- Zade Collins:
Three days. Three whole days since we heard the news. Blake's mom—gone.
And not just gone.
Dead.
Helicopter explosion. No survivors. Her entire team wiped out in seconds. They said it was a malfunction. Something about a motor failure. Something impossible, I thought. She was a superstar. The kind of person who had pilots double-checking their checks. Yet… her helicopter just fell from the sky and burst into flames like it was nothing.
An accident, they said.
I didn't believe it. Not entirely.
And if I couldn't believe it… how could Blake?
I rubbed my face hard, pushing the thought away as I sat at the edge of my bed, my legs bouncing. I hadn't seen Blake in over ten years. Not since his father—my dad's best friend—died right here, at our house. Another accident. Another mystery no one liked talking about.
Now Blake had lost both parents. And I had no idea what kind of person that turned him into.
Did he hate the world? Was he cold now? Broken? Did he even remember me? He used to follow me around like a shadow when we were kids. His tiny footsteps, always a few steps behind mine. We used to be best friends, even if I was three years older.
Now, I didn't even know what he looked like.
I stood up suddenly, restless, pacing across my bedroom. Dad had gone to pick him up from the airport an hour ago. My stomach twisted just thinking about it.
I needed to do something. Anything. And that's when the idea hit me.
"…Dogs. Right."
I threw on my sports clothes. Black joggers, gray sleeveless hoodie, my running sneakers. Fresh air and adrenaline sounded better than sitting here, worrying myself sick.
By the time I stepped outside, the California morning was golden and warm. Our property stretched wide—expensive stone walkways, trimmed hedges, a pool glittering under sunlight, and the rolling gardens where I always ran.
At the edge of the property, standing near the kennels, was Gus. Bald, round-bellied Gus. He was old enough to be my grandfather but strong as an ox. He'd worked for our family forever. But to me? Gus wasn't just staff. He was family.
"Morning, Zade," Gus greeted, tipping his cap, wiping sweat off his brow. "Thought you'd be out here earlier."
"Needed to clear my head first," I said, approaching him. "Dad's gone to get Blake."
Gus' face softened instantly. "Poor kid. I can't imagine."
"Me neither."
There was a pause. Gus shifted, glancing toward the kennels.
"You nervous to see him again?"
I hesitated. "Yeah."
"Don't be. You've got a good heart. Just be there for him."
I nodded, appreciating the simplicity of Gus' advice.
"Alright," Gus said. "You ready?"
"Let 'em out."
With a chuckle, Gus unlatched the kennel doors. Three massive dogs bounded out—my dad's prized Belgian Malinois. Their names were Rex, Fang, and Shadow. Pure muscle and trained to guard the property. But to me, they were just… my morning training partners.
"Let's go, boys!" I yelled, taking off in a sprint.
The dogs barked excitedly and chased after me.
Adrenaline hit me like a drug. I laughed, sprinting across the garden paths, glancing back now and then as the dogs closed in, their paws slapping the stone, their tongues lolling out between fangs. I zigzagged, dodged, let them get close, then pushed harder. Gus shouted encouragement from the distance.
I was breathing hard, but finally felt alive. For the first time in days, I wasn't thinking about Blake.
Until I saw someone.
My steps faltered.
There—by the front pathway.
Some kid. Tallish, but not that tall. Round build. Hair messed up from travel. Glasses sliding down his cute nose. Clutching a suitcase awkwardly like he didn't belong here.
I didn't recognize him. And the worst part? The dogs saw him, too.
Fang barked first. Then Rex. Then Shadow. Their energy shifted from playful to predatory. In their eyes, this boy was an intruder on our property.
"Shit."
I skidded to a stop and screamed, "DON'T FREEZE! RUN!"
The boy's eyes widened behind his glasses.
I saw it hit him. Fear. He dropped his suitcase and bolted. But—God help him—he was slow. Like, embarrassingly slow.
"Faster!" I screamed, running after him, trying to angle toward him, desperate to catch up before the dogs did.
"RUN!"
The dogs were faster than both of us.
"GUS! CALL THEM BACK!" I yelled, but Gus was too far behind.
The boy sprinted toward the pool, gasping, terrified. I could see the panic all over him.
Then, as Fang leapt—
I made a split-second decision.
"JUMP IN THE POOL!" I roared, sprinting harder.
But he wasn't listening.
I shoved him. Hard.
The boy stumbled forward—and splashed into the deep end.
The dogs skidded to a halt at the pool's edge, barking furiously.
I leaned over the water, panting. "Hey! Swim! Swim, dude!"
But he wasn't moving.
Bubbles.
"SHIT."
I dove in.
Cold water swallowed me as I plunged deep. I grabbed him under the arms and kicked upward, dragging him toward the surface. He flailed, panicked. Heavy.
"Stop! I've got you! Stop fighting!"
When we broke the surface, he gasped violently, coughing.
"It's okay! I've got you! Just hold on!"
I pulled him toward the shallow end, then dragged him onto the edge of the pool. Both of us collapsed, gasping for breath.
I looked over—and finally saw his face clearly.
His glasses were gone.
But I knew those eyes.
"…Blake?" He coughed, still gasping. "I… I can't… see."
"What?"
"My glasses. I think… they fell in the pool."
I blinked.
"…Wait."
"Zade?"
I stared.
Then, like a punch to the gut, it hit me.
"Blake?! Oh my god!" I sat up fast, laughing. "Blake! Holy shit! I didn't—dude! I didn't know it was you! I thought—I mean—fuck, I thought you were an intruder!"
"I can't see anything," he muttered miserably, wiping water from his face. "I think I swallowed half the pool."
I couldn't stop laughing. I felt awful, but also… relief flooded me. Blake. My Blake. He was here.
"Don't worry. I'll find your glasses. I swear. Just… let's get you out of this pool."
Blake nodded, dazed.
Just then, Gus came running, hauling the dogs back by their collars, scolding them.
"Boys! BAD! BACK TO THE KENNEL! Go! GO!"
I helped Blake to his feet. Gus shot me a horrified look.
"Zade, is that—?"
"Yeah," I grinned, breathless. "This is Blake."
Gus looked devastated. "Kid, I'm so sorry."
"It's fine…" Blake mumbled, still half-drowned.
"Go get towels!" I ordered Gus.
"On it."
Blake shivered. I guided him toward the house.
"You're freezing."
"No kidding."
I laughed softly. "Come on. Let's get you dry."
As we reached the door, one of our maids rushed forward. Elena. A warm Girl in her early twenties, always mean but sweet to me like a sister of mine.
"Oh, Lord!" she gasped. "Is this Blake? You poor thing! Come, come, I'll get you upstairs, get you warm. Zade, you find those glasses, you hear me?"
"On it," I promised.
I handed Blake over to her care reluctantly. He looked so small, so lost as if he didn't own this house.
"I'll be right back. I'm so sorry, Blake!" I said.
He nodded faintly as Elena led him inside, her arm around his soaked shoulders.
I turned and sprinted back to the pool.
I dove in.
Twice. Three times.
Finally, I spotted something glinting near the bottom.
Blake's glasses. I dove to get them immediately.
And something else. Something silver. A small metal pin, shaped like a V. I surfaced, holding it in my hand. A chill ran through me.
I knew this symbol.
The Thief V.
The legend Blake's dad used to tell me about. The vigilante. The symbol that haunted this city's elite.
What was this doing in my pool?