Renegades (Renegades, #1)

by Marissa Meyer

All she had to do was pull the trigger.

Oh my god just pull the trigger

“The really weird thing,” said Ruby, “is that wasn’t even Nightmare’s doing. That”—she pointed at Danna, then drew quotes in the air—“was ‘the Sentinel.’” Adrian flinched at the venom in her tone. The small part of him that wanted to tell his team that he was, in fact, on the roof with them that day, quickly evaporated.

Why don't they know? Why didn't you tell?

There were days when Adrian thought things were better that way. When superheroes were left to be superheroes, not leaders. Maybe that’s why the idea of the Sentinel appealed to him. There was a freedom in anonymity. There was power in not having to answer to anyone. Except, as today had shown, that didn’t mean there weren’t consequences.

Leroy stoppered one of the vials and wrote out a label for it. “If he’d been stronger than the Renegades, he wouldn’t have fallen to them.” It was logical. Anarchist logic. Comfortable, blameless logic.

Before he could be certain that the gift of his drawings could transfer into a permanent tattoo and imbue his body with a brand-new, entirely real superpower.

Now that's OP

She could have done it. She, Nightmare, Nova Jean Artino, could have been the one to take out the invincible Captain Chromium. But she’d hesitated. It had taken her too long to pull the trigger, and she’d blown it. Never again.

Uhuh

Hell, she wanted the Council to leave all of society alone. Maybe they thought they were doing the right thing by being the end-all, be-all of the ruling elite, but society was barely getting by and they had too much pride to admit they weren’t what the people needed. What the people needed was to learn to take care of themselves, but that would never happen so long as superheroes were running things.

Only, the Renegades hadn’t kept their word. Captain Chromium hadn’t kept his word. They were not there to protect David’s family when they needed their protection the most.

Damn

Her gaze dropped down to the hand he had settled compulsively on the car’s stick shift. “Oh.”

Owww

What had started out as an investigation into Nightmare was quickly becoming an investigation into him, and that made him uneasy.

Well what did you think would happen, my guy

But then he looked up at the scoreboard and realized that his was the only team who hadn’t yet responded. All the others had already put in their rejections.

This feels like The Voice haha

“Trust me,” whispered Adrian. “I have a feeling about her.” On his other side, Ruby snickered. “Yeah, I can tell exactly what kind of feeling you have about her.” Adrian turned toward her, annoyed. “Not like that.” She raised a suggestive eyebrow.

We have two more books to go, honey

There had been a tiny, faint wish that she and Ruby might share this mutual, long-dead enemy. She curled her knees against her chest, digging her fingertips into her legs. What a stupid thing to wish for.

I mean... Yeah, it kinda is

“I’ve bled rubies ever since. They’ll form on new wounds for a little while, but those tend to heal pretty fast. Whereas the places where he stabbed me…” She started to wrap the bandage around her arm again, securing it tight. “They never stop bleeding. They never healed.”

That's kinda sad

Ingrid craned her head, staring blearily at her trapped wrist. “You were supposed to help me,” she said. “They’d be dead by now.”

Honey, that's a very bad plan

The world paused. Nova stared at the blood sprayed across the wall, and though she knew it was red, everything seemed suddenly awash in gray. Her lips were parted, but she might have stopped breathing. Her wide, disbelieving eyes swept toward Ingrid, landing on the gun in her hands. Ingrid raised her chin. There was little to read on her face. Anger. Perhaps pride. But no remorse, so far as Nova could see.

Wow

Winston held his gaze. Blinked. Licked his lips. Opened his mouth. Hesitated. Swallowed. Coughed. Finally responded, “The hardware store?”

Really? Haha

“That—” started Oscar, holding up a finger. Then he deflated, clearing his throat. “—was actually true. But still, you can tell us what you know now, or we can come back and do this again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next! We’re not giving up until you tell us what we need to know, so start talking, Mr. Pratt, or else … or else I will make sure that you don’t get any tacos! Or, um, whatever it is they serve prisoners around here.”

That's... Kinda lame

The hunger in Winston’s eyes was inescapable, and for the first time Nova felt bad for how she had given so little thought to Winston since his arrest. He must not only have been bored, but lonely. Not that she could have done anything to help him, but … she could at least have spared him a thought.

You think? Aren't you supposed to be allies?

“Ace found her…,” he started. After a long inhale, he continued, “At Cosmopolis Park!”

Oh god

“Still,” said Ruby, “maybe Nova can talk to her old boss or something? Encourage people to be on the lookout?”

Oh shit lol

And, did she have a boyfriend?

There it is

The bag of sandwiches fell from his hand, hitting the floor with a crackle and thud, and then Adrian was sprinting up the stairs to the quarantine.

Hey the food :(

He decided in that moment that he wouldn’t regret the decision to go in after her. Even if he never drew another picture, even if all the powers of the Sentinel were gone forever, he wouldn’t regret it, so long as she was okay. Because it’s what any hero would have done.

Sure, Jan

“Why, you little bandit,” he said. “You stole my power.”

Oh shit, he also has Nova's

Before she could doubt herself, Nova reached forward and plucked the helmet off its stand. Still, not a single alarm blared.

Why do the Renegades have such a shitty alarm system

“The real helmet is kept under high security in the artifacts warehouse. We’ve never taken it out into public. It’s not exactly the sort of thing you’d want falling into the wrong hands.”

Why would you just... Willingly say that my guy

It didn’t matter, though. She wanted more than just a peek, and he’d already given her so much more than she’d expected.

Ikr?

Nova’s jaw fell open as she listened, trying to picture the scene. The righteous, invincible Captain Chromium … charging into battle with a baby strapped to his back? She didn’t know if she should find the image horrifying or hysterical.

I'd say insane

“Of course I know that. She wasn’t the first superhero we killed, but she might have been the first one that really mattered.” Her cruel smirk made Nova’s blood run cold. “You killed her?” “Not me,” Ingrid said, as if this were obvious.

Ace did

Honey giggled. “We were just curious,” she said. “It’s a terrible shame he’s a Renegade, isn’t it? Otherwise, you could have asked him to stay for dinner.”

True. In fact, she would've.

Adrian was waiting beneath the horse statue’s bridled mouth when Nova arrived. They hadn’t discussed whether or not to wear their uniforms, and seeing him in jeans and a jacket made her instantly regret her choice to wear the gray bodysuit.

Oh man is this a date

“Correct me if I’m mistaken, but aren’t we supposed to be looking for somebody?” “You’re absolutely right.” Adrian tapped a finger against his lips. “And I think we should look for her”—he pointed—“on the Ferris wheel.”

This guy absolutely just wanted a date lol

She began to wonder if this whole day had really been about finding Nightmare at all.

Nope

“First,” said Adrian, “you missed a sprinkle.” He reached out and brushed a thumb across the corner of Nova’s mouth. She froze, the touch sending a quiver through her insides. When he pulled back, a small orange sprinkle was resting on the pad of his thumb, which he popped into his mouth, eyes teasing.

Oh boy

Adrian was still frowning, still confused. “Is this…,” he started, dismayed, “a villain speech?”

Lmaoo

Pretty soon, all prodigies will be Renegades … or their powers won’t be tolerated at all.”

Umm...

“I knew you would do well,” he said, his lips curling into a smile, “my little nightmare.”

Oh shit, he's alive