In You

“Listen, I don’t want any trouble,” Jack said, slowly backing into his apartment.

The girl, the one he guessed had called him earlier, setting in motion his panicked attempt to flee, matched him step for step. Her brown eyes casually took in her new surroundings, but never strayed too long from Jack’s own. She was studying him, he realized.

“You don’t mind if I come in, do you?” She said, still smirking, “Like I said in the phone, my name is Traci. I’m looking for some answers about the attack.”

Jack took another step backward, his foot hitting the couch, causing him to lose his balance and fall backward on the very thing that tripped him.

“You seem nervous,” she said, her hands on her hips.

“I mean, there’s a weird woman in my apartment asking me questions about the scariest moment of my life,” he said, feeling indignant as he stared up at her, “why wouldn’t I be nervous?!”

“Weird woman? You have no idea,” Traci chuckled, “Now listen, I’m not here to hurt you, but something happened during the attack with Black Adam. Something chaotic. It’s a type of magic I don’t usually find in Metropolis, and I won’t want it running amok. Now if you saw something, or if you know something, it’s best if you let me know so that I can help.”

For the briefest moment Jack considered telling this woman what had happened, that he had accidentally gained the power to change anyone he wrote his name into his property. But then, of course, he had no idea who this Traci was. You don’t live in a city like Metropolis without knowing that not everyone interested in supernatural events is necessarily a ‘good guy’.

“There was a fight,” he said, sitting up on the couch, indicating to the stranger that she should sit on the live seat, thinking that putting her at ease might make him seem more believable, “Black Adam and Wonder Woman. Totally destroyed my work. I wanted to get out but it was too dangerous, so I hid. Everything else is a blur. I was too scared.”

“I get it,” Traci sounded genuinely empathetic, “Those are two powerhouses. You’re lucky to walk away unharmed. Here,” she raised her hands and wiggled her fingers strangely, “maybe I can calm your nerves a bit…”

That’s when two things happened at the same time.

One, Traci, the weird woman in his living room, jumped to her feet, eyes wide, backing away from Jack.

“It’s in you!” She exclaimed in a worried voice.

Second, Wonder Woman materialized in the apartment.