SEVENTEEN

Screams.

So many screams.

The screams tore through his essence, sending shockwaves of fear through every vein. Dust clouded the sight, voices of terror filled the ears, smoke accosted the nose, and heat burned the eyes. Zach was disoriented. People clamored about, seeking, calling, crying for help.

I have to find them.

Be alive.

Please, you guys, you have to be okay.

Something creaked ominously overhead. It cracked with a snap. Zach could hear something falling; the dust was so thick, the air was so thick, he didn't know where to go, where to dodge, where to—

A rough hand grabbed him by the arm. It jerked him back. He slammed into a flat chest and they toppled backwards. Zach landed hard on his arm.

Drake? No—

BOOM.

The earth shook as something struck the ground with enormous weight. Dust flumed upward. Zach rolled to the side and hunched over, choking. The others… where… are they okay…

"Are you all right?" asked a voice. "Are you injured at all?"

Hands grabbed him by the face, turning his head back and forth. Zach didn't look at the man for a long moment. Something flashed in his eyes and he squeezed his eyes shut.

"No concussion at least."

Movement. Where and what, he didn't know. Zach felt himself being pulled to his feet. He swayed; a hand steadied him. His lungs burned. Exhaustion threatened to unravel him. He should've eaten something; he should've slept; he should've been better prepared; he should've—

Dammit!

Where is he? Where's Falcon?! We have to collect ourselves. We have to go after him. We have to stop him before he escapes!

A gentle, but a firm pat on the face brought Zach back to his senses. He blinked, looking up at his rescuer. The man was covered with dust, but his crystal blue eyes shone through the grime on his face.

Zach frowned.

Those eyes… It's that man I bumped into…

"You've got a nasty wound on your arm," said the man. "You're going into shock."

"I'm fine," said Zach, his voice trembling and weak. Pain clouded his mind. His arm throbbed, blood trailing downward. He let out a shaky exhale of breath. "Thank you. You probably saved my life."

He couldn't stop the tremors. He couldn't stop the adrenaline exhaustion. He needed to calm down. He needed to focus. He needed to put all of his energy into finding the others. They were fine. He was fine. Everyone was fine.

We just need to regroup.

Despite all of his previous training, he hadn't been prepared for something like this. It was a completely different experience living through a catastrophic event than swooping in later as the 'so called' heroes. They'd been so close to getting injured or worse – the others could be hurt, even now.

His heart thumped in his ears; it echoed so loudly he could barely hear. Panic flushed into his throat, mixing with the dust. He gasped.

Please be okay, guys.

"My friends… My friends were with me," whispered Zach, glancing around. "I have to find them. I have to find them."

He couldn't stop the panic in his heart. A part of his mind screamed at him to calm down, but he couldn't. Panicking wasn't going to make his friends reappear. He knew that. Now if he could just get the rest of his body to figure that out…

"It's okay. Calm down. We'll find your friends."

A hand on his shoulder steadied Zach, but he didn't pay attention to it. His eyes were frantically searching.

I can't lose them, too.

A voice broke through the chaos, a bright light shining through the darkness in his mind.

"Zach?"

He whirled around towards the source.

"Hikaru!"

He broke away from the hand on his shoulder and rushed forward. Hidden in the shadows, Hikaru was only a few paces away. She had fallen to the ground, slowly trying to sit up. Zach knelt at her side. As she looked at him, his hand slipped passed her cheek to hold the side of her neck. He could feel her quickened pulse against the palm of his hand.

She was alive.

"Are you all right?" asked Zach.

She nodded; her chest rose and fell at an accelerated rate. Her eyes flittered back and forth at their surroundings. The dust, dirt, and grime clung to her face; sweat beaded at her temples. With his free hand, Zach brushed a thick strand of stray hair out of her face. His fingers lingered as they touched her cheek.

"Are you sure you're all right?" whispered Zach.

"I'm all right," said Hikaru, her voice somewhat breathless. "What's happening?"

Zach shook his head, pulling away. He looked out over the chaos, the sounds of fire still flickering in the air. Sweat slipped down his face from the heat.

"It's him," whispered Zach. He glanced back at Hikaru. Fear laced through her brown eyes. "It's him."

"We were…"

Too close.

"Where are the others?" asked Hikaru, her voice rising in pitch. She made a move to get up, but the man knelt down beside her with a hand held up.

"Wait a moment," said the man, lifting her chin to face him.

"What are you doing?" asked Zach.

"She might have a concussion. I'm no doctor, but I know the signs," said the man. He lifted a cell phone with the flashlight on. "Look into the light, dear."

Hikaru's lips thinned, but she looked into the light. Her pupils contracted as the light shone in her eyes. The man did this with both, before shutting the phone off and pocketing it. He withdrew his hand.

"You don't seem to have a concussion," said the man. "You don't feel dizzy or confused, do you?"

"No, I'm fine. Thank you," said Hikaru, shaking her head. "We have to find the others," she said, her voice desperate yet strong. She began to get to her feet. "Let's go."

Zach helped her up. Hikaru looked around, her features etched with pained fear.

"How horrible," whispered Hikaru, drawing her arms around her chest. "How could someone do something like this?"

The chaos rang in their ears. They tried looking for the others in the dusty fog, but their voices were drowned out by countless other people trying to find their own loved ones. Zach called out names, his voice growing hoarse. The man stayed with them, doing his best to aid them in their search.

They still didn't even get his name.

Time slowed and stretched. It seemed like a century, but it was only after a few minutes when Zach caught sight of a small rustle in a section of nearby debris. He rushed to it. The rubble parted as plants flooded upward. A moment later, Sevati appeared, the plants pushing fallen stones away before they wilted to dust.

"I only had time to protect Brielle," said Sevati, her voice breathless. The youngest girl popped up at this, looking quite shaken.

"Hikaru!" cried Zach. "Sevati and Brielle are safe!"

At the sound of his voice, Hikaru turned around. Relief bloomed in her face. She was at their side in a flash, the man quickly following after her. Zach pulled Sevati's arm around his shoulders and helped her out of the rubble. Sevati winced and sucked in her breath.

"It's my ankle," whispered Sevati. "Nothing too bad, though."

"Here. If I may," said the man, coming forward. With gentle hands, he pulled Sevati away from Zach and lifted her into his arms.

"Are you hurt, Bri?" asked Hikaru

Brielle shook her head. "Just… Just a few scratches," she whispered, trembling. Her eyes were wide.

Hikaru helped her out of the rubble, appearing torn as she eyed Sevati's swelling ankle. If they'd been in uniform or were alone, she'd already have begun the healing process.

But they had an eye witness. They were lucky as it was, since the man hadn't seen how Sevati had protected Brielle. A civilian finding out was dangerous.

Not for them, though.

For the civilian.

If this man found out and didn't remain silent, he would disappear. Just like that girl at their school had disappeared.

"Don't put too much weight on that foot," said the man, as he lowered Sevati against a secure wall a number of feet away.

"Thank you, sir."

Brielle stood still, not moving any further. Her lips trembled as her arms clutched around her waist.

"Brielle?" whispered Zach.

She turned to him and threw her arms around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder. She began to cry. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Shh, it's okay," whispered Zach, tucking her head beneath his chin. Hikaru came to them and coaxed the young girl into her arms. Brielle didn't protest. She clung to the new comfort offered her. Hikaru looked at Zach, her eyes filled with pleading. He nodded.

Look for the others.

It was another five minutes – that seemed like hours – before he heard something odd. A weak, muffled cry came somewhere nearby. Zach froze as he listened. The sound grew louder; he recognized it.

"Drake!" cried Zach, moving closer to its source. "Drake, are you all right? Where are you?"

The muffled sound became louder. Zach moved closer to it.

"Drake, where are you?"

There was a pause. Zach prayed they were all right, hoped beyond all hope he'd found them. A rush of deep gratitude poured through his heart when he got a reply.

"Beneath…" started Drake. "Beneath a wall. I shielded Jacob. Something… Something has pierced my leg, though." There was a weak chuckle. "Think it's serious. Hurts too much."

Zach's mind raced. His hands brushed against the debris; it was too heavy to lift. Those two needed to get out. They could suffocate. How long would it be before help would come? Weren't they supposed to be the heroes? Weren't they supposed to be saving lives here? But… When they failed, who would save them?

There was only one solution.

"Break through it," whispered Zach.

Consequences be damned.