Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Fighting for her Life
Because she was determined not to die that day. Not to die that way. Stella let out a warrior’s whoop. The kind of battle cry that reverberated through ages. Told and repeated from one generation to the next. Legendary.
Or so she’d hoped.
Fighting for her life wasn’t something Stella was used to. But she had keys. She was trained. On her bedroom dresser there was a printed certificate which said so.
It wouldn’t be pretty. That she was sure of. But there was only way out of this that mattered. Alive.
So, whatever came next, she’d handle it. She was a survivor. That meant it was time to fight.
Stella managed to land a straight on kick to the groin of the man directly in front of her.
From the look of it, he’d be doubled over for at least a few more seconds.
Stella worked fast. Her mind and body were in total sync with one another. Her limbs and torso moved in harmony. As if she were a dancer on the stage. As if she were made for this.
Stella pivoted on her feet, tugging, and twisting until her right arm was free from the man holding it. Which was perfect because that’s the hand with the keys.
Swinging her arm to the left, she jammed the keys into the face of another man.
Aiming for the eye, only to slice the cheek instead.
She swallowed back the bile rising in her throat. Ignored the dangerously fast beating of her heart that thrummed against her ears.
Stella pulled back on her arm, ready to blast Bloody Cheek with another blow when he was suddenly ripped away.
She landed another perfectly justifiable kick to Groin Injury and turned to find the rest of them.
There were a lot more than she remembered.
Only now they were fighting each other. Ignoring Stella completely.
At least the ones still standing were ignoring her. Squinting her eyes, Stella counted three slumped and broken bodies lying on the pavement.
She glanced around. The scene that lay before her was utter chaos. A bloody Kandinsky come to life. Indiscernible. All shapes and limbs. Thrashing, mashing up against one another. Blurred and furious.
Full of grunts. Howls. The thumping of hard fists on soft flesh. The sound of breaking bones crashing against unforgiving concrete.
A battlefield. Right down the street from her home. Her safe haven.
Where were her neighbors?
Not even one of Stella’s neighbors came out of their houses. Even though nearly a dozen people were brawling in real, live action hand to hand battles. Even though she was fighting for her life out there.
Wait. She thought as she took in the figure of a man a few feet away. Was that?
Yes. It was. Stella could hardly believe it when her eyes finally focused, and she knew for certain. Bennett.
Bennett Orloff stood holding Groin Injury, suspended in midair.
With one flick of his wrist, a sickening snap echoed through the street.
What man had that kind of strength?
Sure, Bennett had muscles for days, but Stella listened to enough true crime podcasts to know what she’d witnessed wasn’t normal. Not by a long shot.
Groin Injury’s body was flung to the side. Discarded like an old receipt from last night’s jeans on laundry day.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” One of Stella’s attackers growled. The man began to slowly creep in closer. Making a wide arc around Bennett. Like a wild animal stalking its prey.
Only prey didn’t snap necks with a flick of the wrist.
Neither did men.
“Vincent’s down.” A pained voice called out over the din of battle.
Bennett lowered his chin. Cast his steely gaze upon his would-be attacker. “Best you get out while you can.” His voice was low. Deadly.
“I’m not letting you off that easy.” The man spoke. His voice full of gravel.
“I wasn’t talking to you.” Bennett said calmly.
His eyes turned to Stella.
“Leave.” Bennett told her. His voice as steady and icy as his gaze.
Stella wanted to leave. More than anything. She wanted to run. She was good at running. Hadn’t she just been running? But her feet wouldn’t move. As if every cell in her body had forgotten how. No matter how much she willed it.
Stella stood rooted.
Bennett’s body rippled. As if every cell in his body had a secret of its own.
The muscles beneath Bennett’s clothing shifted. Rolling along in cascading waves from his shoulders down to his toes.
Stella’s mouth dropped open. Every bit of air flew from her lungs. She was transfixed.
Before her very eyes, Bennett Orloff, real estate mogul, next door neighbor grew six more inches. In every direction.
His clothes fell in shreds at his feet. His body was covered with thick, black hair.
His steely blue eyes turned crimson.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone