Mick Jones, owner of the Redback Bar and Grill located in the seedy side of lower Sydney City in a suburb commonly referred to as the The Barrio, was a small greasy man of shadowy character. There was very little he tolerated and his opinions often clashed with the clientele of his gritty establishment. It was the only place June Inges found work when she first moved there several months prior. Her limited social status meant access to other suburbs had been off limits. The dismal pay and hours long made for tedious work and yet June put up with the sexual harassment and innuendoes in the hopes she might one day fulfil her dream.

However, her dream was about to come to an end, as to her life.

Mick pushed June through the solid metal door into the dark narrow alley behind the bar. Only four o’clock in the afternoon the dark shadows cast against the walls made it difficult for anyone passing by to see June’s struggle.

“You lying little scum,” Mick spat.

Taller than Mick, June was no match against his strength, as he pushed her further down the alley.

“Mick please,” June cried out as she stumbled.

Instead of the protection June thought she would get when one of the customers groped her, she was the one being accused. Never had June considered Mick being disagreeable to her identity and it was now too late to realise he would consider anything different, a threat.

“How dare you pretend to be a woman? I’m going to teach you a lesson about deceiving people.”

“Please,” June begged. She wasn’t deceiving anyone. She was a woman.

Mick picked June up by the front of her white blouse, tearing it as he did. In vane, June tried to cover herself up.

“Please,” June begged again, her terror growing, “Please, Mick, I am a woman.”

“You lying freak.”

Mick threw June down the back of the alley towards the large bins, where she knew no one would see or hear them. As she stumbled, June continued to beg Mick to listen. Another shove from Mick and June fell to the dirty paved ground. The stench around her overpowered her senses and combined with her fear almost made her dry reach. Her hands, used to break her fall, became scratched and bloodied on impact. Her black stockings torn at her knees and her black skirt soiled. Her long blond hair fell across her face and June tried to clear her vision to keep an eye on the approaching man. June knew she had to stand, if she didn’t, she dread what Mick might do to her. June’s torn blouse exposed her bra, and taking hold of it with one hand, she made to get up.

Mick stopped her attempt as he crouched down beside June and grabbed her throat tightly with one hand.

At this point, June was sure she was dead. She stared into his hate filled eyes as she tried to mouth her silent pleas. With both hands, June attempted to pull at Mick’s but she could feel herself becoming weak. She didn’t want to die this way. Deep within her body, June felt a small surge of power, one in which she had been forced to suppress her entire life. It had been five years since June last felt the ripples course through her body and now they were bubbling to the surface.

June’s fear grew ten fold. She knew if her power manifested it would lead to bigger problems. Not that she wasn’t already in a situation she wasn’t likely to escape. But for Mick to discover she was a Special would certainly bring trouble to her parents, trouble June knew they did not need. June gave up fighting Mick as she focused what strength she had to suppress her power, but the harder Mick squeeze, the stronger June’s power fought to surface.

Fear and anxiety were overpowered as June’s power sparked and an increased awareness of its existence grow. As though her life’s essence were being forced from her body, her power took hold and water seeped through her skin between her neck and Mick’s hand, creating a protective barrier. June saw the moment Mick’s face distorted from anger and the look of murder took over. There was nothing she could do.

“You’re one of them. I’m going to kill you.”

With both hands around June’s neck, Mick seethed, as with all his strength tried to break through the water barrier. June felt the pressure of his hands and could do nothing to stop her power from protecting her. But June’s power grew weak and she knew she would not be able to hold him off for much longer. She made every effort to fight him - twisting her body and digging her nails into his skin. Mick refused to let go; his anger controlled his actions as tears fall down her face. The adrenaline rushing through her body fast approached exhaustion; her power now struggled, as June became dizzy with looming unconsciousness. 

**Dedicated to Penni and Alex Wolf for their Ink contribution for early release of this chapter. Thank you for your continuing support.