Super

The sound of my breath fills my ears. My legs feel like they're made of brick. My lungs are on fire. My vision has gone unfocused. The stairs are blurs. So many. I turn the corner. Three more flights to go. I've got to make it in time. It can't happen again. Not like this. Not here. I won't let it. It's my responsibility.

I swing around the next corner. Two flights. I was lucky. So lucky. They had been careful. It had taken me weeks to find their safe house. Changed everything. So bold. Had to be fast. Drove on the sidewalk. Wish I could fly. Couldn't call authorities. Would just tip them off. Move up their time table. Had to come alone. It was happening tonight.

Last corner. Last flight. My throat burns. Tears in my eyes. Must keep running. Just hope I'm not too late. When I arrived, security was gone. All dead. So many bodies. Blood everywhere. Precise shots. Experts. Still, here of all places? How could they have gotten in? It was unthinkable. Can't concentrate. How many are there? Can I stop it? I have to try. Still people in the building. Thousands. Have to do something.

I turn the corner and see a glimmer in the dark. Barrel. I drop to the floor and as my chest hits the concrete I hear a blast. Bullet whizzes past my head. More. The ground explodes around me as I roll to the right. My shoulder slams into the wall and I whip out my revolver. Squint. Shadow. Muzzle blast lights up his face as he falls.

I scramble up and keep going. Adrenaline is back. Leap over the corpse and kick in the door. They know I'm here now. Going to be a shootout. Floor 109.

Before I get past the door, pops to my left. Drop to my knee and turn. Shadow. The recoil jerks at my hand. He slumps against the wall. I hear a magazine click into a receiver behind me. Leap through the glass wall besides me. Just in time. The hallway seems to explode. I land on my shoulder, and twist around, taking aim. Another pop. More glass shatters. He's down.

I haul myself up by a desk. Dead man's face meets mine. Worker. Innocent. Didn't need to die. I curse.

Walking over the glass shards, my breathing slows. I need to concentrate. How many? Three of them so far. Three bullets left. Didn't have time to grab more.

The hallways are so dim, lit only by the lights of the city outside. New York. My city. It seems so small from up here. So vulnerable. Have to protect it.

I press my shoulder into a corner and peek around. It looks clear, then movement. Muzzle flash fills my vision. Bullets fly past as I dig into the corner. Ears ringing. Full auto. M-16 by the sound.Military grade. How?

Pause. Reloading. I step out and rush down the hall. Shadow turns out, gun ready. I duck as gunfire erupts just above my head. My shoulder lowers and I drive it into the man's stomach. I hear the air rush out of his lungs as we both go to the ground.

I'm on top. He tries to get a line with the gun. I grab the barrel with my hands and press the metal down against his neck. He struggles. Gagging. Hot barrel is beginning to sear through my gloves. Head-but to disorient. Press my revolver against his temple and end it. I feel the hot blood spray across my mask. Repress the urge to vomit. Two bullets left.

Push myself up and continue to work my way towards what I'm looking for. Only had moments to look at the building schematics. I feel disoriented in the dark. My hand presses into the wall to guide me. I can still hear my breath. It's ragged. Still haven't recovered from the stairs.

It must be here somewhere. But where? Where?! If only I could see. Then I could- I gag and am pulled off my feet. Behind. Choking. Slam my elbow behind me blindly. Impact does nothing. Big man. Again. Nothing. Can't get leverage. Can't touch my feet to the floor.

Stars in my vision. Try to pry off his fingers. No use. Throat closing up. Can't breath. Hear myself gasping. Vision is beginning to blur. Starting to blackout. I want to scream. Everything is going black.

No choice.

Shove my revolver into my left shoulder.

Angle.

Woozy. About to slip.

Need air. Hands shaking.

Squeeze.

The vice loosens. Feet touch the floor.

Still no air.

Won't die here.

I refuse.

Squeeze.

Release!

I fall to the floor. As I try to catch myself, my left arm gives way. Gasp as I feel my shoulder rip open.

Pain and relief mix as I inhale shallow breaths. I feel the blood pool under my shoulder. Loosing it fast. Need to move. Tuck gun in my pocket. Useless now. Push myself up to my feet with my right arm. Dizzy. Can't see straight.

Move!

I slide along the hallway, walls supporting me. Should be just around the corner. Just a few more steps. I can't be too late. I can't be. Please God.

I round the edge and see him. Behind him is a giant window. I can see the city outside. He's outlined against the lights, like some ghastly statue. Detonator in his hand. Besides him, the bomb. If I read their plans right, enough explosives to level the entire building and bring down the surrounding area. Four blocks at least. All those people.

"Put it down..." My voice is hoarse and weak. Hardly intimidating.

He's chanting something. Can't make it out. Foreign.

I limp towards him. "I said... Down..."

Still chanting. Flips off the safety

"I SAID PUT IT DOWN!"

The chant ends. His thumb moves towards the detonator.

I charge. Slam my shoulder into him. Hear the detonator clatter to the ground. He grabs my head. Just now realize I've lost my hat somewhere. My face slams into a desk besides him. Nose broken and bleeding. My hand gropes the hard wood. He slams my face again.

Feel light headed. See a pen holder topple over. Grasp onto one. He brings my head up again. I click the pen and ram it into his thigh. He screams and let's go of my head. I tackle him back against the glass window. See his eyes. Brown. Crazed.

I thrust my knee into his rib cage. He doubles over. Right hook to the rib cage again. And again. And again. I can feel his bones breaking beneath my fist. I keep punching over and over. He coughs blood onto my shirt. Raise his jaw up and deliver a right haymaker to his chin. He crumples to the floor.

I take a knee and grab him by his shirt, pulling him up to face me. Blood running from his mouth. Smiling.

I can hardly see straight. Not sure if it's rage or blood loss.

"Who do you work for?"

Silence.

I'm done with this.

I wrap my hand around his face and slam the back of his head against the ground. I feel him yelp beneath my hand.

"Who do you work for?! Who?!"

He begins to laugh.

I am not playing.

Get up. Grab a chair. Metal. Slam it against the window. It cracks. Again. Little spider webs form. Again. The glass begins to give. My left arm has gone numb. I rear back and toss the the chair. The window shatters.

Immediately the wind howls through the building. At this height, it's practically freezing. I grab him again and hold him right at the edge. The balls of his feet are barely touching the floor.

Feel vertigo. So high. We both could fall.

"WHO DO YOU WORK FOR?!"

Can barely hear myself over the wind.

He smiles wider than ever before. I see his teeth. Pearly white. Disgusting.

He grabs my hand and begins to cackle. Before I can react, he's pushed away from my grip.

"NO!"

He tumbles down, laughter echoing on the wind.

I stumble back. Take a moment to process. He's gone.

I shuffle over to the detonator and disarm the bomb.

A sigh.

I nearly faint. So tired.

So many questions.

Phone.

Make a call.

It's ringing.

Lights come back on. Back up power. Elevator dings. I see it open to concerned office goers. I slump inside.

"Floor 1, please. Call 911 after I leave."

They see the bomb. The scene of the scuffle. Broken window. They're smart enough to see what I've done. One of them presses the button. I fall against the floor. Don't blame them for not supporting me. Scared.

Phone picks up.

"You had better have a damn good reason for ca-"

"Zen. Contingency Omega."

A quick pause.

"I'll have the messages sent right away."

"Good. I need pick up."

"Where?"

I laugh.

"Tallest building in the West Hemisphere. New Trade Center."

"I'm on my way."

She hangs up.

I place the phone on the elevator floor and smash it with my fist. Breaks into pieces.

I look up at the people. They are eyeing me. I must look odd under the elevator's harsh lights.

"Don't try to take off the mask. Trapped."

They nod.

I note they all look tired.

"Long night for you too, huh?"

I chuckle.

Everything goes black.