Michael declined the gesture, pushing himself up. “About what?” he asked while mentally switching his powers to precognition, hardening, and flame jets to give him a quick escape option if needed.
“Oh, just a simple business opportunity,” she said, pulling her hand back and checking her nails.
“And why the hell would the second most popular superhero in the city come to me with a business opportunity?” Michael struggled to keep himself calm. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. If he could send a message here, he would be one step closer to luring Raymond out. All he would have to do is defeat Viperlash. A cold sweat ran down his neck as he remembered what the woman had done to the green eagle.
“Oh, darling, why wouldn’t I come to the biggest up-and-comer that even managed to outshine the illustrious Wonder Boy?” She stepped closer to him, peering straight into his eyes with unmasked anticipation.
Michael took a step back. “Uh, about that proposal,” he said, rubbing the sweat from the back of his neck.
“Hmm? Oh yes, I come to you with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join this city’s elite superheroes in ensuring that it continues running as it should,” she said with a measured and practiced tone, making Michael wonder just how many times she had given this pitch.
“So a team like the Crimson Accord?”
Viperlash doubled over in laughter. “Oh, aren’t you cute!”
Michael took a step back. There was no way in his mind that question should have gotten a response like that. He kept a close eye on his precognition, carefully ensuring the women didn’t make another unexpected move. His heart nearly stopped as the apparition of a long-dead old woman manifested behind the still laughing Viperlash.
So it’s not just the library. He thought as he watched the woman he had disposed of with Saw slowly walk closer.
Viperlash stopped laughing and returned to her full height, blocking Michael’s view of the apparition. “No, something like that would be far too dull, don’t you think, darling? Far too many rules.”
“So what are you proposing, then?”
“Haven’t you wanted to let loose? All these boring rules and laws keep us in check, even if they could never enforce them.” A manic grin stretched across her face. “Don’t you want to see what your powers can truly do?”
Michael opened his mouth to speak, but recoiled as a ghostly, rotting hand passed through Viperlash’s face.
“They took my son!” the apparition cried between pained sobs.
Shit! Michael yelled internally and deactivated his premonition power, and the apparition faded. He looked back at Viperlash, now wearing a frown.
“Does that thought repulse you?”
“No, not at all–” Michael let out a choked cry as another steel cable wrapped around his neck and lifted him into the air. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“Don’t lie to me, boy!” Her personality completely flipped, and a look of hatred marred her face.
“I-I’m sorry.”
The cable around his neck faded, dropping him to his knees. Two more sprouted from the ground, entangling his arms, and Viperlash walked forward.
She smiled warmly. “I let you off this time, but.” She leaned down and grabbed his ski mask, pulling his head back. “Do it again and.” She placed her finger against his neck and pulled it across like a sharp knife, flicking it with finality at the end. “Now let’s see what you got under this mask.”
Michael turned away as much as he could as his mask came free. Viperlash grabbed his face and turned it side to side, getting a look from every angle before letting go.
“Well, aren’t you a cutie,” she said with a malicious grin.
Michael caught himself before he let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it looked like the woman had never seen him before. “So, can you, uh, let me up now?”
“Hmm,” she crossed her arms and tapped her chin thoughtfully. “That depends on your answer, darling.”
Michael measured his tone and began hardening his skin under the cables, just in case. “I’ll join,” he said.
Viperlash frowned. “A pity,” she sighed, and the cables holding his wrists fell away.
Michael hardened his entire body, his skin turning to a rocky substance as he stepped forward and swung with all his might.
Her smile returned, and she ducked the strike, lashing out with several cables, but they did not affect his rocky skin. She jumped back with a wild look in her eyes. “I get to have fun after all!” She roared, launching back into the fight as several cables wrapped around Michael’s leg and attempted to pull him to the ground. He shot his jets of flame down with full force, lighting the cheap carpet covering the floor on fire and resisting the pull.
Viperlash jumped toward him and slammed her heel into his face with full force. He was sent flying back, landing prone, the rock on his forehead crumbling away.
“You’re a tough one,” she said, walking through the slowly spreading flames.
Michael scrambled to push himself back to his feet, but several cables wrapped around his arms and legs, tying him to the floor.
She walked over and placed her foot on Michael’s chest. “What am I going to do with you? I could crack you open like a clam here and now. Hmm, or what if,” she giggled and clapped. “That’s it. I think I will add you to my collection, you adorable thing.”
Michael struggled against the cables and tried to blast away with his flame jets, but the cables only grew tighter. When his clothes ripped and his rocky skin began to crack under the pressure, he was forced to stop.
Viperlash sat on his chest as soon as he stopped struggling. “There we go. Now, why don’t you de-shell yourself, and we can get this new piece of jewelry on you, darling?” she said, pulling out a collar that looked to be of similar construction to the handcuffs Torque had used on Bloodwake the other day.
Michael let his head fall back as he sighed, and his rocky skin fell away.
“There we– Ahhggeahhh”
Electricity arced off Michael’s body, causing Viperlash to convulse as it coursed through her. The restraints holding Michael loosened, and he broke free from his bonds, hardening his body again, grabbing Viperlash’s neck and slamming her to the ground. The electricity continued sparking as he wrapped his other hand around her neck, and a pair of feathered wings sprouted from his back. The smell of cooking flesh and burnt hair hit his nose as his grip strength increased. With a last attempt at futile resistance, Viperlash clawed at his face but only managed to break her nails on the rocks. Her neck began glowing as the electricity concentrated into it, and with one last effort, his hands clapped together with a wet thud. A vision of how to use the woman’s powers played in his mind, along with their fight from her perspective.
“Fuck!” Michael roared.
He fell back, panting, watching the fire spread through the building. The inferno had already consumed his sleeping bag and pillow, and he cursed as he realized there was nothing he could do to stop it.
With one last mournful look around the building as the inferno grew closer, he threw himself through the window and took flight. Leaving Viperlash and Saw’s handgun for Raymond to find as he soared away, sirens echoed in the distance.