A flame wielder recovered first, his scruffy face twisting into a cruel smile. He looked to be in his late thirties, with unkempt black hair and a scraggly beard, dressed in all black. There was no mask hiding his face, only the gleam of sadistic excitement in his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of fire toward Cal, the heat searing through the air. Cal barely had time to react as the flames scorched his skin, forcing him to leap back.
"Watch it, you idiot!" the other criminal shouted, patting out a small fire on his sleeve. Cal blinked, and the man vanished from sight. It wasn't immediately clear where he went, but a creeping sense of unease settled over Cal. He didn't have time to dwell on it. The flame wielder's attention was now on the escaping hostages.
Cal's burns were healing rapidly, the edges of his charred skin reaching together almost as fast as it had been scorched. He noticed the villain's gaze shift toward the fleeing civilians. In a heartbeat, the man unleashed a torrent of fire at them. Ryan, moving almost as fast as Cal, threw himself in front of the flames. The heat was intense, searing his skin despite his invulnerability. His mask and most of his clothes were burnt off, his skin left raw and red. He collapsed to a knee on the floor, he gritted his teeth as his skin seared.
The flame wielder's grin widened as he turned to Amber, who had concealed her face and stood ready. "I can't wait to see how sweet you smell when you're charred, sweetheart." The venom in his voice made Cal's blood boil.
With a roar, Cal launched himself at the flame wielder, grabbing his wrist just as he was about to unleash another fiery blast. The villain's eyes widened in surprise as Cal's grip tightened, the bones in his wrist cracking under the pressure.
"Let's see how tough you are without your hands," Cal growled, his voice laced with rage. But the villain didn't miss a beat. He twisted his body and sent a concentrated stream of fire directly into Cal's face.
Cal's skin sizzled and melted under the intense heat. He dropped to the ground, his body convulsing as the flames consumed him. The flame wielder laughed, a maniacal sound that echoed through the burning room. "Let's see how tough you are with without your face!".
Amber screamed, her voice piercing through the crackling of the flames. She made a move to help Cal, but Ryan grabbed her arm, his own voice hoarse from the smoke. "Stay back! It's too dangerous!"
A water manipulator, a second super human, whom Amber had put to sleep earlier, had woken up. He was behind Ryan, his hand outstretched, a sphere of water swirling around Ryan's head. Ryan clawed at the water, his eyes wide with panic as he struggled for breath.
"Get off of him!" Amber yelled, rushing toward Ryan. But she was stopped mid-run by a vicious punch to the gut. She doubled over, gasping for air. Another blow landed on her ribs, and she was slammed against the wall. Her vision blurred as she tried to locate her attacker. She could sense a mind nearby, but she couldn't see anyone.
"There's another one," she muttered through gritted teeth. She could feel the invisible villain's presence, the malicious intent emanating from him. She closed her eyes, focusing on her powers. A psychic barrier formed around her, expanding outward in a protective bubble. She felt the villain step into it and reached out, her fingers brushing against his arm.
Back on the ground, Cal lay motionless, his body charred and lifeless. Inside his mind, he could hear the sounds of the battle around him. He could hear Amber's screams, the cruel laughter of the flame wielder. His parents' faces flashed before his eyes, their bodies engulfed in flames. The image of that night seared through his mind, and something deep inside him snapped.
His healing factor surged, his body regenerating at an unprecedented rate. He felt his muscles tighten together, his skin stretched over the burns I n an instant. With a roar, he sprang to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury. The flame wielder turned, his face a mask of shock.
"Tsk. I'm gonna turn you into fucking soup, kid." Shock twisted into another grin.
Cal sprinted forward, the flames licking at his heels. He knew he couldn't just tank this attack. He had to think. His eyes darted around the room, landing on the counters of the bank. With a swift movement, he broke off a massive slab of granite, using it as a shield as he barreled toward the flame wielder.
The villain's eyes widened as Cal rammed into him with the slab, sending him crashing through the drywall into an adjacent room. The flames spread as the were deflected by Cal's shield, consuming everything in their path. Cal's heart pounded as he turned back to the others.
Amber, bloodied and bruised, stood over the now-visible villain, her hand pressed to his forehead. His eyes were closed, his body slumped to the ground. She swayed slightly, but she was still standing. Cal's gaze shifted to Ryan, who was on the ground, choking and gasping as the water manipulator's grip on him tightened.
Cal's eyes narrowed. With a powerful leap, he landed in front of the water manipulator, his fist connecting with the man's face. The force of the blow sent him flying across the room, the water sphere around Ryan's head bursting apart and splashing to the ground. Ryan collapsed, coughing and sputtering as he sucked in gulps of air.
Cal glanced at the large container strapped to the man's back. It looked like it held gallons of water, the source of his power. He turned to Ryan, who was punching the ground in frustration.
"Damn it! I couldn't do anything…" Ryan muttered, his voice choked with anger and exhaustion.
Cal's mind raced. They had to get out of here. They needed to make sure everyone was safe. He hadn't even checked if the entire building had been evacuated. Panic bubbled up inside him, but he forced it down. He had to think. He had to find a way out.
The sound of shouting and the slamming of car doors echoed from outside. Cal's heart sank as he realized who it must be. Sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder by the second. Reinforcements were here—lots of them.
His gaze darted between Amber and Ryan. They were injured, but alive. His mind spun with a thousand thoughts, trying to figure out what to do next. They were surrounded, trapped in a burning building, with no clear way out.