{ Mia }
The world was silent.
Not just quiet silent. No hum of electricity, no rustle of clothes, no sound of my own breathing. Just an eerie, suffocating stillness.
Ace didn't move. Cole didn't move. Even the air felt frozen, thick like syrup, trapping me in a moment that wasn't supposed to last.
I swallowed hard, my pulse the only thing I could hear.
What did I do?
I reached out again, gripping Ace's wrist. His skin was warm, solid but lifeless. Like a statue frozen mid-motion. My breath hitched as I turned to Cole, his face stuck in an expression of half-concern, half-confusion.
Panic curled in my chest.
"Okay, okay… think, Mia." My voice sounded too loud in the silence, like it didn't belong here.
I closed my eyes, trying to will time to move again, to undo whatever I had just done. But the weight of the stillness pressed against me, unmoving, unyielding.
Then—
The golden light faded, and with it, the tension in my chest loosened just a little.
Ace blinked rapidly, shaking his head as if snapping out of a daze. Cole stumbled backward, nearly tripping over his own feet.
"What… was that?" Cole asked, rubbing his arms like he had just walked through a cold draft.
I swallowed hard. "I don't know."
Ace exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. "Well, that was new." His smirk was back, but this time, it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Didn't take you for the time-stopping type, Cupcake."
I crossed my arms. "I didn't mean to stop time!"
"Yeah, well, your powers disagree."
Cole finally straightened, still watching me like I had just grown a second head. "So, uh… do you know how to unfreeze people? Or were we about to be statues forever?"
My stomach twisted. I had no idea how I did it in the first place, let alone how I stopped it.
But before I could panic all over again, Ace clapped his hands together. "Alright, enough freaking out. We've got a new skill to test."
I groaned. "Seriously? Can I breathe first?"
"Nope," he said, grinning. "Now let's see if you can do it again."
I sighed. This was going to be a long day.
After a long day of training I plopped back down on the couch, drenched in sweat.
" Not bad, cupcake." Ace smirked, sitting down next to me.
Slowly I stood up. " Thanks." I scratched my head. " Umm.... Where can I shower?" I asked confused.
" Follow me." He smirked.
" Why are you smirking ?" I asked frustrated.
" You'll see," He said, as he tugged at my shirt and opened a door.
" If you can create a running water source and make some shampoo appear you can shower." He smiled slyly.
" What ?!" I asked my eyes wide.
" Good luck." He smiled, then disappeared in a puff of smoke, the same magical energy from the training room swirling around him.
* 2 hours later *
After hours of trying, exhaustion weighed on me. I was about to give up, but I urged myself, Just one last time. With one last breath I imagined running water and some shampoo bottles lying around in the tub.
~ khshhhhhh ~
The sudden sound of running water startled me. I slowly opened my eyes in astonishment.
" I did it !" I squealed.
I quickly undressed and jumped into the shower.
Warm water cascaded over me, easing the tension in my muscles. The steady rhythm drowned out the storm of thoughts in my head.
I pressed my forehead to the cool tile, water trickling down my back. Everything had happened too fast first the clone, then the training, and now… stopping time? I barely understood my own powers, and that terrified me more than I wanted to admit.
The scent of lavender shampoo filled the air as I worked it through my hair, my fingers moving on autopilot. Maybe I just needed to not think for a few minutes. No Ace, no clones, no impossible powers just warm water and silence.
I exhaled, letting the steam surround me like a cocoon. If only figuring everything else out was as easy as this.
Once I was done I stepped out and the water turned off automatically and the shampoo bottles disappeared.
I quickly wrapped my hair with a towel dressed up in clean clothes, and walked out.
" Finally done cupcake?" Ace asked sitting on the couch engorssed in reading a book.
" Yeah. It took a while but I think I finally figured it out." I turned to him smiling widely.
Cole jumped up eagerly. " Finally! Can you magically make me some water and shampoo? I haven't showered in days," he sighed."
I chuckled. " Yeah sure!" I patted his shoulder.
" Thanks!" I smiled.
I closed my eyes and imagined men's shampoo in the bath tub and running water.
From upstairs, Cole's voice rang out. "Thanks!"
Scratching my head I slowly turned to Ace.
" Ummm... Ace... " I asked.
Ace gave me a knowing look. "You can go back home in a week once you've gotten the hang of your powers."
I froze. "Wait... go back? And how did you—"
"I can read minds." He smirked. "So can you. But you won't get into mine I've got a mind shield."
I blinked. "Mind shield? Reading minds? What are you even talking about?"
Ace chuckled, ruffling my hair. "You'll figure it out, Cupcake. We're special."
Before I could demand more answers—BOOM. A deafening explosion rattled the walls, shaking dust from the ceiling. The air vibrated, sending a chill down my spine. Ace's grip on my wrist tightened. "Don't move."
I froze. What was happening? Ace pulled me close, his grip firm like he was bracing for something.
For half a second, my breath caught in my throat.
Then—
"I'M OKAY!"Cole's voice rang out from the second floor.
Ace and I exchanged glances before turning toward the noise. Cole lay on the floor, rubbing his head with a sheepish grin.
"Sort of," he groaned.
I sighed, shaking my head. So much for a dramatic moment.