Reality Hero

by Ashlynn Monroe

  Chapter 21

  Farrah was the first person Dina saw when she peeked around the corner. Farrah was hiding under her mobile studio, and Dina motioned for her to stay where she was. It looked like she was going to try to make a run for them. Zane motioned for Dina to follow him. Dina gave her friend the thumbs up and followed Zane. Farrah stayed hidden, and Dina felt guilty for leaving the woman alone. She knew it wouldn’t help to have one more mere mortal for Zane to try to protect, so she followed him silently.

  When they arrived at the spot where cabins two and three once sat, she saw Ian had destroyed everything. Dina hoped none of the girls had been in them when he turned the log structures into toothpicks. It was early in the morning. Cool dew still lay on the grass. There was an unnatural stillness. No birds chirped. She didn’t hear as much as a bee buzzing. It was so quiet amid the destruction.

  Not finding any bodies was a good sign no one had died. They explored what was left of the campgrounds before arriving at the top of the hill. The entire lakefront was visible from their vantage point. Zane pulled Dina down low to the ground. She peered down cautiously, while staying hidden. The spectacle below left her on the verge of tears.

  Ian, in full costume, had the terrified contestants tied to the boat dock at the lakefront. The poor women stood in water up to their waists. They had to be freezing. One of Ian’s goons was holding the cameramen at gunpoint while forcing him to film the scene. Ian held a ball of electricity in his hand. He kept threatening to release it into the water. He was laughing as the girls squealed fearfully in unison. His spandex pets stood at his side. Dina could see that the one he’d beat looked terrible. The bruises were a sick, greenish color now. Her heart went out to the poor girl. Dina suspected one of those girls had unlocked her door so she could escape. She owed it to them to stop Ian before he hurt them again.

  He had to be using some sort of mind control, as he did with his sunglass-wearing zombies. She couldn’t imagine they’d stay for any other reason. Suddenly, something touched Dina’s back, and she jumped, making the bushes shake. Ian looked up, and both she and Zane lay still, not even breathing. He turned back to his hostages. She ventured a look back to find out what had touched her, and she was relieved to see Vinny and the makeup artist. She put her finger to her lips then jabbed it in the air at the direction of the lake. They cringed. It couldn’t be easy to realize how close they were to the maniac. She watched them back away, stumbling in their hasty escape. They ran in the opposite direction. So much for reinforcements, damn it.

  Ian spoke to the camera, and Dina knew he planned to air himself killing. She was very worried about the girls. She only counted six of them, but whether some had left during the taping or Ian killed them, she had no idea. She exchanged a worried look with Zane.

  Ian scanned the area as if he were looking for something. “Dina, you can stop this. Come home with me, and I’ll let them all go.”

  Her heart stopped at his words. She shook, remembering the nasty sensation of his touch. Does he know I’m here? She clutched Zane’s hand tightly. Zane squeezed her fingers back reassuringly.

  Suddenly, Ian looked right in her direction. “Dina, come down here to me. I’ll let all of them live. Stay where you are and watch them all die.” He shouted right at her as if he could see her.

  He raised his hand so she could see the ball of electricity better. Then he extended his arm as if he was going to release it into the water. He began to let it go. Without thought to her safety or the consequences, Dina jumped up and started to run down the hill.

  “Fuck!” Zane cursed.

  “No, Ian, please. You need to stop this. I’ll do whatever you want, just don’t hurt anyone.”

  He let go of the ball. The orb hit a tree some distance away. A big, burnt hole smoldered in the center of the trunk.

  Dina skidded to a halt, stumbling. “Please, Ian, don’t do this. Let them go and I’ll come with you.” She and Ian stood looking at each other. Dina hoped he’d stop his insanity and realize what he was doing was wrong.

  A rustling noise caught her attention. She noticed movement out of the corner of her eye and held her breath. Mateo was leaving his hiding place in the bushes. He rushed Ian with a large tree limb, hitting the unstable villain in the side of the head. Using the distraction to catch him off his guard, Dina ran toward the dock. Mateo was very brave, but Dina knew he’d soon be very dead if she didn’t do something. Dina finished running down the hill, pushing reeds out of her way as she splashed into the water.

  Her foot slipped and she twisted her ankle, but she ignored the pain. Every single second mattered. Ian raised a ball of his electricity. He appeared ready to unleash it on the helpless man. She focused on the terrified women. Her mind scrambled to make a choice. She could keep going and try to untie them or she could help Mateo. In the last moment before Ian let go, she splashed back to shore—jumping in front of Mateo. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she pulled him down with her.

  Somewhere in the distance, Dina heard Zane roar with rage. At first, she felt nothing. Then it hurt. Burning radiated over her entire right shoulder. Dina shrieked, losing consciousness.

  * * * *

  Zane watched the electricity hit Dina. Ian’s face twisted in horror. The regret in Ian’s expression wouldn’t save her. She’d managed to keep the man safe, but at the expense of her life. Zane’s hearing picked up one thing in the chaos. Her heart. He knew the sound of her beating heart so well. When they’d been younger and he’d fought to keep the sounds of the city under control, he’d laid with his head on her chest as she slept. Each beat kept him centered. He’d been able to shut out the world and focus on nothing but her. Dina had kept him from going crazy. Now he heard that precious sound stop. Dina was dying.

  “No!” Zane roared. Dina could not be dead. He willed himself next to her without a thought to the danger.

  Ian gaped at Dina as if he couldn’t fully believe he’d hurt her. Zane gathered her in his arms. Her heart wasn’t beating and she wasn’t breathing.

  “Don’t die on me,” Zane whispered, cradling Dina to his chest. He knew Ian watched. The man was unstable and could kill them all at any moment. Zane picked her up, ready to poof to a hospital. He didn’t care about anything but getting her help.

  “No!” Ian’s shriek caused the women at the dock to scream and thrash. They splashed and struggled. Ian turned to them, glaring, and then his head whipped back in Zane’s direction.

  “Put her down. Now,” he ordered and held a ball of electricity in the air. “I’ll kill every last one of those women if you don’t put her back down.”

  The man’s voice was scary calm and deadly serious. Zane wanted to take Dina away, but he knew she’d never forgive him if she survived and the others didn’t, so he reluctantly lay her down.

  Ian rushed over and pushed Zane away. His hand went down and pressed against her chest. The instant he touched her, the force of his electrified hand caused her body to buck. He waited a second and pressed his power against her chest again. Her back arched.

  A beat, then another, she was alive. Zane let go of the breath he’d been holding. Her heartbeat was the most wonderful sound he’d ever heard. His body sagged with relief.

  The sensation was short-lived. Ian sprang to his feet, holding his powerful electricity in the air. Zane realized his feet were in the water. Even with all his strength he’d never survive even a small blast of electricity.

  * * * *

  Ella and Caspian arrived at the destroyed campgrounds. They saw no one. Only the destruction was there to greet them. Looking at the handsome man driving, she was still a bit surprised he’d agreed to help. Caspian. The name fit him, although she still found herself thinking of him as Hazel Eyes.

  She saw a man and woman running toward the entrance to the campground. “Stop the car. I see people.”

  Caspian hit the brakes, and Ella jerked forward roughly. She gave him a quick dirty look as she undid her seat belt. Jumping out of
the car, she ran to the terrified couple without waiting for him.

  “Run. Get out. The Electrocutioner is here.” Panting, the man screamed it as he ran past. Ella saw him slow down to a jog before turning around. Then he stopped. “Dina, is that you? I just saw you on the hill. How did you beat us down here and what are you wearing, girl?”

  Ella realized she’d forgotten her mask in her hast. “I’m not Dina. Where is she? I need to help her.”

  “She and Mind Man are up on the hill. It’s not safe.”

  Caspian went running up the hill in the direction the terrified man had pointed out. Ella followed. She saw Caspian had stopped, and she was next to him a moment later. Ella sucked in as she tried to catch her breath. She wished she’d just turned to vapor instead of actually running, but right now her emotions were so chaotic she feared she couldn’t control her powers.

  Ian and Zane looked at each other with pure hatred in their eyes. The powerful men were too busy facing each other for battle to notice the stranger rushing at them. Ian raised his arm to attack Zane.

  Dina lay on the ground next to them. She wasn’t moving. Ella fought her impulse to hurry to her sister’s side. She didn’t want to put Dina in any more danger than she was already in.

  Ian let go of his electricity ball, but Zane poofed away just in time. The ball hit a tree, causing it to splinter. Wood chunks flew into the lake. Women stood in the water tied to the dock. They all screamed at the same time as water splashed. Wood chunks floated in the water and rained around the hostages as they huddled together. Ian made an angry sound.

  As Ian raised his arm to release another ball, Caspian held out his arms with his hands pointed at Ian, palm side up. Ella’s new ability seemed to enhance her perception of people. It was as if she could see auras around them. The moment Hazel Eyes began to do his thing, she saw him surrounded with a blinding, white-hot aura. She had to turn her face away. When she looked up again, Ian was laying on the ground of the sandy lakefront. His body twisted awkwardly. Good, the bastard is dead. Thank God.

  Several of his zombies lay sprawled on the ground, no longer animated. One of them had lost its glasses. The show contestants screamed when they saw the empty eye sockets staring sightlessly at them. Both of Ian’s pets stretched limply on the ground, unmoving. Ella didn’t like them, but she hoped they’d survived. One of them was covered with bruises and various scratches and bites. That girl roused first and her head moved to the right and left quickly as she gazed about with confusion. When she saw Ian, her expression morphed into rage. Darkness filled her face with startling suddenness. Her damaged features twisted, and she was scowling. At first, Ella thought Spandex Chick was angry that her man had been defeated, but then the woman rushed over and begin kicking Ian. Her eyes flashed. She screamed. The sound was a pathetic primal howl. Caspian rushed down the hill and grabbed the girl, holding her back.

  “That bastard deserves this. He’s a monster. He’s the devil. Let me go,” she cried out until her voice broke.

  The spandex covered girl sobbed. Caspian held her, but looked up at Ella helplessly. His expression woke her from her shocked immobilization. Dina.

  She ran down the hill. Zane already had her sister in his arms. When she stumbled to him, he gave her a grim look.

  “She’s alive,” he muttered, but his frown told her he was worried.

  “What happened?”

  “Ian zapped her.”

  Ella noticed Dina’s shoulder and gasped. When she’d been on her back the damage to her shoulder hadn’t been all that visible. The burns were bad—second or third degree. Ella winced.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a young man untying the six women. They all swarmed around him. He received kisses and hugs, all the while smiling as if he were the hero.

  Ella returned her focus to Zane. “Get her help.”

  He nodded and then he was gone.

  She turned to Caspian. He was helping the other spandex minion stand. Both women looked frightened, and a bit confused.

  “Hey, is the maniac dead?” Ella asked him nonchalantly. She was all twisted up inside over the man. He’d saved the lives of people she loved, but she didn’t really trust him. There was darkness inside of him. He still didn’t accept his power—or hers.

  “He’s alive, but I think when he wakes up he’ll wish he were dead.” Caspian took a step back. He looked ill and stumbled backward, falling dazed into the sand.

  Ella rushed forward and knelt at his side. She might not trust him, but today he was her ally. “What’s wrong? How can I help you?”

  “I’ve never had to do anything like that before. It was indescribable. I took his abilities, all of them.”

  “What the hell do you mean?”

  “I didn’t keep his power. I wish to God I knew how to do it to myself.” He scowled at her. “I dispersed it. Look up,” he muttered weakly.

  Above their heads, little streaks of lighting passed horizontally in the sky. It was beautiful—surreal. Purple and blue light snaked across gray clouds. A pinkish hue tinted everything in a way that made Ella wish she had a camera. It was a sight unlike any she’d ever seen before.

  “Can it hurt us?” she whispered.

  “No. It’s already breaking apart, and the intensity is lessening.”

  She threw her arms around him. She hadn’t meant to, but the joy and relief just burst out. He pushed her away. His beautiful eyes made contact with hers and they just stared at each other mutely. He reached up, as if he were going to touch her face. She wet her lips. Ella wanted to kiss him.

  “We’re even now.”

  His words threw cold water on her gratitude. He looked away from her.

  Zane returned, and to her surprise Dina was with him. To her relief, she saw that her sister was awake. Ella stood and went over to them.

  “Ian has no more power. Caspian removed it,” Ella said, not really believing the words could be real. It was a miracle.

  “Who is he? How did you know he could do it?” Zane glanced nervously at Caspian. Ella understood. If he’d done that to Ian, he could do it to all of them. Dina clung to Zane. Her eyes were wide.

  “He’s…don’t freak, he’s the one they used to keep me in the lab.

  Zane’s expression twisted into a scowl. “Fuck.”

  “Where did he go?” Dina whispered.

  Ella turned around. Caspian was gone.

  She closed her eyes and turned to mist. She let her body travel up into the air. She’d find him. She needed to thank him.

  * * * *

  Her sister was gone. Dina looked at Zane and noticed a tick in his jaw. She understood. She’d like to kick the ass of the man who’d caused her sister harm too. Movement caught her eye and she turned her head. Dina saw one of the cameramen coming out of the bushes and getting shots of Mateo and the women. During the entire drama the camera had rolled. She realized she could save her career.

  “Please play along with me. I love you, but right now I totally need you to play the single hero looking for love part.”

  “What are we going to do with Ian?” he grumbled.

  “Give him to the police. You can tie him up with the same rope he used to hold those women hostage.”

  Zane set her on her feet. She watched him wade out and grab the rope that was floating on the surface of the water and then he went back to where Ian lay. Zane tied him up tightly. She hoped the bastard would wake up stiff and sore.

  Dina grabbed the cameraman and whispered into his ear. Then she went over to the dock where Mateo was still enjoying his harem. The women were still kissing him and hugging him. He looked damn happy.

  Dina cleared her throat and they all turned toward her. “Ladies, you’ve had some time to get to know the hero. You’ve also had some time to get to know an average guy. It is your turn to vote. Remember, if you’re the girlfriend of a superhero, you’ll probably be in a hostage situation like this on a regular basis.”

  Her words elicited terror in al
l six pairs of eyes. It was working. She’d still have a job, and she’d get the guy too.

  “Ladies, please take a minute to decide which man will stay at Love Lake, and which man will be leaving today.” Dina really hoped Mateo would be the one staying.

  They spoke quietly in a group, and Dina took Mateo by the arm and directed him to stand next to Zane. Both men looked nervous, but for very different reasons. Tension filled the lakefront, and the camera zoomed into the anxious faces of the men, and then the animated whispering of the women. Amber became the official spokeswoman for the group as Regina gave her a nudge toward Dina.

  “We talked about it, and it was unanimous. We want Mateo. Sorry Mind Man, but it’s just way too scary to be your girlfriend. Evil bad guys suck, and we honestly really like Mateo. He doesn’t have to keep secrets from us.” She went over to Zane and gave him a consolation kiss on the cheek. He pretended to look devastated.

  Dina decided it was time to bring the production to a wrap, especially as all the cabins and RVs had been blown to smithereens.

  “Mateo, the women have made their choice. Now it’s your turn. Which of these lucky ladies will be able to tell the world that she is your girlfriend?”

  It was the women’s turn to look nervous. Mateo began telling the ones that he was not picking how much he liked them, but that they were just not right for him. Each devastated woman got her share of face time as she walked over and kissed Mateo goodbye. Finally, it was down to two of the women, Purity and Amber. Tension was high, and the losers and the remaining staff waited expectantly for his answer.

  “Purity, this was a very hard choice for me. I wish I could pick you both, but unfortunately, I can’t. I have to ask you to leave, because I want a girlfriend that’s lived a little less sheltered life. Amber, you’re the woman I want to call my girlfriend.”

  The woman squealed happily. Then Purity did something unscripted and totally unexpected. Each of the other women had taken their defeat gracefully. They’d left the dock with a sweet kiss for the man who’d just dumped them on camera.