Courtney and Nick stood in the most secluded hallway the second floor had to offer, near the history wing. The closest classroom was empty and no stray students wandered the halls.
"I think we're ready," Nick said as he and Courtney approached the fire alarm. "We've cleaned off all the vomit."
Courtney inspected herself and flashed a thumbs up.
Nick went on, "We've brushed our teeth."
Courtney flashed double thumbs while showing off her pearly whites.
Nick mouthed, We've practiced lip reading.
Courtney danced and waved her thumbs around while mouthing, We are going to be so silent.
"And we know the plan." Nick's stomach churned as he stared at the fire alarm. "You still think this is a good idea?"
"It's a terrible idea," Courtney countered. "But lunch is starting. There's no way we can poke around the cafeteria's kitchen unless we make everyone leave. Short of unleashing chemical warfare on hundreds of people," she motioned at her clutch full of stink bombs, "the fire alarm's our only option."
"We could ask Principal Clarke for permission first," Nick offered. "Even for H.A.L.L.P.A.S.S., pulling a fire alarm is a lot."
"If she says no we'll get in even more trouble for doing it. Or what if she tries to protect the adults and shuts this whole operation down?"
"Clarke's not like that. Cindy says we can trust her."
"Maybe," Courtney conceded. "But I trust you to have my back a heck of a lot more than any adult."
"Alright then," Nick said. "Give me the clutch," he opened his trench coat and patted an empty interior pocket. Courtney passed it over, and he sealed the purse inside.
Courtney rubbed her hands in anticipation and grabbed the alarm. "Here we go."
"Wait," Nick stopped her. "Let me."
"Why?"
"Because you're a star reporter and honors student. You've got more to lose. I should be the one who pulls the alarm."
Courtney smiled and said, "That's sweet. But this was my idea."
"We're partners. Do it together?" Nick offered.
"Together," Courtney agreed. Nick laid his hand atop hers. They both stared at the fire alarm, hesitated a long moment, and pulled the lever down.
Wah, wah, wah, an incredibly subdued siren lazily rang out.
"Huh," Nick cocked his head. "I expected something more dramatic."
WEEWAHWEEWAHWEEWAH!
Blinding lights flashed, a klaxon roared, and the building became awash in terrified screams.
Nick nodded. "That's more like R.M.S."
"Let's move," Courtney said. She led the way down the corridor as every classroom door on the floor burst open. A horde of students rushed past the duo and sprinted for their lives.
"The fire's right behind us!"
"Oh my gosh, you can smell the smoke!"
"I'm burning up, I'm burning up!"
Nick stared in confusion as a shadow darkened the nearest hallway window. His eyes widened in terror as the form grew closer. He shoved Courtney to the floor and shielded her just before Assistant Principal Gonzalez rappelled from the roof and burst inside.
Gonzalez double fisted two air horns and blasted them. "On me, everyone! To safety!"
Gonzalez threw the cans down and scooped up the two nearest students. She slung a terrified seventh grader and a madly grinning Sheen Estevez over her shoulders before sprinting down the hallway.
"Cameo!" Sheen shouted as Gonzalez led the crowd of students downstairs.
Courtney started to push herself up, but Nick gently held her down. "Wait," he urged while getting to his feet. He kicked all the visible shards of glass on the floor aside, brushed a few more off the back of her shirt, and spotted a few pieces in her afro.
"It's in your hair. Is it okay if I…?"
"Yeah, thanks," Courtney said. Nick plucked the glass free, tossed the pieces down the hall, and offered her a hand.
Courtney rose to her feet and stared at their clasped palms. She squinted in confusion when Nick didn't let go.
Nick stared at the corridor full of broken glass and splintered doors. "Yeah, I think there's going to be some trouble after all this."
"Probably," Courtney mumbled.
Nick faced her, glanced at their hands, and then pulled away. "Sorry."
Courtney swallowed hard and said, "Well, trouble or not we don't have a lot of time."
She led the way downstairs and to the empty cafeteria. The partners skulked through the apocalyptic lunchroom full of overturned trays and splattered food, but nary a soul was found. They rounded the long serving station and came up to the kitchen double doors.
As usual, Courtney took the right side and Nick took the left. "Hang on," Nick said while unclipping his motion tracker. He turned it on and after a few seconds said, "No movement."
Courtney pushed her door open and peeked inside. "There's no one there."
Nick nodded and opened his own side. The duo stepped into the kitchen and looked around as the entrance closed behind them.
To their left was a row of refrigerators, freezers, and fryers. In the middle of the room stood a long prep table filled with various bowls, mixers, and cooking utensils. To the right was a series of shelves filled with ingredients. On the far wall rested a line of stoves, dishwashers, sinks, and the door to an office.
"Maybe this office will pan out," Courtney said while marching across the room. Nick followed close behind, scanning the entire area as his gut churned. Courtney went on, "Look for anything that links the lunch ladies to the crimes. It could be the Hypno-beam, a receipt for Tom's payment, the stolen goods, or communications with the dock workers."
As Courtney stepped into the office, Nick froze in place and whispered, "Stop."
Courtney did as she was told and nervously looked around. "What is it?"
Nick scanned the kitchen but came up empty. "It just feels wrong."
"Well, we are breaking pretty much every rule in the handbook." She waited a few seconds and added, "I don't see anything. And this fire drill won't last forever."
Nick clenched his hands into fists and nodded. "Okay, let's just move fast."
Courtney took a seat in front of the office's computer and said, "Check all the paperwork around here."
Nick agreed and began to rifle through papers. Everything he saw was either a recipe, calendar of upcoming meals, unremarkable invoices, or payroll documents.
"I'm not seeing anything," Nick complained. "You?"
"Password was LunchLadiesRule. It only took me three guesses!"
"Nice," Nick absentmindedly muttered while peering back outside the door.
Courtney went on, "It would take forever to go through every file on here, but nothing's jumping out. Poke around in the kitchen while I keep looking."
Nick went to leave when Courtney said, "Nick, wait!"
"What?" he asked.
"I went undercover and now I'm hacking. Does that make me a spy?"
Nick managed a smile in spite of his unease. "Yep. Your secret's safe with me."
Courtney offered a painfully intense wink as Nick huffed and left the office.
Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong.
That word blasted on repeat in his skull as soon as Nick stepped over the threshold. He pulled out his motion tracker, turned it back on, and still saw no movement. Nick scoured every inch of the walls and floor as the office's printer whirred to life. Courtney rushed out clutching a piece of paper just as he spotted it.
"Got it," Courtney smiled. "A three hundred dollar transfer was made from the cafeteria fund to the school store's account on Monday. That matches what Tom said. We're finally on the right track."
"That's great," Nick said without shifting his gaze. "Get me a pen so I can check it out and make some notes."
"What?"
"Courtney, please get me a pen," Nick firmly repeated.
"Okayyyy," Courtney said while ducking back in the office and emerging with a pen. She handed it along with the printed paper to Nick.
"Let me see this," Nick said while lying the paper on a nearby shelf. He slowly scribbled words down while saying, "The date makes sense, but there's no mention of Tom in these records. Could they claim it was for something else?"
Courtney said, "I guess, but…" her voice trailed off as she read Nick's note.
We're not alone. We need to leave.
Nick elbowed her and then scribbled a few more lines. "Did you think of something?"
Courtney glanced at the paper and read, Act normal but hurry. No lip reading. They can see.
Courtney gulped and said, "I think we could get more information from the administration wing. They'll have more records there. Can we check that out?"
Nick offered a slim smile and let out a relieved breath. "Yeah, let's go."
He left the pen, pocketed the paper, and grabbed Courtney's palm. He led her towards the exit, but a chorus of whispers made them freeze teen feet from the door.
"Stop."
Nick hesitated a split second, then gently shoved Courtney towards the door. "Run!"
Courtney took a couple of steps before stopping and turning back to Nick.
"Fools," the voices said as two camouflaged seventh-graders peeled off of the wall beside the doors. They lurched towards Courtney, who jumped back at the last moment.
"Ahh!" Courtney screamed while narrowly evading their grasp. Nick thrust an arm out and cordoned her behind him.
Once Courtney was safe, Nick balled both his hands into fists and glowered at the two painted figures. They simply held their ground and stared back.
"What the hell are those things?" Courtney asked.
"The Dark Brotherhood," Nick growled. His eyes darted around the room as he asked, "How long did you survive in the Second Foam War?"
"To the end. You were with me the whole time!"
Nick rubbed his brow. "For goodness' sake, Courtney. Stop counting the one with our parents. I mean the medieval foam war!"
"Oh! Just two days. I didn't see anything like those freaks!" she painted at the motionless figures.
"They're camouflaged assassins," Nick explained. He spoke to the entire room, "Do you still come in packs of fifteen?"
Eight more figures peeled themselves off of the walls and floor. They formed a circle all around the room, trapping the partners between the prep table and shelving unit. None came closer than five feet away.
Around the circle the dialogue went.
"We lost some. But…"
"That made us stronger."
"We pretend to…"
"Live in your world."
"But we are always…"
"Dark Brothers."
"And so we fight."
"And so you die."
"Unless…"
The Dark Brother's leader stood directly ahead of Nick. He took one step forward and pulled a Hypno-beam from behind his back. He finished the group's threat by saying, "You submit."
Everyone stayed motionless as Nick said. "I know you jerks hate talking, but you better listen. Yeah, you've got more people and a Hypno-beam. But this isn't a foam war. People will be back from that fire drill any second. If they come in here and find ten teens wailing on me and a girl-"
"Not nice," Courtney chided.
Nick sighed. "An incredibly smart, brave, loyal, and talented but still socially unacceptable to hit girl-"
"Aww," Courtney whispered. She stared at Nick, then balled up her own fists and plastered her back against her partner.
"Then you guys will be expelled," Nick finished.
The circle of Dark Brothers stayed silent.
Courtney eventually asked, "So, uh, can we leave?"
"No."
"It is you…"
"Who does not understand."
"We have allies who…"
"Will keep the horde…"
"From returning here."
"You have only…"
"Two choices."
"Submit and go free…"
"Without memory of today," the leader with the Hypno-Beam wiggled his device.
"Or fight and be…"
"Beaten within an inch…"
"Of your lives."
"Then you will lose…"
"All of today anyway."
"So take a minute."
"And make your choice."
"First option is easier."
"But the second…"
The leader leaned forward and locked his ashen eyes onto Nick's. "Is more fun."
Courtney cracked her neck and said, "Alright, Nick. We've got one minute for you to teach me how to throw a punch."
Nick's back slumped and his fists fell. "Courtney."
Courtney began hopping in place and throwing practice blows. "Do you clench your hand? Do I hook or jab? Oh, do you have a roll of quarters?"
"Courtney," Nick said while turning around. "Cindy trained me into a really good fighter."
"Good, because there's ten of them."
Nick shook his head and motioned at the leader with the Hypno-beam. "Cindy and I needed help to kill that guy. We still barely won. And there are nine other kids to deal with."
"So…what?" Courtney's face fell. "You just want to give up?"
No, I hate the idea, Nick thought. He remembered being in Cindy's office, promising her that he would catch the lunch thief. Then he stared at Courtney. He pictured her nose bloody, her eyes bruised, her lips swollen. With a cringe, he admitted, But I want to see you beat to a pulp even less. "Have you ever been punched before?"
Courtney shook her head.
"Well it hurts and is going to happen over and over again if we fight these guys. And honestly, I don't think we have any chance of winning."
Courtney swallowed hard and stared at the floor. "But if we forget today, it won't just be the Hungbringer. It will be everything else. I don't want…It meant so…You've been…" She met Nick's eyes and tightened her fists. "It's up to you. If you think that today is worth fighting for, then so do I."
Nick closed his eyes, measured his options, and let out a deep breath. He raised his right hand, then extended his index and middle finger. "Courtney, listen to me," he said while motioning between both their eyes two times. On the third swivel, he angled his fingers to aim at the Hypno-beam and his trench coat's pockets.
Courtney managed the faintest of grins. "I'm listening."
"There are ten of them and they're all great fighters. They're up here," Nick held his hand horizontal above his head. "We're down here," he lowered his hand and gently moved it side to side.
"If I thought we had the slightest chance, I'd take it," Nick slammed his right fist hard into his left palm. "But it would never work." He stared as hard into her eyes as he could while saying, "They'd blast us with the Hypno-beam the second they could. And then everything we'd been fighting for would blow up in our face." He splayed his hands and then dragged him over where Courtney's clutch was stored.
"So we give up," Courtney nodded. "You'll go first?"
"Yep," Nick spun around and faced the Dark Brotherhood's leader. "Alright, you can fry our brains. But please," he begged, "we've been through a lot today. Can we have a few seconds to think about it before we forget?"
"You move, you die," the assassin warned.
"Don't worry. I won't move an inch," Nick promised.
Nick sucked in a deep breath and thought of that long ago day of the fair.
Nick and Courtney panted for breath as they sprinted down the halls. Still clad in their Dread Pirate Roberts costumes, Cindy kicked open an empty classroom door. "In here," she said while dashing inside. Nick followed suit and she slammed the door closed once he was just past the threshold.
"Brace it," Cindy whispered while ducking beneath the door's window. Nick did the same, then they both placed their backs across the wood.
They held their breath as a trio of students ran straight past the door, clamoring for the duo's blood.
Once their footsteps had disappeared, Nick let out a heavy sigh of relief. "That was close."
"Yeah, thanks to you," Cindy growled. "What the heck was that move?"
"It was a flying kick that unfortunately failed to get airborne."
"If we're going to team up, you need to learn how to fight."
"I can fight," Nick protested.
"You ran away from Poultra."
"And I have grown since then," Nick shot back. "I made it pretty far last war."
"Until you died. I don't want to die. So get up."
Nick rolled his eyes and clambered to his feet.
"Block the door with furniture."
"No help? And no please?"
"You'll get both when you stop nearly getting me killed," Cindy snarled.
"I'm really starting to rethink this partnership," Nick mumbled while doing as Cindy told. Once the door was secure, Cindy motioned him to an area out of view of the window.
"Punch me," she said.
"You're being annoying, but I'm still not going to hit you."
"No, you're not. But I want you to try."
"Cindy-"
"Nick," Cindy warned, "I will kick you in the balls and then stab your neck with foam if you don't punch me."
"Okey dokey, then," Nick said while curling his hand into a fist. He immediately launched a jab at Cindy's arm. He barely saw her dodge the blow, sweep his leg, and then launch a fist straight at his throat.
Cindy pulled her punch at the last moment, then opened her fist to reveal a hand. "Get up," she gently said.
Nick clasped her palm and was hoisted to his feet. "How the heck did you do that?"
Cindy crossed her arms and gave him the first of many lessons that would save his life. "There's a moment whenever someone attacks you. Punch, kick, knife, gun, it doesn't matter. There's always a point where they fully commit to the action they're taking, but are still vulnerable. They physically can't change their movements before your counter-attack lands.
"For most people, including you with that pathetic punch, it's a huge window. With practice, you can dodge their attacks without thought. But for some skilled fighters, it's just a millisecond. To make it work, you need perfect reflexes. So, let's keep going until you get them."
Nick took a long breath and thought of everything he'd been through the past year.
Learning that I wouldn't be facing middle school alone.
Lounging around Betty's pool with Ike, struggling to focus on summer reading.
Discovering that Cindy was the best friend I could ever ask for.
Realizing that she could be more.
Understanding that I had to let that chance go.
Promising her that I would catch a lunch thief and save her school.
Realizing…
Nick craned his neck and looked at Courtney, who offered a trusting smile.
Realizing that Cindy's not the only person worth fighting for.
"I'm ready," Nick let his arms hang loose and unthreatening. "Fry me."
The Dark Brother lifted his Hypno-beam, angled it at Nick's face, and blinked.
Get to work.
Nick swung his head away from the beam's blast, grabbed the assassin's wrist with his left hand, and pounded the top of the Hypno-beam with his right. As soon as the device crashed to the floor, Nick slammed his right foot in front of it and kicked it backwards to Courtney.
The Dark Brother grinned and shouted, "Break them!" He pointed the fingers of his trapped hand forward, turned his wrist, and spun his body inwards. As his wrist slid free, he kicked Nick hard in the chest.
While Nick flew across the floor, four kids ran around the prep table to swarm swarm Courtney. She scooped up the Hypno-beam and managed to blast one in the face before she was tackled hard to the ground. As her left elbow slammed into the linoleum, the Hypno-beam skidded away. She screamed, "Fight the painted freaks!"
"RAAAAHR!" the hypnotized Dark Brother roared while charging one of the three assassins pinning Courtney.
Nick reached into his trench coat's pocket and yanked out a stink bomb as he rolled across the floor. While the assassins' leader retreated to watch the fray, five fighters charged at Nick from all directions. Nick angled the bomb's vent towards the closest two, held his breath, and sprayed them straight in the face.
The two collapsed to the floor and violently gagged. As vomit flowed free and everyone else coughed, Nick jumped to his feet. He balled his hands into fists as the three remaining assassins charged him.
Courtney was pinned by two stronger assailants; one on her back and one on her legs. The one on her back leaned towards her right ear and whispered, "Poor little girl. Should've listened. Never will again."
Courtney screamed as flaming agony flared in her earlobe. As the warrior clenched her jaw tighter against Courtney's cartilage, Nick's voice rang out.
"Courtney! Eyes!"
Courtney's screams turned to moans, she morphed her shaking left hand into talons, and jammed them as hard as she could into the demonic girl's eyes. As she reeled back in shock, Courtney raked her hand down the assassin's face and curled her fingers into her screaming mouth. Courtney wrapped them around the girl's lower jaw, pulled as hard as she could, and felt a baby tooth pop free.
"Ahhhrr!" the girl screamed as blood bubbled from its empty socket. She stumbled over the boy pinning Courtney's legs and smashed headfirst into the prep table. A cast iron ladle fell to the ground within Courtney's reach. She grabbed it, swung as hard as she could, and caught the last boy across the head.
He fell to the floor but pushed himself up in an instant. Blood poured from a gash over his left eye. Courtney staggered backwards in terror as the assassin wildly smiled and said, "You want blood? Take it!" He lurched forward, spat a red glob in her eyes, and shoved her against the shelving unit.
Nick's pupils darted madly between the three warriors approaching from dead ahead, left, and right. They tightened their triangle, then leapt at him at once. One swung at his head, one jabbed at his waist, and the last kicked at his shin.
Nick tried to leap backwards but couldn't completely escape their range. He twisted to his left and felt the top attack graze his temple. The punch to his stomach lost some of its force, but still sent air spewing from his lungs. The blow to his shin made him topple into the prep table. Nick rolled over, tried to grab something to stop his fall, and ended up taking a stainless steel saucepan down to the floor with him.
Nick glanced up at the table just as one of his attackers leaped over it. She was dive tackled by the hypnotized soldier and crashed back to the floor. Nick spun to his right and clocked the approaching girl across the face with the saucepan. As she stumbled, he turned to his left to find a fist slamming into his eye.
His body pressed against hers, the bleeding assassin laughed while wrapping his hands around Courtney's throat and squeezing with all his might. Courtney desperately flailed both arms along the wire shelves beside her. Her left knocked everything out of reach; her right grabbed a plastic bottle. She used the last of her strength to crane her neck - she just managed to read Lemon Juice before the light faded from her vision.
Courtney flicked the cap open, swung the bottle, and squeezed. A vicious stream splashed over the boy's lacerated forehead. He roared in pain, released her neck, and staggered back. Courtney scooped up her fallen ladle, prepared to bash her assailant, but spotted Nick first.
Nick's left eye exploded in white hot pain. Stars sparkled, the force of the blow sent him spinning, and he tripped over his own feet. His head bounced off the floor and it all went white.
Cindy knelt down, offering him a hand and peaceful smile. "My turn to save you. Get up."
Nick shook his head and the void disappeared. The assassin sprinted at him, he pulled both legs back, and kicked her waist with full force. As she flew onto the floor, Nick rose, gripped his saucepan tight, and felt a breeze arcing towards his right shoulder.
He dodged left, swung his saucepan backwards, and heard his attacker cry as their hand crumpled against steel. Nick spun around to find them aiming a kick at his torso. He slammed the saucepan down on their kneecap and felt something pop with the impact.
"Aaggh," the crippled child moaned while collapsing to the floor. Nick spun on the last attacker lying on the floor.
"Nick, catch!" Courtney shouted while tossing the cast iron ladle over the prep table.
Nick caught it in midair, slammed the empty saucepan over the boy's head, and rang the pot like a bell over and over. He didn't stop until the boy's thrashing abruptly ceased.
Courtney stared as the last of her attackers stopped clutching his frothing head wound. "Die!" he screamed while charging her.
Courtney dove out of the way of his sluggish tackle, rolled into the prep table, and grabbed the first thing she could. She chucked a tub of butter, half-melted from being abandoned that morning, onto the floor. When the boy stormed back towards her, he slipped and landed hard on his tailbone.
"Not…over," he moaned while struggling to push himself up.
"Yeah, it is," Nick said while vaulting over the table. He held out one arm and gently swept Courtney behind him. After she backed up, he strolled forward and hurled a fistful of onion powder into the boy's eyes.
The Dark Brother could do nothing but moan and sob.
Nick and Courtney stared at the carnage all around them, the lone hypnotized Dark Brother staring into space, and then studied each other. "You," Nick licked his split lip and spat blood on the floor, "are amazing."
Courtney beamed, then cringed as her bruised earlobe throbbed. "Told ya we'd win."
"I don't remember you saying that."
"After everything we've been through today, you can't tell what I'm thinking?"
"Give it one more mission and we'll see."
Courtney offered a thumbs up and looked around the blood-spattered floor. "Where'd the Hypno-beam go?" She started to walk away when Nick lashed out an arm.
"Wait," Nick grabbed her hand like a vice. "I count one zombie and eight corpses. Where's their leader?"
"I thought you took care of him," Courtney said.
"No," the final dark brother whispered while bursting off the nearest wall and tackling Courtney. They both rolled across the floor. In one smooth motion, the demon grabbed Courtney's afro, yanked her up, and scooped a pair of kitchen shears off the edge of the prep table.
"Raahhr!" the hypnotized assassin screamed while charging his leader. The demon effortlessly kicked his left kneecap and sent the boy tumbling to the ground. His forehead bounced off the linoleum with a sickening bang, then he fell still.
"You fought well," the leader narrowed his eyes while pulling Courtney's hair hard enough to make her whimper. He opened the scissors and placed the blades around her hair. "But it is over."
"Let go!" Courtney shouted while trying to twist free.
"No," the demon said while angling the blades even lower. Once they bit against her scalp and drew blood, Courtney fell still. "Either of you move? I will cut. And pull."
Nick froze as Courtney stopped squirming. "It's fine," Courtney pleaded. "Just get him, Nick!"
"I know about robot," the demon warned. "Needs follicles to work. They will be gone. I will scar you." The Dark Brother smiled and warned, "Forever a freak."
"I've been called a freak before," Courtney snarled up at her captor. "It never made me give up!" She spun on Nick and said, "I don't care what he does, Nick! Take him down!"
"I'm only gonna say this once," Nick's arms trembled with fury; his teeth threatened to splinter from being clenched too tight. "If you hurt her? I will shatter you."
"Try," the demon said while closing the shears.
Courtney screamed as her afro broke free. It dangled follicles and bleeding millimeters of skin. The dark brother pulled backwards, peeling as much hair off as he could while Courtney stumbled to the ground. He tossed the bloody mane at her feet and threw the shears across the room.
For the first time in any battle, Nick could do nothing but stare in horror.
The assassin smiled. "Hypno-beam fixes much. Maybe she will… think you did this. Maybe she will hate-" The assassin screamed as Courtney leapt onto his legs and bit his left ankle as hard as she could.
Nick sprinted forward and launched into a dropkick. The demon juked and dodged the brunt of the blow, but Nick's feet still caught the demon's right arm. The assassin flew hard against the wall and fell to the floor. Nick grabbed a nearby rolling pin and swung it at the boy's painted face. He raised an arm and caught the roller. In one smooth motion he ripped it free from Nick's clutches and smashed it into his throat.
Nick gurgled for breath and crumpled to the floor. The Dark Brother rose, shoved a charging Courtney onto the ground, and walked towards Nick. He dropped the rolling pin to his waist, flourished it, and arced it towards Nick's temple.
Nick watched, waited, and ducked at the only moment he could. As the bludgeon clipped his ear, Nick thrust an uppercut into the boy's crotch.
The assassin turned, took the hit in the thigh, and stumbled.
Courtney leapt on his back and bit his shoulder.
Nick pushed him to the floor.
He landed on Courtney, who tightened both her arms around his elbows and chest.
Nick stomped on the boy's abdomen as hard as he could.
As the demon gagged and shook, Nick kicked him in the ribs hard enough to feel something crack.
Courtney pushed the moaning boy off of her and accepted Nick's hand.
As Nick took in all her damage, he squeezed her palm as hard as he could.
A five-inch wide, uneven strip of hair was missing from the middle of her head. Countless pinpoints of skin were gone. In their wake was a mess of red streams.
"Courtney," Nick swallowed hard and grimaced at the pain. What is there to say?
Courtney patted her head, cringed in pain, and stared at her bloody fingers. She looked up at Nick's horrified expression and tried to turn away.
Nick spun her back around as gently as he could manage. "Partners. No matter what." He loosened his grip on her hand, and when she didn't run away he squeezed it more gently. "Whatever you need, whenever it is, I'm here."
Courtney whispered, "Really, Nick?" Her voice broke as she asked, "You're in the Cool Kids Society. I was a nerd to begin with. When we're back in class, with me looking like this, you'd still be my partner?"
Nick didn't hesitate to say, "And I'll still be your friend."
Courtney scrunched her face and struggled not to cry. "Why are you so nice to me?"
"Because it's really freaking hard not to like you."
Courtney stayed quiet as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Nick asked, "What do you say we finish this? Together."
Courtney nodded, squeezed his hand, and opened her eyes.
Nick slowly released her palm and scooped up the fallen Hypno-beam. He walked up to each fallen assassin, blasted them in the face, and commanded, "Sleep for an hour. Then forget everything that happened today."
When the others were dealt with, Nick aimed the weapon at the demon. "You're going to tell us everything you know."
The demon laughed and then groaned in pain. "No, I won't. Inoculated."
Nick growled, "What does that mean?"
"We've all been hypnotized. And instructed to never...reveal our secrets."
Courtney asked, "Does the Hypno-beam work like that?"
Nick's fingers blanched as he squeezed the weapon tight. "Yeah. Neutron warned me about this. You can't hypnotize yourself to never be hypnotized again. But you can give a specific rule that another hypnotism can't break."
Too exhausted to brainstorm, Courtney asked, "Then what do we do?"
Nick thought for a moment, then stared at his trench coat's pockets, "Can you get a few things for me?" After Courtney nodded, he said, "I need a dish towel, ice, a huge bowl, and two gallons of milk."
Nick expected questions or a sarcastic comment, but Courtney simply walked away and returned a moment later with everything he requested.
"Put ice in the towel," he instructed. "The lay it on top of your head. That will help with the pain."
"Do you want one too?"
"Later," Nick said. "Put the bowl over there," he pointed near the stoves, "and fill it with milk."
Nick glowered at his prisoner, took a calming breath, then voiced his jumble of thoughts. "I was going to be tortured earlier and it terrified me. Turns out it was all because of a misunderstanding. I thought the Black Atom was a monster. And now she's one of my friends. So even though you just did the worst thing I've ever seen anyone do, I will give you one chance. Tell us everything about who you work for."
"No."
Nick closed his eyes and steeled himself for what had to be done. "Then it's about to get hot in here."
Nick clutched the boy's neck, hauled him to his feet, and dragged him to the stove. Courtney followed with the steel ladle in one hand and the other holding an ice pack to her scalp.
Nick shoved the dark brother's head onto one of the unpowered stove's burner grates. His left hand brushed past the stove's dial, reached into his trench coat, and pulled out the bottle of ghost pepper sauce.
Before the dark brother knew what was happening, Nick shoved the bottle between the demon's lips and squeezed.
The monster held strong for a moment, but he eventually started to slam the side of the stove and struggle against Nick's grasp. Once he began to cough and scream, Nick shoved his whole face into the bowl of milk.
After ten seconds, Nick yanked the boy free and slammed him back onto the burner. "Here's how this is going to work. You said yourself that your friends will keep everyone out of here. So we've got all day to get answers. But I don't like this anymore than you do. So just tell us. You're working for the lunch ladies, aren't you?"
The boy stayed silent, so Nick squeezed more hot sauce into the boy's mouth.
Nick let him suffer longer this time, until bile spewed from his mouth and onto the stove. Nick dunked his head in the milk, then planted him back on the burners. "It's the lunch ladies, isn't it?"
The boy stayed silent until the bottle breached his lips. "Yes!" he moaned.
Nick pulled the sauce free. "They've been stealing lunches so more kids would eat here, haven't they?"
A few seconds passed, then the demon answered, "Yes."
Courtney leaned over the boy and asked, "And they planned a revolution at Chez Chiz to wipe out the competition?"
"You know it all," the boy panted and spat more bile onto the stove. "What more is there?"
"How'd they avoid getting caught?"
"Don't know." Nick moved the hot sauce towards his lips, so the demon desperately added, "Telling truth. Never told us that. But guess…they are adults. They have access. Stole master key. Used on lockers. Accessed administration wing. Wiped security cameras."
Courtney asked, "Is there anything else you can tell us that will help stop them?"
"Yes. Walk away."
"You don't get to threaten us," Nick spat.
"Not a threat. A warning." The demon closed his eyes and tucked into himself. Voice shaking in shame, he spoke normally. "You both are stronger than me. But the lunch ladies…there are so many of them and they have so much power. It doesn't matter how tough you are. You can't beat them."
"We'll see," Nick said while grabbing the Hypno-beam and shooting the demon in the face. "Sleep for an hour. Then forget everything that happened today. Also? Spend the whole weekend doing nothing but hating yourself." He capped the hot sauce, then tucked it along with the Hypno-beam into his pocket.
Nick turned to Courtney and said, "There's absolutely no shame in backing out. I can finish this myself."
"Would you like it if I helped you?" Courtney sincerely asked.
"Yes," he immediately answered.
Courtney straightened her back and led the way out of the kitchen. "Then I'm with you."