I sighed, looking at my hands once again. If this was my destiny, then maybe it was time to stop running from it.
Meanwhile, Amelia arrived home still trembling. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and her hands gripped the jacket I had left for her tightly. As she opened the door, her father, still in uniform, was there to meet her.
— Amelia! Where have you been? — he asked, his voice filled with concern. He was the city's police chief, and his serious expression only deepened when it came to his daughter's safety.
— I... I was attacked — she said, her voice trembling.
Her father's face turned pale for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
— What? Where? Who did this?
Amelia tried to explain, but her voice cracked. She took a deep breath before continuing.
— It was two men. They tried to... violate me. But... someone saved me.
— Someone? — Her father's tone became intrigued. — Who?
Amelia shook her head, confused.
— I don't know... He was wearing a mask, but... he was incredible. He used... — She hesitated, recalling the scene. — He used the wind.
— The wind? — her father asked, narrowing his eyes.
— Yes. Like... magic or something. He took the men down and ran off before I could ask who he was.
Her father became pensive for a moment, then pulled out his phone and showed her a video that had been circulating online.
— Was it something like this? — he asked.
Amelia looked at the video, her heart racing.
— Yes... It was just like this.
The news spread quickly through the city, connecting the masked savior to the viral video. The police chief began an investigation, but Amelia kept the jacket as a keepsake, feeling a growing admiration for the stranger who had saved her.
The next day, as the news continued to circulate, I knew I couldn't keep ignoring what was happening. Every time I saw the video being shared, I felt a mix of fear and excitement.
— If I'm really going to do this, I need to learn how to control my powers.
After school and my shift at the restaurant, I headed to an abandoned building in the industrial part of the city. The place was deserted, with peeling walls and broken windows. It was perfect for training without being seen.
At first, I stood in the middle of the empty hall, trying to recreate the feeling from the alley—the moment when the wind answered my call. But nothing happened.
— Come on... Work — I muttered, stretching out my hands.
I tried to focus, but the silence of the place was unsettling. Still, nothing happened.
I made several attempts: stretching out my hands, yelling, even jumping, but the wind remained still.
— Damn it... — I said, dropping to my knees, exhaustion washing over me.
I closed my eyes, trying to remember. What was I feeling in those moments when the power emerged? Fear. Adrenaline. But, above all, I imagined what I wanted to happen.
I opened my eyes slowly.
— That's it... I just need to imagine it.
I stood up again, taking a deep breath. Closing my eyes, I visualized a gust of wind swirling around me—light and powerful.
Suddenly, I felt the air around me shift. The wind began to swirl, lifting dust and scraps of paper from the floor. I opened my eyes and saw the whirlwind surrounding me.
— I did it... — I whispered, a smile forming on my face.
The wind slowly dissipated, but the feeling of control remained. I knew I still had a lot to learn, but for the first time, I felt like I was on the right path.
The sound of sirens echoed through the streets, mingling with panicked screams and the piercing screech of metal giving way. The three-story building—an old commercial structure in the city center—was collapsing. People ran desperately to escape the rubble, but inside, voices could be heard crying for help.
I didn't hesitate when I heard the screams. I was on my way home after finishing my training, trying to clear my mind, but the chaos drew me in. Before I could convince myself otherwise, I ran toward the building.
When I arrived, I saw a crowd gathered behind an improvised barrier of police and soldiers. A firefighter shouted through a megaphone:
— The building is unstable! No one can enter! We're waiting for the necessary equipment!
But time was against them. On the second floor, two women were waving desperately from a window partially blocked by debris. I heard one of them shout clearly:
— Please! We don't have time!
My heart raced. I couldn't just stand there.
I looked around and noticed a side entrance, less guarded. Adjusting the dust mask I always carried—the same one I wore when I saved Amelia—I ran before anyone could stop me.
The inside of the building was a war zone. The ceiling was cracked, and chunks of concrete fell like heavy rain. The air was thick with dust, making it hard to breathe. The voices of the women upstairs guided my steps.
I ran up the stairs, but they were on the verge of collapsing. Each step made the floor tremble beneath my feet. When I reached the second floor, I saw two women trapped in a small office. A large piece of metal was blocking their exit.
— Stay calm! I'm going to get you out of here! — I shouted, trying to sound confident.
They looked at me, frightened but filled with hope.
— Who are you? — one of them asked, trembling.
— It doesn't matter. Just trust me.
I stretched out my hands, focusing on the piece of metal. Closing my eyes, I imagined a strong gust of wind powerful enough to push it aside without hurting anyone. The air around me began to move, swirling like a small tornado.
Suddenly, the metal was hurled against the wall, clearing the exit.
— Go! Quickly! — I shouted.
They ran toward me, but the building trembled again. A large beam from the ceiling began to give way above us.
Without thinking, I stretched my hands upward, creating a barrier of wind strong enough to hold the beam in place, buying them enough time to escape. When they reached the stairs, I yelled:
— Get out of here! I'll be right behind you!
They hesitated for a moment, but then ran down the stairs. As soon as they got outside, the building trembled again. I knew I didn't have much time.