PIP/Chronos/Slow Car
Ethan wasn't sure what to do for a moment. The car was careening out of control toward Audrey Chung, his friend's sister and love of his life. He reached out his hand toward the car in despair as it spun toward the benches she was sitting on; willing the car to stop. Surprisingly, the car began to slow down significantly. It was spinning and careening like it had been; but much, much, slower. The kids on the benches, including Audrey, quickly got up and ran from the benches . . . not that it was necessary as there was a good ten seconds before the car actually hit them. With a sigh of relief, Ethan lowered his hand. The car returned to normal speed, but the impact with the benches had bled off much of the car's momentum; shattering the benches in the process. The car hit the cement flowerbed beyond with a crunch of metal on stone. Apparently, slowing the car in time did not seem to affect it's inertia in any way. Ethan wondered at that . . . surely it should. The force was spread out over a longer span of time; friction should have diminished the car's inertia more.
"Did you just slow down that car?" gasped Dana.
"What," Ethan said quickly, "of course not. I was freaking out though. I thought it was going to hit Audrey for sure . . . then that happened. Maybe it hit a weird patch of ice that made it seem to slow down?" While Ethan trusted Dana with anything, he wasn't even sure what this was. Maybe when he knew more he could loop her in; but for now he figured he should keep it to himself.
"That . . . doesn't sound right," said Dana as she raised an eyebrow, "but it makes more sense than you slowing it down with your outstretched arm." She stretched her arm out in an exaggerated motion. "Oh Audrey, my love, I shall stop this horrid car from crushing your sexy body my one!" She laughed until Ethan gave her a friendly shove, paused briefly, then laughed some more.
"Very funny," said Ethan, pleased that she was letting it drop. "Let's get to the bus while they figure out what is going on. Dana shrugged, and followed Ethan to the bus that they shared on the way home. Dana was not only Ethan's best friend; but also his neighbor from across the street. Actually the first fact probably owes a lot to the second. The two spent a great deal of time together; and they each got along well with one another's families.
Ethan thought about the strange things that were happening around him . . . who was he kidding; he couldn't deny it anymore . . . the things HE was doing. He wasn't sure what this power was, or where it came from; but he needed to explore it. Not here though. He needed privacy. He would have to wait until he got home.
"You're awfully quiet," said Dana; breaking him out of his thoughts, "are you okay?"
"Just thinking," he said as he looked at his best friend again. Could he bring her into all this . . . or would he be better off waiting.