Chương 49

Starlight had barely crossed the hallway inside Vought Tower when A-Train appeared in front of her. Starlight stopped, and the Compound V sample nearly slipped free. A-Train saw the movement. Before she could hide it, he took the vial from her and held it up between them.

"So this is it," he said. A-Train glared at Starlight and held up the vial.

"Where are you taking this?" Starlight did not answer. A-Train stepped closer.

"I know where you're taking it." For one second, Starlight felt the floor drop under her. She had spent all this time trying to keep the sample away from Vought. Now A-Train held the proof before her. She controlled her expression and breathed out.

"A-Train, I tried to do this without making things worse," she said.

"But you aren't going to listen any other way. Fine. Go tell whoever you want." His eyes narrowed.

"Just be ready for what happens after that," Starlight continued.

"Because the whole world will learn that you gave Popclaw drugs and killed her." A-Train's anger disappeared.

"That's not what happened," he said, but the words came out weak. He wanted to explain himself. Popclaw had not died because he wanted her dead. Homelander had forced the choice on him. But saying that would mean speaking against Homelander, and A-Train could not make himself do it. Starlight saw the answer in his silence.

"Go on," she said.

"Tell them. Why are you still standing here?" A-Train stared at the vial. His fingers tightened around it, but he did not move. Starlight reached forward and took the Compound V back. He let her. She held the vial against her palm and waited. A-Train could have used his speed to take it again, but he stayed where he was. His silence gave her the answer she needed.

"If you tell anyone, remember what comes out with me," she said.

"You won't be able to hide from that consequence." She walked past him without waiting for a reply. A-Train remained in the hallway, staring after her with both hands hanging at his sides. If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Far from Vought Tower, Kimiko and Kenji kept running. They did not stop until the mall was far behind them. After sunset, the siblings reached the roadside. Kimiko caught Kenji's arm and pulled him to a stop. Kenji faced her.

"Zenbu Amerika-jin no sei da." [This is all the Americans' fault.] His voice rose as he cursed the people around them and blamed America for what had happened to their home. Kimiko listened, and the small hope she had carried during their reunion began to disappear. The resistance group had not only captured her brother. They had filled his mind with the same hatred that had ruled them. Kenji was speaking with their anger now, and Kimiko understood that this was not something a hug could remove.

She answered him in Japanese.

"Subete no Amerika-jin ga warui wake janai." [Not every American is bad.] Kenji shook his head and pulled his arm away.

"Ore ni wa yarubeki shimei ga aru." [I came here with a mission.] Kimiko stepped into his path. She tried again, telling him that people here had helped her and that the enemy was not every person born in one country. Kenji refused to hear it. He moved to walk past her. That was when Kimiko understood that words would not stop him. Her right hand closed into a fist behind her.

"Gomen nasai." [I'm sorry.] Kenji frowned, but he had no time to ask why. Kimiko drove her fist into the space below his chest. The punch folded Kenji. The punch lifted Kenji's feet and sent air behind him. His eyes went empty before he fell forward. Kimiko caught him. Kimiko kept him from striking the pavement. She stayed beside him, breathing hard and looking at the brother she had just found. She placed two fingers near his neck and waited until she felt his pulse.

The punch had taken his strength away, but his breathing remained steady. Kimiko supported his head while she waited for the others. A pair of headlights came toward them. The Boys' van stopped near them. Frenchie came out first, with Adam close behind him. Butcher, M. M., and Hughie followed. Kimiko looked at Frenchie, then at Adam. She did not need words. Kimiko's face showed her fear for Kenji. Frenchie moved beside her and checked Kenji's breathing.

"He will be all right, mon coeur," Frenchie said.

"We will not hurt him. You stopped him before anyone else had to." Frenchie stayed beside Kenji until Kimiko nodded. He kept each movement where she could see it, so she knew no one would touch her brother without warning. Frenchie touched Kimiko's fingers. Adam gave her a quiet nod. Only then did she let the others lift Kenji. M. M. and Frenchie carried him to the van. Hughie opened the rear doors, and they placed Kenji inside.

Kimiko climbed in beside him while Frenchie secured his hands without pulling the restraints too tight. He checked each restraint once, then moved aside so Kimiko could remain close to her brother. Adam stood behind the van and watched them finish. Butcher closed both doors. The moment the lock caught, he turned toward Adam. His fist came without warning. Butcher punched Adam across the jaw. He put all his strength into the punch. Adam's head did not move, and he did not even blink.

Pain shot through Butcher's fingers and into his wrist. It felt as if he had punched a thick steel fixed inside a wall. Butcher shook his aching knuckles and stared at Adam.

"Next time you get in the middle of my work," Butcher said, "the result won't be so pleasant." Adam stared back. He said nothing aloud, but one clear thought passed through his mind.

'I never put my leg in the middle of your work. But if you put yours in the way of what I want, I won't move your leg. I'll remove you.'