Jack had dealt with all kinds of terrible customers.

Young and old.

Male or females.

Well, he's been working at this convenience store for two years now.

So that's a given.

'Whoop de whoop'

He thought dryly.

Drunk guys stumbling in at 3 AM demanding lottery tickets.

Teenagers trying to shoplift snacks using their superpowers like he wouldn't notice.

Karen-types who threw a fit if their discount card didn't apply.

Asking to talk to his manager, that was non-existent.

He was the manager, the cashier, and the one who fixes and manages the groceries, all roll into one.

The store owner is a cheapskate.

The type that would like to exploit a college dropout and an anomally like him.

Taking advantage of his only employee's situation.

In his case...

An orphan with no one to turn to, and Jack was the perfect target.

But this?

This was a first.

"Alright, listen up, glasses"

*slam*

The guy in front of him said, slamming a hand on the counter.

"Empty the register. Now."

The nickname 'glasses' made Jack slide his eyeglasses up his eyes.

Then he sighed, his eyes flicking to the clock.

8 PM.

Just two hours left until his shift ended and to close the store.

He rubbed his temples, a headache brewing.

Of course, today had to get even worse.

It was friday night.

And the store owner's favorite night out with his buddy buddies.

'Out of all the days'

His thoughts trailed and focus in the present.

'This is a dangerous situation, seriously, what am I gonna do?'

The guy wasn't just some regular robber.

No, Jack could tell just by looking at him—he was one of them.

The superpowered villains.

'Is he also a member of that group of villains?'

The Abyss?

He wondered and made a swift glance of the robber's whole getup.

The robber had a long, jagged scar down his cheek and a grin that screamed I enjoy punching people for fun.

But the real problem was his glowing fist.

*tssssss*

A faint red aura pulsed around it, humming with barely-contained energy.

"What's your problem, man?"

Jack asked, stalling for time.

"You look like you could use a coffee or something."

The robber's grin faltered, and for a moment, Jack saw a glimmer of desperation in his eyes.

"Shut up,"

The robber growled.

"I need the cash. My daughter's in the hospital. She needs surgery, and I...I don't have the money."

Jack's expression softened, despite himself.

He'd heard stories like this before.

People doing desperate things when they felt like they had no other choice.

"Man, I'm sorry to hear that,"

Jack said, trying to sound sincere.

"But taking our cash isn't going to solve your problems. We barely scrape by as it is."

The robber's face twisted in a snarl.

"You think I care about your problems? Empty. The. Register."

Jack hesitated, his heart racing.

He didn't get paid enough to deal with this.

'I should ask for a raise, goddammit'

Jack curse.

Slowly, he reached for the register, his fingers trembling as he punched in the code.

*ding*

The register popped open with a sad little ding.

Inside?

A grand total of thirty-two dollars and fifty cents.

The robber's eye twitched.

"...Are you kidding me?"

Jack shrugged. "Told you."

The guy growled, raising his glowing fist.

"You think I won't—"

*KABOOM*

The counter exploded, sending the cash register flying.

*clang* *clang*

Jack barely had time to duck before bits of metal and plastic rained down around him.

The sound was deafening, a mix of crunching metal and the acrid smell of smoke and ozone.

Jack slowly lifted his head, his ears ringing.

Holy crap.

The guy had punched the counter.

No weapons, no tools.

Just a single, glowing-fist punch, and the entire thing had disintegrated.

The air was thick with the smell of smoke and sweat.

"Ugghh uggh"

Jack coughed, his lungs burning.

He glanced around, taking stock of the damage.

The counter was destroyed, the cash register mangled beyond recognition.

The robber stood amidst the wreckage, his chest heaving.

For a moment, Jack thought he saw a flicker of regret in his eyes.

But then, his expression hardened.

*grab*

"You're coming with me," he growled, grabbing Jack's arm with the other hand that is not glowing.

Jack's heart sank.

This was not going to end well.

And then, suddenly, a thought hit him.

A stupid thought.

A very reckless thought.

But if last night was real…

If that dream wasn't just a dream…

Jack's other hand caressed his right ear.

He can still feel the angry line of wound that started to scab.

He tried to shake it off, he did not remember having an accident to have something like this in his ears.

Nope, there was none.

But he remembered the screws that whizzed pass him in the void when he cursed at the floating letters.

Jack took a slow breath.

He had no plan.

No backup.

No combat skills.

But he had one thing.

If his power was real…

If he could just imagine something useful…

Maybe—just maybe—he wouldn't die today.

Jack's mind was racing.

If his power was real, then he just had to imagine something to stop this guy, right?

*drags*

He struggled at the robber's hold that was now dragging him to the glass door.

'Why does he have to be strong too, dammit!'

He tried to concentrate.

A shield?

A weapon?

Something to keep his skull from getting caved in?

He clenched his fists.

Come on, think,Jack!

Think!

A gun!

He gave all his weight to his feet, forcing them apart.

Then he strained his muscles and gave his all for them to stop moving.

Then he closed his eyes and imagined a gun.

Nothing happened.

The robber looked at him.

"Save your energy, kid. You're not going anywhere."

The robber then stopped dragging him and assumed a thoughtful look.

"I think I should just sell you to the Abyss,"

The robber mumbled.

Jack gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing with defiance behind his glasses.

'Dammit!'

No, I just have the worst power imaginable.

No matter how hard he tried, no gun appeared.

No shield, no magic barrier, nothing.

Because deep down, he knew the truth.

Last time, he didn't create things instantly.

It only happened when he was asleep.

In that weird void.

And right now?

He was very much awake.

Jack barely had time to react before the guy raised his glowing fist again.

And this time, he wasn't aiming for Jack.

*ting-tong*

A chime echoed through the store as the door swung open.

A customer.

An old man.

Jack's stomach dropped.