Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Run, Invisible Man
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Florida, Nightfall Motel.
"The hostage crisis at the orphanage has been resolved. Since the Seven resumed their hero activities, New York's crime rate has shown a clear decline. Even major criminal incidents are now being swiftly and effectively addressed..."
The television in the corner of the dimly lit motel room droned on, detailing the latest events from New York.
Suddenly, the screen went dark.
A man sitting in the shadows put down the remote. His face was partially illuminated by the glow of his phone as he checked his messages.
It was the Invisible Man.
Three days ago, upon learning of Edgar's plan to deal with Homelander, he had fled New York, that treacherous battlefield. His strategy was simple—wait it out and decide his next steps based on the outcome.
"You better succeed, Edgar," he muttered, massaging his temples. "Otherwise, we're all screwed."
He glanced back at the now-silent television. "Judging by the news, though, it seems things might've gone well. Homelander hasn't made any grandstanding appearances. Maybe he's actually dead. If so, then... could the superpower inhibitor actually work?"
The Invisible Man reached for his phone, intending to call Edgar and confirm the situation.
The call rang for what felt like an eternity, but no one picked up.
He frowned, setting the phone aside. "Weird."
Just as he was about to call room service for dinner, his phone buzzed.
The screen displayed a familiar name: Maverick.
His son.
The Invisible Man froze momentarily before answering.
"Maverick?"
"Dad!" his son's cheerful voice rang out on the other end. "Where are you? They said you did something amazing! There's a ceremony at the Seven Tower tonight in your honor!"
The Invisible Man blinked in confusion. "What... did you say?"
Unbeknownst to him, his phone's camera had activated on its own, capturing and transmitting the room's surroundings.
Maverick continued excitedly, "Mr. Edgar invited us all to the Tower for your award ceremony! Mom and I are heading there now in a car from Vought."
Before the Invisible Man could respond, the call ended.
He stared at his phone, suspicion clouding his face. "Award ceremony? What is Edgar playing at?"
He tried calling Edgar again, but there was still no response.
Then his phone buzzed again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a name that sent chills down his spine: Homelander.
The Invisible Man dropped the phone as if it had burned him. Without thinking, he stomped on it, smashing it to pieces, then pulled out the chip and snapped it in half.
"Damn it! Homelander's alive?! I knew this would happen. I just knew it!"
Panic surged through him. "Wait... Maverick! Could he have been captured to lure me out?"
His mind raced. "Damn it, damn it!"
Clenching his teeth, he threw a glance at the window. His body shimmered, and then he vanished into thin air, leaving behind his discarded clothes.
The curtains slid aside on their own. The window opened, then shut with a soft thud. Moments later, faint footprints appeared in the grass outside the motel, one after another, leading away into the darkness.
---
Seven Tower, Crime Analysis Division.
Annika leaned back in her chair, bubblegum popping loudly as she chewed. She tapped the screen of her monitor, zooming in on a blurry image of a motel business card.
"This is it," she said, pointing to the screen. "The Nightfall Motel, located on I-95 in Florida."
Homelander patted her shoulder lightly, a smirk on his face. "Good work, Annika."
Annika grinned, holding out a pack of gum. "Want a piece?"
"Next time," Homelander replied with a chuckle, walking out of the room.
As he exited the Tower, he spotted Maverick and his mother stepping out of a Vought car. His smirk widened.
After returning from the Vought research base, Homelander had devised a plan. Using Edgar's name, he had arranged for Maverick and his mother to visit the Tower under the pretense of a ceremony. The goal was to lure the Invisible Man out of hiding.
If that failed, there was always Plan B—Annika.
Using the phone call between Maverick and the Invisible Man, Annika had remotely activated the phone's camera, capturing valuable images of the motel's surroundings.
Now, as Homelander soared through the skies toward Florida, he sent a message to Angelina, instructing her to detain Maverick and his mother for leverage if necessary.
It didn't take long for him to spot the Nightfall Motel. Scanning the premises, he quickly identified an abandoned room filled with scattered clothes and a smashed phone.
"Ha, Invisible Man," Homelander murmured, amused. "You'd even abandon your family to save your own skin? Typical."
With a flick of his finger, he left a smoldering message on the wall:
"For damages, contact the Seven Tower – Homelander."
Homelander took to the skies once more, calling Annika.
"What's up, boss? Need me to dig up something?"
"Track all vehicles along I-95 starting from the Nightfall Motel. Look for anything unusual."
"On it, boss!" Annika's tone turned eager. "By the way, can I charge overtime for this?"
"Triple pay," Homelander said with a grin. "Now get it done."
"Consider it done!" Annika's enthusiasm soared.
Moments later, she reported back. "No suspicious vehicles have left the area since Maverick's call."
Homelander chuckled. "Just as I thought."
"Mark all structures within a 10-kilometer radius of the motel. Send me the locations."
From his vantage point, Homelander scanned the desolate highway. Beyond the motel, only a few scattered gas stations and isolated buildings dotted the landscape.
Invisible Man didn't have super-speed, and even if he ran, he wouldn't have made it far within the limited time.
Homelander narrowed his eyes. He's close. And he knows I'm coming.
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