KNOWLEDGE AND A SURPRISE

I drove away from Harris's home with both hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel. Even though I had tried very hard to calm down my emotions, my mind still could not stop replaying what had just happened.

The moment Harris had asked me if something was wrong. I had muttered a few words, apologized, and rushed out of his home.

I had no idea if he had seen what had happened. It was good if he didn’t, but if he did – and I suspected he at least noticed something suspicious – then, I wouldn’t know how to explain what had happened.

Right now, the only thing I knew about my superpower was that I had one.

I immediately changed my plans for the day. Instead of going to the supermarket and getting the lottery ticket, I needed to diagnose my new power now.

I had just seven days before the world itself ended, and I didn’t want to be left shocked and surprised like I had been back at Harris’ home.

I needed a place to test what had changed within me. I certainly couldn’t go home. So, I drove around for a bit before finding a five-star hotel, and checking in.

I quickly paid for the room, took the key and rushed inside. The moment the door was shut behind me, I looked around for a bit, in case there were any hidden cameras around.

The possibility was small, but it was never zero. I needed to be sure that for the next seven days, I did not stand out enough.

After I was sure that there were no cameras around, I closed the curtains shut before dropping my bag and suitcases on the bed.

"Okay Kara," I whispered as I took a deep breath, “Let’s see what you can do.”

My gaze darted towards the silver coin I had placed on the small beside table.

I stared at it for a second and spoke under my breath, "Move."

Nothing happened.

So, I continued, "Come here."

Still nothing. I took another deep breath and tried to recall what had happened the last time I had used my power. Then, I focused all my attention on the coin, and I wished for it to move without saying anything.

It only took an instant before the coin trembled. I froze, then, increased my will, and this time, it lifted. It was only an inch, but it lifted.

This was proof. My mouth fell open as I focused all my attention on the coin.

It stayed right there in the air for over thirty seconds. The moment I took my attention away from the coin, it fell down hard on the table.

I stared at the coin for a second in silence before bursting into laughter.

I had never felt so proud and so happy before in my life. I had heard rumors of people awakening abilities on the same day the zombies became a thing, but I hadn’t believed it until the very end.

But now, I had awakened, and it was a week earlier than anyone else.

I needed to know more about my new powers. So, I walked to the bedside table, picked up the coin, and threw it on the other side of the room.

But this time, when I willed for it to come towards me, I noticed a strain in between my eyes.

I somehow knew I could still do it, but it would take much more out of me. That meant there was a distance limitation, at least for now.

I still willed it towards me, and this time, I used the full force of my will.

That was a big mistake.

“Fuck,” I yelped as I immediately dropped to the ground.

Even though it was about nine meters away from me, the coin had shot towards me with so much force that it had embedded itself in the wall.

My mouth fell open, and I blinked as I turned around and stared at the silver coin that had now merged with the wall.

“Oh my god,” I whispered,

That definitely rivaled the power of an arrow, if not a bullet. And I could do that? Didn’t that mean I did not have to be that scared of the base zombies any longer?

My eyes brightened, and for the next thirty minutes. I began to test everything I could.

It didn’t take long before I discovered I could only lift up to ten kilograms. But I could also sense that the more I used my powers, the more they grew. It wouldn’t take long before I was able to lift my whole weight.

And when that happened, I would be able to fly.

My eyes grew wide at that thought.

I only stopped testing when blood began to fall from my nose. That was the signal for me to stop. I wiped the blood away and stared at my fingers.

Even though I had not moved an inch, I felt so tired, as though I had just run a marathon. I still needed to train my control, but I was sure that with just what I had discovered, I was far stronger than ever.

I needed to get some throwing knives with me. If someone came after me, I could rip a knife through their guts before they could blink. And when I grew stronger, I could probably create a field that could protect me from anything. Probably right?

I had no idea, but my eyes were bright as I thought about the future. I had six more days to train, and I was going to make sure I used every waking second to do that.

But first, I needed to do something else, something also important. I needed to play the lottery.

With a large smile on my face, I grabbed my purse and left the motel.

The supermarket I had chosen was busy, and while it was closer to my neighborhood, it was the only one I knew that sold the tickets to the lottery.

My smile wiped off my face the moment I walked in and saw people walking around smiling and nodding at each other. Nobody here knew that in just a week, the world they knew would be gone.

I shook my head. Even though I wanted to help everyone, I couldn’t, so I would do what I could.

I walked to the lottery counter, and gave the cashier the numbers I remembered. It didn’t take long before the numbers were printed.

I took it and checked the numbers twice just to be sure that there were no mistakes. Then, I tucked it safely into my purse.

That money would give me a massive advantage, and for the next one week, it would enable me to get anything I wanted.

I turned to leave when I heard a voice that stopped me in my tracks.

"Is that Aunt Kara?"

I stopped, because I could recognize that voice from everyone.

My entire body went still as a second voice called out to me,

"Oh my God, Kara!"

I slowly turned around, and several feet away from me, was Sarah.