24 April, 2037
Location: Tangub, Bacolod, Philippines
Lucy's friend has picked her call, she waves and jumps in excitement, while her friend kicks her feet because she's on bed.
"Halo, Jessie. How are you?I wanna show you something."
Jessie's background changes as she flips on the bed "Show me, yes. Hurry up, don't be late."
Lucy places her mobile away, "look closely ok."
She coughs. "Behold my light." an angelic outfit made of pure white light with yellow borders, with halo floating on top of his head. She spins and creates a star wand at the same time.
"WOWWWW! AHHHHHH! It's so pretty, oh my gosh you are so talented" Screams of joys comes from the phone.
Lucy comes closer "Should I upload it on my insta page?"
Jessie violently shakes her head. "Yesss, yes you should, show them beaches who is the real boss."
Lucy yells "Hey , don't use that language."
"Jessie! Jessie! Come downstairs, I need your help."
Lucy says "Umm, Jessie, that sounds like your mom."
Jessie groans "Hmm! Yeah, you stay on the call, I will be back in minutes."
She gets out of the camera as she lifts herself from the bed.
"Ahh! Ouch."
[CONDITIONS FULFILLED]
[SUBJECT NAME: JESSIE MENDOZA]
[AGE: 17 YEARS 4 MONTHS 23 DAYS 142 MINUTES 9 SECONDS]
[APPEARANCE: LIGHT BROWN SKIN, WEIGHT: 56 KG, HEIGHT: 5'6 FT, HAIRTYPE: BUN]
[POWER STATUS: ACTIVE]
[DATE OF MANIFESTATION: 24 APRIL 2037]
[ABILITY: DARKNESS]
[SUBJECT HEAD: SAYA]
[REPORTING STATUS: COMMENCED]
Jessie stands up, looks behind just to find nothing. "What was that? How did I trip?"
She realized it now, her eyes stare at her shadows.
"Huh! That looks different. Kind of creepy." She rubs her hand on the shadow which is on the floor, it feels cold and wet like a sludge.
She stands up, the shadow moves as well like a normal shadow would.
"YAHOOO! YEAHHH! HELL YEAH!!"
On the other side of the phone Lucy keeps asking, "hey what happened? Did you hit your head or something?"
Jessie picks up the phone with the most broad smile she can put on. "Lucy! Lucy! I got my blessing just now."
Lucy starts jumping in excitement as well, her outfit of light disappears as she does that.
"Tell me, tell me quickly, I can't wait."
Jessie giggles. "It's….." her smile instantly fades, she diverts from the topic. "Mom is calling, I will tell you later, Bye-bye."
She is about to cut the phone but Lucy stops her "Wait, let's meet at the park at 5 p.m. then you can show me."
Jessie wants to refuse it, but seeing those puppy's eyes she puts on a fake smile.
"Okie. We will meet and have lots of fun. hihihi"
Both waves at each other till Jessie cuts the phone. She is thinking way too much about the powers of hers negatively.
"What should I do now? Should I hide it? Why shadow of all? They will burn me alive, if they find out."
She scratches her head and screams internally.
"Aghhhh!!!"
She heads downstairs as her mom keeps calling, her face reeks of sadness, tears form in her eyes, a muffled voice comes out of her mouth.
"Mumma."
Her mom looks behind, seeing Jessie like that she instantly leaves all the work and gives all the attention to her. "What happened sweetie?"
Jessie hugs her tight. "I got my blessing."
She starts weeping intensely as she says that. Her mother hugs her back. "Sweetheart, then why are you crying?It's a blessing."
Hazel wipes her daughter's tears away, manipulating them with her water manipulation.
"See, isn't this so cool."
A small smile appears on Jessie's face, yet still speaking in a sad and low voice.
"It's different. My ability is shadow. Now everyone will hate me, Lucy will hate me. I am scared."
She looks at her mom and her worries intensifies thousands of times more looking at the null expression of hers.
Hazel's smile fades away the instant she hears the word shadow.
"What the hell? Why god? Why just why? Shadow really? Out of all the people from this world you chose her. It would be better if she was giftless."
"Mumma." the word rings her ears. She instantly comes back to the world she is in. the world where she has to say something to her daughter or else she will never be able to say it again.
"Jessie, look. I don't care what powers you have, you will always be my daughter. Shadow or light or whatever. And if anyone tries to hurt you just because of your powers, I will flood their house." She smiles.
Jessie smiles shortly.
"But, the devil will take me away, he will use me for his evil deeds. That's what grown ups say."
She strokes Jessie's hair. "Listen, your gift is yours to control, not even god can control your decisions over it, let alone a devil. Just use it wisely, I know my kind girl can do it."
"I guess so, but what about Lucy? What if she leaves me? Her ability is the enemy of mine after all. How am I going to stand beside her now, how am I going to protect her, how can I watch her light shine more and more."
To that her mom responds. "Honey, she's your bestie, she won't do anything like that. I know. You are being paranoid, that's all. And about her powers, do not think of light as the enemy of shadow but as a friend who is playing tag."
Hearing her mom words all of Jessie's doubts are gone. She feels confident and more than that happy.
"Thanks Mom." She is about to leave the room but her mom calls back.
"Jessie, help me with the work first."
"Ugh!" Jessie groans but soon accepts her fate. "Okie fine."
The clock hit 4 o'clock, time flew fast as she was busy helping her mom.
"Aight here all done, now I gotta go get ready."
She starts giggling out of excitement, walks like a fairy to the shower. Spending 32 minutes inside and the rest of her time gets spent on her choosing an outfit.
At exactly 5:10 she leaves her house wearing an oversized T-shirt and baggy pants. Her wavy hair swaying as she walks.
"I am leaving mumma."
Hazel watching tv. "Bye, have fun."
Soon, Jessie enters a park, a strong and sweet fragrance enters her nose and she gets lost in it.
"Ahh! what a nice smell, where it's coming from."
She sniffs to find the source like a dog until someone pat her shoulder lightly startling her.
"Woah don't get startled like that."
"Oh it's you." seeing Lucy, she relaxes.
Lucy asks while walking inside. "Where is this smell coming from? this is so sexy."
"so, what's your powers?" A charming wicked smile forms on Lucy's face.
Jessie starts moving "Let's go to our spot first."
They head towards their favourite spot which is just a few steps away. The spot is surrounded by huge trees, each given a unique number and inside there are beds of flowers. Whole area of the park is perfect for Jessie to show her powers as it's nearly impossible to see what's going on inside.
"Lucky me, No one here."
Lucy is going out of patience. "Show me ugh, I beg of you."
Jessie responds "Wait, wait I don't know how to trigger it."
She is trying to delay it as much as she can, however Lucy already knows something's wrong and is mad that her best friend is hiding that from her.
"Oh c'mon do you think I am a fool, just show me already, I won't judge you, don't you trust me."
Hearing those words Jessie gets back as herself.
"Oh! What was I thinking? Why was I doubting my best friend? Mom was right, I shouldn't worry."
"If you insist" she says sarcastically.
They both stop, she takes a few steps away from Lucy so her shadow can be visible.
"Here you go." She activates her powers.
"Umm….. Is it invisible or something?"
Lucy doesn't notice it yet, how will she, Jessie's shadow looks completely normal at sight.
"No, dummy. Look at my shadow."
Jessie spits it out directly, crouches and places her hand on the shadow then pulls it like a slime.
She looks up smiling, that smile instantly disappears when she sees her face. A face so cold that by Jessie's standard it's not giving Lucy vibes at all.
"Crap, I think I made a mistake."
"Lucy, wait don't get mad, I can explain." Jessie stands up.
Lucy gives back a fake smile "You got shadow powers huh, completely opposite of mine. And I thought we were besties."
Even though her reaction is calm and she is smiling, deep down Jessie feels the seed of hatred has sprouted.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The sound of claps enter her ears, breaking into her conversation. A man looking like a mix of civilised being and a tarzan.
Seeing him both laugh out loud. "He is wearing mowgli underwear on his pants. What's this fashion? It's so funny."
"Hey, that's rude." the man said.
"Sorry." They both apologize.
He laughs back. "Haha, it's fine. I am here to talk about business."
His eyes stare at Jessie. "We invite you to join our organisation."
Both look confused, Jessie asks him. "What organisation? Why me? And just so you know I am a minor."
He chuckles "Ohh I know very much, We just need your powers of shadow so we can reach greater height to show the world. Here's my card."
Lucy's instincts get sharp hearing his words, the rumors of shadow getting taken by the devil clouds her mind.
"No, she won't do that. She won't join your dirty organisation." She threw the card away without reading it.
That man gives a dry look. "I am not asking you."
Jessie interrupts. "If she refuses then I will too. Sorry man, try someone else."
"I see, so sweet talk won't work eh, It's time for some little force."
He swings his right arm, the ground beneath them shatters as a thick tree branch comes out. Lucy doesn't panic, she pulls Jessie out of the way
and pushes the branch away with a sword made of her light.
"That was impressive." He applauds.
Jessie gets into the ground as well with her naive thoughts thinking she has become some kind of hero.
"Let's show him Lucy."