Supernatural Girls

Chapter 3: Visitors Arrive

Three days flew by, and Ann found herself busier than ever, barely having a moment to catch her breath. She packed her bags, meticulously cleaned the backyard, and informed the neighborhood committee about her upcoming trip to Beijing to visit relatives. Those around her hoped this journey would help her heal from the recent tragedies and restore some normalcy to her life.

Yet, a persistent unease gnawed at her heart. The mysterious man she encountered in the cemetery was someone she couldn’t fully trust, but he was the first superpowered person she had ever met, and his power overshadowed her own. After losing nearly everything, what else was there to fear? If this academy could truly help her, she was willing to gamble everything to help Yu walk again.

Despite her doubts, Ann felt an inexplicable connection to that man. It was a strange but real feeling. She even toyed with the idea of baking a strawberry cake for him as a gesture of goodwill before she left, casually asking why her beloved cat, Pineapple Bun, had ended up with him.

As evening fell, the soft glow of a yellow lamp cast a warm light on Ann's weary face. She gently stroked Pineapple Bun, who was curled up in her arms, savoring these last moments of tranquility before leaving town. Since Grandma Annie's passing, the bakery had closed, and the house felt emptier than ever. The streets outside were sparsely populated, and the occasional gust of wind carried a chilling air.

Suddenly, a faint but urgent knocking came from the front door. Ann's heart raced as she approached the heavy wooden entrance. When she opened it, a flicker of suspicion washed over her. A middle-aged woman dressed plainly stood before her, her unfamiliar face etched with the marks of time, anxiety flickering in her eyes.

"Ann, it's me," the woman said, forcing a smile as her voice dropped to a low whisper.

Ann frowned slightly and took a step back. "Who are you?"

"I'm your grandmother's niece. You can call me Aunt Ping," she replied, her tone filled with concern. "I rushed here from Beijing when I heard you were living alone. I was very worried."

"Aunt? Did you come by train or bus from Beijing?" Ann's alertness kicked in. She had told others she was visiting relatives in Beijing, but she never expected an actual relative to show up. Having been raised by Grandma Annie, she had never heard her grandmother mention any relatives from Beijing, making Aunt Ping's sudden arrival feel suspicious.

"I know you must be very sad after Aunt Annie's passing," Aunt Ping said, deftly avoiding Ann's question. "I’m here to see if there's anything I can do to help. I also heard you have a friend named Yu who has issues with her legs. Is that right?"

Ann's gaze sharpened. After Yu's legs had been injured, she had remained at home, and her parents had grown increasingly withdrawn. This "relative" seemed to know too much.

"I can help her," Aunt Ping lowered her voice, a hint of temptation lacing her tone. "I can make Yu stand again and walk like a normal person."

Ann's heart raced. "The doctors said she would live in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. How can you help her?"

Aunt Ping's smile turned eerie, her gaze sharpening. "Ann, you can manipulate lightning. If you're willing to give up your ability, I can make your best friend recover. Isn’t that what you want?"

Ann’s heart sank. Manipulating lightning was her hidden talent; apart from her grandmother and the mysterious man, no one else knew about it.

"Thank you, but I don’t understand what you mean. My neighbor, Mrs. Zhang, is coming to see me shortly, and I want to rest!"

Although Ann had grown up in a small town and helped in the bakery, she had become adept at reading people beyond her years.

Aunt Ping looked surprised, her facial wrinkles contorting. "Don’t you want Yu to stand again? I can arrange everything for you."

Ann stepped back, picking up her phone and staring intently at the increasingly unnatural face before her. "If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police!"

Aunt Ping’s expression darkened instantly; her body began to stretch unnaturally, her skin resembling a cracked shell. An unusual substance shimmered with a blue-purple light beneath her skin. In an instant, the woman transformed into a strange creature, her eyes gleaming with an eerie metallic sheen as her limbs extended like tentacles, lunging toward Ann with frightening speed.

Startled, Ann felt arcs of electricity dance between her fingers. In an instant, she was enveloped in electric light, powerful lightning surging through the twisted tentacles, producing a painful, acrid smell. The transformed Aunt Ping let out a piercing scream and quickly retreated, but she still forced her tentacles to reach for Ann again.

At that moment, the electric currents within Ann surged like a raging tsunami, sweeping through the entire room and penetrating Aunt Ping's body. With a final shriek, her metallic shell shattered, dissipating into blue smoke amidst the lightning.

Ann trembled slightly but felt an unusual calm wash over her.

After tidying up the room, Ann picked up her luggage, cradled Pineapple Bun, and was about to leave through the front door when a sudden knock at the back door made her heart race again.

When she opened the back door, a strange young man leaped into the yard without hesitation, surveying his surroundings. He was tall, wearing a clean long-sleeved shirt and casual sports pants, with large, bright eyes that seemed to conceal countless jokes and clever ideas.

“Impressive! You took out the alien in a minute! If it weren't for the lighting you generated during the fight, I would have taken longer to find you.”

“Who are you?” Ann asked warily.

“My name is Ke Ding, and I was a classmate of Li Bai,” he said with a smile. “Li Bai is busy fighting right now, so I had to come see how you’re doing! That alien wasn’t that weak; she just underestimated you, which is why she got taken out.”

“Li Bai? Are you talking about the mysterious man from the cemetery? That alien is… Aunt Ping?”

“Smart!” Ke Ding nodded. “The Aunt Ping you mentioned was disguised as an alien; she is a messenger of the Avel tribe from the galaxy. I've seen her twice before.”

Ke Ding continued, “Our Earth is positioned in a unique energy vortex in the universe, acting as a balance point or dimensional intersection. This node not only connects multiple dimensions but can also harmonize the flow of energy throughout the universe, ensuring the stable operation of galaxies.

Ann felt confused. While she often discussed extraterrestrial visitors with Yu, the scientific community claimed it was merely human speculation. Yet the creature she had just eliminated was clearly not human.

Seeing her dazed expression, Ke Ding couldn't help but laugh. “Well, my task is complete. You should go find Li Bai.”

“Don’t go! I have more questions!” Ann called out urgently.

“What? Please don’t keep me long. I have a girlfriend!” Ke Ding replied cheerfully.

For the first time since her grandmother's passing, Ann smiled. This was the first hint of youthful charm she had shown. Ke Ding looked momentarily taken aback.

“I want to know a little about the Doorless Academy,” Ann said, looking at him expectantly.

Ke Ding thought for a moment, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. “The Doorless Academy is a gathering place for young superpowered people. If you can stay, perhaps you could really help your friend.” He turned to leave but looked back, “Hurry and leave here; you’ve already been exposed!”