THIRTY-NINE

Hank started to run, shouting at the other people in the store to do the same. He heard the sound of breaking glass but didn’t turn around.

“Follow me inside,” the storeowner said and opened a door in the back. They all followed him.

Hank could hear the sound of heavy boots thudding on the floor. As he followed the others inside the opened door he glanced behind him. Two Red Raiders had entered, carrying heavy guns. He quickly closed the door.

They were inside a room filled with crates and boxes now. Obviously the place where the storeowner kept the books he had no room for in the store or books that just came in.

“Shove the boxes against the door,” Marjorie said. “Let’s get it blocked! Quick!”

Like madmen they started to shove the boxes but they were way to late. Loud thuds could be heard against the door, the sound of the Raiders kicking at it with their boots. Then the sound of gunfire. The door got blasted to pieces.

The Raiders entered the room. One of them said, “What were you looking at? You didn’t call any cops did you?”

“No, no… We’re just trying to be safe here, leaving you to your business,” Hank said.

“I think I will feel better when we have silenced you all,” the Raider said. He took aim of Hank.

A loud voice behind the Raider said, “Stop!”

The Raiders turned around and suddenly went flying through the room.

The Athlete and Invulnergirl entered the room.

“Really, just two quick kicks were enough?” The Athlete said.

The Raiders got back on their feet. One of them said, “You caught us by surprise, that’s all.”

One of the Raiders drew a pistol and fired it at the two heroes. Invulnergirl ran right into the bullets and clocked the shooting Raider with a haymaker punch. His eyes rolled up and his body went down.

The other Raider fell victim to The Athlete’s disc that he threw right against the criminal’s jaw.

“You folks okay?” The Athlete asks.

“Yeah… Yeah… I guess. I’m so happy you showed up! How did you know we were here and in danger?” Hank asked.

“We saw a burning helicopter, heard gunfire when we flew over,” The Athlete said. “We figured we should stop over for a second.”

“You take care. We have to go now,” Invulnergirl said. “Try to stay out of trouble.”

Hank just stood there, staring at Invulnergirl as she walked off again. Man, she was becoming cooler by the day.