to that, so just didn't. Instead I returned my attention to looking for the reason I was out here in the first place. So far there was nothing, just a few animals scrounging through bins. Hell, it was like the place had been cleared out. A shiver went up my spine; maybe it had been, Bonesaw was still around. Cherish too...

  No, this was the richish side of town, these people had just packed up and booked it. Lucky assholes, should have fucking done that to begin with. Still could really, just turn my back and... Yeah, no, not knowing what was coming. My stomach churned even thinking about just...letting that happen. No I had to stop it and keep a fucking lookout Lia god dammit!

  “Dean!” A shriek, then a loud 'crack' out of nowhere. I stumbled back, shielding myself as chunks of pavement struck my projection. When I looked I saw--

  “Vicky?” Gallant sounded confused. “What happened?”

  I'd failed.