Ice Goddess Luna

Hadley sold tulips near the church, offering her vibrant blooms to the departing congregation. As the clock struck eight, she packed up her remaining flowers, satisfied with a successful day of sales. Though tired, Hadley felt a sense of accomplishment as she headed home. Her path took her through a dimly lit stretch where the streetlight had long since stopped working. It was a place where people often hesitated to linger. As she walked, Hadley encountered two men, their forms barely visible in the gloom. One was portly while the other was of average build. Their unsteady movements suggested they were drunk. Alarmed, she quickened her pace, hoping to avoid any trouble. But as she tried to slip past them, one of the men suddenly grabbed her arm, making her wince and stumble. "Hey there, pretty thing! What's your name? Hahaha! Your skin is so smooth, we're lucky to meet you tonight!" the burly man slurred, his breath heavy with the smell of alcohol. Fear surged through Hadley, paralyzing her. She had no idea what to do. The second man moved in behind her, sniffing at her skin in a disgusting manner. Hadley began to tremble, her mind racing for a way out. "P-please, let me go!" she pleaded, but their grips only tightened. "Relax, kid! We're just having a bit of fun. Won't take long. Come with us," the average-built man insisted, trying to drag her towards a nearby alley. Hadley fought against them, but they were much stronger. Tears streamed down her face as she squeezed her eyes shut, praying for this nightmare to end. "Help! Help me!" Hadley shouted, her voice desperate as she continued to struggle. One of the men slapped her hard, splitting her lower lip and sending a wave of pain across her cheek, making her cry even harder. "Shut up, you noisy brat. Didn't your parents teach you to keep quiet at night?!" the fat man yelled. "Help! Help-ugh!" she tried to scream again, but the other man punched her, knocking her to her knees. In that moment of agony, something stirred deep within Hadley. It was as if an unfamiliar force was urging her to fight back, a voice whispering that she had the power to resist. She closed her eyes, feeling her body go numb. Her temperature dropped rapidly, her chest tightening as the change began. Despite the pain and fear, she remained still, bracing herself for what was to come. Someone grabbed her again, but they quickly recoiled. "Hey kid! Stand up. Wait, why is she so... cold? Did you kill her?" one of the men stammered, releasing her in confusion. "H-hey kid, stand up!" the other man shouted, delivering a swift kick to her side. As Hadley opened her eyes, she sensed a profound change. Her vision sharpened, and she saw the fear in the men's eyes. She knew her own eyes had changed color, and she could feel the transformation that had overtaken her entire body. She stood up, exuding an icy aura that sent shivers down her attackers' spines. "What the hell happened?!" the fat man exclaimed, now sitting on the ground, visibly terrified. "You're a demon! A monster!" the other man cried out, pulling his companion to his feet in a frantic attempt to escape. Hadley didn't know exactly what she had become, but she felt an overwhelming power within her. The tables had turned, and her attackers were now the ones cowering in fear. "R-runnn!" stuttered the fat man, and they bolted out of the alley. But in a heartbeat, Hadley stood before them again, her sudden appearance making their faces drain of color. She wasn't sure if she had grown taller or if they had shrunk, but now they were eye to eye. With a fierce determination, she grabbed them by the necks. A strange white light emanated from her hands, spreading across their necks. The men struggled to breathe, their eyes wide with terror. "AHHHHHHHHH! MONSTER! THERE'S A MONSTER!" a shrill cry pierced the night from behind her. Hadley turned to see a few horrified onlookers staring at the scene. Their faces were pale with fear as they began to flee. The realization hit her like a splash of cold water. She released the men, who slumped to the ground, unconscious. "I-I killed someone..." she whispered, staring at her hands in horror. Even she was frightened by her own appearance. Unable to comprehend what had happened, Hadley sank to the road, shaking and crying. She prayed desperately to return to her old self. "N-no..." she sobbed, her voice trembling. "Over there, Captain! The monster is there! It must be killed!" a man shouted, his voice cutting through her despair. The sound of approaching footsteps grew louder, a swarm of people converging on her location. "He's the monster, Captain!" the man yelled, pointing directly at Hadley. "Yes, that's her! She's human now, but I saw her turn into ice from head to toe!" a woman cried, her voice filled with panic. "What did you do to those two men?!" demanded the captain, his tone harsh and accusing. "I-I don't know..." Hadley whispered, barely audible. A man approached the two men on the ground, checking for signs of life. "C-captain...they're no longer...alive," he stammered, his voice trembling. "You're a murderer! A scourge on society!" people shouted, but Hadley kept her head down, unable to believe what was happening. "Naldo, Dani, take her to the headquarters! Don't let her escape," the captain ordered. "Yes, Captain," they replied in unison, pulling Hadley to her feet. "But Captain, she should be killed! She's a murderer! Our lives are in danger," a woman protested. "Don't worry. She won't harm anyone else. I'll take care of her. Go home," the captain commanded, his voice brooking no argument. Despite their murmurs of discontent, no one dared to oppose him. Dani and Naldo followed the captain, dragging Hadley along. "Please, let me go. Have mercy on me," she begged. "Shut up. Just follow the captain's orders if you don't want to get hurt. You know how the captain is," one of them said. But Hadley didn't care. She struggled and screamed, but they only tightened their grip. "You're a stubborn kid. You won't get away, no matter what you do," said Dante. Desperate, Hadley bit his arm, causing him to yelp and loosen his hold. "Aaa-aaah! You little brat!" he shouted, but a strong blow to the back of her neck silenced her, and she lost consciousness.