Another week had passed since I obtained my new powers.
It had almost been a month since I arrived in this world.
And honestly… nothing truly important happened this week.
I teleported to different cities and towns across the county.
I searched for killers, gangs, criminals.
I found some.
I eliminated them.
Nothing special.
I also took the opportunity to loot weapons and some money.
I'm not a hero.
Resources don't fall from the sky.
As for Vivian, she returned to school.
She became popular because of what she went through.
Madison and Chloe were still under curfew.
Too much calm.
Way too much.
"Seriously… is nothing going to happen?" I muttered, lying on my bed staring at the ceiling.
Is this the calm before the storm?
I shook my head.
"I'll go out tonight."
Snap.
I teleported.
Over the past week, I had practically squeezed this county and the neighboring one dry.
Nothing interesting.
Just minor crimes.
I needed something bigger.
"I'll have to go to another county."
I crossed my arms.
"Alright… it's decided."
Snap.
I appeared in the state capital.
New Jersey has 21 counties.
I'm in Morris County.
The county where Ana is located is Sussex County.
Now I'm in Trenton.
I walked through the city calmly.
Lights. Noise. Movement.
From the corner of my eye, I saw someone dressed as a clown.
"Huh…"
Halloween was still far away.
They seemed to be a group of teenagers heading to a costume party.
I approached them.
"Excuse me, guys. Sorry to bother you."
One of them looked at me.
"Yeah? What do you need?"
"Nothing, just… are you going to a costume party?"
They nodded.
"Oh. Well, have fun."
I walked away.
I kept walking until something caught my attention.
A lottery advertisement.
Hmm.
Money.
I still have those $250,000… but that won't last forever.
I need more.
Problem: I'm 17.
Even if I won, it would be complicated.
I shook my head.
Gang members.
Mobsters.
Bands.
They have money.
I smiled slightly.
Then I heard it.
Laughter.
I stopped.
Young voices.
Something interesting.
I wasn't planning to look for trouble… but if it appeared in front of me, it would be rude to ignore it.
I walked toward the sound.
I activated illusion magic and concealed my presence.
And then I saw them.
A group of boys and girls surrounding a girl.
Pretty.
Familiar.
Ah.
Brittany.
I recognized her.
A group of wannabe gangsters.
Brittany was staring at them angrily.
I have to admit… she's cute.
"Listen, sweetheart," the one who seemed to be the leader said. "You don't know what we can do to you. You'd better stop bothering us before we do something you won't like."
"You came to my father's business to extort him. Why?" she shot back.
Laughter.
"Your father hasn't paid protection… to my older brother."
Ah.
So this kid has backing.
I lost interest.
Nothing big.
Then the leader smiled.
"Hey, baby… you're cute. How about you be my girlfriend tonight?"
More laughter.
One of the boys shoved her.
They pinned her to the ground.
Brittany screamed.
They covered her mouth.
The other girls in the group did nothing.
This had happened before.
I sighed.
I kept watching.
"Now you'll learn the hard way," the leader whispered.
He slapped her.
"Just accept it… and we won't bother your father."
He was unbuckling his belt.
And then…
A balloon appeared floating between them.
Everyone froze.
"What the hell…?"
The balloon exploded.
Confetti.
Applause.
They all turned their heads.
A clown was standing behind them.
Holding another balloon.
White mask.
Painted smile.
"Hello," he said cheerfully. "I'm the killer clown you've probably heard about."
Absolute silence.
"Now, boys… what you're doing is bad. Trying to cross the line with a cute girl… that's not nice."
He moved exaggeratedly, almost dancing.
"How about you let her go… and we all go get some ice cream?"
He popped the balloon he was holding.
Popsicles fell out of it.
He extended them toward the girls.
The leader exploded.
"Who the hell are you? Do you think you can tell us what to do?"
His face was red with rage.
"No… I don't think that about all of you," the clown replied, pointing at him. "Just you."
He tilted his head.
"I think you're the biggest little devil in the group."
"You bastard!"
He pulled out a gun.
Aimed.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
The bullets hit the clown.
He fell to the ground.
Another shot.
Bang.
Gabriel laughed.
He felt invincible.
But the clown stood up.
Brushing dust off his suit.
Everyone stepped back.
The clown looked around.
But his gaze — behind the mask — seemed fixed on Brittany.
He let out a laugh.
"Did you like the trick?"
He sighed.
"Too bad I have things to do."
Knives appeared in the air.
They shot forward with precision.
They didn't die.
But the screams that followed were unbearable.
The boys collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.
The clown clapped softly.
"Oops… I think I accidentally castrated you. My bad."
The girls were frozen.
Brittany too.
She didn't know why… but she felt like he was looking at her more than the others.
Sirens.
"Stop! Police! Don't move!"
But the clown was already gone.