Fish Fingers

Extortion

When I snap my fingers on my left hand, it forces you to answer my questions truthfully. This ability is called "Truth". It's one of the weakest abilities in this world but it's my own and I use it the best I can. Everyone has an ability that activates when they snap their fingers but mine isn't much compared to all the others. I was made fun of for it back in school. I didn't owe them anything. I didn't need a strong ability. I never planned to get into fights but I did anyway.

There is a nice, small bakery in my local area. It's not too far from my apartment and they make great cakes. It's run by Haddock. They're a short person who wears oversized, white clothes. It's funny to me.

I walked into their bakery one day.

"Hey, Haddock." I called. "How's the new oven been treating ya?"

"Oh, Scad! You need to help me!" They said.

"I think I've helped you enough."

"The Jaws were here! They forced me to pay them protection money!"

"What? You don't owe that gang anything. Where are they?"

"There was only one of them. They were just here. They were wearing a brown coat and white shirt."

I exited the bakery and looked around. I saw someone who matched the description on the other side of the road. I ran over to them. They turned to me.

"Were you just in that bakery?" I asked. I snapped my fingers on my left hand, forcing them to answer.

"Yes I was." They answered unwillingly.

"Extorting money?" I snapped again.

"Yes. What is this stupid ability? You make me answer questions? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"What's your name?" Snap.

"Cod Harbor. Stop asking me questions or I'll blow your head off."

"What is your ability?" Snap.

"My ability is Rifle. It charges energy when I aim my fingers and releases it as bullets when I snap. You're asking for me to kill you right now."

"That money doesn't belong to you. That bakery didn't owe you anything. Give that money to me or I'll make you wish you never woke up this morning."

"You're kidding me. A weak ability like yours against mine? Get lost!"

They pointed their fingers at me. A green orb of energy appeared above their hand and started growing with each second. I don't blame them for thinking that I was weak. They thought that my Truth ability was the only trick up my sleeve. They thought wrong.

I aimed my right hand at them and snapped my fingers. A sound wave erupted from my hand and hit Cod's fingers, wasting all the energy they had charged up. This is my second ability, Compression. It only works with my right hand whereas Truth is with my left. Compression absorbs all the sound nearby and weaponises it as a sound wave attack.

I used Compression again and shouted loud after snapping. Nobody could hear me because the ability absorbed the sound. The high volume formed a stronger attack and knocked Cod to the floor. They were shocked that I had 2 abilities. They aimed and shot a bullet at me with Rifle but it was barely charged and only grazed my arm, cutting my sleeve off. I stepped closer to them and stomped on their left hand.

"Hand over the money now!" I yelled. They were breathing heavily. "Why aren't you giving me the money?" I activated Truth.

"I'm trying to think of a way out of here." Cod answered. "How the hell do you have 2 abilities?"

"That doesn't matter right now. What matters is you paying back what you owe."

Cod slowly moved their hand into their hand into their coat, reaching for their pocket. I thought they were retrieving the money until I noticed a green glow coming from in their jacket. They were charging up Rifle. I activated Compression and shouted again. I think I broke their hand.

"I don't fall for tricks like that." I bragged. Their face showed only pain. I reached into their pocket and pulled out a small bag with some coins. "Is this the extorted money?" I snapped my left fingers. Cod quickly stood up, pulling their hand from under my boot.

"No!" They said quickly as they ran away. I'm not a runner so I blasted a few shots at them but they escaped with the money. I was left with just a small amount. That wouldn't do at all.

I returned to the bakery and threw the bag of money onto the counter.

"That's all I could get back." I said. "It's not much. They escaped with the money they took from you but they won't keep it for long. I'll have it in my hands soon."

"Thanks for this." Haddock said, taking the bag. "Please do be careful. The Jaws won't take kindly to you attacking one of their members."

"I don't really care. I'll get that money. They won't stop me."