Chapter Thirty-Four: Finale

                                    

                                          
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Chapter Thirty-Four: Finale
                          
"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer."
                          
A click of a tongue made me want to gag. Luca, or as I'd learned, Pyro, paced leisurely around the band of heroes, eyes unconcerned.
                          
"Sad. I expected it would take more than an illusion to fool just her, much less all of you at once."
                          
No one answered. Amazon's jaw ticked angrily and Cyber readjusted the mayor's weight. Raven stood directly beside Psionic, in front of Atom. Bolt's expression had a depth I had never seen, with relief and apprehension and fury all built into one. They stood strong together, yet all I could see were green eyes staring back at me.
                          
"I was even considering letting you join us, to show you what Willow Hills will become. But I can't say I'm impressed at all," Luca continued, before a feminine voice began.
                          
"It's almost pathetic, actually, how easy it was to mess with your minds."
                          
The click of Emerald's heels reminded me of the tolls of a clock, like the one in the warehouse. Except this time, I didn't care enough to try to get out.
                          
She stopped in front of me.
                          
"I lived in your shadow for twenty-one years," she seethed, "and this is what everyone was idolizing? I don't get it, I really don't. You are nothing special. You never were. All it took was one look at your boyfriend and you fell apart."
                          
"You're one to talk," Raven's voice angrily came from behind me. "Acting like you're better than she is, when you betray everyone who loves you to destroy your city."
                          
Emerald looked appalled as she laughed. "Loves me? None of you ever loved me while she was around, and neither did the city."
                          
"No, Emerald, they loved us all, as a team. You've ruined that. I can guarantee you that you've lost every bit of affection the city ever had for you." 
                          
Emerald's eyes suddenly were consumed with fire. "That's a lie! Just like everything they told you! I bet Bolt never told you he's considering leaving the super lifestyle to be human, huh? And Cyber's never said anything about HDS being hacked not once, not twice, but three times since the new villains appeared. I could go on for days! The hero league is falling apart; there was never a chance you'd come out of this victorious. You're doing the city more harm than good by letting them believe in pitiful people like you."
                          
I watched Raven's form go still. I tried to push myself off the ground, ready to go to her and stop this from happening. They were trying to get to us -- to make it impossible for us to believe in each other.
                          
Raven looked at Bolt, something unspoken passing between them. Then, she looked back at Emerald.
                          
"My God, Emerald, if you were twice as smart you'd still be stupid."
                          
The brunette's mouth dropped in shock and anger.
                          
Raven continued, "Do you think that matters to me? Do you think that'll stop any of us from trying our hardest to put an end to your insanity? You betrayed all of us. Nothing you say matters to us."
                          
As I was about to reach my feet, a boot jammed into my side, and I slouched back into the ground when something snapped.
                          
"Stay down, kitten," Astro said deeply, in that commanding voice he always used. 
                          
I felt a sliver of anger overcome my thoughts of Trace. I gritted my teeth against the pain assaulting my body. "I don't take orders from you anymore, Royce."