Six Vices and A Superpower

Chapter7

The next day, the doctors finally discharged Freddie.

Jenna thanked everyone repeatedly, though exhaustion still lingered heavily beneath her eyes. Freddie barely spoke during the journey home. He remained quiet, staring blankly out of the car window. The city moved past him in blurred reflections of rainwater and headlights.

For the next two days, Mr. Wilson could not stop thinking about him.

Something about the boy’s expression in the hospital disturbed him deeply.It was not simply sadness.It was hopelessness.

And beneath that hopelessness, Mr. Wilson sensed something even more dangerous growing quietly in silence.So on the following evening, he decided to visit Freddie again.

The rain had finally stopped after several days of relentless storms. The air outside felt unusually fresh, carrying the scent of wet soil, damp and concrete, the leaves were washed clean by rainwater. Faint orange sunlight filtered through thinning clouds while puddles reflected the glow of streetlights.

When Mr. Wilson reached the apartment building, Jenna was still at work.

Freddie was alone at home.After knocking gently, Mr. Wilson entered the boy’s room.

It looked exactly like the den of a restless teenager.Clothes lay scattered carelessly across a chair. The study table was crowded with half-opened books mixed with gaming cables and empty snack packets.One wall was covered with faded posters of space-themed games and futuristic planets glowing under neon skies.

The room smelled faintly of instant noodles and electronic heat from the constantly running laptop.The curtains remained half drawn, allowing only dim evening light inside.

Freddie lay silently on the bed, which occupied nearly half the room. His laptop rested beside him, blue light reflecting faintly against his tired face.Mr. Wilson carried a small takeaway box in his hand.

'I brought chicken wings,' he said warmly.

Freddie glanced at the box for the first time that evening.A faint smile appeared briefly before disappearing again.Mr. Wilson sat beside the chair near the bed and waited patiently while Freddie opened the box.

For several minutes, neither of them spoke.

Only the occasional sounds of traffic drifting through the wet streets below filled the silence.

Finally, Mr. Wilson spoke carefully.

'Yesterday,in the hospital,you were saying something about Ms. Olivia.'

Freddie’s chewing slowed.

Mr. Wilson continued gently,

'I know she can be strict sometimes. But what else is troubling you? Why are you so unhappy around her?'Freddie hesitated.

Then he leaned back slowly against the wall and stared toward the ceiling for a moment before answering.

'Ms. Olivia is a nuisance,'he muttered bitterly. 'A complete wreck.'

His voice carried years of bottled frustration.

'She finds reasons to humiliate me in front of everyone. She mocks me in class, calls me lazy, useless, distracted.'

His grip tightened around the chicken piece in his hand.

'Yesterday at the hospital she acted concerned about Mom and her struggles.'He laughed faintly, though there was no happiness in it. 'But she’s the same person who talks about our situation in school.'

Mr. Wilson remained silent, listening carefully.

Freddie continued, his voice growing heavier.

'She makes comments about Mom doing multiple jobs; about our financial problems, about Dad dying and me becoming emotionally weak!'He lowered his gaze.

'Everyone hears it.'

Outside, at a distantance,thunder rolled softly through the evening sky.

Freddie spoke again, quieter this time.

'I think all the problems would end if I just had money.'

Mr. Wilson looked at him carefully.

Freddie’s eyes appeared exhausted beyond his age.

'If we had money,'he continued faintly, 'Mom wouldn’t have to work all day. We could leave this place and go where nobody knows us.'

He swallowed hard.'Somewhere people don’t look at me with pity all the time.'

The room fell silent again.

Mr. Wilson suddenly understood something painful.Freddie was not simply angry.He was ashamed of being poor abd weak

Ashamed of being seen.

Just then, the lights flickered.Freddie froze immediately.

Outside, the weather shifted unnaturally fast.

Moments ago the evening had been calm, but now heavy clouds gathered once more across the sky. Thunder cracked iverhead and wind rattled the windows violently.Rain began pouring suddenly against the glass.

Mr. Wilson stood up instinctively.

'I should probably leave before the storm worsens,'he said cautiously.

Then everything happened at once.

The room temperature dropped sharply.

The laptop screen glitched violently.And suddenly,blue light flooded the room.

Freddie’s entire body stiffened.

Three figures emerged slowly from the glowing haze near the far wall.

Robs 1, 2, and 3.

Even after seeing them multiple times, their appearance still felt deeply unnatural. Their movements were too controlled and too precise, as though every gesture had been calculated before execution.

Mr. Wilson stepped protectively in front of Freddie immediately.

'Please leave us alone,' he said firmly. 'We are not agreeing to any of your deals. Stop bothering Freddie.'

His voice shook slightly despite his effort to remain calm.

'He’s weak right now. He needs rest.'

Robs 1 looked at him with complete indifference.

He replied calmly, 

Mr Wilson

Do not interfere with our matters.

His mechanical voice echoed strangely through the room.

We warn you.

We are superior to humans.

 Strength, 

Intelligence,

Speed, 

Technological evolution.

The blue light around their wristbands flickered softly.

It would take only minutes to destroy your planet entirely.

Freddie lowered his eyes immediately.

Mr. Wilson’s chest tightened.

But we have no such intention

Robs 1 continued. 

Your planet is insignificant to us.

The woman stepped forward slightly.

There is a catastrophic threat facing our world. Our planet is approaching collapse.

Her expression remained cold, though her voice softened almost imperceptibly.

The only possibility of preserving our civilization lies in understanding pure emotional frequency.

Mr. Wilson frowned.

Robs 2 continued:

We seek a heart capable of generating emotion in its purest form.

He paused.

Humans misunderstand emotion.

 You classify emotions.

Good or bad ;

kindness

anger

sadness

joy

hatred.

The alien tilted his head slightly.

But purity is entirely different.

Blue symbols moved faintly across his metallic wristband.

Pure anger

 Pure grief

Pure compassion

Pure joy.

Pure loneliness

The room grew unnaturally silent.

Your species constantly contaminates emotions. 

That instability weakens emotional frequency.

Mr. Wilson listened in growing horror.

We cannot transport humans to our planet,

 the woman added. “

Your biological systems cannot survive our atmospheric conditions. 

Therefore we must study emotional resonance remotely.

Robs 2 said calmly, 

Now that is the problem with your species.

 You become entangled inside emotions .

Understand them scientifically.

He looked toward Freddie.

To us, emotions are frequencies.

Mr. Wilson’s face slowly turned pale.

He finally asked quietly,

'How many others are involved in this?'

The three exchanged glances.

That information is irrelevant

Robs 1 answered immediately.

You are all merely individual subjects within a much larger process.

Freddie remained silent throughout the conversation.

His face darkened further with every word.

His eyes looked empty and hopeless.

As though part of him had already surrendered.

Mr. Wilson suddenly felt short of breath.

His chest tightened painfully beneath the weight of realization.This was no longer some strange accidental encounter.Something far larger was unfolding.And deep inside, he knew the truth;the aliens were far beyond human control.

Whatever they truly wanted,

ordinary people like them might not be capable of stopping it.

The room remained frozen in blue light for several long seconds.

Then Robs 1, 2, and 3 exchanged silent glances between themselves, communicating in some unknown manner beyond speech.

Without another word,they vanished.

The blue light disappeared instantly.

Only darkness, rain, and the trembling sound of thunder remained behind.

Chapter8

A week later, Freddie had physically recovered enough to return to school.The exhaustion beneath his eyes had faded slightly, but something inside him still seemed fragile. As though one harsh word could crack him apart again.

Robs 3: Subject,Freddie is weak. 

His emotional instability nearly terminated him. Why preserve such a species?

What do you think?

How long should we continue the experiment?

Robs 2:May be a few more days.

Because instability creates intensity. 

His loneliness generated unusually strong readings.

Robs 3: Then let us harvest the data and leave.

Robs 1: No. The mission continues.

Robs 3: For one child?

Robs 2: Not for the child. For what exists inside him.

Robs 3: I still do not understand him.

Robs 2: Neither do I.

Robs 3: He gains nothing from his actions.

Robs 2: Yet he continues performing them.

Robs 1: That is why he remains important.

Robs 3: Perhaps it is a defect.

Robs 2: Perhaps it is not.

Heavy rain continued pouring over the city from the morning.Water streamed down the school windows in silver streaks while students hurried through the corridors carrying damp bags and dripping umbrellas.Freddie stood outside Ms. Olivia’s cabin clutching his final assignment tightly against his chest.His palms felt cold.

His heartbeat pounded loudly inside his ears.

Even after everything that had happened, standing outside her office still terrified him.

Through the slightly open door, he could hear Ms. Olivia speaking to one of her subordinates.

Her tone carried the same sharp authority that always filled the room.

'My son scored a perfect percentage,' she announced proudly while adjusting the gold bracelet on her wrist. 'He has been accepted into the most prestigious business school in the country.'

A satisfied smile spread across her face.

'For two weeks we will be vacationing in the Swiss Alps before his term begins.'

Her eyes sparkled,not with warmth, but with achievement.Everything about Ms. Olivia reflected control and perfection. Her cabin was spotless. Every file aligned perfectly. Every pen placed symmetrically. Even the bookshelves looked untouched by disorder.

She leaned back in her chair elegantly.

'People fail because they lack discipline,'she continued firmly. 'Control is the key,not only to a successful career, but also to a successful family.'

Her subordinate nodded politely.

'You can only manage life properly,' Ms. Olivia said, folding her hands with quiet superiority, 'when everything remains within your grip.'

The subordinate opened her mouth as if wanting to disagree.But one cold glance from Ms. Olivia immediately silenced her.Freddie swallowed nervously outside the door.

Then he knocked softly.

'Come in,'Ms. Olivia said sharply.

Freddie slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Rainwater dripped faintly from the edge of his folded umbrella. He placed it carefully into the basket beside the door before entering fully.

The moment Ms. Olivia saw him, her expression changed visibly.

The warmth and pride from moments ago disappeared instantly, replaced by irritation and disgust.

'Oh,' she said dryly, leaning back in her chair. 'Freddie.'

Her subordinate shifted uncomfortably, almost preparing to stand and leave.But Ms. Olivia subtly raised her hand, signaling her to stay seated.As though she anticipated entertainment.

Freddie approached the table quietly and placed the assignment before her with trembling hands.

His head remained lowered.He desperately wanted to leave as quickly as possible.

Ms. Olivia flipped through several pages carelessly.Her perfectly manicured nails tapped sharply against the paper.Then she looked up slowly.

'Did you actually do this yourself,' she asked coldly, 'or did you use artificial intelligence?'

Without waiting for an answer, she tossed the papers back onto the desk dismissively.

Freddie flinched slightly.

'I did it myself,' he stammered softly.

His voice barely rose above a whisper.

Ms. Olivia gave a sarcastic smile.

'Then perhaps,' she replied sweetly, though the cruelty beneath her tone was unmistakable, 'you should explain your project.'Freddie’s throat tightened immediately.His mind began spinning.

He could feel sweat gathering against his palms.

The room suddenly felt too warm.

He tried speaking.A few broken sentences escaped him, nervous and incomplete.

Ms. Olivia’s expression darkened further with every pause.Her disappointment almost looked personal.The subordinate finally interrupted gently.'Olivia, we still have the trustee board meeting later. I should bring my laptop and finish the presentation.'But Ms. Olivia ignored her completely.

Instead, she leaned forward toward Freddie.

'Do you know what frustrates me about you?' she asked quietly.

Freddie remained frozen.

'You waste potential by drowning in self-pity.'

Her brows tightened sharply.

'You refuse to focus. Your grades continue falling. Your behavior lacks discipline. And now this assignment!'She pushed the papers aside with visible contempt.'disgusts me even more.'

Freddie’s face turned red with humiliation.

His fingers curled tightly beside him.

'Please leave,' Ms. Olivia said coldly. 'I have nothing more to say to you.'

Then, after a brief pause, she added:

'You are hopeless. And unless something changes, you always will be.'

The words struck harder than shouting.

Freddie quickly grabbed the assignment papers with shaking hands.He had already been waiting for an excuse to escape.

Without another word, he hurried out of the room almost breathlessly, disappearing into the crowded corridor outside.

For several seconds, silence filled the cabin.

Meanwhile, Ms. Olivia stood near the window adjusting the sleeves of her blazer calmly, as though nothing significant had happened.

Outside, the rain had finally begun slowing.

A faint strip of sunlight pushed weakly through the clouds.Then suddenly,

the curtains dropped shut violently on their own.

The room darkened instantly and the temperature fell sharply.Ms. Olivia froze.

A strange mechanical hum vibrated softly through the cabin walls.Blue light slowly spread across the floor.The subordinate gasped and stumbled backward.

Then three figures emerged from the darkness.

Tall,still and unnaturally precise.

Their metallic wristbands pulsed faint blue beneath the dim light while their expressions remained completely emotionless.

Not human but not entirely machine,they looked like something disturbingly in between.

Ms. Olivia’s eyes widened in horror.

Her confident posture collapsed immediately.

She gripped the edge of her chair tightly.

'Who are you?' she shouted. 'What is this?'

Her voice cracked for the first time.

'We are Robs 1, 2, and 3,' one of them announced calmly.

The first figure , Robs 1 ,stood with rigid authority. His broad shoulders and upright posture gave him the appearance of a commander. Thin silver lines glowed faintly beneath the surface of his pale skin, moving like electrical currents whenever he spoke. His sharp metallic eyes never blinked.

Beside him stood Robs 2, leaner and calmer in appearance. His movements were smooth and calculated, almost graceful, as though every gesture had been mathematically measured beforehand. Transparent blue symbols flickered continuously across the metallic band wrapped around his wrist.

The third figure ,Robs 3 , appeared the most human at first glance, yet also the most unsettling. Her face was elegant but emotionless, her features too symmetrical to feel natural. Long dark hair framed her pale expression while faint blue light reflected beneath her skin like hidden circuitry.

Robs1 adjusted the metallic band around his wrist.Instantly, the cabin door locked with a sharp mechanical click.A glowing translucent screen projected silently across the room from nowhere, flooding the walls with shifting blue symbols and unknown patterns.

Outside the cabin, the sounds of the school corridor faded unnaturally into silence.

Inside, only the pale blue glow remained.

And for the first time in many years,Ms. Olivia no longer looked like someone in control.

Chapter9

Mr. Wilson got ready carefully that evening.

It was Jordan's birthday.

The guest list was small, just the way Jordan preferred it. A few old friends were expected to stop by later, but Mr. Wilson had decided to arrive early. There were things weighing heavily on his mind, things he could no longer carry alone.

Freddie's condition.

The mysterious warnings from the Robs.

The growing feeling that something dangerous was unfolding beneath the surface of ordinary life.

More than anything, he wanted to make sure Jordan had not been approached by them.

The two men had been friends for over thirty years.

They had fought fires together, survived dangerous rescues together, and witnessed more tragedy than most people experienced in a lifetime.

Yet they could not have been more different.

Unlike Mr. Wilson, Jordan was reserved, complicated, and often difficult to understand. The accident that had cost him his arm which had changed him deeply. Over the years, isolation had slowly hardened him. Age and bitterness had sharpened his temper.

He rarely left his house.He snapped at neighbors.

Complained about noise.Argued with every other people.Sometimes he shouted over the smallest inconveniences.Yet for reasons no one fully understood, Jordan always listened to Mr. Wilson.Perhaps because Mr. Wilson had remained after everyone else drifted away.

Perhaps because old friendships become stronger than family.

Mr. Wilson buttoned his grey coat and adjusted the collar of the white shirt beneath it. A neatly wrapped gift rested under his arm.

Outside, dark clouds hung low across the sky.

The air was bitterly cold.The wind seemed to slice through the streets like invisible blades, stinging his face and making the trees sway violently.

By the time he reached Jordan's house, dusk had begun settling over the neighborhood.

Jordan opened the door himself.

'Ah, good. You are early.'

For Jordan, that was practically a warm greeting.

He glanced at his watch before stepping aside.

'Come in.'The house smelled faintly of wood smoke and old books.

Jordan settled into a large leather couch while Mr. Wilson sat beside him.For a moment they simply watched the flames dance.

As Jordan reached for his drink, the empty sleeve pinned neatly against his side, shifted slightly.His eyes briefly fell on it.A shadow crossed his face.Then he looked toward Mr. Wilson.

'Funny thing about old wounds', he said quietly. 'People think they heal just because time passes.'

Before Mr. Wilson could respond, Jordan forced a smile and changed the subject.

A fire crackled softly inside the stone fireplace.

Then Mr. Wilson finally spoke.

There was hesitation in his voice.

'I'm really worried about Freddie.'

Jordan frowned immediately.

'I don't know what's wrong with young boys these days.'He shook his head.

'They give up too easily. One heartbreak, one disappointment, one failure and everything falls apart.'His voice hardened.

'I don't know how they'll survive real hardship.'

Mr. Wilson shifted slightly.

'I know Freddie well. He's not someone who gives up easily. He's been going through a lot.'

Before he could finish, Jordan interrupted.

'I don't sympathize with people who try to end their lives.'His tone became colder.

'It's selfish.'The words hung heavily in the room.

Mr. Wilson looked into the fire.

'That's actually what I wanted to discuss with you.'Jordan sighed loudly.

'There is nothing to discuss.'A trace of irritation crept into his voice.

'And before I say something worse, let's have a drink.'He glanced at his watch again.

The third time in less than ten minutes.

Mr. Wilson noticed.Before he could ask why, the doorbell rang.Jordan stood abruptly.

'The food.'He marched toward the door.

A young delivery boy stood outside shivering in the cold.His jacket was soaked.

His cheeks were red from the freezing wind.

The large insulated delivery bag looked nearly as heavy as he was.Jordan immediately exploded.

'What took you so long?'The boy blinked in surprise.

'The roads are flooded, sir. I came as fast as I could.'

'You should have been on time.'Jordan's voice rose.'I already have guests.'

The young man lowered his eyes.

Embarrassment spread across his face.

He apologized softly.

But Jordan hardly seemed to hear him.

His face had become red with anger.

The veins in his forehead stood out visibly.

He handed over the money, snatched the package, and slammed the door shut.

The sound echoed through the house.

For several seconds neither man spoke.

Mr. Wilson quietly returned to the couch.

The warmth from the fireplace suddenly felt less comforting.

Finally he said,

'Jordan... do you believe in aliens?'

Jordan stared.For a moment his expression went completely blank.

'What?'Mr. Wilson lowered his voice.

'I need you to keep this confidential.'

The seriousness in his tone erased any amusement.'This could be dangerous.'

Jordan slowly sat down again.

Mr. Wilson took a deep breath.

'I have encountered three beings from another planet.'Jordan raised an eyebrow.

'Two men and one woman.'Mr. Wilson continued before doubt could interrupt him.

'They are far more advanced than us. They can appear from nowhere, disappear instantly, stop rain, alter temperatures!'

His voice grew quieter.'They've also contacted Freddie.'

The fire crackled between them.

'They want something.'

'What?'

Mr. Wilson shook his head.

'That's the problem. I don't fully understand.'

He rubbed his forehead.'They talk about emotions. Trading them. Studying them. Purifying them.'

His voice became uneasy.

'They're manipulative,persistent. And far more powerful than anything I have ever seen.'

For a moment Jordan simply stared.

Then,he burst out laughing a loud, uncontrollable laugh.The kind that filled the entire room.

Mr. Wilson sat silently.

Jordan wiped tears from his eyes.'Willy!'He shook his head.

'Have you completely lost your mind?'The laughter returned.'Aliens?'He pointed toward the ceiling.'Who want to trade emotions?'

Another burst of laughter escaped him.

'You sound like a nine-year-old who just watched his first science-fiction movie.'The grin spread across his face.

'You need a holiday,'he smirked.

Mr. Wilson attempted a weak smile, but something felt wrong. As Jordan laughed, the grandfather clock in the corner struck seven.

The fire suddenly crackled louder.

For the briefest moment, a faint blue reflection flashed across the glass of the living-room window.Mr. Wilson's smile disappeared.

His eyes shifted toward the darkness outside.

The reflection vanished instantly.Perhaps it had been lightning.

Across the room, Jordan continued laughing.

But for the first time that evening, Mr. Wilson felt the uncomfortable certainty that they were no longer alone.

Robs 2: Subject Jordan exhibits extreme anger.

Robs 3: Excellent. Pure anger at last.

Robs 2: Incorrect.

Robs 2: Every time he recalls the accident, anger appears first.

Robs 3: Then the emotion is anger.

Robs 2: No. Beneath the anger we detected grief.

Robs 1: And beneath the grief?

Robs 2: Affection.

Silence.

Robs 3: That is inefficient.

Robs 2: Contradicting.

Chapter 10

After weeks of relentless rain and gloomy skies, the sun had finally returned.It was Saturday morning.

Its rays were still weak, filtering through patches of lingering grey clouds, but even that small glimpse of sunlight seemed enough to lift the mood of the city. The roads were drying slowly, puddles still collecting in uneven corners of sidewalks, reflecting fragments of blue sky above.

Michelle had decided to finish her weekly grocery shopping.

With work occupying most of her weekdays, weekends were often her only opportunity to complete household chores and errands.

Now in her mid-forties, Michelle carried herself with remarkable grace. Time seemed to have been unusually kind to her. Her dark hair remained carefully styled, and her appearance was always impeccable. Even a simple trip to the grocery store felt like an occasion that required planning.Unlike her brother, she was outgoing and confident.

As a child she had been the brave one,the adventurous one.The one who volunteered first and who spoke her mind without hesitation.

If someone needed help, Michelle would be the first to step forward.

Yet despite all of that, it was always Wilson whom people adored.

Teachers praised him,neighbors admired him,relatives trusted him.Even their parents seemed to favor his calm and gentle nature.

Michelle had worked just as hard throughout her life.She had taken responsibility.Built her career.

Handled problems independently.

But somehow her efforts often went unnoticed.

Wilson's smallest acts of kindness received more appreciation than her greatest achievements.

Over the years, those small disappointments had accumulated quietly.

Not enough to destroy their relationship.

But enough to leave behind a trace of bitterness she rarely acknowledged, even to herself.

Pushing her cart through the supermarket aisles, Michelle carefully selected vegetables, household supplies, and a few snacks for the guests expected later that afternoon.

Eventually she reached the billing section.

As she turned the corner, she spotted a familiar face.It wasJenna.

The woman looked exhausted.

Even from a distance Michelle noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes.Jenna's cart was only half full.She appeared distracted, lost in thought.

'Jenna!'Michelle called warmly.

Jenna looked up and forced a tired smile.

'Oh, Michelle.'

The two women greeted each other.

Michelle studied her carefully.

'I think you've lost weight,'she said gently. 'Are you eating properly?'Jenna laughed weakly.

'I don't know.You need to take better care of yourself.'

Michelle placed a hand on her shoulder.

'Things are getting better now, aren't they?'

At those words, Jenna's expression immediately darkened.Her eyes filled with emotion.

'I wish they were',she looked away.

'I still don't understand what happened.'

Her voice trembled slightly.

'I don't understand why Freddie would do something like that.'

Michelle remained silent.

Jenna continued.

'I have tried everything within my limits. I've worked extra hours. I've sacrificed so much. Yet somehow it feels like nothing I do is enough.'

Tears gathered in her eyes.

'I keep wondering where I went wrong.'

Her voice broke.

'When Paul died, everyone told me to move on,' Jenna said quietly. 'But I could not'

She looked towards the supermarket entrance as if expecting Freddie to appear.

'So I poured everything into Freddie. Every hope,every dream,every fear.'

A sad smile crossed her face.

'I wanted to protect him from every disappointment,heartbreak andevery mistake.'

She paused.'Maybe that's impossible. Maybe children aren't meant to be protected forever.'

Yet even as she said it, she did not sound convinced.The mention of her late husband opened a wound that clearly had never healed.

Tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

Without hesitation Michelle reached forward and pulled her into a brief hug.

'It's alright',she said softly.

'Don't blame yourself.'

Jenna wiped her eyes.

Michelle squeezed her hand reassuringly.

'Boys his age often get lost for a while. They become confused. They shut people out.'

She smiled gently.

'But Freddie is a good child. A kind child. I don't believe he will ever do something like this again.'

Jenna nodded, though uncertainty still lingered in her eyes.

After a brief pause Michelle asked,

'Did you get a chance to speak with Ms. Olivia?'

Jenna sighed.'Not properly.She is very busy with the annual function preparations,school events and meetings.'

Michelle nodded knowingly.

'Yes, Ihave heard she's constantly occupied.'

She lowered her voice slightly.

'And I have also heard she is not exactly the easiest person to deal with.'

A faint smile appeared on Jenna's face.

'That's one way to put it.But she's good at maintaining discipline,Michelle added.Some parents appreciate that.'

Jenna looked unconvinced.

The conversation drifted back toward Freddie.

'I am hoping Mr. Wilson can help him,'Jenna admitted quietly.

The moment Wilson's name was mentioned, something changed inside Michelle,slightly,almost imperceptibly.

Her smile stiffened.Her eyes hardened for a fraction of a second.The familiar feeling returned.The same feeling she had spent years suppressing.Whenever there was a problem or someone needed any guidance,people turned to Wilson.Whenever someone needed saving people trusted wilson but not her.

The feeling vanished as quickly as it appeared.

But it left a faint irritation behind.

Michelle checked her watch abruptly.

'Oh goodness,'she said. 'I completely lost track of time.'

She began gathering her shopping bags.

'I need to rush. I'm expecting guests this afternoon.'Jenna smiled.

'Thank you for talking to me.'

"Anytime.'The two women exchanged a final goodbye.As Michelle walked away toward the parking lot, sunlight briefly emerged from behind the clouds.For a moment, her reflection appeared in a rainwater puddle.

Then a ripple disturbed the surface.

The reflection fractured.

And for reasons she could not explain, a strange uneasiness settled quietly in her chest.

As though something was watching.

Chapter11

Robs 2 stared at the stream of information projected before him.

Robs 2: Leave subjects Jenna and Michelle.

Robs 1 nodded.

Robs 1: Agreed. Their emotional patterns are not predictable.

Robs 3 remained silent for a moment.

Robs 1: Delusional?

Robs 3: Not,worth monitoring.

Robs 1 turned toward him.

Robs 3: Subject Jenna demonstrates what humans call love. But observe her behaviour.

A series of images appeared before them.

She checks Freddie's phone.Monitors about his where abouts.Interferes with his teachers.

Attempts to make decisions on his behalf.

Excuses his mistakes.Blames anyone she believes has hurt him.

And refuses to accept that he is growing up.

Robs 2 watched the images without expression.

Robs 2: She believes she is protecting him.

Robs 3: Is she?

Silence.

Robs 3 nodded.

Robs 2 shifted his attention to another screen.

Robs 2: And subject Michelle?

Robs 1: She also demonstrates no pure emotional frequency.

Robs 3 studied the readings.

Robs 1: Jealousy?

Robs 3: That is also not pure.

For several seconds, none of them spoke.

Their instruments continued recording.

Freddie was getting ready for school when Jenna returned home.He was almost ready to leave when she noticed the phone in his hand.

It wasn't the phone she had seen him using before.Her eyes narrowed.

'Freddie!Where did you get that phone?'

He continued putting his books into his bag without an answer.Jenna stepped closer.'How did you manage to buy a new phone.Answer me, Freddie?'Freddie kept packing.Her voice became louder,'How did you get so much money?'

Freddie finally looked at her.

Jenna's voice trembled.

'Freddie, tell me the truth. What are you up to?'

Her eyes began filling with tears.

'Since Paul left, I've done everything for you. Everything. I've worked, I've struggled, I've tried to give you everything you needed. And you're always doing something reckless.'

She wiped her eyes.I know you're hiding something from me.'

Freddie's expression hardened.

'Oh, yes.'

Jenna stared at him.

'Please stop, Mom.How can I stop when you keep track of everything.And,how many times will you make me count your sacrifices?'

The words came out sharper than he intended.

Jenna fell silent.

Freddie continued,'Every time I do something you don't like, you remind me of everything you've done for me.His voice rose.What is the problem if I'm managing my own expenses?'

Jenna stared at him through her tears.

'Could you buy me a new phone?He shook his head.No. Right?'

'Freddie'

'So don't ask me how I got it.'

Jenna's face crumpled.

She slowly sat down on the floor.

Freddie stood there for a moment.For the first time, he saw how deeply his words had hurt her.

But his anger was still stronger than his regret.

He grabbed his bag, opened the door and walked out.The door slammed behind him.Jenna remained sitting on the floor.

Freddie walked quickly toward school.His mother's words followed him.But so did his own.

He tried to push the thoughts away.He was already late.As he approached the main road, he noticed a crowd gathered ahead.Something had happened.At first, he decided to walk past.He didn't have time for this.But as he got closer, he saw broken glass scattered across the road and then he saw the blood.His steps slowed.

People were shouting.Someone was calling the emergency services.

A damaged car stood at an angle near the roadside. Its windshield was shattered. The driver was slumped against the steering wheel, blood running down the side of his head.

A middle-aged woman lay several feet away.

'She was hit by the car' someone said.

'She's conscious.Move back! Give her some space!'

Freddie stood at the edge of the crowd.

Something inside him told him to leave.

He turned away.Then, almost involuntarily, he looked back.His entire body froze.

The woman lying on the road was familiar.

His face went pale.It was Olivia.

For a second, he couldn't breathe.

The woman who had humiliated him,who had called him lazy and was wasting his life,now is lying helpless on the road.

'Mrs. Olivia!'Freddie pushed through the crowd.

He dropped his bag and rushed toward her.

'Mrs. Olivia! Can you hear me?'There was no response.He looked around desperately.

'Someone help her!'A few people moved closer.

'Don't move her!”'someone shouted.

Freddie looked at the blood on the road.His hands began trembling.Then he heard sirens in the distance.The ambulance arrived moments later.Paramedics rushed toward Olivia and the injured driver.Freddie helped clear the way and gave them whatever information he had.

'She was hit by the car', he said breathlessly. 'She was conscious when people first found her, but then she stopped responding.'

The paramedics lifted Olivia onto a stretcher.

Freddie followed them toward the ambulance.

One of them looked at him.'Are you family?'

'No. She's my teacher.”

The paramedic nodded,'then come with us if you can provide information.'

Freddie climbed into the ambulance.

As the doors closed, he looked back at the road,filled with broken glass and bloosd

His schoolbag lay on the pavement.

And suddenly, something else occurred to him.

Just minutes earlier, he had been furious with his mother because she wanted to know where his new phone had come from.Now none of that seemed important.He looked at Olivia lying unconscious beside him.

For the first time, Freddie wondered whether the choices he made when nobody was watching were more important than the things he told himself he wanted.The ambulance disappeared into the traffic.Far away, unseen by everyone, a faint blue light flickered.