The Mysterious Power

"Sorry, ma'am, but I think I'm better off staying here."

The disappointed young woman stood up and returned to her husband with a pout. She truly wanted to adopt the little boy directly, but she would respect his wishes. "Looks like it'll be just the two of us spending the holiday again this year. Honestly..."

"Darling, hearing you say that truly breaks my heart..."

Mrs. Cole bowed and scraped as she saw the couple out. Once they had left, she returned to Tom with a dark expression and viciously slapped him. "You ungrateful brat! If not for that face of yours, who would ever want a freak like you?!"

"You actually dared to refuse the lady's kindness! Damn it, do you know how much money that'll cost me?! Get back to your room. Don't even think about dinner tonight!"

Tom's head was knocked to one side by the slap, but he left without looking back. After returning to his room, he curled up in the chair where the Matron had once sat. "Happy birthday. Congratulations, you're four years old... Tom..."

He sat there until nightfall, staring blankly out the window. There were no stars visible tonight. Grievance, helplessness, despair, and resentment—every negative emotion erupted at once as he hugged himself tightly and cried without a sound.

Liars! Hadn't they promised they would watch over him from the sky? Why was there nothing but oppressive blackness? Not even a speck of light. He hated Christmas Eve! He hated birthdays! And he hated himself most of all!

Noma angrily knocked open Tom's door. Her eyes were red as she loudly vented her emotions. "It's all because of you! Mrs. Cole told me that the lady had originally planned to take me home today! But why did you have to show up?"

"You stole my happiness, you hateful freak that nobody likes and who killed his own mother!"

"I didn't!" Rage consumed Tom's mind. He glowered at the little girl before him, disgust pouring from his eyes. Get lost! The instant the thought appeared, Noma was sent flying with a bang.

Tom stared blankly at the scene before him, badly frightened. Noma had actually flown through the air and crashed into the wall. Had he done that? What was he supposed to do now?

"Are... are you okay?" Tom took two steps forward, wanting to help the little girl up from the floor. The next second, he saw the disgust and fear in her eyes. He silently withdrew his hand, biting his lower lip as he stood before her trembling body.

Noma clutched her knee in pain and looked up at the boy, who was several years younger than her. She saw the coldness in Tom's eyes. It was too terrifying. This person... no, something this strange had to be the work of a demon!

"Don't come any closer! I'll tell everyone here that you're a demon!"

Screaming, Noma rushed into Mrs. Cole's room, her face full of terror. "Ma'am, that Riddle is a demon! He just flung me into the wall without even touching me."

Mrs. Cole impatiently cursed a few times, drained the wine in her glass, and rose from her chair. "Noma! How long are you going to keep playing these little tricks? Get back there immediately, or I won't give your photo to the next potential adopter!"

Tom, who had been eavesdropping by the door, let out a sigh of relief. Good. No one would believe something so strange. He needed to go back and think carefully about whether it had been an accident, or whether he could keep using this mysterious power.

After returning to his room and closing the door, Tom recalled the feeling from before and stared fiercely at the stone in front of him. With a whoosh, the stone flew according to his thoughts and smashed into the wall.