Mic Drop (Cape High Series Book 16)

by R. J. Ross

  "I think it might be for the best," John says. "Did they--what, exactly, did she experience? Is it going to have long-term consequences?"

  "It was a very long nightmare that she couldn't wake up from," Mastermental says. "Being mentally assaulted as she was... Needless to say, I will make sure that he is punished for what he's done. I feel very strongly about this sort of attack. The mind is a very powerful tool, but it is extremely vulnerable."

  "So basically it will be like she had a nightmare?" Wendy asks. He looks her straight in the eye, and lies.

  "Yes, just a nightmare."

  She takes John's hand, squeezing it for a moment. "John, why don't you and Chet go visit the other side of the Hall? Maybe you can get her something to decorate her room with."

  He hesitates for all of a second before nodding. "Sure. Come on, Chet, let's go shopping." He tugs his son along with him, leaving the two to speak privately.

  "I can tell when you're lying," Wendy says. "I might have been away for almost eighteen years, but your ticks are still the same. What aren't you telling me, Frank?"

  "He used my son as the source of her fear," he says, his voice as cold as ice. "All throughout that never-ending nightmare she saw Max tormenting her, telling her things like she'll never live up to him, that she will never be important, and worse. That sort of abuse can damage the very soul of a person, especially when there was already that self doubt to begin with."

  "I--I see," she says quietly.

  "After I realized that Max has been keeping track of you, I had Nico do a quick search," Mastermental goes on quietly. "My son has checked up on your children after every big event in their life. I found out that he even went to her last basketball game. He was caught on their security camera."

  "He--he did?" Wendy says, shocked. "I never saw him."

  "He's very good at being discreet. But after this has passed, even if I wipe her memories, there's a chance that she'll be afraid of him, still. Fear is... it isn't something that's completely rational," he admits. "Even those that forget what's happened to them often have a strong reaction to things that are related to it."

  "I see," she says. "And how do you fix fear?" she asks, more to herself than to him.

  "Love," he says. "Love can fix fear, but even then it isn't easy. It takes a lot of effort and time, and with Max feeling as guilty as he is now, I'm worried that he won't even try."

  "So she'll just be terrified every time she sees him fly overhead, or on television?" Wendy asks, her eyes narrowing. "No, I won't allow that. He's far too prominent here. I don't know how you're going to fix this, Frank, but you. Are. Going. To. Fix. This." She pokes him in the chest with each word. "You and our son."

  "I will talk with Max," he says. "Once he realizes the problem, I'm sure he'll do his best."

  "I hope you're right."

  "But do you really want him near her when he's the reason she was in danger in the first place?" he asks.

  "It wasn't just him... but even it if was, I have no choice," she says. "I won't allow my daughter to suffer any more than she already has."

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  I can't sleep. I can't focus. I feel sick to my stomach and angry as hell. I want, for all the world, to break into the cells where they're keeping Massteria and do even more terrible things to him. I'll make what he did to Layne look like paradise. I'll make it so he's afraid to look at shadows for the rest of his life. And trust me, that life will be very short indeed. I climb out of my bed, pacing in my room for a few minutes before heading to the balcony. I need to talk to someone. Usually that would be Dad, but Dad has more important things to do right now.

  My next choice is almost as bad. It's the middle of the night, so Zoe should be asleep right now, right? I just... I just really need to see her right now.

  I stare at my com-bracelet for a moment, and then pull out my phone, sending a quick text to her. If she's asleep, she won't answer, right? That way I can feel like I tried, but I didn't disturb--

  A text pops up. She's coming to see me. All I asked was if she was awake, but she's overreacting, like usual. I let out a sigh of relief, since that's exactly what I needed right now. Sure, I feel a bit guilty for her sneaking out like she is, but I drop down on the balcony railing and wait for her, regardless. I need to be told that everything is going to be all right, even though I know it won't be. I screwed up royally. My little sister--

  I run a hand over my face, shocked to find that the hand is shaking. I've never had that happen before. "Max." I look up, and then do a double take, because Zoe's not alone. The Liberty boys flank her, with Sunny perched on the end of Jack's metal surfboard. "Oh, Max," she says, dropping onto the balcony and pulling me into a hug. "You look terrible," she says.

  "What's with the bodyguards?" I ask, still staring at the three males that came with her.

  "We're acting as chaperones," Sunny says, yawning. "I can't just let my little sister run off in the middle of the night to meet a guy."

  "That makes sense," I admit after a second, "but why are there three of you?" I shouldn't have asked, I realize as he nods off even while I'm speaking.

  "Sunny can't stay up past ten," Jack says, nudging him off his board and onto my balcony with a foot. Sunny merely rolls over into a more comfortable position, still sound asleep. "Besides, I've always wanted to see your place." He hops off the board and heads into my bedroom. "Holy crap, his room is the size of our apartment!"

  "How are you doing?" Trent asks me, looking far more serious than his brother.

  "You heard?" I ask, wrapping my arms around Zoe's waist. I can hear her heartbeat, and smell her shampoo. I don't think I can let go right now. I hate to admit it, but I needed a hug, and a hug from the girl I love just makes it so much better.

  "We all heard," she says, squeezing me even tighter. "I'm so sorry, Max. Layne--"

  "It was my fault," I say. "She was attacked because of me. He wanted to make some sort of deal."

  "What sort of deal?" Zoe asks.

  "He wanted to take over the Halls together. So I let him go on for a bit while Rocco saved Layne... and then I dropped gravity on him. He was begging to go to the Cape Cells before he fainted."

  "But you could have killed him," Trent says. "He's only a B-class, physically, right?"

  "I thought about it. I was already freaking out everyone around us by doing what I did. I think they've got it up on YouTube already. Belladonna Springs is in contact with the Hall to pay repairs. I messed up their sidewalk pretty bad. And when the black suits came, they couldn't put a collar on him, because he would have died," I say, the facts tumbling out of my mouth in monotone. "I had to sit in the ambulance between him and Layne. She was crying. I would look at her and then look at him and--"

  "You wanted to hurt him more?" Trent asks. "Why didn't you?"

  "Because... because I'm about to be a Hall leader," I say, "I can't start that sort of life with a dead guy on my hands. But she was terrified," I whisper, "screaming, crying while I was dealing with the crowd. I couldn't do anything about it! I was helpless, because if I tried to go in and fix her I was certain I would just make it worse. She was scared--no, she was terrified of me. It's really hard to ask 'What would Jesus do' when your little sister is screaming like she's about to die."

  "Well your face is pretty terrifying," Jack says, coming out of my room with a drink in his hand. "He's got his own fridge in there. It's stocked--well, it WAS stocked," he says, grinning shamelessly. "Now it's pretty empty. You should get that refilled, man."

  I just stare at him for a moment, only to shake my head. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. Let's hit the kitchen. Our cook is asleep by now, but I shouldn't get into too much trouble if we raid the fridge."

  "He has a cook," Jack says. "Why don't we have a cook?" he asks Trent.

  "Because Mom likes to cook," Trent says. "And he's the son of the Hall leader, while we're just Hall members, remember?"

  "So we're lower class citizens?" Jack says as I tug Zoe along with
me through my room and into the main house.

  "We're not lower class, we're just more frugal. And we're leaving Sunny to sleep on the balcony," Trent points out.

  "Yeah, think he'll catch a cold?" I ask.

  "Probably not," Zoe says dryly. "But we could have at least put him on a bed. That's not what's important--neither is raiding the fridge," she says with a pointed look at the Liberty boys. "Max, we're here for you." She's tucked under my arm with both arms wrapped around my waist. "How can we help you? Has your dad come home yet to talk?"

  "Not yet," I say. "He's still helping Layne. I hope he wipes all of it from her memories," I admit. "Zoe... I screwed up. This whole thing has been one screw up after another. I don't... I... I don't think I should be the Hall leader, after all."

  "Yeah, you screwed up," Jack says. "You screwed up royally. You got your little sister hurt."

  "Jack--" Trent says.

  "No, he needs to hear this," Jack says. "You are NOT God, Max. You aren't perfect. You're going to make problems for all of us. And if you can't man up and take responsibility for your screw ups, I'm not about to follow you." He's right in front of me. He's gotten faster since he was first changed, I think as I pull to a stop.

  "What do you mean?" I ask him.

  "You're sitting here when your little sister is in the hospital because of you, aren't you? Why aren't you there?" he demands.

  "Because me being there will just make it worse for her," I say. "She's terrified of me thanks to Massteria. Do you really think I would show my face in front of her after that? She's been through enough!"

  "So what, you're never going to see her again?" he demands. "I never had a family before the Liberties took me in. You have a family, and you're just going to cut ties? I would have given my left--my left ARM for a family! You don't get to just throw one aside!"

  "My mom never wanted me," I snap, losing my temper. It's safe to lose my temper with Jack. Jack can take it. "She'll probably be HAPPY that I never show up again. It's the best thing I can do for them right now, understand? It's the ONLY thing I can do!"

  "No, it isn't," I hear Dad say from behind me. I turn, letting go of Zoe to look at him. "You need to go to your sister," he says. "The sooner, the better."

  "But I--"

  "The sooner she knows that you are Max, and not the monster that Massteria planted in her mind, the better."

  "I--" I say, wanting to argue. Even Zoe is looking at me expectantly.

  "I'll go with you," she says.

  I look at her for a moment. "I'd appreciate it, but don't you need sleep?"

  "I'll take a nap in the waiting room if I need it," she says. "You don't need to face this alone."

  I nod before looking at Dad. "What do I need to do?" I ask.

  "Show her that you love her," he says. "That's what she needs most right now."

  I nod, my mind rushing. "I'm going to have to do a bit of shopping, huh?" I say, heading for the door. "What do you get a thirteen-year-old girl?" I ask Zoe. "Think she's into My Little Pony--wait, no, I know," I say. "She likes something called Gravity Falls."

  "And basketball," Trent says from the direction of the kitchen. When did he--never mind. I'm sure he's been there long enough to clean out the fridge.

  "I would stay away from the basketball part," Dad says.

  "Got it," I say. "Come on, let's go shopping," I say, tugging Zoe along.

  "I guess we should get Sunny, huh?" Trent asks, stepping into the room with a plate full of food. Jack grabs it.

  "You do that, I'll clean up your leftovers," Jack says, digging in.

  "And where is Sunny?" Dad asks curiously.

  "We left him asleep on the balcony," Zoe says.

  "So are you two back together, then?" he asks her.

  "I, um--I'm--"

  "Time to go," I say, letting the front door close behind us.

  ***

  It's so stupid, Zoe thinks as they fly through the air. This whole "taking a break" thing doesn't mean anything! "I was trying," she says.

  "What?" he asks, looking over at her.

  "I was trying to take a break, to step back, and I keep screwing up," she says. "Almost as soon as I said we were going to take a break, I was sticking my nose in your business again. I have no self control, Max! I'm just nosy and pushy and--"

  "Sure you are," he says, shocking her.

  "You didn't have to agree so quickly," she mutters.

  "Zoe, you're one of the most in-charge people I know. You do it instinctively."

  "Yeah? Well you're just as bad as I am!" she accuses him. "Maybe we really don't belong together, since we're both so hardheaded and controlling--"

  "Do you really think that's a problem?" he asks. "Do you think that just because we're both hardheaded we can't come to an agreement with enough work? Besides, is now really the time to argue over how we're likely going to argue?"

  "I--well, no, of course it's not, but--"

  "I needed you tonight," he says. "I needed someone to shove their way in and hold me until I--until I stopped shaking," he says quietly. "I've screwed up so royally, and now I'm not sure how I'm ever going to fix it. But if you're here, helping me, maybe--maybe I won't lose my little sister after all. If you're here, I feel like I can accomplish anything," he says, landing at the back of the store. "Do you not feel like that with me?" he asks.

  "Well... I'm the daughter of Technico and you're the son of Mastermental," she says as she lands in front of him, taking her mask off. "Of course we can accomplish anything. It's even feasible that we could take over the world if we planned it out well enough."

  "Well, that wasn't exactly where I was going with that sentiment," he says after a second, "but you do have a point..."

  "It's just a simple matter of getting into the systems," she goes on, heading around the building. "We'd have to work on your brainwashing abilities, of course, but then we'd stream you on every television while I go in from the back--"

  "You wouldn't do it," he says, trying not to laugh.

  "Of course I wouldn't do it, I've been working for months trying to get everything FIXED after Herold did it, but I'm just saying that it's not inconceivable," she says. "Also, you're going into Walmart in your pajamas--you forgot to put shoes on, too."

  "I did?" Max says, looking down a bit blankly. "Well crap, that means I forgot my wallet again. Looks like it's a five-finger discount night."

  "You are NOT robbing Walmart for presents," she says, glaring at him. "I happen to have my phone. You can pay with that."

  "With your phone," he says. "Wouldn't that pay from your account?"

  She gives him a wicked grin. "Are you forgetting who I am?" she asks, taking his hand and pulling him inside. "Now let's go shopping!"

  ***

  I sit, surrounded by presents, waiting for Layne to wake up. In the seat closest to her is our mother, sleeping fitfully. I'm pretty sure she's going to have a crick in her neck when she wakes up, but I can't say anything. Zoe is out in the waiting room, taking a nap. I'm going to assume that the Liberty boys took Sunny back to the apartments, but I could be wrong. I wouldn't be that surprised if they crashed in my room after cleaning the kitchen out completely, and for some reason that image doesn't bother me at all.

  Layne starts thrashing in her sleep and I stand, walking to the side of her bed. I touch her hand and her fingers wrap around mine, holding on as she slowly relaxes again. I relax, thinking she's still asleep, and then her eyes open.

  Her expression changes and the beeping of the machine speeds up, showing that her heart has doubled in speed. "Layne," I say, "it's okay. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."

  "Ma--Ma--Max--" she says.

  "I know things are confusing right now, little sister," I say, "but I swear whatever you're remembering wasn't me."

  Tears start pouring down her cheeks and she starts to wail like a little child. I don't know what to do. I look at the door, and then at my mother, who's still sound asleep. "Wh--what am I--" I start
out. Suddenly I remember exactly how it felt when Zoe showed up and hugged me. It won't be the same, but it's got to be better than nothing, right? I sit down on the edge of the bed and pull her into my arms. "It's okay," I say, awkwardly rubbing her back. "It was just a very bad dream."

  She moves a little, as if trying to get free, and I pull back. "In my dream you--you were such a jerk," she says, sniffing pathetically. "I hated you so much. I don't even remember what happened, but I know I hated you. You SCARED me!"

  "I'm sorry," I say, grabbing tissues from the box and handing them to her. "It wasn't me, though. I promise it wasn't me."

  "You were already trying to disown me!" she accuses me, shivering slightly in my hold. She feels so tiny and fragile, like she could be broken with one hand. But here she is, complaining instead of hiding. "You were a jerk to begin with!"

  "I was trying to protect you from what just happened," I say. "You're too important, kiddo. I couldn't risk people finding out about you."

  "I'm not important at all," she says, her voice nasally. "I'm the stupid sibling. Chet's smarter than me, and you--you're a super hero--"

  "Villain," I correct her.

  "Whatever. You've got super powers, and--and I'm not even that good at basketball," she says, her voice cracking as she fights more tears.

  "When they took you," I say quietly, "I went stupid crazy with worry. It took me a good ten minutes to remember that I know a guy that could find you."

  "Yeah, right," she says.

  "It is right," I say. "Layne, you might have just met me less than a week ago, but I've known you all of your life," I tell her, pulling back to look her in the eye. "I've been checking in on you and Chet by satellite," I admit. "You're the only sister I've got, you know?"

  "Stalker," she accuses me before blowing her nose.

  I let out a laugh. "Maybe a little, but it was the only way I could check on my family," I admit. "I got you some presents," I say, motioning to the stuff in the room.