Ferocity

The rest of that afternoon Mick spent with Jerren in his room talking about the strange attack and the weird guy callling himself Shadowfury. It was only when Mrs. Bennet called them in during the news that things became slightly more grim. "You were there, weren't you?" Mrs. Bennet eyes were locked on Mick as they showed images of the blood and scorch marks all over the field and parking lot at Denham Springs High School while they covered the strange attack. 

"I was," Mick admitted. "I tried to help as many people as I could." He swallowed hard seeing that there were four deaths due to injuries and complications. 

"Oh Mick, you could've died!" Mrs. Bennet embraced him. "Lina would've been so distraught! 

"I'm fine really," Mick said as she released him. 

"They said there was another guy in a mask," she then turned a fierce glare at Jerren. 

"It wasn't anyone I know," Mick replied quickly, which eased both Mrs. Bennet's fear and Jerren's for the wrath of his mom. "The guy helped, I'll admit that, but something about him rubs me the wrong way." 

"Not everyone is as sweet as my boys," Mrs. Bennet said warmly. Mick's phone began buzzing in his pocket, and for once he was glad. He excused himself, stepping out onto the porch. 

"Guess you got my message?" Mick asked upon answering the phone.

"Looks like you had a pretty eventful first day of school," Coulson tried to be lighthearted. "You said something about Hellhounds, a witch coven, and a guy with sword. It all sounded like a cartoon fever dream." 

"Imagine how I feel living it," Mick said as Coulson chuckled. 

"You want me to fly down there and investigate?" Coulson asked as Mick frowned. He didn't want Coulson to pull away from whatever he was probably working on, but he also didn't want to try and sort through this alone. 

"I'd love some help," Mick admitted softly. 

"What was that?" Coulson asked as it sounded as if metal were being torn apart. 

"Me or you?" Mick asked as he was slightly concerned for the man. 

"You," Coulson said as it sounded now as if he were running. "I'm fine, just a normal day." 

"Right," Mick nodded. "I wouldn't mind a little help, if you could make that happen." 

"Deal," Coulson said, clearly winded. "Alright, things are getting a little rough now. We'll be in touch!" The phone disconnected, leaving Mick slightly more concerned for the safety of Coulson.

He slumped down on the ground, burying his head in his hands. Was this going to be his life now? Threat after threat, always living life in danger? Would he be like Agent Coulson, running around chasing the dangerous threats to protect the world, or would he end up giving his life like Captain Rodgers did to end the war? He felt so overwhelmed, part of him desiring to be normal, not ever have to deal with this kind of stress. 

Jerren joined him outside. "So school has been canceled for the rest of the week while they investigate where the dogs came from," he started. "And there was four deaths, so they're giving us time to grieve." 

None of that made Mick feel any better, it actually made it worse. Despite him trying, he still failed to save his peers again. "Did they say who all died, or is that still hushed?" 

"No, but I bet Mom will have the list by tonight," Jerren said as Mick shook his head. "You want to just stay tonight? Maybe Davis and Patten came come over too, and we can just game the night away and forget about all of this?" 

"I don't know," Mick sighed. "Do you think we can pay a visit to Alice tomorrow?" Something inside him wanted to confront her, perhaps if they went to her house, she her creepy friends wouldn't be there. 

"I don't think that's a good idea," Jerren said with a blank expression and a robotic tone. 

"You okay, Bud?" Mick looked at Jerren with the utmost concern as Jerren shook his head as if a bug landed on him. 

"Yeah," Jerren looked a little lost. "So like I was asking, do you want to see if we can have a game night?" 

Mick nodded slowly, as Jerren smiled. He wasn't exactly sure what just happened, but everything in him screamed Alice and her coven. How could he investigate this though, if the mention of Alice made Jerren act weird now? He definitely needed Patten's advice, and probably should've mentioned this part to Coulson, but he didn't really want to put two of his best friends on SHIELD's radar any more than they already were. 

The next morning was a little more eventful, Mick's in the kitchen with Mrs. Bennet drinking coffee. They were discussing the events from the day, and their relationship with the parents who lost their children. One of the names stuck out to Mick, a girl; Jamie Grant. She was in his science class and sat next to him, and she was the girl he rescued from the two dogs. This bummed him out as he grabbed a plate of pancakes. 

"I'm very proud of you," Lina said to her son. 

"Four people died," Mick grumbled, slowly losing the little bit of an appetite he had the more he dwelled on it. 

"But how many did you save?" She grabbed his chin, brushed his bangs from his eyes not really giving him a choice to deny that there was some good done. 

"Wanna go for a ride?" Davis asked as Mick raised his brow, pulling away from his mothers grip. "My uncle called as said a horse got out, needs my help since I'm off of school." 

"Are the others awake?" Mick asked rolling up his pancake, and taking a bite as it dripped syrup on his plate. 

"Yeah, they're getting dressed now," Davis smiled mischievously, then grabbed a pancake of his own. 

"You boys stay out of trouble," Mrs. Bennet said sternly as Mick and Davis both nodded as they scarfed down their food before returning to Jerren's room. 

"Where are we really going?" Mick asked as Davis snickered. 

"Coulson called while you were getting breakfast and asked if you could try and get some samples of the soot and whatever else we could before anyone messes up the scene," Jerren said looking a little unsettled that they answered Mick's phone. 

"So we have to break onto quarantined property, that sounds like something we should be doing," Mick wasn't bothered in the slightest, just amused. 

"He said be discreet," Patten added. 

"So I need my suit then?" Mick asked. 

"And I'll bring mine," Davis smirked. 

"Excuse me," Mick quipped. 

"I bought a high quality Nightwing Costume, thought it would be fun to wear it as a suit like yours," Davis said to Mick's annoyance. 

"It'll also give us a chance to test out this new comms gear I've been working on," Jerren said as Mick sighed. The concerns on this mission just kept growing. 

Every road into the school had a heavy police presence, so driving into the parking lot wasn't going to happen. They were going to need to sneak by foot, which meant splitting up. Mick was ok with going alone, but Davis insisted on joining him, changing into his Nightwing apparel. It really did seem high quality nice material, not what you'd by cheap from say Walmart during October. Both Mick and Davis put in the ear piece Jerren had set up on a closed circuit communication line, and then the two set their weapons in special hilts Patten stitched together. 

They ended up parking at a small church that was situated just down the road from the high school football stadium, where the boys began their planning. 

"Security is pretty lax back here, I don't think they're expecting anyone to try and break into the stadium," Jerren noted as they watched a single police car pass by along with a few civilian cars. 

"Makes sense, there's another school back here, and houses. Can't really block people from their houses," Patten said confidently. 

"So we scale the fence, go across the football field, and then hope there's no cops near the back parking lot and field where the attack was?" Davis pondered. 

"We'll provide a little distraction to give you guys some time to get samples," Patten said as Davis didn't look as enthusiastic about this comment. 

"And how are you planning to do that?" His tone was quite annoyed. 

"Maybe give them a vehicle to chase, I don't know. I'll figure it out when the time comes," Patten shrugged. 

"Don't get my truck impounded," Davis grunted. 

"You could always hang back and drive it yourself if you're worried," Mick suggested as Davis glared at Mick. 

"According to my timer, we've got five minutes before they send another patrol back here," Jerren chimed in as Mick and Davis nodded, climbing out of the truck. 

"You're going to want some gloves and bags to not mess up any specimen you might find," Patten handed both boys a handful of plastic ziplock bags and rubber gloves. "Good luck!" 

Davis easily kept up with Mick, reaching the high fence with no problem. Davis started to climb the chain link fence when Mick shook his head. "We're trying to be fast, and not loud," Mick shot a web to the top, pulling to make sure it was a stable stop. 

"That's cheating," Davis grumbled as Mick passed him, then jumped down. 

"It's called being efficient," Mick said as Jerren and Patten laughed over the comms. Davis landed a few moments later as Mick had already begun scouting his way to the entrance of the stadium. "Took you long enough," Mick grunted as Davis scoffed. "I can see a few foot patrol over by the gym, how's that decoy thing going?" 

"It's going," Patten said as Mick and Davis both turned their focus to the sound of spinning tires at the end of the road near the stadium parking lot. Two honks on the horn, a revved engine, and tires spinning Mick watched as several foot patrol officers sprinted toward the road to correct the adolescent behavior. 

"You're going to buy me new tires," Davis murmured. 

"You're welcome!" Patten said as more shouting began as they passed between the high school and freshman high. 

"Guess that's our cue, let's grab what we can and get the heck out of here," Davis grumbled. 

"Guys, one question," Mick followed as Davis lead the way out of the stadium and into the roped off investigation area. "How are we supposed to get back home if you're getting chased by the cops?" 

"Uh, that was the one part of the plan I'll admit we didn't really think out," Patten said as they could hear the tires screeching again. "You just worry about getting the samples, we'll try and lose the guys tailing us okay?" 

"We are so going to jail," Jerren groaned. 

Mick and Davis gathered as much soot into the bags as they could, from burned plants where the dogs stepped, and concrete, to the area Mick slammed them with his webs and they dissolved. "Think we have enough?" Mick asked, seeing Davis acting strangely as he stared toward the school. "Earth to Davis, what are you staring at?" Mick waved his hands as Davis shook his head, looking around as if he were confused as to where he was or what he had been doing. 

"Hey! I've got two costumed suspects over here!" An officer noticed them, quickly drawing his gun. "Hands behind your head, and on the ground! Now!" 

Mick and Davis looked at each other, unsure of how to respond. Mick slowly raised his arms, following the orders until a black hellhound leapt up from a pile of ash, tackling the cop, biting at him as it snarled. Mick drew the baton on his belt, slashing the creature as it dissolved into smoke. 

"You okay?" Mick asked as the officer wore a look of fear and dread. 

"Officer down! We need back up in the center of campus!" The voice came over the officer's radio. 

"Call someone to check out those wounds, we'll deal with this," Davis said as the officer looked quite confused as the two boys ran toward the commons area with their weapons drawn. Two more dogs appeared, but were dispatched easily as Davis and Mick worked in tandem using their webs and weapons. Gunfire made their hearts race. 

"What's going on? Who's firing guns?" Patten asked nervously. 

"We don't know," Davis replied shakily. 

"But we're about to find out!" Mick replied brashly. 

Gunshots echoed through the commons, followed by blood curdling screams, and what had to be bones crunching. Both Mick and Davis stared in absolute horror as a leathery skinned black monster with horns jutting from it's head, shoulders, elbows, and knees. It had blood dripping off it's razor sharp claws, and fangs, smoke pluming where bullets impacted, yet it was unfazed by the injuries. 

"What," Davis gasped, his voice trembling. 

"I don't know," Mick gasped, just as terrified. Neither boy able to move as the monster slashed an officer, sending his body spiraling into the wall. "But we can't let this keep going." 

"Are you sure we can stop it?" Davis looked at Mick who simply shook his head.

"You with me?" Mick looked to Davis, and the two nodded. Davis pulled something from his pocket, setting it on the bench, then the duo drew their weapons. They crackled with power as the ran into the beast's line of sight. 

The beast let out a terrible roar that shook the buildings, drawing several panicked cries from both Patten and Jerren, which fell on deaf ears. Mick and Davis, used their webs trying to blind their foe, slashing into the beast, which seemed to do absolutely nothing. 

"We need a new plan!" Mick yelled as he barely jumped out of the way of the heavy arm of the beast slamming into the ground. 

"Why don't you try the taser web setting?" Jerren suggested. 

"What the heck are you talking about?" Davis narrowly rolled away as the beast crushed the bench he was hiding behind. 

"There's a little button near the muzzle, if you double tap it, the electricity should engage," Jerren explained. 

"Why have you waited this long to explain this?" Davis barked as he ran while tried to draw the beasts attention while Davis tried to figure out his web shooters. 

"I just added it late last night!" Jerren barked. 

Davis took aim as Mick was lifted into the air. A flick of the wrist, and the webs flew, the connected with the beasts horns, electricity began flowing. The beast dropped Mick, then fell with a deafening roar. Smoke billowed through the commons, demonic screams echoed, while the body convulsed, until a small female officer remained. 

"What in the actual-" Davis' voice trailed off as he and Mick stared at the woman in absolute shock. 

"Are you guys ok?" Patten asked

"I think we just attacked a police officer," Davis murmured as he started back toward the field, staggering slightly. 

"What?" Both Jerren and Patten exclaimed. 

"Look, just come pick us up and get us the heck out of here, we can discuss it all with Coulson once we're our of here," Mick ran over to Davis grabbing his shoulder as the two of them ran toward the football stadium. 

"Where do you want us to meet you? Patten asked.

"Maybe back at the church would be safe," Mick said flustered.