Starlight (Book 1)

23: It's Not Me, It's You

For the first time in my life, I was skipping school.

It had taken me quite a few minutes to find out what Echo and Mirage were doing, and even longer to convince them to come meet me in town during the middle of the day.

If I was learning anything about being a hero, it was that daylight was not my friend.

At least I was warm. The suit was a bit bulkier than I'd expected, but if nothing else, I could probably survive subzero weather.

I'd hidden away in a side-street that ran parallel to the Discovery Centre. It was a newly modernized building that sat nearby the university Riley had attended. Being that the renovation had almost completely changed the layout, it was impossible to know where the entryway to the hideout was—or if it still existed.

What a nerdy place for a hideout.

As I was pondering this, however, a pair of arms wrapped around my waist—tugging me into a surprise hug from an invisible person.

"Got you!" declared Mirage's voice, appearing in front of me with a dramatic flick of her cape. "You should have seen the look on your face!"

Echo giggled from behind her. "No, but seriously, what's up with you?"

Letting go of me, Mirage nodded. "We saw you on the news, girlie. Is it true?"

"Yes. All of it."

"Is Almighty going to be okay?" questioned Echo quietly. They were there, and they'd seen the whole thing, but how much did they understand?

Did they know I was the only option they had left?

"Hopefully," I replied, trying to convince myself in the process. "I've... determined that Phantom and Spark's hideout in somewhere inside that building."

Mirage turned towards the Discovery Centre. "Their hideout is inside some science place made for kids? Jeez, they really are evil."

Giggling, Echo said, "Now is not the best time for your jokes. Honestly, er, where are you getting this top-secret information from?"

I shrugged. "Some... where."

Okay, so maybe lying isn't my best trait—but can you honestly blame me?

Mirage tossed a hand around my shoulder, cheekily squeezing me closer in support. Although it was such a small gesture, I wondered if she understood how much I needed that.

"Let's blow this popsicle stand!" Mirage shouted.

I glanced at Echo, who shrugged.

"What? You think I know what that means?" she said.

With another swish of her cape, Mirage led us towards the doorway. Using one hand to open the door, she whispered, "Everyone huddle around me, quick." Looping her arm around us both, she dragged our chain-linked trio through the entrance, shushing us the entire way.

"Ow!" cried Echo.

The volunteer sat behind the kiosk at the end of the hall perked up, turning his head in our general direction. Mirage pounced—I could still see her, although her body was semi-transparent, sort of like how water might reflect the light. Echo, on the other hand, I couldn't see at all.

"I told you to—shh!" Mirage said, flailing her arms about in the empty space. Although the volunteer scanned the room for the source of the noise, his gaze rested somewhere quite a few feet from where we stood.

Echo's voice came from beside me. "I am!"

I shimmied through the entry gate, squished against Mirage. She said, "Isn't this just so fun?"