Chapter Two
November 10th, 8:30 AM
Slender, striking Erin Steele sat on her bed in her pink pajama shorts and top, her head bowed into her hands, her long black hair flowing through her fingers.
"Ugh."
Another nightmare. Another reminder of all the horrible mistakes she had made as a crimefigher. Another flashback to the bizarre perils that had visited her and Margot in the past month: the unmaskings, the beatdowns, the traps, the imprisonments. Another icky, slimy vision of gross, leering men, their hands running over her body, their horrible laughing and grinning and taunting.
"Why?" she wondered. "We're winning. We've got Hammerson on the run. We're taking down his operation little-by-little every night."
It was true. Since that night at the factory, Blue Lynx had been on a tear. She'd successfully infiltrated another drug house, this one in an apartment complex on the south side of the city. She'd brought photos and documents to the media, had helped them craft a story about the nature of the city's drug operation. She'd taken out dozens of Hammerson's goons. And through it all, she hadn't been captured. They'd been careful, Blue Lynx and Margot: they didn't want a repeat of the factory situation, where they'd been mere seconds away from obliteration. They had meticulously plotted their nights, scoped out their environments, and kept in constant contact. And for the past two weeks, they couldn't be stopped.
But it was had to forget those weird nights of peril. For some reason, those moments of pain and humiliation and dread-- those points when it looked like her true identity had been revealed-- were more vivid than the rest. And there was something about Hammerson's face especially, that blank, clean-shaven face, topped with ridiculous slicked back hair, that face she had invited into her house for a drink, that face she might even have a secret, tiny, horrible crush on... There was something about that face that haunted her.
"I can't let him get to me," she thought. "Not when we're this close."
She hopped out of bed and stretched. She felt her muscles pop. Might be a good day for a long workout. Or maybe a good day for nothing. "Whatever," Erin thought. "I'll just take it easy and relax."
"Erin!"
It was Margot's voice, calling from outside the bedroom door.
"Erin! Hurry up!"
Erin walked to the door and opened it. Margot was standing there, already dressed in jeans, boots, a light green sweater, and her signature large-framed glasses. She tapped her toe and stared at her friend.
"You're not even dressed yet?"
Erin looked at her. "I just got up."
"Erin!" Margot said. "That thing is today! The flu shot thing!"
Margot's words hit Erin like an electric shock. Oh shit. That thing!
"Oh God, I forgot!" Erin said. "Can we just cancel it, or something?"
"No, we can't," Margot said in a peeved voice. "This is an incredible opportunity for us. This city loves the Blue Lynx. This is our best chance yet to show everyone that we love them back."
Erin scratched the back of her neck. "But they already know. Can't we..."
Margot frowned. "No, Erin. It took a lot to set this up. Go ahead, you try putting on a media event starring someone with a secret identity. You scramble the phone lines. You..."
Erin shook her head. "Okay! Okay!" she said. "I'll get ready. Just give me five minutes."
She shut the door on Margot, who was still frowning in her direction, now tapping her toe. She could hear Margot's voice mumble through the door. "I can't believe you forgot," she said. "All this planning, and I have to come wake you up. Erin, Erin, Erin. Come on."
So much for a day of relaxation.
On to Chapter Three
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