Big City Villain | BOOK ONE

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Calm Before the Storm.

Coal's P.O.V:

Every other streetlight was burnt out. I scowled, why don't they just put in new light bulbs already? It's so much safer. And it's aesthetically pleasing when all the bulbs are working.

I padded along the sidewalk quietly, my sneakers not making a sound. Up ahead I could see someone jogging which caused me to frown, who jogs in the middle of the night? Probably some serial killer looking for his next victim.

Sorry, Mr. Serial Killer, that next victim isn't going to be me. I slipped into the shadows as the figure ran passed me. I rolled my eyes and continued walking. I know I should be at home, being grounded and all, but I couldn't sleep. There was a dread stirring in my chest that I couldn't shake.

I needed to calm down, needed these anxious thoughts to stop and I was now standing in front of the house of the only one that ever had that effect on me.

As stealthily as I could, I went around to her bedroom window, beyond glad that they didn't have a two story house. Her curtains were drawn, but despite the late hour, her lights were still on and if I listened hard enough I could just make out her soft laughs.

I held my breath as I tapped on her window.

Her laughter immediately stopped with a gasp, and a moment later I saw her tentatively peeking out her window. I grinned when I saw her.

She frowned but slid open her window and ushered me in. I slipped into her room silently and smiled at her. "Hey, Molly."

Molly only frowned deeper. "You're out past your curfew, Coal, I think it'd be wise if you head home." Despite what she just said, she closed her window and picked up her tablet that was facedown on her bed. I glanced at the screen and saw that she was watching an animated movie about fish finding another fish. Do I have to spell it out? Oh fine, Finding Dory.

"I see you're staying up for educational purposes," I said, smiling when she blushed and turned her tablet off quickly.

"Shush. It's the perfect de-stressor after a night of patrolling." Molly sat back on her bed, leaning against the bright yellow and red striped wall behind her. To say that Molly liked colors would be the understatement of the century. She patted her bright blue bedspread. "Sit and tell me why you're here."

I kicked off my shoes and sat beside her. Sinking down low, so I was a bit more comfortable, but my long legs hung over the edge. "I wanted to make sure you got back safely. And I just couldn't sleep."

"And why did you decide to come to my home?" Molly asked, but then her eyes wandered to my arm, and she gasped when she saw the purple-ish bruise that was forming there. She grabbed my arm and pulled it closer to her, her fingers barely brushing over the bruise. "What happened?"

"Twenty-four-hour power disabler. I've been breaking my probation too much."

She looked up at me and frowned. "Then you need to get home right now."

"Nah, it'll be fine."

Molly rolled her eyes and slipped her hand across my back, leaving a streak of freakishly cold ice. I grimaced and tried not to move, thinking she was trying to be sweet, but she suddenly pushed me forward and used her legs to kick me off her bed. I tumbled off with a loud oof, landing flat on my back and staring at her ceiling in utter shock.