Doubt

When Julie walked in, she was sure she could cut the air with a knife. Julie could still hear the angry thoughts from Celine, judging by the glare, Julie was sure she wasn't getting out of this.

"So you finally showed up," Celine muttered, a glare still set at her. [I don't know how to feel about this]

Julie could only walk in with the first aid kit, gaze on the floor, feeling ashamed.

[I'm hungry]

Julie snorted but ignored the burning gaze of her best friend. She walks up to the trio, as she opens up the first aid kit, already pulling out ointments for their bruises.

"Okay line up guys," She muttered as she opened the cap. Celine already being the closest. Shoveed her arms right in front of Julie. Julie grimaced at the black and blue color. Sticking her hand into the gel, she slowly rubbed it on the wound.

[shit, it hurts] Julie could see Celine winced from her peripheral view. "language." Julie blurted out, as silence sets in again.

[I knew it!] Celine whipped her head towards her, as Ethan coughed (giggled, Julie wasn't stupid). Julie rolled her eyes at the exaggeration.

"Fine, you want explanations? You'll get explanations" Celine's face morphed into a surprised look. Julie couldn't help but scoff. She was already caught for lying, so why lie more, it would be just troublesome.

[So she can hear me now?]

"Yes, Amelia. Yes, I can." Julie sarcastically said as the brunette flinched from the corner of her eyes.

"Ehem, explanations? Answers? Time is ticking." Celine huffed, as Amelia nodded.

"Fine" Julie sighed, she could hear the cheering thoughts from the blonde. "But you have to explain this mess" pointing at all the messy state the trio was in.

[really? After lying to your friend?] Julie glared at the smirking boy at the corner. "Yes Jackson, I'm that shameless. But if it means to know what happened to this idiot," ignoring the loud complaint from Celine. "then yeah, I'm just that shameless"

[aww Julie- wait I should stay mad- WAIT SHE CAN READ MY-]

Julie chuckled at the rambling thoughts from Celine. But she turned towards the trio with a sad gaze. How was she supposed to explain how she got this ability. Well, Celine miraculously has those electric fingers. Maybe mind-reading wouldn't be much of a surprise.

"Uhm, So- this is weird," Julie admitted, this was her first time trying to explain what's keeping her up 24/7.

[dude just explain] Ethan had an unamused gaze on her, as she scoffs. "bro, just use your mouth." She threw the first aid kit towards him, already fixing up Celine a minute ago.

Julie chuckled at the fumbling, she could hear the curses he had in his head. If she were even to say one of them to their aunt, she'll get her ass beaten.

"So starting- I guess everything started at second grade-"

***

Minutes pass by, as the trio processed what Julie explained. "You're telling me, you just got them?" Celine furrowed her eyebrows, trying to find an answer. [how though?]

"I don't know." Celine flinched at the answer before nervously giggling. "I need to get used to that."

"I mean it does make sense," Ethan replied, next to him was Amelia who was as confused as Celine.

It was already past 8, her uncle and aunt are still out and Julie was sitting around three battered teenagers. 'Very Normal day' she thought, Julie could only wonder what she had done to deal with this.

[That means she's a natural awakened] Julie perked up. Awakened? She could only wonder what that is. Was it what she was?

"Okay enough about me, what the hell am I? What is an awakened? And why show up here?" Julie had a lot of questions spiraling in her mind.

"Well so start, all of us are awakened." Ethan crossed his arms. "An awakened is where one person has an overflow of their energy. Every human has their energy, but awakeners have a bigger flow, as it turns into an ability whether its physical, elemental, or mental"

Ethan showcased his 'ability. His fingers flex towards the glass of water on the coffee table. Julie watched in fascination as the water flows out, twirling around, or spreading apart. "As you can see my ability is water elements, or I like to call it hydrokinesis, got the name from google." Ethan's finger flickered down, as the water went back into the glass.

Julie could only listen to what he's explaining. Overflow of energy? So you're telling her that second grade Julie had an immense flow of energy that now she could read minds? How in the world does that explain her powers?

[I'm confused] Celine looked like she was going to blow up with Ethan's explanation. Well, at least Celine isn't as mad as just now.

"So we're still humans?" Ethan nodded, "but with powers?" Amelia looked skeptical. [is he for real?]

"There aren't a lot of us, back then they call us mutants, awakened usually get their powers in middle school."

Julie glanced at Amelia wondering what ability she had. But Amelia avoided her gaze as she fidgeted her fingers.

"Okay, fine I'll pretend that I understood whatever you said. Does this-" Julie hesitate a bit, recalling the news and her aunt's case? does that have anything to do with the awakened?

Julie clenched her fist, as she could feel the sweat right behind her neck. "does this have anything to do with that serial killer?"

Julie stiffened when she saw Ethan tensed. Well, that answers her question. Great, she got into another mess.

"Wait didn't we got attacked by a dude with claws?" Her heart instantly stopped. Of course, this had something to do with a loose serial killer.

She ruffled her hair, frustrated. Why does she have to deal with this weird sci-fi thing? It's already bad enough she's listening to people's thoughts almost every second, and there's a serial killer on the loose with some kind of mutant powers.

[I can't tell anyone about this.] Julie raised an eyebrow, while she did ignore Amelia for some minutes. She now can't help raise suspicions against her. Julie would need to get the bottom to that, but maybe not now

"But why come here?" Julie blurted "You probably already knew what my abilities were, clearly I'm no help." Honestly, what can a mind reader do to someone?

"That's a question for another day." Ethan stood up, as both Celine and Amelia looked surprised. Julie looked at him in disbelief, "the hell, you haven't even explained what happened to you guys?! And you guys got jumped by the Claw man?"

"Yeah, the crazy awakened guy!" Celine chirped but laughed nervously at the stare given by Ethan. [I shouldn't have said that]

[I swear to God, I did not sign up for this] Ethan sigh, he glances at Julie. "Long story short, Celine is a target."

"A targe- wait, hold on the serial killer is an awakened?" But Julie was cut off with a loud bellowing voice from outside.

"I'm home!"

Julie face palmed as she scrambles to pull all three teenagers towards the back door. "you guys gotta go!"

[who's that?]

[Is that Uncle Rudy?]

"C'mon, GET OUT!" pushing all of them out, as she slammed the door shut. As her uncle stepped into the house.

[Finally home] "Hey kiddo," Uncle Rudy smiled at her, as he dropped his stuff on the sofa. Julie could only smile tiredly.

"You okay?" Uncle Rudy walks towards the kitchen, pulling out a can of cola from the fridge. [She looks so done]

"I- yeah it's been a long day." Julie walks back towards the living room, after kicking out Celine and the transfer, exhaustion just sets in. As if a car was crashed into her.

"Well it's almost 9, you can go sleep or something." Uncle Rudy advised, Julie muttered out a 'yeah' as she went up the stairs.

"Uncle Rudy?" Her uncle hummed at the call of his name. "Is Aunt Jude going to be late again?" She could hear him sigh out a big breath.

"Yeah, don't worry I'll wait for her." Uncle Rudy gave her another smile. She couldn't help but smile back. "night, Uncle"

"Night, kid"

Julie shuts her door, as she flopped into the comfort of her bed. Today was the most exhausting day she ever had. She learned that she wasn't normal, her best friend was a target and a killer on the loose that might even hurt one of them.

For God's sake, she was only 15?! Why does she have to carry the burden of being awakened? It would be better if she had super speed or enhanced strength but no. The universe decided to hate her, and give her the ability to listen to people's privacy.

Slightly screaming in her pillow, and beating it. She still had her thoughts on the two transferees. As much as she was glad that they both brought back Celine in one piece. She couldn't help but place her doubt on Ethan.

How does he know all this? Does he know the Claw man? From his tense figure back then, he must know the killer.

Her gaze fell towards her phone, as it lit up with a notification. It was a text from Celine.

'Hey, sorry for yelling.'

'Was sad you lied'

Her heart clenched as Julie started muttering how stupid she was. Was it wrong to lie? Nobody believed her back then, so she thought maybe lying would be a better choice. She didn't have anybody to talk to about her ability.

'Nah it's fine'

Plopped her phone away from her, she starts wondering how many were there? She could only hope she didn't have to get into the mess. Or even worst become another target.

Julie blinked as she stared at her ceiling. The ringing was starting again, from her neighbors and her uncle downstairs. She closed her eyes, as her drowsiness sets in.

Maybe today was all a dream. Julie made up her mind that she will still doubt the two transfers, but from today she won't deny if Celine starts to avoid her.

Julie finally sleeps peacefully for the first time this month.

***

In an abandoned place, there stood a boy on the rooftop. He felt at peace as he felt the cold wind breezed by.

"I know you're there." his cold voice rang through as the man behind him flinched. The man coughed nervously, "young master, your father is looking for you."

The boy ignored the man, as he glanced at the bright lights of the small city. "Tell him to go to hell." The man behind flinched at the cold glare from the boy.

"You have school tomorrow, your father gave me the authority to bring you back." The man tried to explain. "Even by force if I have to."

The boy looked back smirking at the man, as the building shook. Rocks and scraps levitated to the air, surrounded by a purple aura. "You dare?" The boy chirped, a warning to the man.

"Master Noah, you know how your father is." The man said as the boy scoffed. The boy crossed his arms, "what does he want."

"There are new awakeners at your school-" But the man was slammed by the large boulder sent from the boy. As dust and smoke scattered around.

The boy couldn't help but grin. "Things are starting to get interesting.