PART 7: as told by Massie (continued)
Everyone stood at the same moment, and crowded me, some angry, some trying to calm me.
I was only focused on Dempsey, and the mild betrayal I felt presently.
"And those damned gloves," I said, feeling slightly delirious. "For god's sake!" And I yanked one of the gloves off without thinking.
Instantly everyone quieted and moved away from Dempsey and me.
"Stay perfectly still Massie," Claire advised, and she was staring directly at the exposed hand.
It was completely normal, though unusually pale because he kept it hidden under thin leather.
"What's wrong?" I asked quietly. "What's with the hand…?"
Dempsey slowly bent down and picked up the discarded gloves. He slid it over his exposed hand carefully and looked at me, disappointed.
"Now that…" he said, raising his eyebrows. "That was incredibly stupid."
I almost shivered at how ominous he sounded. "Sorry," I whispered. I didn't know what I was apologizing for, but it seemed like the only right thing to say.
He nodded. "Don't do that again. It's dangerous."
"Okay, so moving on," Derrick said loudly, staring directly at me. "Massie knows. What now?"
"Before you try and suck me into this guys you need to know something," I blurted before any more chaos could ensue.
I had their attention. They were all listening intently. "The founders," I began shakily, and Landon instantly flinched at mention of them, "they know."
Chris swore under his breath. Landon and Derrick exchanged looks. Claire simply looked distraught. And Dempsey, he was maintaining calmness perfectly.
"How?" Landon demanded.
I shrugged. "They're not stupid. And Derrick isn't really an inconspicuous flier apparently," I said, grimacing.
Derrick exhaled sharply and Landon and Chris shot him a look.
"Well, damn," was all Landon said. "We have to get out of here."
Derrick nodded in agreement. "Yeah. But where?"
"We aren't safe anywhere," Chris said grimly. "They can easily track us."
"There is one place," Claire said thoughtfully. Everyone looked to her expectantly.
"That one city, not too far from here…where supers are hated and hunted…"
"Hell no!" Derrick exclaimed. "My friend Perry, a super, he went there once because his grandparents live there, and he came back with eight fingers." He held up his hands and dropped two fingers. "Eight!"
"Foster City hates supers, Claire," Dempsey said. "If anyone knew we had abilities, it would be mayhem."
"Well then we wouldn't let them know," she said, in an isn't-it-obvious? tone. "Besides, it's the only place the founders and their people won't follow us into. Even the founders are afraid of Foster City."
"Well I know where I'm going," Chris said evenly, and he was already starting towards the door. "Home. They won't bother with me if I'm split from the group of true offenders." He stopped at the door and saluted his former conspirators. "I couldn't imagine the founders braving the cold of Northern Alaska just to catch me."
He was out the door in seconds.
"Do you think he'll actually leave?" I asked, shocked.
Landon shrugged. "Yeah. Chris is a coward. If I know him, he'll have hijacked a car by 9 o'clock tonight and started driving."
"It's fine anyway," Dempsey said. "Chris wasn't really part of this. If he's with us, he's in danger."
Everyone nodded solemnly.
"Well I'm coming," I announced suddenly.
Everyone looked to me in surprise.
I tried to stifle the remorse that was building up inside of me. It was a stupid decision, but I couldn't let my friends run off to Foster City without my help.
"Really?" Claire sounded genuinely impressed with my bravery. "That's so…"
"Chivalrous," Derrick intercepted, grinning.
"Well, I may as well help, since you'll need it," I said, rolling my eyes, trying to seem nonchalant.
Even Landon allowed himself to smile a little. "Thanks," he mouthed.
And suddenly it was all worth it.