Chapter 3: Standing Out

Shine picked herself up from her bed, rubbing the dried drool from her face and yawning loudly. Her toes touched the rugged floor as she stood, scratching her lower back faintly and making her way out of her room and down the hall. She reached the bathroom, opening the door and carelessly walking in.

Her eyes finally opened as she faced the mirror, the faint glow of the violet orbs fading. She bit her lip, turning the sink on and splashing her face.

Her mind slowly moved back to herself. Her display during the game was too risky, and if she hadn't built a reputation for herself as the secret weapon, who knows what could've happened to her?

She allowed her impatience to get the better of her. Doing so made her visible, more than she should have been. She knew the chances were low, but if there was a chance that there was someone, a government official or something, in the crowd at the game, or someone in the school system who knew what she did, she could be a target for anyone.

Shine shook her head, patting her cheeks. "No, I'm just freaking out over nothing. No way anyone would really think much of it." Her eyes locked with her reflection's gaze. Even as the words left her lips, she found them difficult to believe.

Cautious. She needed to be more cautious with her choices.

Shine looked at the clock, nodding at the early hours and stretched once more. Jogging would take her mind off of it. Jogging and a lot of training. At least that way, she'll be awake and much more aware by the time Orion would take her to the mall.

Orion pulled into a parking spot just in front of the mall entrance. He killed the engine, looking back at his sister and her friend.

His face looked freshly shaven and hair slicked back with thin layers of hair gel. He was dressed in a green tracksuit, the zipper stopping just short of his throat and collar rolled down. "Ready?"

Frannie spoke first, "Of course!" Her voice was bubbling with excitement as if she were a giddy little child, something Orion shuddered visibly at but Frannie paid it no mind.

Shine released her seatbelt, eyes holding thin layers of bags from exhaustion. She had overestimated how much she should push herself, and by the time she got back to the house she was drained of all she had.

Even now, she barely had the strength to keep her eyes open, yet Shine put a smile on her face and took deep breaths, opening the car door and stepping out. The second she laid eyes on the amount of people going in, she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "I don't think I can do this," She muttered, leaning against the roof.

Orion slammed his door, making her jump and flare her nostrils in irritation.

Shine slammed the back door, just as Frannie closed hers and the three quickly jogged for the doors.

The mall was packed full of people. Full families, businessmen, teenage girls and boys like Shine and Frannie. Any hope for a fun, quiet evening was quickly shattered from the screaming kids making their way towards the movie theater on the third floor, teens racing from store to store on the second floor, and anyone else eating in the food court or restaurants on the first floor.

A quick whiff pizza slipped into Shine's nose, and her stomach practically roared in response.

"Food or clothes.. Food or clothes…" She whispered over and over. Frannie took her and Orion's hands, dragging them along towards the nearest make-up boutique. "Guess accessories first then. Frannie, can you calm down some?"

"If any of these other bitches gets all the good stuff, this trip will be a waste," She yelled. Orion and Shine looked at each other, laughing a little and picking up their feet, keeping along with Frannie's pace.

In the back of her head, Shine felt something was off.

She couldn't place a finger on what it was, but it was like she felt something like her.

Her head shook in denial, feet slowing down as Frannie frantically began questioning about all the products on display in the boutique. Shine had no interest at first, her stomach was crying out too much for her to really hold her thoughts on buying anything.

Her eyes danced around each product, moving up on instinct as a man raced out the store in front of them. A couple of expensive looking shirts were under his left arm, a wad of loose cash wrapped inside. His free arm was in his right pocket.

Did he… Actually rob a store with that old trick, Shine thought.

As the manager raced out, the man ran by them. Orion noticed him as he passed, almost breaking into a full sprint after him. The basic training must've been kicking in for him. Shine bit her lip, trying so hard to hold herself back.

What if he actually had a gun? What if Orion got hurt because she chose to do nothing, knowing she had the full capability of stopping a man like that?

"Someone stop him!" The store manager yelled, her voice cracking in what seemed to be dry and soreness. Mall security wouldn't be able to reach him before he escaped the mall. Orion could be seriously injured.

No, She thought. Orion will be… Fine… Right? She went to turn her head, ignore the situation at hand and bit her lip.

"Oh my god!"

Frannie's voice made her snap her head back. The man had pulled his arm out from his pocket. In it, a black 9mm submachine gun. A silencer was on the barrel, and it held an extended clip.

Her body moved fast.

Past the people, and over Ryan as she jumped. The man never spotted her until she was right upon him. He dropped his gun, Shine tackling him to the floor and knocking the shirts and cash from his grasp. Her foot was on his arm, and palm around his throat, squeezing tightly.

"The fuck is wrong with you!? Were you actually going to kill someone over…" She paused, looking at the cash and counting the value. Two hundred dollars in twenty dollar bills, and four shirts worth about fifty apiece. "... Over two hundred dollars. You disgusting piece of shit…"

"Shine, ease up," Orion said, stopping his sprint. "The manager called the cops. They'll be here soon. Let the mall security take him in until they get here."

"But," She looked down at the man, noting his face turning blue. She eased her grip and got up, watching him cough and hold his throat. "You're lucky. You'd be in even worse trouble if you killed someone, purposely or not." Her eyes glanced at the gun by the garbage can.

No one moved near it, or them for that matter. Everyone's eyes were on Shine as if she had done something unbelievable.

The tension was unbearable. Shine took a deep breath, and chose to speak loudly to the man, eyeing him down and pointing to the gun. "And who the hell robs a clothing store with a gun like that anyway!?"

He glared hatefully back at her, as if drinking in her face and features. Something about his eyes made her pull her anger back. Something unnatural flashed within his blue orbs. Something inhuman, and it scared her a moment.

"Found you," He said under his breath. Shine took a step back, grabbing Orion's arm. He looked between her and the man.

Mall security hurried through the crowd, quickly taking the man and forcing everyone to disperse. "Alright, clear out people!"

"I'll find you again. I will, Kid! I NEVER forget a face!" His voice was hysterical.

Shine bit her lip and exhaled worriedly, turning her back and walking towards Frannie. She felt eyes on her, but pushed it to the back of her head. Orion looked down at her but didn't say anything.

Frannie clapped, smiling at Shine. "So, should we look for a costume for you, Girl? Damn, that's twice this week you did something unreal."

Her face turned a faint red. Shaking her head, Shine touched Frannie's shoulders and looked her in the eye. "It's not unreal. Just focus on exercising your legs and you can do amazing things."

Frannie scoffed at her and touched Shine's shoulders in response. "I'm not even going to comment on how easy it is to make that sound sexy. You okay? You looked spooked, Hun."

"I'm fine," She said. "That guy is just mental. It caught by surprise, that's all."

Orion stepped and looked around the people beginning to continue their day. He nodded at Shine's words and glanced at her. "Want to go home?"

"No. I came to shop, and after I get some food in my system, I'll be able to do just that. Come on, you're buying."

Orion wanted to protest, but shook his head and followed the girls to the escalator. The man's eyes flashed in her mind once more.

Not only did she do exactly what she wanted to avoid, she also possibly caused more trouble for herself in the future.

The guy was getting arrested, so the thought of him going after her was less likely to happen. Despite that, she clutched her shirt just over her heart, counting the beats to make sure it didn't skip any. She wasn't one to exactly remember or think about first impressions, but maybe now she'd start.