As they were all wondering what to do, it was Summer who spoke first. “What if I block the windows? He will notice something is out here, but he won’t know what if he can’t see us.”

  “Good idea,” Jared agreed, “Make sure you block the cameras too, while you are at it.”

  Summer nodded and immediately followed instructions. In just a moment the entire building was draped in darkness. Ashton couldn’t help but be impressed. Summer had struggled with controlling the various forms of light in between so he hadn’t realized the scale she could create complete darkness.

  The end result looked quite eerie, like a shadow that denied nature and became three dimensional. He knew Summer was self-conscious about her ability, yet she hadn’t hesitated for a moment to use it on such a massive scale. Not only that, it didn’t seem to be straining her at all. Did she not even realize how impressive this was?

  Unfortunately, while this did block their enemy’s eyes, it prevented them from getting a better look at the situation as well. Kai and Levi began shooting out reckless plans that Jared denied without hesitation, but Ashton couldn’t focus. What would his power be like if he used it on such a scale? The powerful electric current might take out their enemies, but it would harm his own team equally as much. It wasn’t as if he was completely immune either.

  Ashton managed to snap back into focus as Jared began receiving reports from the other teams. Hostages had been rescued from most of the locations, but they were still bound by contract and out of their minds. Detaining them until Jargon was neutralized was the only option. Ashton clutched the serum he had brought with him. Everyone was still counting on them to succeed. He could not afford to fail here.

  “Mason’s on the roof!” Summer exclaimed suddenly, “I need to go-”

  “Wait, this could be a trap,” Jared warned, “How are you certain the message isn’t from Jargon?”

  “Even if it is a trap, I am not going to risk it,” Summer replied, standing her ground, “Are you going to take responsibility if he falls while we are playing it safe?”

  Jared sighed. “Fine, just be careful. Something about this still feels off. Jargon is definitely here, but nothing has happened yet. Take a buddy and an earpiece with you. If anything happens, let us know right away.”

  “I will go,” Kayla volunteered.

  Just like that, the two girls headed into the dark mass of the office building. He watched as Summer opened a hole in her wall of darkness, allowing them to find the doorway and enter. She seemed to think nothing of it, even as the hole refilled with darkness behind them.

  “That girl has a good head on her shoulders,” Jared told Ashton, “Even if something happens, Kayla will be there to back her up.”

  “I don’t like this,” Ashton muttered, “Jargon is in there somewhere. If his ability works verbally as well, they might be in danger. Are you getting any feelings?”

  “Just the same bad feeling as before. Both you and Summer always feel like you are being targeted by a powerful evil so it is difficult for me to tell when or if that evil comes closer,” Jared admitted, “The one most in danger that wasn’t before is Kai. It is best if he refrains from entering the building.”

  “In that case, I should go in with Levi,” Ashton decided, “I don’t like them in there alone.”

  “I would like to stay here with Kai,” Levi broke in, “If Jargon comes out while you are in there, I want to be by his side to protect him. Besides, it is difficult for us to use our power while we are apart.”

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  “Alright,” Ashton agreed. That was probably for the best. He could use his own power more freely if he was alone.

  “You can’t go in by yourself,” Jared denied before Ashton could even express his intention, “The twins should stay out here and watch the exits. I will go with you.”

  Jared made sure everyone was wearing their earpieces before anyone split up. Communication was key, especially if they were going to split up. Unlike Summer, they had to walk straight into the darkness and guess where the door was. Just as they were about to reach the edge of the darkness, it suddenly vanished.

  “He’s here! Ma-” Summer’s panicked voice came across before breaking off into an electronic crackle.

  Something was wrong. Something had gone terribly wrong. If Jared had not felt any new threats to Summer that could only mean one thing. Masks was there, and he had done something to Summer. Ashton broke into a run before he could pause to think things through. He shoved past the doors and raced to the stairs taking two steps at a time.

  Ashton only made it halfway the fifth flight of stairs before he found his path blocked by someone crumpled on the steps. Kayla, and she was unconscious. That meant Summer was alone. No, not alone. She was with Maskz, with her hands tied by a child hostage. He needed to face whoever had done this to Kayla first. He couldn’t risk letting Summer’s situation get any worse.

  Whoever it was had hidden themselves before Ashton arrived. Up or down? He should check the sixth floor first. Summer was on the roof, and Maskz would have wanted whoever it was to block his path. Ashton tensed when he heard footsteps rushing up the steps behind him, but relaxed when he realized it was just Jared.

  “Kayla has been attacked,” Ashton reported, “I am going to investigate the sixth floor. I have the serum on me.”

  “I will take Kayla to safety,” Jared sighed, “I will return once she is safe, but act with caution. There is no guarantee I will be able to help you if things take a turn for the worst.”

  “You should stay outside. If I am unable to respond like Summer, I need someone who can call for backup,” Ashton ordered. In his frazzled state he forgot the usual deference he showed his former superior.

  Jared scooped Kayla up carefully. “I have a good feeling about the sixth floor,” he reported, “The roof is incredibly dangerous for everyone except for you and Summer. I will do my part as ground control.”

  “Thank you,” Ashton said, feeling a sickening twist in his gut as Jared’s words all but confirmed Ned’s presence. It was clear this had never been about Jargon in the first place, but Ashton couldn’t risk letting him go free and be blindsighted by him when things mattered most.

  At first glance, the sixth floor appeared to be just as silent as the other five below, but if Ashton looked closely there were signs that someone had been there. Scuff marks in the unsettled dust, one chair that looked far too clean compared to the rest, and the soft hum of something electronic active in the background.

  Ashton approached the source of the noise and discovered what looked to be a break room with an old fluorescent tube light pulsating on the ceiling. Sitting at the singular table on some sort of cushioned stool was a thin man with unkempt hair and an unshaven face. The Jargon Ashton had imagined resembled the perfectly put-together appearance of a classic lawyer. This man looked like he hadn’t slept in the last year and was living on caffeine and his unending misery.

  The man looked up, and Ashton flinched when he saw the strange darkness covering the man’s eyes. It looked just like the darkness Summer had covered the building with earlier. As if this were some sort of sign, the man smiled in a way the spoke of relief and elation.

  “I can’t see you,” he spoke, voice barely above a whisper, “That must mean you are him, the one I have been waiting for. Shadow Phoenix. Fulfill your duty and end this charade. I cannot stop until you do.”

  “What does that mean?” Ashton demanded. This was too easy, just like the first time. The feeling that something was terribly wrong only got stronger.

  Jargon smiled bitterly. “Would you understand if I told you that my ability works on myself?” he asked, “Please, just free me from this curse. That is what he wants as well.”

  The sudden savage tactics Jargon employed suddenly made sense. None of this had been done of his own volition. That was why the contracts had bound the victims to Checkmate instead of Jargon himself. If he wanted more answers he had no choice but to do what both Maskz and Jargon wanted. He needed to use the serum.