Authors Note: This story has been written in response to a challenge by another writer: 'adm-frb'. This is my tenth (published) story.

This story belongs in my Forsaken universe and uses characters and events from that story. The story is set between Chapters 159 and 160 of the current Forsaken story. Dave is twenty-one, Mindy is seventeen, and Josh and Chloe are both fourteen. Various other existing characters from Forsaken will feature in this story.

As usual, I look forward, with some trepidation, to any reviews. I promise to accept all criticism. In addition, I am still, British so my spelling and grammar may look and seem strange to some.

For those who have already been reading this story, minor editing has occurred to bring the story in line with Forsaken.

City of Chicago

The carriages rattled over the rails in their usual incessant manner.

It was another workday, just like any other. The train was packed with men and women desperate to get home after another day of drudgery. One such woman, smartly dressed with legs that seemed to go on for miles, was leaning against the partition beside the carriage doors. She was tired, her feet were killing her and she regretted the choice of heels she had worn to work that morning. She swore that she would pick something more convenient for the following day.

As was usual, she traded looks with admiring men who passed the time examining her long legs and short skirt, not to mention the thin blouse she wore under a light jacket. Unfortunately, for the smartly dressed woman, somebody was intently examining her from top to toe and not for her good looks, or long legs.

That person, though dressed in the similar manner to all the other business type people, was not returning from work. In fact, they were already at work. That person's job, or rather pastime, would be classified as violent and heinous in kind.

As the train slowed, approaching the next stop, the smartly dressed woman moved into the centre of the carriage to allow others to get off and on at the approaching stop. The person watching her carefully removed something from their pocket and moved towards the carriage door a few yards away from the smartly dressed woman.

As the train stopped the smartly dressed woman felt a sharp prick on her neck, then something warm and wet trickled down her neck. She felt her legs give way and she sank to the carriage floor, not knowing what had happened to her.

Then blackness descended on her mind and then nothing – nothing at all.

Wednesday

The home of Dave and Mindy
West Ridge, Chicago, Illinois

Marcus had appeared that morning with a concerned expression. To Mindy, though, he also seemed a little apprehensive.

"Mindy, we have a problem and I'm seriously hoping that you and your team can help," Marcus said with his more usual serious expression.

That explained his apprehensiveness. Marcus was not a huge fan of what his daughter did at night. However, he knew when to use any resource at his disposal. As a general rule, Marcus would only ask for help from 'the fucked up superhero club', if he was very desperate and his back was up against the wall.

"Of course, Marcus!" Mindy replied, with a big grin, excited at the prospect of helping Marcus with a criminal case.

"Always eager, aren't you Mindy?" Dave laughed, enjoying an opportunity to have a dig at his fiancée.

"Knives!" Marcus continued. "Sharp ones that fly through the air and embed themselves into people."

"My favourite!" Mindy quipped; Mindy always enjoyed anything that featured knives – the sharper the better!

"Straight to the point as ever, I see!" Marcus chuckled, knowing his daughter's immense joy where any form of sharp blades were concerned.

"I try!" Mindy said, before turning serious. "What's happening?"

"The 'L' has been experiencing a number of deaths over the past six weeks. Ignoring the usual shootings and stabbings, we have had a sudden surge of deaths 'from a distance'. Men and women have been killed, seemingly randomly, by small, slender throwing knives," Marcus explained.

The Chicago ' L', which is short for 'elevated', is the rapid transit system that serves the City of Chicago. The 'L' is made up of eight lines that are referred to by colour – Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Purple, Pink and Yellow. The 'L' gained its nickname due to large parts of the system being elevated. Despite this nickname, portions of the network are also at ground level or underground.

Mindy looked slightly pensive. "I'd like to say 'cool', but that wouldn't be right. Nobody's seen anybody doing this?"

"Unfortunately, no. The attacks either occur at night, when people are leaving the trains, or a knife is thrown down a carriage, just as the killer themselves leaves the train. We have no CCTV, nothing – he, or she, has planned everything down to the last detail. Now, I know that you and sharp blades have a special thing!" Marcus explained with a grin towards the end.

Mindy laughed – blades were her one weakness, other than Dave, of course.

"I'll get Marty and Abby onto it and we'll put together a profile on this asshole. Send us everything that you have, Lieutenant!" Mindy suggested.

Marcus headed home while Dave and Mindy sat back down again, to chat.

"How about you and Chloe going for a ride on the 'L'?" Dave suggested.

"Could be fun!" Mindy replied, after a brief moment of thought. Mindy was not a big fan of trains, but the prospect of action made it seem appealing.

"You both have fast reactions and you know what to look for. You could both wear a thin anti-stab vest. Besides, it's been a whole year since you two last got yourselves into shit – as Chloe and Mindy!"

"The bank incident was not our fault, ass!" Mindy retorted, defensively, referring to the failed bank heist from the previous summer.

"Well, try not to fuck this up, then!" Dave suggested laughing, ignoring his partner's somewhat hurt expression.