Chapter 4: What Just Happened?
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"Something inside me stirred… and the world listened before I even understood the sound."
— Amelia
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Later in the evening, Amelia stood behind the counter of Mike's Convenience Store, eyes heavy, mind foggy from exhaustion. She'd been working the register since after school—no breaks, no snacks, just endless customers. Her feet ached. She wasn't sure she'd survive another hour.
To her right, her co-worker was practically shouting at an old woman with severe hearing loss.
"I said it's FIFTEEN SEVENTY-FIVE" he bellowed.
The old woman squinted at him like he'd insulted her ancestors.
"That's not what the screen says! Are you trying to cheat me, young man?"
With a huff, she pushed her groceries toward Amelia's register.
"Young lady, can you ring me up? This disrespectful boy doesn't know how to speak properly."
She smiled sweetly at Amelia while shooting daggers at the co-worker.
Amelia stifled a laugh.
"Sure thing, ma'am."
She scanned the items and gave the price.
"That'll be fifteen seventy-five."
"Thank you, darling." she smiled at Amelia before throwing another glare for the boy, who blinked in disbelief.
"How can you hear her but not me?! She didn't even raise her voice!"
Amelia grinned. "Your voice got bigger problems than volume, bro."
BANG!
The glass door flew open with a slam. A man in black stormed in, face hidden behind a hoodie, pistol raised.
"EVERYBODY HANDS UP! NOW!"
Everything stopped. The hum of the fridge, the tap of footsteps—all replaced by the deafening silence of fear. Then came the screams.
"I SAID PUT 'EM UP!"
The gun waved wildly. Every hand in the room shot into the air, customers froze with panic.
Amelia's heart crashed into her ribs.
"Damn it. A robbery." She thought.
"Step away from the register!"
The gun pointed at her and her co-worker. They backed away slowly, hands high.
BAM!
The door burst open again—another man in black. He sprinted inside and slipped around the counter, headed to the back.
From the storage room came Mike's panicked voice as the second robber shouted and demanded the safe.
Then something strange happened.
"Excuse me, mister," the old woman called out, her steps slow and sure as she walked toward the armed man.
"Stop! Don't move, lady!"
He pointed his gun at her.
Amelia shouted, panicked.
"No! Don't!" she screamed. Her chest tightened. Anger mixed with terror.
"Who the hell is this?" the robber sneered, swinging the barrel to her.
Before anyone could blink, a man near the entrance lunged forward and tackled the robber, grabbing for the gun.
BANG!
The store exploded with screams.
The man staggered back—blood pouring from a hole in his stomach—and collapsed.
The first robber froze, staring at what he'd just done.
"Oh my God... oh my God..." he muttered, smacking his head. "SHIT!"
The second robber ran out, dragging Mike by the collar and holding a bag bulging with cash. "What the hell happened?!"
"He came at me! I didn't mean to shoot him!"
"You idiot!" the second robber said.
And then—
"What is all this noise?"
The old woman again. Furiously marching toward them like they were rowdy teenagers in church.
Everyone stared.
Was she mad? Was she blind?
The robber cursed, stormed over, and shoved her hard. She hit the counter and groaned. He slammed the gun to her forehead.
"YOU! It's your fault I shot that man! You distracted me!"
"Chill man. She's like, ninety!" his partner muttered nervously.
"She made me turn!"
He raised the gun again.
"Leave her alone," Amelia said. Calm and dead serious. She couldn't stand to watch the way the robber was treating the old woman, it irritated her.
The robber spun.
"oh, you again?! You think you're some kind of hero? You wanna play superhero, huh? Let's see how far that gets you. Ain't no damn heroes anymore!"
He pressed the gun harder to the old woman's head.
That was it.
Amelia's eyes narrowed. Her vision sharpened. Rage surged up her spine like fire. Her tired body buzzed with a strange, electric energy.
"I said LEAVE HER ALONE!"
Her eyes flared bright orange, glowing like molten gold.
The robber blinked—then stared. His pupils dilated. His mouth opened... and then nothing.
His face went blank.
Slowly, robotically, he lowered his gun.
He stepped back, eyes empty.
Weeoooo! Weeoooo!
Police sirens wailed in the distance.
Amelia's co-worker glanced at her with wide eyes. He had hit the silent alarm under the counter, and Mike had managed to call the police.
"Let's go! The cops are coming!" the second robber yelled, bolting toward the door.
"Joe! MOVE!"
But "Joe" didn't move.
He walked stiffly, slowly—straight toward the road.
"What are you doing, man?! The car's that way!"
Joe didn't answer. His feet moved like they weren't his own.
The second robber watched in disbelief.
"Joe!"
VRROOOOM!!!
A speeding van—too fast to stop—smashed straight into Joe.
CRACK!
Blood splattered across the road.
"JOEEEEEEE!"
The second robber ran to the body dropping the bag of cash he was carrying, all thought of money or escape gone.
Everyone inside gasped.
Two police cruisers tore down the road after the van, lights flashing. Backup police cars surrounded the robbers and the store, weapons drawn.
Their getaway car screeched and sped off—leaving both men behind.
Mike sprinted outside, screaming about his money.
Amelia didn't move.
She stood there, frozen, the glow fading from her eyes as reality caught up to her.
Her breath trembled—
"What just happened?"
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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Chapter 5 Preview:
On her way home, Amelia uses her mysterious powers again—confirming her wildest suspicion. But just when she thinks the day's done? She gets home to the biggest surprise of all.
What's waiting at her doorstep?
Find out in the next chapter: Proposal