The chaos and movement around me slowed to a stop as I exhaled, and it was suddenly very quiet. Still holding Moe, in fact now hugging him tightly against my chest, I wove past the frozen running bodies and moved under the bridge. There was no way I'd be able to stop the collapse, nor was I strong enough to attempt to move any of the people or vehicles, much less while I already had my arms full. Regardless, I did what I could. I opened car doors and eased passengers out; it was a strange sensation; I wasn't carrying them fully, like I was Moe, more like pulling them through water. Redirected a bicycle ridden by some oblivious dude with headphones in. I wasn't sure how to get up on the bridge, though, and I could feel myself getting exhausted, so I hurriedly returned to my starting position.

I exhaled.

Everything snapped back into action and I flinched. Some bridge debris crashed down. People shoved and ran past us, others stood static to stare and take pictures. Then, a huge man covered in fire appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"That's Endeavor!" Someone called.

"In Musutafu?" Someone else cried, "He's never seen in this area!" Seeming more sinister with his towering figure and licking flames, I wasn't sure which team this guy was batting for until he knocked out the villain and somehow melted the bridge pieces together well enough so they'd stay stable. The crowd cheered and it bothered me that no one seemed as concerned as they really should have been. Was that how things went here? Someone just swooped in at a moment's notice?

My eyelids felt heavy and I sighed.

"Guess I should have waited a few more seconds before jumping in myself." I murmured ruefully, letting the kid walk now that the worst of it was over, "Let's get walking, okay? I think I read something about it being at the top of the hill, and I should sit down."

A woman I recognized as the one who'd bumped into me just minutes ago stood on the edge of the bridge and I quickly made sure Moe had no view. The hero was still here, though, so he would…

It was hard to focus.

"It's the end of the road…" She sang suddenly, and the sound seemed to reach me as if she were right in front of me. Moe jammed his hands over his ears with a look of alarm, "It was a long trip…"

.

"Ma'am!" I came to, groggy and uncomfortable. A young man in scrubs was kneeled over me with a concerned look, though he smiled in relief when I made a sort of groaning noise, "Good to have you back. Just about everyone else woke up already, we were getting worried."

…what?

I tried to sit up but he gently held me down.

"I'm afraid you hit your head on the way down." He said sympathetically, "Doesn't seem to be a concussion, but it's better to be careful. You'll want to take it slow. I can take you to the hospital." Pushing his efforts away, I sat.

I was on the sidewalk of a taped-off area of Main Street. The bridge was still cracked, and lots of people were on the ground like I was, disoriented.

"It was a villain." The EMT provided helpfully, "Even Endeavor was knocked out when she sang, apparently. It seems she only put you all to sleep, though, so you should be okay. Luckily, no one was driving in the area since the acid villain stopped everyone in their tracks."

The thought finally hit me and I turned to my side with a gasp. No one there.

"Hey! Take it slow, miss."

"A boy." I sputtered, alarmed, "He's, god, he's so small, he was right next to me. Is he okay? Did you guys pick him up? Where…?" The man's frown filled me with panic.

"I haven't heard of any small children." He said, concerned, "I'll report that right away so everyone keeps an eye out. Can you describe him?"

"Small. Um, he's seven. Dark hair, thin frame. He's wearing a brown overcoat."

He man repeated the description into his radio.

"We'll get the police in on this too. Give me your contact info and I can pass it along. I'm sure he just wandered off in the confusion."

He wouldn't, though, would he?!

Springing to my feet, I rushed to search the crowd, but no one had seen him. Moe was incredibly talented at hiding, which was nice for hide and seek, but not great when he was lost.

I should never have let him talk me into this!

After checking the crowd twice and speaking to the police, I kept my phone on and circled back; no use. So I went to the only place I could imagine he'd go; I went to UA.

Walking up that hill was undeniably a workout, and though I felt lighter by virtue of not having the usual two to three kids clinging off me, my clothes were far from suited for cardio. Since it was a special occasion, and Moe was wearing his special overcoat, I'd opted for a long flowery skirt, a simple white tee, and, tragically, a pair of flats.

Not that I could really feel the oncoming blisters, I could only notice my heart trying its damndest to beat its way right out of my ribcage. I pressed on until the huge building came into view. There were gates and even guards. I wasn't the only one streaming toward the entrance, and I had a feeling the task ahead of me would be far from straight-forward.

"Please," said a woman tearily, "My son left his lucky eraser, and he needs it. I'll be two minutes, I promise."

"Sorry," Said the guard formally, "I'm under strict instruction to only allow the testing students to enter. Come back in four hours when they're released, please."

No parents, no siblings, no teachers, no reporters. Even a police officer was denied entry when she said she wanted to make sure the downtown villains hadn't fled in this direction.

"You'll have to take it up with the administration." The guard apologized, "I understand, and I'll tell the others to keep an eye out, but I'm afraid I still can't let you in."

So I'd say it was hardly a surprise that I nodded when asked, "Are you here for the entrance exam?"