Zoey frantically paced around her cell, wondering what was going to happen to her. She knew that Ebon had used her as a bartering tool at the mall, and that Ebon was desperate to find out the secret identities of Static and Gear.

So that was it? Was Ebon just going to interrogate her until he had enough of her not knowing anything and simply destroy her? This certainly wasn't the way she wanted to go, but as the minutes passed, the situation seemed bleaker.

She had seen the bird-like meta-human get up, probably to tell Ebon that was awake and ready to be tortured. However, the fiery guy known as Hotstreak continued to sit on the couch, sneaking glances at her through her cell window. She wasn't sure what his intentions were, but it annoyed her that, even though her life was probably at stake, he didn't want to help her.

Attempting to avoid eye contact with him, she turned around, feeling helpless. She almost wished she had never chased after Static and Gear at the mall. Because of it, she was now a target.

As negative thoughts began to consume her, she felt her eyes moisten. Zoey wasn't usually one to cry, but her frustration and fear was sending her into a state of panic. What she wouldn't give to see her friends again. They probably had no clue where she was, considering the last time she had seen them was yesterday. At least if one of them had seen her get kidnapped, or anyone for that matter, they would've been able to notify the police to come rescue her. Or even Static and Gear.

Hopefully someone had noticed that she was missing and would send out a search and rescue. Though, by then, it probably would be too late.

"Just the person I wanted to talk to," an ominous voice echoed from behind her.

She spun around to see none other than Ebon materialize in front of her.

"Enjoying your stay?" he sneered, slowly approaching her.

Zoey tried to appear calm and put up an aloof front. If he knew she was scared, he'd probably take advantage of her.

"Not particularly," she retorted, cautiously backing away from him.

If Ebon had a mouth, he would've been grinning.

"Doesn't matter, 'cause I got a few questions for you."

Zoey swallowed nervously. "Such as?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Ebon's cold, white eyes narrowed. "I know you know somethin' about Static and Gear. So fess up now, or we're gonna have a problem."

She felt her back hit the wall of the cell. There wasn't anywhere to run as the bang-baby encroached upon her.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said.

Ebon reached out and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt, pulling her closer until she was nose-to-nose with the gang leader.

"Look girly, I ain't playing around. You must know something, otherwise you wouldn't be hangin' around the two dweebs."

"That was one time!" Zoey insisted. "And the reason I followed them was so I could get to know them."

"Why're you lying?"

"I'm not lying!"

Ebon held her gaze for a moment before letting go of her shirt.

"Don't make me ask you again."

Although she was scared, she felt her temper beginning to shorten. How dare he accuse her and threaten her over something she knew nothing about?

"I'm not kidding you. I don't know anything about Static and Gear. I've seen them in person and talked with them twice. That's it. If you wanted information, maybe you should've asked Static and Gear themselves," she spat.

Ebon was silent for a moment, probably thinking of ways to destroy her.

"How about Hawkins and Foley? Do you know them?" he finally said.

Zoey's eyes widened in surprise. That was not the response she had been expecting.

"Well, yeah, we talk at school, but—"

"Do they ever…disappear randomly?"

Zoey thought for a second, debating on whether she wanted to indulge him with that information. "I mean, sometimes, I guess."

"You must think there's something odd about those two, don't you?" he continued. "Have you ever seen the zero heroes and Hawkins and Foley in the same place at the exact same time?"

Zoey glanced at him warily, wondering where he was going with this. "No, but—"

"That's not just pure coincidence," Ebon interjected, finishing her thought. "In fact, you could say that, at one time, Foley was Static's running buddy."

Zoey shook her head, wondering if she had heard him correctly. "I'm sorry, I thought I heard you say Foley."

"You heard me."

She looked at him dubiously. "Foley? As in Richie Foley?"

The gang leader didn't say anything, though his silence indicated she was correct.

"That's crazy. Richie?"

"The dweeb gets around. Yet, coincidentally, when that techno-geek Gear popped outta nowhere, we never saw Foley with Static again."

"What are you saying, then?"

In the back of her mind, she knew what he was getting at, but for time's sake, she needed to stall.

"I'm saying you're so-called 'friends' have been playing dress-up behind your back, living a whole 'nother life you don't even know about."

Zoey shook her head forcefully. "I doubt that."

"They've been playin' you like a fiddle, Parker," he continued, ignoring her. "You've just been too blind to see it for yourself."

Deep down, she couldn't deny that Ebon's logic made sense. They were always absent when Static and Gear were present. Like at the comic store, when they declined her invitation. Or when Hotstreak broke into the school looking for them. Static and Gear had shown up almost immediately afterwards, the second the boys had vanished. Or just recently, when the guys had hurriedly left Frieda's house as soon as the news about the break-in at the mall had been reported.

Not to mention how paranoid Virgil had been acting a couple weeks ago. They had known all along that they were being watched. She didn't need to tell them, because they already knew.

Because they were Static and Gear.

As the realization dawned upon her face, Ebon grinned an invisible grin.

"Makes sense now, doesn't it?"

Zoey looked up at him. "Well, even if they are Static and Gear, I'm sure they had good reason not to tell me. So something like this didn't happen."

"Ah, that's what they'd like you to think," Ebon said, closing in the gap between them once more. "They're disguising their secrecy as doing you a favor, but the truth is, they're doing it out of their own selfishness. By keeping their identities a secret, they can get away with not sharing their fame and fortune with you."

Zoey narrowed her eyes at him, absorbing what he was telling her. "I find that hard to believe."

"Well, believe it, girly, 'cause they're not who they appear to be," Ebon sneered. "In fact, we could use your help in taking those two losers down a couple notches."

Zoey folded her arms skeptically. She knew that since Ebon was a gang leader, he probably wanted to recruit new members. That was a no-brainer. But what would he want with a normal civilian girl with no powers? If she said no, he'd probably dispose of her. If she said yes, he'd probably use her, then dispose of her. So it was a no-win situation. If she could buy some time, that'd be the best option at this point.

"I'll think about it," she finally said.

Ebon grunted. Obviously, that hadn't been the answer he wanted.

"Fine," he said. "I'll let you think for a little while."

And with that, he turned and exited the cell, leaving Zoey alone with her thoughts once more.

Whew, that was close.

However, as the adrenaline wore off, her thoughts of escape began to compete with thoughts of her two male friends and their supposed double-life.

If she ever made it out of here, Virgil and Richie had some explaining to do.