Rise of the Heroes by Andy Briggs Read Free Book Online

powers are just about to run out.”
    Toby nodded. “Good idea, but how are we going to make it into the city in time?”
    Lorna held her arms out wide. “Boy, you really did forget. We’ll
fly
!”
    Flying wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Pete, his head charged with the knowledge of a thousand comic books, had boldly strode forward and thrown himself in the air, arms outstretched—only to land face-first in the mud, his glasses tumbling away, the frames twisted but luckily not broken.
    After that everybody had been cautious, although fullyaware of the minutes passing by. Lorna had criticized the lack of instructions that came with the powers and wanted to complain, but to whom, they had no idea.
    Emily and Toby took a few turns, leaping from the wall that divided the patio from the shaggy grass lawn. Neither had succeeded, although when Pete suggested they “feel the tingle” as he now called it, Emily had dematerialized in a loud clap, only to reappear at the bottom of the driveway, a feat that once more unnerved her.
    Lorna was the one to crack the secret on her first try, to Toby’s annoyance. She threw herself forward as though she was a goalkeeper diving to save the crucial World Cup penalty. As she arced inches from the ground her whole body slid forward on an unseen cushion of air, and she gracefully pirouetted upright. She accelerated to the height of the house, before slowly lowering herself back to the ground, whooping and giggling all the way.
    â€œHow …?” Pete began, still rubbing his grazed arm.
    â€œIt’s so easy!” Lorna declared. “All you have to do is
fall up
!”
    Stony silence greeted this comment. Lorna’s expression dropped as she saw the uncomprehending faces.
    â€œYou’re a genius,” said Pete sarcastically.
    â€œI know, it sounds stupid. But it’s not. You know how when you fall, you get that feeling of being out of control, like the ground has just slipped out from underyour feet and you reach out for anything to support you? When you get that feeling of being totally out of control, all you have to do is try and push
upward
. Normally impossible. But in this case …”
    She demonstrated again. The second time she displayed more grace in the launch and even managed to hover so she could watch the others.
    â€œIt feels like the most natural thing in the world, just like walking!”
    Toby tried and failed, but at least he managed to land on his side to cushion the blow. Lorna chided him, saying he wasn’t trying hard enough.
    Pete, glasses twisted back on his nose, threw himself with wild abandon—and swooped high in the air, much farther than Lorna had dared. He even performed a backward loop before rushing headfirst back to earth, only spinning his feet the right way around at the very last moment, before slowing to a perfect hovering stop next to Lorna.
    â€œAwesome!” he whooped.
    Gritting his teeth and determined not to be outdone, Toby launched forward and lifted from the ground. His delight was suddenly tempered by the fact he was gaining no height and rushing straight for the tree. He heard everybody yell advice, but the words were gibberish to him. By sheer willpower, he managed to turn his body skyward—but not before skimming through the edge ofthe tree’s branches, which whipped hard against his face. Once airborne though, he quickly worked things out and hovering soon became second nature.
    Emily succeeded with her next attempt, although she zoomed around the backyard like a rapidly deflating balloon before she managed to stop.
    Once they were all airborne it was Pete’s idea to head for the clouds and use them as cover. Everybody followed, since they couldn’t think of an excuse to use if the neighbors saw them performing the impossible.
    Pete spotted the subway line below and followed it toward the town center. He had always loved making maps, and a