Chapter 28: The Attack

[JUSTIN]

Kia looks confident, and it's a really good thing.

"We're gonna drive quite moderately this time, because driving fast can make me nervous."

Kia puts her hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Dad.. We got this."

I smile. My mood is boosted instantly, and now I feel very calm and confident, just like she is. I almost forgot Kia’s got a power to control people’s emotion.

As I take a deep breath, I feel the familiar wave of calm wash over me. My heartbeat slows, and my thoughts settle like autumn leaves drifting to the ground. There's a quiet assurance in the air, a sense that everything is exactly as it should be, and things are gonna be alright in the end.

With each step I take, I feel the ground beneath me steady and sure. My shoulders square, my chin lifts just a fraction higher. Confidence fills me, radiating from within like a steady flame in the darkness.