{ Mia }
I turned towards him. " Thank you, for helping me ." I said smiling.
"Anytime, cupcake," he said, ruffling my hair before flicking my forehead lightly. "No one messes with my cupcake on my watch."
" What should I call you ?" I asked, looking up at him in confusion.
" You're not ready to know yet cupcake."
" Why? Why can't you tell me ." I asked a bit disappointed.
" You'll see cupcake." He whispered and then, vanished in a puff of smoke as he pulled my wig back on.
Suddenly, time resumed and just as Abby's hand was going to descend on my cheek I moved with supernatural speed and gripped her hand tightly.
" Ahhhhh!!!! " She screamed loudly." OMG!! Mia!!! Let go of me!" She struggled againzt my hold.
I loosened my grip slightly, staring at my own hands. What was this feeling bubbling inside me power? Satisfaction?
" Why should I ?" I smirked coldly.
" Pleeeeease Mia ! You're hurting meeee !!!"
" Not yet... Wait ..."
A sharp, sickening crack echoed through the cafeteria. Abby's face twisted in agony, her wrist bending at an unnatural angle. Gasps rippled through the room. I stared at my own hands, my chest rising and falling too quickly. A thrill shot through me. Was this… power? But beneath it, something colder curled in my stomach.
"There." I forced a smile, wiping my hands against my skirt as if dusting off something dirty. "See how nice I am?" My voice dripped with false cheer as I stepped over her trembling form and walked away, ignoring the gasps around me.
"Good job cupcake, I'm proud of you ." I heard the familiar voice in my head.
I froze. The voice echoed inside my head, like a whisper curling around my thoughts.
I whipped my head around, but there was no one behind me.
"H-How are you talking to me?" My voice came out hoarse.
"You're stronger now, cupcake. Strong enough for this."
"What… what is this?" My fingers curled into fists. "Are you inside my head?"
"Call it a mind link." His voice was calm, like this was the most normal thing in the world.
"That's not an answer."
"And you're not ready for the real one, cupcake."
" Alright, thanks Ace." I said chuckling inwardly.
" Ummm... My name isn't Ace cupcake."
" I know." I said I'm my mind.
" Then, why Ace ?"
"You know the deck of cards? It's the best one in the deck, and so are you ." I chuckled." Can you keep me company during lunch?" I asked enthusiastically.
" Sure cupcake, what do you want to talk about?"
...
The day passed in a blur, with ' Ace ' cracking jokes and keeping me company. Whether it was in class or during lunch I never felt alone.
Dring.... Dring.... Dring....
I leaned against the school gate, shifting from foot to foot as I scanned the road. My parents were late. Again.
"Still waiting, cupcake?" Ace's voice purred in my head.
I sighed, adjusting my bag strap. "Yeah. They should've been here by now."
"You sure they're coming?"
A chill prickled down my spine. I straightened. "What do you mean?"
Silence.
The uneasy feeling twisted deeper in my gut. I pulled out my phone. No new messages. No missed calls.
Then, the screen glitched. The battery bar flickered from 72% to empty.
"Cupcake… don't panic." Ace's voice had shifted no longer teasing, but urgent.
The hairs on my arms stood on end.
I turned my head slightly and my breath caught.
Across the street, a sleek black car idled, its tinted windows reflecting the fading light. I hadn't noticed it before.
The driver's side door opened.
A man stepped out.
Tall. Sunglasses. Dressed in all black.
He was looking straight at me.
"Run." Ace's voice was a low command.
My heartbeat slammed against my ribs.
"Now, Mia!"
I didn't wait.
I spun on my heel and ran.
The world blurred around me as I ran, my sneakers pounding against the pavement. My breath came in sharp gasps, but I couldn't stop, not now. Not when I could still feel the stranger's eyes burning into my back.
"Left, cupcake. Now!"
I veered sharply into a narrow alleyway, my shoulder slamming against the brick wall as I stumbled. Behind me, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed. They were following.
"Faster, Mia! Don't think, just move!" Ace's voice snapped in my head, urgent but steady.
My legs burned, but I forced myself forward, dodging trash bins and leaping over a broken crate. The alley twisted into another street, cars honking as I dashed across, my heart hammering against my ribs.
"The red door, two buildings ahead. Get inside!"
I spotted it a rusted metal door barely hanging on its hinges. With one final burst of energy, I lunged toward it, gripping the handle and yanking. It didn't budge.
"Come on, cupcake, use that strength!"
I gritted my teeth and pulled harder. This time, the door groaned open, and I stumbled inside, slamming it shut just as footsteps thundered past outside.
Darkness swallowed me whole. My chest heaved. My hands trembled.
"Good girl," Ace murmured. "You're getting the hang of this."
I pressed my back against the cold wall, heart racing. "Who were they?"
A pause.
"The first of many, cupcake."