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Ted.
    Erica made an effort to talk with her eyes, trying to convey that they should consider the assistance. He shook his head.
    "Thanks, Sheriff." Ted extended his hand to Sheriff Norris. "I think we'll be fine."
    The sheriff shook all their hands before he walked back over to supervise his staff. After Dhiraj packed up the gear, they considered the path to his vehicle.
    "The bastards." Dhiraj pointed straight ahead. "They set up right between us and my car." 
     
    The GHA movement began within 24 hours of Ted's emergence as a hero, but it didn't really pick up steam until the deaths of Jason and Phil Torello. The witnesses in Jennifer's theater class and on Ted's team gave so much evidence against the twins that a self-defense claim was unquestioned. After all, it took Sheriff Norris a week to get out of the hospital after he took a beating from Phil Torello. But that didn't stop the Torellos' parents from being all over the news for several weeks in a row. They filed a civil lawsuit against Ted, and while the case was quickly dropped, the damage had been done. The GHA grew stronger than ever with chapters building in cities throughout the U.S.
     
    Erica took Ted's hand, which caused him to jump.
    "Let's just get the escort. Dhiraj can come back and get his car later."
    Ted squeezed Erica's hand and let it go. He'd just stopped a robbery. It didn't make sense that they should have to run away afterward. Especially from a bunch of people who called him a murderer and a freak.
    "I'm not just going to let them win." Ted tried to build the courage inside himself. "I'm in the right, here. It's only fair we should be able to leave without being hassled."
    Ted took a step toward the crowd. Even that tiny movement caused the crowd to get louder. Part of him wanted to take Erica's advice and run away. The nervousness grew in his stomach like a balloon. Ted inhaled deeply as his feet moved even closer to the mob.
    "Life isn't always fair, Ted." Erica hesitated for a moment before joining Ted's side.
    Dhiraj struggled with the equipment behind them. "Sure, take your stand. Life would be a lot more fair if I had a hand truck. Or a wheelbarrow."
    The three of them reached the edge of the crowd. Ted's pulse quickened and the crowd's chanting transitioned into more of a roar. Most of the GHAers were middle-aged. Some wore special shirts and brandished homemade posters with anti-Ted slogans. Ted noticed a little girl sitting on her father's shoulders. He caught her eye, and the girl's face scrunched up in anger.
    "Excuse me." Ted waded into the mob, which parted enough to fit someone half of Ted's size.
    He considered using his powers to spread them further, but he resisted the urge. When Ted paused for a moment, Erica pressed her hand against his back.
    "You're the one who got us into this." Erica's voice was barely audible over the buzz of the crowd. "Just keep moving."
    Ted complied and doubled his pace. As he held Dhiraj's car in sight, the mob started to press in around him. He smelled breath and sweat and looked around for a possible opening. There was none.
    This was a bad idea.
    Ted felt his throat close up.
    "Now!" The shout came from far off to his left.
    By the time he looked toward the noise, a projectile had already struck Ted in the head from the other direction. The balloon stunned Ted momentarily as it unloaded its contents of green paint and water onto him, Erica and several nearby GHAers. In addition to the painful ringing on the side of his head, Ted got the worst of the splatter. Half of his face and most of his clothing was dripping with green paint.
    As if it were second nature, Ted used his powers to push the mob backward, creating a circle of space around the three of them. The GHAers who felt the unseen force pushing into them began to scream, while those outside Ted's range jeered at the hero with all their might.
    "Ted, don't." Erica did her best to settle Ted, but his head was throbbing. The fear was gone. It