Ace held a knife to my sister’s throat.

Ashley was trying not to look scared, but I could tell. While her face was a stone, the corners of her pink lips quivered like they always do when she’s nervous. Her bright green eyes darted around frantically, and her blonde locks were matted to her forehead with sweat.

Me?

I was so terrified my heart wasn’t beating.

I knew this was always a risk, being a superhero and all. But slap on a mask and boom! Problem solved. Until Ace, no one had been able to figure out my identity, and therefore my loved ones stayed safe as normal unimportant citizens of New York.

That all changed the moment Ace used his telepathy to figure out that the famous superhero Blink was actually Belen Carle. My whole world was on the brink of collapse, and I knew it. Ace knew it too.

“Well well well.” Ace said with a sickening smile. “What do we have here? The famous Blink.”

My tongue felt like a rock in my mouth. “Let her go.” I croaked.

Ace’s grin widened. “No, I don’t think I will. We’re just getting started, right Ashley?” He asked as he pressed the blade deeper, drawing a thin line of blood.

Ashley grit her teeth, stifling a cry.

Instantly my body turned to fight mode, I took a step forward, closing my eyes. I felt the ripple of energy spread across my body as it had so many times before when I fought the latest villain. With my eyes closed, I couldn’t tell, but I still knew my body was invisible. Weird superpower, I know. Turn invisible, but fight with your eyes closed. Thanks for that universe. But I make do.

My other senses honed in as I crept along the abandon wear house floor, dodging broken scraps of metals and tools. I wracked my mind for a plan as I went. If I could just get close enough to attack from behind-

Suddenly Ashly’s voice cried out, stopping me dead in my tracks.

“Ah ah ah.” Ace tutted. “None of that now.” His voice hardened, twisting with hate. “Come out! Or Ashly here gets a knife in the gut.”

I snapped my eyes open. The energy in my body faded as Ace and Ashley came into view.

Ace nodded. “That’s better.”

“What do you want?” I demanded, clenching my fists so hard my fingernails drew blood.

“I’m so glad you asked.” Ace said. “Reveal your identity to her. Now.”

Ashley’s eyes widened, flying between me and Ace. “What?”

Ace pulled her hair, and Ashley let out a small yelp. “You don’t ask the questions, girl.” He snarled before turning back to me. “You have five seconds to do it before I kill her.”

My heart was a drum line in my ears. Every part of me was numb. I couldn’t think.

“Five, four, three, two-“

I whipped off my mask. “It’s me, Ashley! It’s your sister Belen.”

Ace’s wide grin left me sick. “There we go.”

I blinked, and he was gone. The abandoned wear house was empty, just me and Ashley.

I ran up to Ashley, taking her hands in mine. “Ashley, I am SO sorry this happened! I would have told you, but I didn’t know how! It all just happened so fast!” My words came out fast and rushed, tripping over themselves but going silent when Ashley held up a hand.

Her green eyes were watery, and her hand shook. She didn’t meet my eyes. I had to remind myself to breathe when her hand reached behind the chair, and pulled out a small camera.

The blood drained from my face.

“I’m sorry.” She breathed, still not looking me in the eye.

Ding.

A news alert from my phone.

With shaking hands, I slipped my phone out of my pocket, knowing what was going to be there but not willing to accept it. I forced myself to look at it, and my heart stopped.

BREAKING NEWS: ANONYMOUS VIDEO REVEALS SUPERHERO BLINK’S IDENTITY AS BELEN CARLE.

“He made me, Bele.” Ashley pleaded.

But I didn’t hear her. My ears rang, my eyes stared off in the distance. My worst fear had just come true.

EVERYONE knew.