Novel & Cerita No Longer A Pushover

, I burst as the words sprint out of my mouth. "What part of that is confusing?", he asks, still munching down on the chocolate mess that was my perfect cone. "I-, you-, ughhh!", no complete sentence came out. Who would want to go back to a world where women are oppressed, and men are overprivileged? Who wants a counterrevolution? The initial change to the New World should have abolished these thoughts from everyone's minds... maybe too many people slipped through the cracks during the shift. "English, please?", he looked smug. Funny how he changed from his shy and awkward self to this while we were isolated. Who is Shawn really? I rolled my eyes at his comment.

Ethan said between clenched teeth. "That's exactly what I'm saying, honey. Omicrons can see the future when provoked and we can invade into the underworld, without being trapped in. I know I can survive it", Accalia said but Ethan interrupted her. "Are you listening to yourself? You could barely survive the first change,talk more of visiting the underworld. Do you realize that you're not fully recovered? And being in the underworld for a minute without control can make one insane?", Ethan said in a burst of frustration.

When I just got out of rehab, I saw a parked Audi. This luxury car appeared out of place next to the small rehab center. I glanced at it and was about to leave. The person who got out of the car called me. It was Mark. He looked more mature than three years ago. But I only took one glance at him.. My teacher at the rehab said it was impolite to stare at others, especially someone you liked. Having spent three years at the rehab, I had been completely brainwashed by teachers there.

The girl smirked as if this did not affect her. “But now that I have the chance of a lifetime, my friend helped me, and a new guy believed in me. MN supported me. Look, I don’t care what you think, but I need to tell you this: I can’t be pushed around anymore. I did that for too long. All those people who supported me and believed in me would be disappointed if I went back to that lifestyle. I came here for a change, and I expect you to understand that. I am not going to be pushed around by the likes of you anymore.” She spat at the girl in a challenge.

--- --- --- Because people weren’t being forced to change their beliefs. --- --- They just didn’t feel compelled to act on them anymore. --- --- --- At Lancaster compound, Sophie ran deeper analysis. --- “Value activation thresholds are dropping,” she said. --- --- Julian frowned. --- “You’re going to need to translate that.” --- --- Sophie didn’t hesitate. --- “People still care.” --- A pause. --- “They just don’t care enough to fight.” --- --- --- Back in Iceland, the hall felt heavier than it ever had. --- Not fractured.

No right to feel. Like I should just nod. Apologise. Accept. Like I always did. But then— A voice. Soft. Warm. Unshaken. Rise. My eyes fluttered. The memory surged back—clearer than everything around me. My fingers curled slowly. Something stirred. Not fear. Not hurt. Something else. Something… fierce. My other hand shot forward before I could think. I pushed him. Hard. He didn’t stumble. But he did step back. And that alone was enough.

“It’s not pushing anymore.” “That’s good, right?” “No.” “Why not?” “Because it’s not trying to take control directly.” “Then what is it doing?” I close my eyes again. Carefully. Tracing the threads. Following the structure. Looking for the disturbance. And when I find it— My stomach drops. “It’s pulling back.” “Okay…?” “It’s not targeting me anymore.” Adrian frowns. “Then what’s it targeting?” I open my eyes. Slowly.

It was an unexpected shove, executed with a desperate, furious energy that caught me entirely off guard. My feet scraped backward on the polished floor, forcing me to take several involuntary steps. I stumbled, recovering my balance quickly, but the momentary loss of control, the sheer impudence of being pushed by him, ignited a fresh inferno in my blood. No one, absolutely no one, had ever pushed me. No one had ever made me step back.

All of a sudden I didn't feel so welcome anymore. ***

I muttered. “Don't mention it.” He dismissively waved his hand before narrowing his eyes at me again. “I failed to ask before... Aside from the wounded shoulder, are you OK?” A violent surge of bitterness and sorrow flooded me at once, but I tightened my grip on the reins and stretched my lips into a faint smile. “I am not. I'm far from being OK… but I'll get better.” ***