(Please add me! Before Ethan breaks another display case.)
No panic.No guilt.Not even hesitation.
Ethan Drake wasn't remorseful—he was revving up.
Avery's lips twitched. Of course he was. Drama was coming. Dumb, loud, theatrical drama.
Cue incoming monologue.
"What, you think ghosting us makes the bodies disappear?" Ethan barked, stepping into her space like he owned the oxygen."You murdered two people, Avery. Two! What the hell happened to you? When did you become a full-blown psycho?"
His voice cracked with righteous fury."You're gonna march your ass back, get on your knees, and beg Rick and Nick's families for forgiveness. Maybe they'll take pity. Maybe you'll get a lighter sentence."He leaned in, teeth bared."But right now? You're nothing but a walking mugshot waiting to happen."
"Avery, sweetie…"
Chloe's voice oozed like honey over something long spoiled.She latched onto Ethan's arm like a human accessory—manicured nails sinking into his sleeve with delicate cruelty.
Her doll-like eyes shimmered with weaponized concern."I've already forgiven you for what you did to me—because that's just who I am."A sniff. A tremble. A perfectly practiced lower lip."But Daddy's been bedridden since you vanished. The doctors say it's a miracle his heart's still beating."She pressed her hand to her chest. "And Ethan… hasn't slept in days. He's here because he cares. Please don't be cruel. Be the sweet girl we remember."
Every word was a scalpel. And every incision cut old scars wide open.
Then came the spike.
[WARNING: Psionic Interference Detected!]Target: Chloe BlakeClassification: C-Rank Physique, Psionic ClassAbility: Emotional Agitation
Avery's pupils contracted.Of course. Richard liked Chloe better—she came with a manipulation license.
Wrapped in pink. Laced with poison.
As Chloe finished her performance, Ethan's face twisted. That carefully built victim narrative? It always worked. Until now.
His nostrils flared. Arms tightened.
"You think you can stand there and act innocent?!"
And then—snap.
His boots thundered across the marble. Full Augment-class charge.A living battering ram. No hesitation.
[ALERT: Incoming Augment-Class Attack Detected]
Avery's gaze stayed cool.
Higher tier. Solid footwork. Aggressive weight transfer. Rib-cracker class.
She didn't panic.She calculated.
One sidestep.Center of gravity low.
Her body moved like liquid shadow.
CRASH!
Glass exploded as Ethan plowed through a jewelry display.Diamonds and panic scattered across the corridor.
Avery casually flicked a shard off her sleeve."Third time this week someone's tried to turn me into collateral damage. I should buy a lottery ticket."
"You DODGED?!" Ethan roared, purple with rage.
He stumbled from the wreckage, mannequins and screaming shoppers flung like confetti.
"STOP! PLEASE!"Chloe's soprano shrieked over the chaos, palm pressed to her heart like a tragic heroine."Can't you see he's just trying to help you?!"
Perfect.
Ethan whipped around—too fast, too angry—His wild punch landed with a meaty THUD—
Another civilian down.
Avery's smile could've carved diamonds.
[MIRROR Protocol Primed — Trait Power Detected]Status: Trait-Class Esper NearbyPower Type: Predictive Strike Pattern
Her pupils constricted to pinpoints.
"Initiate chaos mode," she whispered.
She raised her voice, bright and cheerful:"PSB ALERT! Registered Esper losing control in Sector 9!"
[MIRROR Activated — Time Pause]Duration: 2.00 sStatus: Active
⏱️ Elapsed: 0.00 sRemaining: 2.00 s
Avery moved—Spring-loaded rotation.Fists like railguns. Velocity targeting skull.
Paint the tiles red.
[System Override: Non-lethal only]
Tch. Buzzkill.
Micro-correction.CRACK. Femurs shattered. Ethan folded.
⏱️ Elapsed: 1.65 sRemaining: 0.35 s
Second movement—fluid pirouette.
Landing silent in Chloe's shadow. Smile in place. Eyes cold.
"Buffering... too slow," she murmured.
Her fist became a piston.
SHATTER. Clavicle fractured—kinetic backlash vented through Chloe's back.
⏱️ Time Resumed.
Chloe's scream ripped the air like torn silk.
Avery leaned close, breath a dagger:
"Sweetheart, you should've stuck to tears.Now you're crying for real."