"That'll be fifty."

I stiffened. My right hand, only mere inches away from the boxed device I'd just laid on the counter not more than half a minute ago, halted after I'd reached forward to collect my change of thirty.

I blinked. "Sorry?"

"I said," the middle-aged woman behind the counter repeated with a wary expression, "that'll be fifty."

Shit. I cursed inwardly before closing my eyes and taking in a deep breath, not opposing my conscience when it accused: You knew this was coming.

Careful not to let my growing frustration show, I schooled my expression, but couldn't keep my left hand from curling into a fist at my side.

"I just saw you sell this for twenty," I stated, barely able to prevent my teeth from clenching in annoyance although I knew what I said would have no effect.

The shopkeeper narrowed her eyes at me, not backing away one bit. "Decided to give her a discount. She is a regular customer."

"That's bull and you know it," I said with my right hand - still hovering over the small box - trembling slightly. "I come here more often than anyone-"

"Fifty," she cut in with a sneer, not bothering to acknowledge the truth in my words. "Take it or leave it."

Stoically, I stared at the woman's hard, unwavering gaze before I drifted my sights towards the boxed device that still remained unwrapped.

Its original price wasn't what she'd offered me. I knew that. And though I had somewhat expected this response, it frustrated me to no end that I was being treated like a contagious disease.

And it was partly because of this that I couldn't allow the shopkeeper to rob me of my change and the remnants of my pride.

Before today, an issue like this wouldn't have been a problem. Since of course, I would've told her to go burn the ocean and then would've walked out with a large amount of restraint on my part.

But at this very moment, I didn't have the endurance nor the will to leave the store without the product I wanted.

I badly needed a Fridge Guard. There were only enough power outages in this bloody forsaken town that my refrigerator could stand and I feared that one more blackout would lead to its permanent destruction.

My previous Fridge Guard had stopped functioning properly a month ago, just two weeks after I'd settled, and was beyond repair. I would've gotten a new one sooner, but I hadn't had a job and I had been broke - had used a large amount of my money to purchase the house I was living in and used the remaining to pay the moving guys for their labour - plus it took me a month and a half before an old man had hesitantly offered me work in his antique shop after weeks of probing him as a result of being rejected by the other town's people over and over again.

The job hadn't - still didn't - pay well. Therefore, I had to manage by strictly limiting myself to only necessary provisions when shopping. Meaning, I couldn't allow precious change to go to waste simply because I was an unpleasant sight to behold and had supposedly caused a few mishaps to occur.

However, another part of the reason why today was a different case was due to it being Ellie's birthday, and I just had to get her something. It was the least I could do for her after being the only one to approach me the first day I'd moved here. Others her age and a bit older reluctantly followed in her footsteps, but it was Ellie who had permanently become my best friend since that day.

And although I knew she wouldn't mind if I wasn't able to get her a gift, it would still eat me from the inside out at seeing her family and other friends buying her lovely presents and me offering only a simple 'Happy Birthday' just because I got cheated out of the original price of a freaking Fridge Guard.

Still gazing intently - and longingly - at the device, I contemplated whether I should just get Ellie a gift next year and leave with the Fridge Guard or walk out with my money and pray that the lights didn't surprise me until I got paid at the end of this month.

The choice wasn't an easy one, but I'd be damned if I let this woman cheat me and steal my money once again.

I wouldn't have even been buying from her store in the first place. But unfortunately for me, it was the only opened shop that sold electrical appliances in the whole area. So it was either I disappointed Ellie or my refrigerator. And Ellie was not an option, so I decided to risk it.

"I want my money back." The money I foolishly gave in hopes of receiving my change without any issues this time.

"Sorry, the Fridge Guard is non-refundable," she said, though she didn't sound in the least bit apologetic. "My rules."

The hand hanging at my side clenched even tighter as frustration began to heat my blood.

Don't lose control.

My nostrils flared, but I heeded to my conscience.

However, just in case I wasn't able to control myself, I eyed the small store, relieved to see that I was the only customer and that pesky guard, Erik, wasn't around to spy on me. Plus the glass window showed no passersby on the street.

Just perfect.

Turning back to the object of my ire, I bit out a response. "I didn't buy it."

"You did when you gave me the money."

"Well now, I'm giving you the package back," I replied before pushing the Fridge Guard towards her, my anger rising at the lengths I was reduced to. "I don't want it."

"Then leave it and go. You have no business here."

She spoke with such disdain and arrogance that it made my eye twitch. Conscience be damned.

Don't do it, Lena.

"Don't push me," I warned, the hand that had been poised on the counter rose to grasp the handle of the dark shades I wore. Shades that hid the blackness the woman knew was there - something people dreaded to witness.

Not wanting to go too far without giving the shopkeeper one more time to give in, I issued a last warning. "Give me my money back."

A clearly visible flicker of doubt and slight fear flashed in her eyes as they darted between mine and the fingers ready to pull off the shades. The uncertainty dragged on for a long moment that I thought she'd be smart enough to return my money so we could part ways in peace.

But when the fear gave way to determination and a glint of defiance, I knew that she'd made her choice. Especially when she reached for something under the counter and pulled it out of its hiding place.

That something being a rifle.

"Get out," she aimed the barrel of the rifle right at my forehead, "or I swear I'll rid this town of your filth."

Unable to help it, a wry, humourless smile curved at the edges of my lips. "I'd like to see you try."

For heaven's sake, Lena, drop it! You'll only give the people more reason to hate you!

"You think you're all that, Witch," the shopkeeper spat. "Though I'd gladly go to prison for this, I doubt anyone would bother since I'd be doing them a favour."

I didn't respond, merely waited for the right moment to use the one weapon that I - and everyone else - knew would never disappoint.

The only time I'd ever removed my shades was on the second day after I'd arrived, when returning home after continuous failed attempts at getting a job. A man - either high on drugs or simply drunk - had forced himself upon me that night after referring to me as a harlot and a slave brought to the town just to satisfy his filthy needs.

I was beyond pissed that night since I'd already been treated poorly by my so-called neighbours that I'd ripped off my shades before the foolish man could lay another finger on me, held him by the collar and pulled him towards me till we stood eye-to-eye, glaring into his face and making sure he drank every inch of the sight I bored into him.

He'd never been the same again.

And I was damn sure that the woman aiming the rifle in front of me knew the story of the once drunkard - now madman - plus the tale he repeatedly spoke of; how I'd bewitched him with my soulless, black eyes.

On the other hand, even though that bastard had deserved it, I had vowed never to bare my eyes to anyone again. Mainly for Ellie's sake and partially to not give the town's people more reason to hate me and burn me and my house to the ground.

But this woman made me want to really turn my back on my vow and Ellie just to teach her - and every other potential threat to my rights in this bloody town - a permanent lesson.

And I could see, from the shopkeeper's expression, that she too noticed that I was ready to show her who exactly she knew she was messing with.

No wonder there was a slight quiver in her grip on the gun.

"Believe it or not, I don't want you to suffer the same fate-" as that lowlife son of a dog "-but if you don't give me back what's rightfully mine, I'll have no choice."

"The money's mine, Witch. You clearly don't know how it goes in business so let me break it down for you," she sneered, hands tightening on the rifle. "You either take the Fridge Guard and leave - never coming back to my store - or I do this town a favour and end your worthless life right now."

I cocked my head to the side, knowing the act mocked her. "I dare you."

What the hell is wrong with you?!

I ignored the logical voice in my head. The shopkeeper had already pushed too far.

Just walk away with it, Lena. Ellie will understand. Walk away with the damn Fridge Guard and get the hell out of there!

The woman clenched her jaws before placing a finger inside the trigger guard and letting it rest on the trigger.

"I hope you burn in hell." Without bothering to think twice about her actions, she pulled the trigger, and an extremely loud pow echoed within the store.

But before she could register where exactly the bullet had run off to, I swiftly removed the shades I wore and affixed my intense gaze on hers, feeling the exhilarating thrill of dominance and power race down my spine when her widened eyes beheld my black, soulless ones.

"You got your chance."

☆~☆~☆