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… the home, owned by former Nova City police detective Aaron Bell, sustained damage from what sources within the NCPD—speaking anonymously—are calling an “event involving Extraordinaries.” Though the names of those involved have yet to be released, viral videos captured Friday by witnesses at the scene showed a group of people standing outside the home, facing off against an Extraordinary in a blue-and-white costume, the same Extraordinary who interrupted mayoral candidate Simon Burke’s speech last week. This Extraordinary appears to be operating under the code name Guardian, the same name used by a costumed vigilante who haunted the streets of Nova City in the early 2000s, though it is unclear if this is the same individual.
Former Nova City police chief Rodney Caplan—who resigned his position this spring—was one of the people present. Speaking with reporters following the event, Mr. Caplan cautioned against speculation, saying appearances can be deceiving. “If you want to know the truth about who attacked the Bell household, I’d suggest speaking with Simon and Patricia Burke. Good day.”
Witnesses also claim that Owen Burke—the son of Simon and Patricia Burke—was present, though no video captured him. Owen Burke was the Extraordinary known as Shadow Star and was responsible for the deaths of three people.
Initially, Rebecca Firestone—press secretary for Simon Burke’s mayoral campaign—released a statement that said,in part, “While Mr. and Mrs. Burke are relieved that no one was injured during the attack, they are disappointed in Rodney Caplan’s disparaging remarks. The Burkes were not involved in what transpired, and as always, they are urging their son to do the right thing and turn himself in. There will be no further comment at this time.”
However, Simon and Patricia Burke spoke to a group of reporters in front of Burke Tower this Sunday morning before heading to church. Patricia Burke, speaking publicly for the first time since Mr. Burke announced his candidacy, said, “The fact that we are being blamed yet again is a sign that Simon’s message to the people of Nova City is working. The very idea that we—I—would be involved is a sorry attempt to slander our good name, and the work my husband has done for this city. My heart is heavy for all those Owen has hurt. I grieve with those affected by his and every other Extraordinary’s actions.”
Mr. Burke added, “This is nothing but an attempt to smear me and to derail my campaign. I will not stand for it. The attention should be on how yet another event occurred where Extraordinaries could have hurt innocent bystanders. You have my solemn promise that if elected, I will do everything in my power to make sure you and your children are safe. As a show of good faith, I am offering to pay for the damages to the residence. As an old friend of mine once said, it’s easier to stand together than it is to struggle apart.”
A new poll released late Saturday night shows incumbent Stephanie Carlson narrowing the gap, trailing Mr. Burke by three points, the closest margin since he announced his candidacy. When asked for comment, the office of the mayor said only, “Mayor Carlson is being apprised of the situation by the NCPD and will continue to monitor the events.”
There has been no response to repeated attempts to contact any of the individuals identified in the Extraordinary event. Knocks at the damaged Bell home went unanswered through the weekend.
Early Monday morning, Nick blinked up at the ceiling in a spare room at the Kensington home. Jazz and her parents had told him and Dad in no uncertain terms that they could stay as long as they needed while their house was being repaired. They had enough room, after all. Nick knew they were being good friends, but he also knew that part of it had to do with their guilt over what had transpired, misplaced though it was.
Rolling over in the bed, Nick sighed, burying his face in the pillow. He wanted nothing more than to try to go back to sleep, but his brain was already kicking into gear, a billion thoughts running through his head all at once. He’d expected to feel like he’d been torn apart, losing her again. But then, she’d neverreallybeen here, had she? No. She hadn’t. Jennifer Bell was dead and gone, nothing but ashes in a cold, salty ocean breeze.
He grieved. Of course he did. But it wasn’t nearly as bad as when Before had become After.
He was drifting off again when someone knocked on the door. Lifting his head, he called out, “Yeah, come in.”
The door swung open slowly. Dad stood on the other side, looking as haggard as Nick felt in rumpled jeans and an NCU shirt, the dark circles under his eyes and pale skin evidence of his lack of sleep. Nick hadn’t seen his father for any length of time in the last couple of days. Dad had been with Cap, or at the house, reviewing the damage with a contractor that Burke wasnotpaying for, no matter what bullshit offer he extended. Nick understood his Dad needed to process things his own way, and that eventually he’d seek Nick out.
Which seemed to be now, given the hangdog expression he wore. Nick’s heart squeezed painfully, and he pulled back the comforter in invitation, patting the empty space in the bed next to him. Dad sighed, kicking off his shoes as he closed the door behind him. He crossed the room toward the bed, climbing onto it next to Nick, who pulled the comforter over them both, Dad’s head resting on the pillow next to his.
Nick waited, hard though it was. A thousand words threatened to burst through his lips, but he swallowed them all down. He knew his father better than anyone. Dad was working himself up toward something, and interrupting him wouldn’t help.
So Nick counted in his head. He reached fifty-two before Dad spoke.
He stared at the ceiling, rubbing a hand over his face as he said, “This is my fault.”
“That’s not—”
“Kid,” Dad said tiredly. “Let me get this out. I’m not shutting you down, but I need you to listen to me, okay?”
“Okay,” Nick whispered, turning on his side and looking at Dad’s profile, hands twitching to reach out and provide some form of comfort.
Dad nodded, licking his cracked, dry lips. “I should’ve…” He closed his eyes. “I should’ve known. That something wasn’t right. That she wasn’t who she said she was. I brought her into our home and she…” He cleared his throat, and when he opened his eyes, Nick saw how wet they were.
“You couldn’t have known,” Nick said fiercely, the anger in his voice causing Dad to look over at him, a single tear spilling over and dripping down the side of his face. “It wasn’t just you. She did this to all of us. No one blames you.”
Dad laughed bitterly. “They should. All of you should. If I hadn’t—”
“You didn’t do it on purpose,” Nick said, and he believed it down to his bones. “She used you. She used every single one of us. She used our memories against us. She twisted them and made us believe something that wasn’t real.”
“I wanted it,” Dad whispered. “I wanted it so bad.” His chest hitched. “I wanted it to be real. I wanted her to be here, with me. With you. What does that make me?”
“Human,” Nick said promptly. “It makes you human.”
“Don’t feel like it much right now.”
“I know. And I wish I could fix it for you, but I can’t.” Frustrated, Nick rolled onto his back, hands in fists at his sides. Then,because this was his father, he admitted, “I want to hurt them. I want to make them suffer. What does that makeme?”
“Human,” Dad said, taking Nick’s hand in his, unfurling his fingers. “It makes you human.”
