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| - The lights glowed brightly in front of Stephanie’s face. What had just happened? It was so fast and sudden. What was it again? Oh yes. Now she remembered. It was a gunshot. A single gunshot that hit her in the chest before she blacked out in her shop. Man (with a sigh of relief): Oh good, you’re up. I was hoping you didn’t go into a coma with the amount of force you faced. Stephanie rubbed her head and opened her eyes wider to see what was going on. The jewel shop was broken into. The glass pane that used to say “Barmms Industrial Jewelry” was shattered into a million pieces and on the floor was a cinderblock. She checked her neck. The necklace was still there. Stephanie: James… What happened? (She rubs her back and groans.) James: We were broken into. You were shot at, but managed to survive the bullet. In fact, it didn’t even go into your body. The police are here. Stephanie (with a look of confusion): Ergh… Why am I not dead? James: No idea. All we know is that you’re alive. The police are investigating the incident. Get up. James helps his sister get up from the floor. She is in immense pain. She tries to walk in her heeled work shoes but slips a bit trying to walk. James catches her. A police officer walks up to them. Officer: You’re lucky to be alive, Ms. Barmms. You have quite the burn mark on your chest though. The detectives have examined everything and they’re quite confused on how the bullet managed to ricochet off of you. Stephanie: How… Never mind. The thing is I’m alive. Have you caught any suspects? Officer: Just one. He goes by the name of Black Blast in the criminal world because of his shooting skills. (The officer shakes his head and looks at Ms. Barmms) You’re one lucky woman, Ms. Barmms. James: Come on, Stephanie. It’s not safe up in your apartment. I’ll take you to my house. Stephanie: (I still have no idea of what’s going on…) On the ride to James’s house, Stephanie leans her face against the window, thinking. Then she starts to remember what happened. Stephanie: (Now what was that first thing… Oh yes. It had to do with this necklace… And my skin… Turning into something shiny. I don’t remember what. But the moment I was shot it happened again. That must’ve been what saved my life from the robber.) It all comes back to her. She place the family necklace around her neck, and suddenly it turned her hand into a crystalline form. She was horrified. Before she took it off, however, it went away. The only time it happened again was when that robber pointed his gun once she went back into the store’s main foyer. She was shocked to see the burglar, and he was startled as well. That’s where the memory ended. Stephanie closes her eyes. What a night it was. ~~ The next day Stephanie walks into the office of a beautiful, dark-haired woman with fair skin typing speedily on a key-board. Carolina: Hello, Stefay. Stephanie: Hey, Caroline. Look, you heard about what happened last night, right? Caroline: Of course I did. It was on the news this morning. Couldn’t miss it. They even put it on Squeeker’s headlines. Anyone with social media here in Salem would be able to see it. Stephanie looks outside the window. Outside you can see the beautiful Waterfront that sits before the Willamette River. A giant globe found in the park is stationary, and if you look far enough you can see the carousel building. Carolina: That river still looks beautiful even though I’ve been looking at it for such a long time. I love Oregon. Stephanie: Yeah. Anyways, You have a lawyer around here that can help me get this whole thing fixed, right? Carolina (with a smile): You came to the right place, Stephanie. I can get you one of my best employees. Later, as they do some of the paper stuff, Carolina asks a question. Carolina: So how did you survive that gunshot, Stefay. Stephanie (hesitant): No idea. However, this whole thing has been worrying me. The break in and stuff. This wanted man… Why come into the store with security cameras? Carolina: Maybe he just didn’t know. Stephanie: I doubt that, Carolina. My brand is big here in Salem. You would think someone like him would know. Carolina (putting the tip of the pen in her mouth): I dunno. It just astonishes me you could survive a shot and have it ricochet. That just doesn’t add up. Stephanie (getting a bit worried): I’m sure the detectives will discover why. ~~ Hours later, we see Stephanie alone in her apartment. She looks at the necklace in concentration. Then her hand. Nothing happens. Stephanie: How is this dumb thing supposed to work? She thinks for a little bit, and then has an idea. She gets her umbrella from her closet and proceeds to bonk it on her head. “Ow!” That didn’t seem to work either. So what DID trigger the power of the necklace? Stephanie: “I guess I’m gonna have to find out.” Suddenly, a gunshot shatter through her window. It narrowly misses Stephanie, but her skin suddenly becomes the green crystal state again. She looks down at her hands. All crystal, but it can move like normal skin. She hurries to look out her window past the curtain. Suddenly a man standing on the balcony grasps his hand upon her neck and tries to pull her down. Stephanie grabs his arm and pulls him through the window. “Oof!” The man gets up. Dressed in all black, has whiskers covering his face and blonde hair, the man pulls out his gun to give Stephanie another shot of his automatic. The impact of the bullets make Stephanie fall over, but she’s quick to move. She takes a swipe under his legs to make him fall over before. He drops his gun. Stephanie: Who are you and why have you been trying to kill me? Suddenly, Stephanie recognizes his face: it’s the man who robbed her shop the other night. The man slowly gets up and grins. Stephanie: You’re… That criminal named Black Blast? Black Blast (with an arrogant grin): The one and only, dear. Stephanie slaps his face on the right cheek and he stumbles onto the floor again. Stephanie picks up his gun, opens it and unloads the bullets. Only two were left. She throws the bullet case onto the bed while she still holds the gun. Stephanie sees that she is still in crystallized form, and her heart is thumping wildly. The necklace is glowing, producing a green light. Black Blast gets back up and rubs his bleeding face. It must have been the sharpness of her hands that caused him to bleed. Black Blast: Gah… My face… Stephanie: Why is this the second time you’ve come after me during the night? Black Blast: I’m not dumb enough to tell you, sweetheart. Stephanie kicks him. “Oof!” Black Blast: Would you stop doing that? Ergh… Stephanie: I won’t unless you tell me. Black Blast: And what? You’re gonna kick me some more? Please. Once I’m apprehended this will become a regular occurrence. That is, when I tell my boss about what has happened. Angered with Black Blast, Stephanie picks him up by the shirt and slams him onto the wall. Stephanie: Alright then, you want to be quite, peccant? Then shut up. Shut up and go along your way. You’ve already caused me enough trouble. Black Blast: Heheh… You’re getting a bit feisty there aren’t ye? Stephanie throws him head first onto the floor. Black Blast moans in pain. Stephanie walks over to the phone. The thumping of her heart continues but the crystal is going away. As she is waiting for 911 to pick up, Black Blast gets up from the floor and pulls out a switch knife. Stephanie hears him. Suddenly she turns around and tackles him. In their struggle they go against the sliding window doors and eventually to the balcony. Black Blast comes out on the top of Stephanie, holding his knife near her throat. Stephanie’s heart thumps faster… And faster. Suddenly her skin vibrates and the crystal not only grows thicker, but her muscles also grow. She picks him up by the sides and throws him down 20 feet below onto the streets of Salem. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!” Crack! Stephanie looks below. The guy isn’t dead, as he begins to moan. As people notice what’s going on, Stephanie is suddenly back to normal. It’s like she was just surviving a normal struggle. Stephanie: Oh gosh… What have I become?
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