Redwing's Reply

Lyra's breath caught in her throat. Her heart was hammering faster and faster. She felt sick, dizzy. She couldn't believe that all of this was happening. Just a few moments ago, everything had been normal and she was about to go to bed. She felt as if the world had snapped in two under her and she was plummeting, falling through darkness and sky. Gorehound's arm was around her throat, pulling her back against his body. He stank of sweat and blood, a coppery texture seemed to assail her mouth and throat.

She had to do something. She had to get away. She still had her own power, but she was scared. Scared and frozen. The man was powerful, holding her tightly. He'd been so fast, easily disabled her. If she used her power, would it really matter at all? She didn't have the strength or control of her father. Would she be able to make a difference?

"I see you're still a bastard," her mother said slowly. She was smiling, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Fire flickered and danced around her limbs. "I don't know how you clawed your way back here, Gorehound, but the world doesn't need someone like you in it anymore. Your time is over. You should have stayed in your grave."

"Yes, yes, I've heard it already. The so-called great age of heroes has closed. World War Three happened and now everything is different. Do you know how pissed I was when I realised I'd missed world war fucking three? I could have done so much there! I could have killed so many people! But you don't need me to tell you that, do you? You've seen my previous works."

Lilly narrowed her gaze.

"I've seen what you like to do, yes. It's the only reason you're still standing. If you put down my daughter now, I might not kill you. I'd advise you to consider that. It's the best option you're going to get."

Gorehound laughed, the sound was harsh and sudden, making Lyra flinch.

"You still think you have a card to play here? You still think that you have any control at all? I'll tell you how this is going to go! You're going to power down and do what I tell you. Or else your little girl here is going to pay the price."

Lyra squeaked as Gorehound jerked her around, running one of his hands across her throat. He was holding no weapon, but somehow it felt as though she were only inches from ****.

"Lyra," Lilly said slowly. "Don't worry. You're not going to die. I promise you that. Everything is going to be okay."

"That's not a promise that you can make," Gorehound said. "Unless you do what you're told."

Lilly glanced at him.

"You think so? You think you've thought of absolutely everything, don't you Gorehound? Well, there's one thing that's slipped your mind. One thing that's going to cause you to lose it all."

"Really?" The man grinned. "And what's that? We fought plenty of times in the past, Redwing. Don't pretend I don't know your powers from top to bottom. I know exactly what you can do, how fast you are, and how you think. I know that you're buying time. Trying to think up some plan. You figure that whether you surrender or not, I'm probably going to kill her. Well, usually you'd be right but I have orders in this case. The two of you will live. So long as you surrender now. But between you and me? I'm sort of hoping that you don't. Last time we fought, you messed me up pretty badly. I would love a chance to even up the score."

Lilly scowled, meeting his gaze with her own.

"The thing you've forgotten is that you died more than thirty years ago. Do you really think that I haven't gotten better since then?"

"Hah! Good one. But I know how much better you've gotten, and it's not that much!"

"Really?" Lilly said. "Is that really what you think? Let me show you what you've missed."

And then, she was moving and it was the fastest that Lyra had ever seen her mother go. She pushed off and the world around her flared. Fire streamed across her back, forming the shape of the blazing wings from which she took her identity as a hero. A corona of heat pulsed into existence, a wave of hit battered against Lyra and stole away her breath.

Like a gunshot, Lilly sped towards them. Gorehound's eyes widened, and he tried to make a gesture but before he could do it, she'd hit him. She tackled him with her full body, didn't stop even for a moment. Lyra felt a sudden searing heat sweep past and then she was falling. Lilly enveloped Gorehound in her aura and dragged him along. Fire danced in their wake as the two crashed through the nearest wall. The whole house shook.

Lyra staggered to her feet. Her chest was raising and falling now as she desperately tried to catch her breath. She couldn't see her mother, but the sound of brutal combat echoed from where she had gone.

She needed to get out. The thought formed in her mind, drifting towards the surface from her subconscious. There were places she could go, but if she stayed here, she was just going to cause problems. She needed to escape, to go and get help.

Yes! That was what she would do! It was ten minutes through the forest, and then she'd be through to the city. She could get to the police, or the Hero League and send someone to help!

She nodded to herself, but even so she had great trouble tearing her body away from the fight. The home was shaking. The roar of flames could be easily heard. Gorehound and Redwing were trading blows strong enough to shake the ground.

Desperately, but also with a certain amount of ****, Lyra turned back towards the forest and started to run. Her breath caught in her throat, and the cold air tore at her clothes. Before too long, she was enveloped by the forest. But it was not familiar in the darkness, and soon she felt that she had gotten lost. The trees barred her way, made it hard for her to judge where she was.

Worst of all, she could feel that she was being hunted.