Viper captured. Now what?

Kenzie 1 and 2 merged as we stepped outside. My leg didn’t hurt in the slightest, but I felt like something was off with it. I don’t think the body understands magic.

Kenzie picked up Viper and began carrying him to the cars. “Great job, everyone! Especially you, Target; you really kept your cool in there, yes?”

“What?! He didn’t even use his powers correctly!” Ava pointed out. “His ass would be dead if I wasn’t here!”

Kenzie clicked her tongue. “Yes, but he didn’t run away with his tail tucked between his legs. He showed valor! I knew he had it in him.”

Kate huffed. “He also showed that he has no abilities as a leader. He didn’t properly utilize the team.”

Did they realize I was here? They spoke as if I wasn’t.

Kenzie nodded. “Yes, yes… I get your worries. I’m not stepping down as leader or anything. I just wanted to test Michael out to the best of my abilities. Now I know what areas to work on during training.”

As we arrived to the cars, I saw lights in the distance. Flashing red and blue. Cops?!

Kenzie ignored the light, casually tossing the **** body of Viper into the back of my van. The rest of the girls piled into the car they came in and pulled away, presumably going back to the apartment.

“Hey, uh… cops are coming.” I pointed out.

“Mhm.” Kenzie nodded. “Get in so we can leave then.”

“What about Viper? Should we not leave him with the police?”

Kenzie shook her head. “I have something to show you. Come on, hurry up; unless you want to explain why you’re dressed like that so close to a crime scene.”

I didn’t want to do that, so I got in.

The ride was quiet. I don’t know what Kenzie was thinking of as she drove my van, but I stared out the window and thought about the recent events.

I could have died, first and foremost. That isn’t the easiest thing on the mental once, but having it happen so often at this point had me more tired than anything. How did I keep slipping by? Surely my luck will run out soon, right? There’s no way to think that this kind of lifestyle is something long-lasting.

Then I thought about the girls. They do this… frequently? And survive? And live a normal life the rest of the time? How?! The amount of stress this singular event gave me makes me want to lay in bed for a week.

Then I thought of the girls… again. I wasn’t excited to deal with them out-of-costume…. I was pretty sure they all hated me for one reason or another at the moment.

Before I could contemplate more, we arrived at the apartment.

Wait, the apartment? But what about the-

“I know what you’re thinking: ‘wait, the apartment? But what about the criminal in the back of my van?!’” Kenzie said.

“I was starting to have the thought, yeah.” I replied.

Kenzie grinned. “Watch this.”

She pulled the van to the back of the apartment building. There was an area with a metal garage-door thing, and she pulled up to that. We hopped out of the car and she opened the gate.

“What the fuck?!”

What was before me was a prison. A prison… under the apartment building. The prison had dozens of cells, all currently empty.

“This is completely ridiculous.” I pointed out.

Kenzie laughed. “Yeah, yeah. I know. It’s a higher aspiration of mine. This is temporary housing.”

“What’s the permanent housing?”

Kenzie shook her head. “I can’t tell you that. I wish I could, but I’m not allowed.”

“Do… do we kill them?”

Kenzie shook her head wildly. “No! No, no! We avoid **** whenever possible! I just can’t talk about it is all. Don’t worry, Venom will be completely fine. Well, in jail, but fine.”

Kenzie ensured me that she’d park my van and deal with Viper. She pointed me out to an elevator, and shooed me out.

I got to the apartment door and hesitated. I looked at Hana’s apartment next door for a moment. I entered the one I live in.

Lucky for me, the coast was clear for me to make it to my room with no disturbances. I heard some chatter coming from Ava’s room, but I didn’t listen in. I just wanted to sleep.

“Michael! You’re alive!” Vanessa exclaimed when I got in. “You’re also terrible!”

“Thanks, Vanessa.” I sighed. “Listen, is it okay if we talk tomorrow? I’m… tired.”

Vanessa looked like she was going to argue, but maybe I looked as fucked up as I felt. “Okay… but tomorrow we’re talking about stuff.”

I gave her a thumbs up before falling face-first into the bed. I don’t even know why I was so tired… I really didn’t do too much, right? Was it just stress? I don’t know. I was too tired to figure it out.

I felt a cold hand caressing my hair as I fell asleep. It was nice.