Perfect Storm: A Murder Mystery

Prologue

Her mother smiled at her. "Darling, you possess far greater power than we anticipated."

Ann shrugged nonchalantly. "Why? I've already stopped the wind once before. It's not a big deal."

Her mother pointed upwards, drawing Ann's gaze. Then it became clear – the surroundings had turned gray due to a massive thundercloud that now obscured the sun and a significant portion of the sky above them. The first raindrop landed on Ann's forehead, prompting her to wipe it away in astonishment. "Did I create this?"

"Did you notice any storm clouds when we arrived here?"

Ann shook her head. Two more raindrops fell – one on her bare shoulder and another on her open palm.

"I believe I understand what happened," her mother explained, her expression serious. "By altering the temperature in this area, you affected the moisture in the air, resulting in the formation of the cloud."

Ann chuckled at the intricacy of the explanation. And why do adults make everything sound so complicated? "Alright, let's find a place to take cover from this thunderstorm," Ann suggested, "before we get drenched."

They hurriedly descended the trail, seeking refuge in a small cave as the rain intensified.

Inside the cave, they settled on the stone floor, using Ann's jacket as a makeshift cushion. Through the curtain of pouring rain, they observed the mountains, their view accompanied by the symphony of water cascading onto the surrounding stones and the rumbling of thunder.

Her mother reached out and touched Ann's shoulder. "Are you sure you're not cold?"

Ann shook her head. Despite her damp clothes, her heart fluttered with excitement, causing her to overlook the minor discomfort. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

"I will always worry about you. After all, you are my only child." Her mother's gaze was fixed on the rainfall. "If anything were to happen to me –"

"Nothing bad will happen," Ann reassured, grasping her mother's small, cold hand in her own. "I promise."

"You can't make such promises," her mother replied, her voice growing softer. "We never know what the future holds."

Ann nodded, her mind drifting to the memory of her father's passing from a severe case of pneumonia years ago. Since then, it had been just her and her mother, with the support of her uncle Greg, her late father's elder brother. Uncle Greg had been a pillar of financial and emotional support for their family, and Ann had learned a great deal from him. He had sparked a desire within her to make a difference and help those in need. Now, after testing her Gift, Ann couldn't help but envision the possibilities for the future. "I can do so much good with my power."

Her mother looked at her curiously. "Like what?"

Ann's eyes lit up with excitement. "Imagine if there's a devastating drought in the region, and all the crops are at risk. I could save people from hunger! And I could soften the harshness of cold winters, and..." She gasped, overwhelmed by the countless opportunities that unfolded before her.

"Oh, my sweet Annie," her mother said tenderly. "You have a kind heart, and that's wonderful. But you must remember one thing – you can't help everyone."

"Then why have I been given such power? Just to water the plants in our garden?"

"Annie, using your power without purpose can have unintended consequences. You may not understand it now, but as you grow older –"

Ann stood up. "I'm not a child anymore! Today, I turned fifteen."

Her mother couldn't help but suppress a chuckle.