Fifth Avenue
Chapter Twenty-Six

Early in the morning all the set-up sensors went crazy. They were in town, everyone gathered in the sitting room “Everybody ready?” Doc asks, everyone looks between themselves and says nothing “I’ll see you all when this is over” he nods walking out of the room.

Justin secures his gun to his waist and Hartley does the same before they walk out of the room following Doc, Bullet and Shooter give each other a quick peck and Bullet holds on tightly to her locket which held the photo of herself, Shooter and their son.

Slowly Fifth Avenue walks down the street, their faces void of any emotion “Well, well, well” a voice muses and everyone turns to see Reaper standing proudly. He wore long dark robes; his scythe was secured in his boned hand which no longer was covered in a glove. “What do we have here?” he chuckles, Justin goes to take a step forward but Doc stops him “Let me guess, is the final face down, good vs bad” he chuckles.

Reaper opened his mouth to say something but closes it just as fast, Wisdom walks up from behind them the sound of growling near her allowed the team to know that Scratch and Claw were there as well.

Hartley turned and her eyes widened as she looked into the soulless yellow eyes of one of the creatures, it growls in joy seeing her fear reminding her all too much of what Gretchen did “We’re not going to make this” Hartley whispers to Justin, he looks to her sadly and grabs her hand.

“Ready team?” Doc calls drawing out his throwing knives, everyone slowly nods as they pull out their weapons as well.

“Hartley this can all be avoided if you just join us” Wisdom says taking a step forward with a loud clank as her leg hit the ground.

Hartley steps forward quickly, her hair slowly turning red “What would ever lead you to believe I would join you?” she asks angry making Wisdom laugh.

“This is wonderful” she says happily to herself “You’re so much more powerful than I ever expected.” Wisdom steps forward and grabs Hartley’s hair tugging it lightly “Don’t you understand sweetheart one day everyone ends up like me, what’s the saying ‘You either die a hero or live long enough to become a villain’” Hartley scoffs.

“You killed your own children!” she yells angrily.

Wisdom growls “I loved my children” she assures “It was society, they did this to me! Don’t you understand that?!” Hartley could see she was beginning to annoy Wisdom. “That’s why I need you, we need to destroy society and rebuild it, so what happened to me will never happen to anyone else ever again” a creepy smile took over Wisdom’s face and Hartley steps back from her.

Before anyone could say anything more, Bullet raised her gun and shot Wisdom in the shoulder making her fall back and scream “Justin now!” Doc yells and Justin grabs Hartley’s arm teleporting them to a rooftop.

“Justin what the hell?” she yells angrily pushing him away from her “Take me back, Justin I need to fight take me back right now” she pleads but Justin shakes his head.

“I’m sorry Hartley I can’t, Doc ordered me to take you far away, if Wisdom can get to you, kill you or change you then everything is finished” he tries to explain but it just ends up angering her further. “Trust me this is all for the best” Hartley screams in anger and moves to the edge of the building.

Before she could say anything further she falls back, everything around her going black.

“Hartley!” Justin screams catching her just before she falls.

“You’re going to die” a voice whispers into Hartley’s ear.