We didn’t speak for a moment as we took in Avery’s words and scanned the swarming masses of web below, staring down at the oblivious spiders that we’d soon be murdering.

  Well… Alice thought. That certainly makes things easier, at least?

  I guess, Mel replied, but her reluctance was clear.

  I looked across at her, meeting her gaze and smiling supportively. She didn’t like killing things either, especially not animals. It was harder for her than it was for me too. I just felt guilty when I had to do it, but Mel could understand animals to an extent. She could communicate with them and hear what they were saying.

  Obviously, she didn’t completely follow every word. Their language structure was different to ours. That made it more difficult for her to grasp the meaning of what they were saying sometimes, but that didn’t really matter. She’d told us before that it was hard not to understand them when they were screaming in pain or begging for mercy, something we couldn’t give them. It was too dangerous; there was no way to ensure they wouldn’t hurt others, and even if we let them live, the cleanup crew wouldn’t. We would just be prolonging their suffering.

  “Great,” Issy said into the watch as we drifted even slower, ensuring to stay out of sight from the monsters below. “Is there anything else we should know before we go in?”

  “I don’t think so,” Avery responded a little too quickly. “We have a team prepping to go down into the tunnels once the situation is more under control to determine what happened down there. We’ll let you know before we send them in, of course, and the emergency evac team will be en route shortly to help any civilians in need of medical attention.”

  She’s hiding something, Livvie told us, causing Issy to glance back at her.

  “Anything else?” she prompted.

  “No, I think that’s about it!” Avery said, her tone bright. “For now, just focus on taking down the spiders and rescuing anyone you come across!”

  Any idea what she’s hiding? Issy asked.

  Livvie’s face scrunched up in concentration.

  No, but there’s something. I know there is.

  Her frustration was clear, and I completely understood why. Livvie’s power only really worked when she was talking to a person face to face. When she was on the phone or on comms, she could just pick up pieces of what the person was feeling, a general vibe to their words. It was easy for her to figure out when someone was lying to her or hiding something, but she couldn’t exactly just read their mind to figure out what was going on, and that irritated her.

  I trusted her powers, though. If she felt like Avery was hiding something, she must have been. I had no clue what it was, but there had to be something more happening, something bigger than the giant spiders alone.

  My eyes scanned the city below, trying to find anything that felt out of place or concerning, but I found nothing. The city was surprisingly still, despite the hulking black shapes scurrying around. They were the only source of movement in the centre. There were no people, no cars. Only the spiders.

  I looked up, feeling someone’s eyes on me, and met Phoebe’s gaze. Her expression was troubled, concerned, and I knew she was worried about what Avery was hiding from us. She looked away, chewing on her lip as she watched one of the spiders.

  Are you sure you don’t want to go home? I asked her, seeing the fear in her expression.

  No.

  Issy looked back over her shoulder at us, but Phoebe didn’t meet her eye. She just continued to stare at the creatures below.

  As in ‘No, you’re not sure’ or ‘No, you don’t want to go home’? she asked.

  No, was all Phoebe replied, but a hint of a smile appeared on her lips.

  That made me feel better. If she was joking around, that meant she wasn’t too nervous. She got too serious whenever she was.

  You can do this, I told her.

  That made Phoebe look away from the spiders. She glanced up at me, her expression uncertain, and I pushed a confident smile onto my face. I knew she was strong enough to take the spiders down. She might have been scared of them, but that didn’t matter. She’d fought things she was scared of before, and she always survived. She always won.

  “And you’re sure there’s nothing else we need to be aware of or keep in mind?” Issy asked.

  “Nope, that’s everything! Crack on!” Avery cheered.

  Thoughts? Issy asked. Should I ask again?

  No. Don’t bother, Livvie replied. She doesn’t plan on telling us anything.

  Any idea why? Alice asked, fiddling nervously with her bracelet.

  None. I assume that answer is ‘above our pay grade’, Livvie thought, her voice taking on a slightly mocking tone as she imitated Avery.

  Issy snorted, and I felt my own lips twitch at Livvie’s terrible impression. I assumed if Issy were to push Avery, that would be the answer we’d get. It happened far too often when we asked questions, and it wasn’t our fault. We didn’t mean to ask so many or to enquire about government secrets, and the team indulged us sometimes, telling us things we definitely weren’t meant to know, but there was a lot they concealed from us, sometimes even managing to shield the information from Livvie’s powers. She still generally got an idea of what it was, and she shared that information with us as soon as we were out of earshot.

  Surely, we had the right to know the answer to some of our questions, though. I mean, we should have been allowed to know what happened to the villains after they’d been captured, right? I mean, we were the ones that caught them in the first place. It seemed only fair that we should be aware of what they did with them once we handed them over.

  For all I knew, they were immediately set free. That did happen sometimes. Or maybe they broke free. Whatever it was that happened, we’d had a few villains pop up more than once. They always recognised us, and they were never particularly happy when we showed up to foil their evil plans for a second time. Or third.

  But that didn’t happen to all of them, and part of me longed to know where they went. Whenever we handed someone over to the enforcement and corrections team, a small voice in the back of my head always whispered that they’d just introduced them to their executioner.

  That was what I was worried about. That they were killed because of us. Or because of their actions, I guess, but we played a role in their deaths even if we weren’t the ones to kill them, and that still made me uncomfortable. It haunted me.

  It was their decisions, though. They were the ones who chose to hurt people and do villainous things, so maybe I shouldn’t have felt as guilty. They must have known it was a risk, but they still chose to do it. Their deaths were merely a consequence of those decisions, and I knew some people argued they deserved it.

  I’d seen that debate online before. Whenever we had to kill a person, when it was the only way to ensure others wouldn’t die, it always circulated. People claimed that all villains, all monsters, should die. It was the only way to ensure they wouldn’t continue to hurt people, but I didn’t believe that. I couldn’t.

  Surely, change had to be possible. They had to be able to get better and stop being evil. Maybe, with the right therapy and education or whatever it was that it took, they could learn not to want to hurt people. They could be shown that it was wrong to sacrifice others or experiment on them, and they would feel remorse for their actions.

  I wasn’t sure if that was realistic, though. Maybe I was just overly idealistic and hadn’t had the chance to become jaded and bitter, but I hoped it was true nonetheless.

  I assume so, Issy snorted, interrupting my thoughts. Anything else you want me to add?

  No, that’s it, Livvie replied, her tone bordering on sulky.

  Okay, does anyone else have any other questions or anything?

  Nope, Phoebe thought as Mel shook her head, her eyes fixed on the city.

  Nah, Alice added.

  Issy glanced back at me.

  No, I don’t think so, I told her before catching myself as something occurred to me. Oh, actually! Can you ask them to call my mom? I’ve got an appointment with the medical team later, but I doubt we’ll be finished here in time for me to get back to the school for her to pick me up. I’ll just fly over to the hospital when we’re done.

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  Got it, Issy thought.

  Thanks!

  “We’re going to touch down in a sec, but can you do us a favour, please, Avery?” Issy said, shielding her watch from the wind once more.

  “Of course, what do you need?” came Avery’s immediate reply.

  “Can you get a member of the team to phone Grace’s mom and make sure she knows not to pick Grace up for her doctor’s appointment later?”

  “Sure. I’ll get someone on it now,” Avery said. “If the fight goes on too long, I’ll have the appointment rescheduled for tomorrow and text you the details, Grace.”

  Thank you, Avery! I thought, knowing Issy would pass the message on for me.

  Avery was a pain, but I couldn’t deny she was thoughtful and good at her job.

  “Grace says thank you.”

  “Oh, you’re welcome, Grace!” Avery said. “You girls are always so polite!”

  She wouldn’t think that if she could hear our thoughts, Livvie shot back darkly, and I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped from my mouth.

  “Alright, we’ll touch down in a sec. Keep us appraised of any new developments, please,” Issy requested.

  There was no real need for her to say that. Avery always did, but Issy still asked every time. I wasn’t sure if it was because she was worried that if she didn’t, we might miss something important or if it had just become a habit for Issy.

  “Of course. Good luck, girls! I’ll unmute your mics as soon as you land, so if you need anything, just say!”

  “Thanks,” Issy replied for us.

  Her hands slowly moved away from her mouth, and she took in the scene below as we came to a stop. The spiders didn’t appear to have noticed us yet. It was a little hard to tell, even with our enhanced vision, but it seemed like none were looking up at us. They were all just continuing on in their quest to wrap the entire square in front of the city hall in a thick layer of web.

  They weren’t far from completing that goal, either.

  Can you feel anything from the spiders yet, Mel? Issy asked, keeping her eyes on the ground. Do you have any idea where they came from or what’s caused them to attack?

  Or even what they’re trying to do? I added.

  Good question, Issy thought as she looked back at me and nodded.

  I don’t know, Mel replied, her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to force her way into their minds. I’m not really getting anything from them. It’s kind of like the bears we fought a couple of months ago. I can only hear… static.

  There was a slight pause before Issy nodded again, and I knew what she was thinking. Mel’s inability to hear those bears was a concern. It was the first time she hadn’t been able to get anything from an animal, and no one had openly said it, but we were all worried that it was a sign of her powers wearing off.

  It wasn’t possible, obviously. I was pretty sure that was what we all told ourselves, but we still worried about it. Other than them having something to do with the meteor we’d found, we didn’t understand where our powers had come from or even why we’d been given them, and we hoped they were permanent, but there was no way to know for sure.

  The medical and science team had tested Mel, though. She could still understand most animals. There was just something about those bears that blocked her completely, and that was somehow both a relief and a concern. No one had been able to work out if it was intentional, if someone had created the bears and given them that protection, or just a fluke, but it worried us all.

  Okay, that’s fine. Let us know if that changes when we get closer, Issy instructed. For now, we’ll touchdown by the city hall. That makes the most sense; it’s where the majority of the spiders are located. We’ll do as Avery said and focus on taking down as many as possible and then spread out from there, but we have to be careful. They don’t know what the spiders have done with the people they’ve captured, so be careful with the webbing, especially on the dome. I don’t trust it.

  I’m not getting anything from there, Livvie thought. But then again, I can’t really hear anything from the people in the city hall, so maybe the webs are dampening things and making it harder for me to hear their thoughts through?

  Maybe, Issy replied. We’re still pretty far away, though. Perhaps it’ll get clearer for you when we get closer too.

  Yeah, maybe.

  Phoebe, for now, be careful with your fire, Issy warned, continuing her briefing. Spider webs aren’t particularly flammable, usually. They normally just melt, but I have no clue what to expect from these mutants, so I don’t want to risk the fire catching and spreading too quickly.

  Got it, Phoebe confirmed.

  And, Grace. Stay close to Phoebe for now. If you see the webs begin to go up at all, douse it immediately. Don’t even wait to see what’ll happen. Just put it out, okay?

  Okay, I responded, shooting Phoebe a grin.

  She returned it immediately, her excitement overriding her previous fear. Fights were always more fun when we were paired up and got to work together. We were a good team. Obviously, I was close with all of the girls. They were my best friends, and we all worked well together, but it was different with Phoebe. I’d known her forever, and she’d always been my best friend.

  Alright. Is everyone ready? Issy asked.

  My heart leapt as anticipation jumped within me, and a strange realisation washed over me. I was excited to fight, obviously, but there was something else happening. A strange sense of calmness had settled over my mind. I was no longer nervous, really. I was just eager to get on the ground and begin taking down monsters, but my thoughts were strangely… clear.

  They were focused; that was the difference. My mind wasn’t racing. For once, it wasn’t darting around, and it didn’t feel so filled with thoughts that I was at risk of suffocating or exploding from the pressure of them all. I just felt… calm, and that was a weird new experience for me.

  But that was how I always felt before a fight, I recalled, thinking back to the other battles we’d fought in. It was a nice sensation, one I missed as soon as the fight ended and it was gone. My mind just became so quiet and under control, and I could just exist without feeling restless or like I was struggling to keep up with the speed of my thoughts, and that made me a little jealous.

  The emotion was distant and barely noticeable, but I knew it came from the other version of me. The real one. I never got to feel like that in reality, and I didn’t even know it was possible. I thought the constant motion of my brain was normal, that everyone’s thoughts raced all the time, and their minds were never quiet for even a moment. It wasn’t until I experienced the difference, until I got a brief taste of the peace I could have, that I realised I longed for it.

  Ready! my team chorused, and I hurried to join in.

  Alright, Issy replied, beginning to tip forward. Then, let’s go!

  She rotated slowly, and I did the same. My body moved instinctively, without conscious thought, and in a matter of milliseconds, I was falling towards the ground. We plunged through the sky, aiming for the stone clearing in front of the city hall, and the wind tore at my skin. My hair streamed out behind me, the sensation more violent than it had been when we were flying, but it felt fantastic. Pure joy spread through me, and my heart leapt into my throat as we plummeted lower and lower.

  Too soon, the ground rushed up to meet us. We waited until the last possible moment before pulling up. My body turned suddenly, and my feet slammed into the concrete with a force that would have shattered my ankles a year ago, but I felt no pain.

  The stone slabs below cracked, but the sound was barely audible. The plush carpet of webbing dulled the noise. It dulled the sensation, making it much less satisfying, but I ignored my brief flare of disappointment as I leapt into position, my back to the team.

  I scanned the scene, taking in the tall buildings on either side of us, almost entirely covered in web, and the spiders scurrying over them. The rapid burst of a camera shutter sounded, and frustration sparked within me. The urge to look around for whoever it was that was foolish enough to be wasting time taking photos of us rather than fleeing for safety rose within me, but I forced myself to ignore it.

  If I were to look at them, they’d become a target for the creatures. My gaze would give away their position, and the spiders would pounce immediately. That was what had happened last time, anyway. I wasn’t willing to risk it happening again. The screams of the woman I’d looked at, that I’d told to run still echoed in my ears, and I tried to push it away, focusing on the spiders. They were more important. If I fought them, took them down, the idiot taking photos would be safe.

  A chill slipped down my spine as I looked around again. The spiders had fallen still. They’d stopped moving, frozen entirely. The hairs on their legs and bodies still moved in the breeze. Wisps of web floated across the clearing, but there was no other motion, and it felt wrong.

  I turned my head slowly, not wanting to make any sudden movements in case it broke the spell that had settled over the spiders and caused them to attack, but they just continued to stare. Many glossy eyes stared at us, and I took a deep breath as I realised just how many creatures there were around us. There were so many out in the open, within view, but that wasn’t. More hid in the shadows, watching us and just waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

  “Your microphones are all unmuted now,” came a jarringly loud voice in my ear. “If you need anything, just ask!”

  Avery’s voice made me jump, and fear bubbled in my stomach, but still, the spiders didn’t move.

  Mel… Issy started, a hint of worry creeping into her voice. What’s going on?

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mel’s head move as she looked around, trying to figure it out. I longed to glance at her, to see her facial expression so I could work out what she was feeling, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from the nearest creature. The spiders had mostly left the centre of the quad clear, but it was still too close.

  I don’t know. I’m still not getting much, but… Mel hesitated for a moment. I think they’re waiting for something.

  Another shudder tore through me.

  Waiting? I repeated, unable to stop myself. What are they waiting for?

  There was a pause as Mel tried desperately to find an answer to my question, but I wasn’t sure if I even wanted one. I had no clue what she might say, and that only made me more anxious.

  I’m not sure. A signal or something, I think? Mel responded.

  So… what do we do? Phoebe asked. Should we just wait until they attack, or should we strike first?

  I think— Issy started, but she was cut off as the spiders moved suddenly.

  A ripple seemed to travel through them, shaking their bodies and causing the webs to tremble. My muscles tensed, preparing to spring into action, as I watched them move as one. Their front legs were lifted into the air, but that was it. They didn’t pounce or dive towards us. They just stood there with their legs held over the webs, poised and ready to act.

  What’s happening? I asked, but before Mel could answer, a terrible clicking noise split the air.

  It was deafening. The sound came from all directions, echoing against the buildings, and I lifted my hands to my ears, trying to block it out. It didn’t help, though. The noise still managed to find its way in, and I started to think, started to form another question to Mel, but it was too late.

  The spiders slammed their front legs down, crashing them into the webs again and again. The rhythmic pounding threatened to drown out the clicking sound they were still making, and I staggered, struggling to keep my balance as the webs beneath my feet shook violently.

  Before I could regain my footing, the spiders pounced.