Mike Foster

Mike Foster
Sarah's POV

In the parking lot of the police station, my car exploded.

The blast threw me backward onto the concrete as I was approaching it. There was smoke everywhere, and my ears were ringing.

Elena came running across the parking lot and called out to me, "Sarah!" She moved faster than the average person, even in the afternoon sun.

I stood up and said, "I'm okay." "But my car was just blown up by someone."

Elena gazed at the flaming ruins. "Someone is attempting to keep you here. This wasn't random."

"Why?"

"You must go wherever they want you to go next because you are unable to leave."

Detective Martinez and three other officers ran out of the police station.

"Detective Chen! What happened?"

"A bomb was planted in my car by someone."

Martinez had already called the fire department and bomb squad on her radio.

Elena drew me away from the others. "Now, Sarah, we must leave this place."

"This is a crime scene, so we can't just leave."

"It's a trap, too."

My phone rang before I could find out what she meant.

Again, an unknown number.

In order for Elena to hear, I answered it on speaker.

"Detective Chen," said a man. "I hope the explosion didn't hurt you."

"Who is this?"

"My name is Mike Foster, and I've been observing you for a very long time."

Elena's eyes widened. "Foster? Like Amy Foster?"

"Amy was my daughter, Detective. The girl Susan Cole murdered while you were playing in the woods with that serial killer."

My stomach dropped. "I'm very sorry about Amy, Mr. Foster."

"Are you? Because it appears to me that you were more concerned with apprehending a single murderer than safeguarding my young daughter."

Elena moved toward the telephone. "Mr. Foster, we didn't realize Amy was in danger, so we tried to save her."

"I know exactly what you are, Elena. And I know exactly what Sarah has become."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I've been studying both of you for weeks. Learning your patterns, your weaknesses, your mistakes."

I was ill. "How long have you been watching us?"

"Since the Marcus Rivera case. I followed every move you made. Every case you solved. Every time you let Elena handle things her way instead of following the law."

Elena was anxiously scanning the parking lot. "Sarah, he's here somewhere. Close by."

"You're right, Elena," Foster's voice said through the phone. "I'm observing you at the moment, and I must admit that you appear much more frail during the day."

I said, "What do you want?"

"Real justice, not the kind where murderers vanish into thin air without being tried. Justice for my daughter."

"Mr. Foster, Susan Cole couldn't be tried in a normal court because she wasn't human."

"But Elena could have brought her to me alive. She could have let me decide what happened to the thing that killed Amy."

Elena's head was shaking. "That's not how it works."

"No, Elena. That's how I work, but it's not how YOU work."

The phone went quiet for a moment.

"Detective Chen, I have a proposition for you."

"What kind of proposition?"

"Meet me in Level B3 of the courthouse parking garage. Come by yourself."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because those five children they're holding could be saved by the information I have about The Organization."

Elena took hold of my arm. "Don't, Sarah. It's a trap."

"Perhaps. But if he's truly knowledgeable about The Organization..."

"He wants retribution, but he's lying."

Once more, Foster's voice could be heard on the phone. "I've been following The Organization for a longer period of time than you have, Detective, and I am aware of where they are keeping the kids."

My heart began to race. "Where?"

"I'll tell you everything if you meet me in the parking garage."

"Mr. Foster, I can't come alone. Elena has to come with me."

"This is between you and me. Elena stays away."

Elena was frantically shaking her head.

"Why is Elena unable to attend?"

"Because my daughter died because of Elena; Amy would still be alive if she hadn't been so preoccupied with being a superhero."

Elena's blue eyes showed me the pain.

"That's not fair, Mr. Foster."

"Fair? Detective, how is it fair that a monster strangled my twenty-year-old daughter while you two were pursuing another monster?"

The line fell silent once more.

"Detective Chen, you have thirty minutes. Come by yourself, or you will never discover the location of those children's detention." Level B3 of the courthouse parking garage.

The phone died.

Elena took hold of both my shoulders. "You can't go, Sarah."

"He may actually be aware of Tommy's location."

"He's lying! He's just a distraught dad looking for someone to hold accountable."

"What if he's telling the truth? What if he is aware of The Organization?"

Elena's blue, worried eyes were fixed on me. "He blames you for Amy's death, Sarah, and even if he's telling the truth, he still wants to hurt you."

"I have to try, even though I know."

"Then I'll accompany you."

"He said no, Elena, and if it's a trap, you might not be able to defend yourself in your weaker state."

Elena appeared injured. "Sarah, you have no idea how long I have been protecting people."

"Not when you're this weak. Not during the day."

Elena was quiet for a moment. She then gave a sorrowful nod.

"You're right. I'm practically worthless in the sun."

I made my way over to Detective Martinez's patrol car. "Will you let me use your car?"

"Where are you going?"

"To meet someone who might know the location of the kidnapped children."

Martinez gave her keys to me. "I'll accompany you."

"No, I must go by myself."

Elena followed me to the car. "At least take this, Sarah."

She gave me a tiny silver blade.

"What is it?"

"Even when I'm not there to assist, it can harm supernatural creatures because it's made of the same metal as my power."

I pocketed the knife in my jacket. "Elena, if I get hurt—"

"You won't suffer any harm."

"But if it does, promise me you'll save those children."

Elena's eyes began to well up with tears. "I promise."

I climbed into Martinez's vehicle and headed for the courthouse.

Nearly nobody was in the parking garage. Most people had gone home for the day.

After parking on Level B3, I exited the vehicle.

I yelled, "Mr. Foster?"

No response.

I listened for any noise as I moved between the parked cars.

I saw him then.

Mike Foster had something in his hands as he stood behind a concrete pillar.

"Detective Chen," he declared. "I appreciate you coming."

"Mr. Foster, where are the kids?"

Foster emerged from behind the column. He had a crossbow in his hands.

The arrows, however, weren't typical. They appeared to be composed of a dark metal that absorbed light.

"What is that, Mr. Foster?"

"Iron arrows. Specifically designed to eliminate supernatural beings."

"I am not a supernatural being."

Foster grinned, but it wasn't a pleasant one. "Did you not look in the mirror recently, Detective?"

I thought about it. I hadn't looked in a mirror since this morning.

"Sarah Chen," Foster went on, "you no longer cast a shadow. You glow dimly in the dark, and occasionally your eyes flash silver when you're angry."

My heart began to race. "I'm not a monster because of that."

"No, but like Elena, it makes you dangerous."

Foster lifted the crossbow and aimed it at me.

"Mr. Foster, I am working to save children, including five children who are currently in danger."

"The Organization killed those kids hours ago, Detective. They're already dead."

"What?"

"To get you and Elena to the cemetery tonight, it was all a lie. The Organization wants to capture Elena when she's at her strongest, not trade hostages."

I was ill. "You're lying."

"Am I? Then tell me."

Something was thrown at my feet by Foster.

The shoe was small. A kid's sneaker.

Tommy's sneaker.

"No," I muttered.

"I apologize, Detective, but your nephew and the other four children passed away this afternoon."

My chest was filled with rage. My hands began to emit silver light.

I yelled, "You're lying!"

Foster's smile widened. "There it is, the monster Elena made."

He squeezed the crossbow's trigger.

My heart was the direct target of the iron arrow.

However, an improbable event occurred.

Two inches from my chest, the arrow came to a stop in midair.

It was emitting a high-pitched whining sound and was glowing silver.

"What?" Foster exclaimed.

I examined my hands. Silver fire was blazing in them.

A voice called out from the other side of the parking garage, "Sarah?"

I pivoted.

Tommy and Elena were holding hands as they walked in my direction.

He was still alive. Totally intact.

Tommy rushed to me and gave me a leg hug, saying, "Aunt Sarah!"

Foster was looking at Tommy in disbelief when I turned to look at him.

Foster muttered, "How?"

Elena stepped out of the shadows. Even
in the dim light of the garage, her eyes were shining silver once more.

Elena explained, "Because, Mr. Foster, The Organization made one big mistake."

"What mistake?"

Elena's teeth appeared sharp once more as she grinned.

"They thought you were working by yourself.”