These Dark Abilities #NaNoWriMo

One

I am actually very proud of this first chapter. Unfortunately, the amazing juices that flowed during this one did not continue. Also, could you guys give me some pointers on my dialogue writing? I really need help with that. it's my writing weakness.

_

When the ceiling collapsed, flooding the bookstore with the rain that was pouring out of the sky, I decided that the universe had taken a stand against me.

Of course, I didn't believe in a universe with power. I believed in life and a freedom of choices. I believed in a sense of karma, where I would punch someone tomorrow and get punched the next day. What had I done to deserve something as catastrophic as losing my building and all my wares in the same minute?

The police gave me an umbrella to stand underneath. There were firemen that had gone inside to make sure that all the customers were alright. I could see several of my regulars standing by a different group of police, shooting glances at me and describing the scene. Behind them, in the shrouding rain, stood the building that I had been working on for over a decade.

"You say it just collapsed?" The officer was getting short on patience. While talking to me he was also directing a group of people who were trying to get some pictures for evidence.

"Yes," I said, exasperated. "I was stocking shelves when tiles started to fall. The metal bent and the ceiling just folded inwards."

"Buildings don't just do that, Miss Shaw." He started writing down on his paper. I knew what he was going to write.

Idiot, deranged, mental asylum needed.

It was what got written on every report about me. When my apartment wall was blown in, they reacted the same way. When I awoke to the top half of my car sliced cleanly off, I was almost sent to a psychiatrist. The next step was to kick me out of town. I could feel it in his eyes. There was some cloud of bad luck that surrounded me.

A fireman came out of the front door. His clothes were covered in the fine dust that covered everything since the collapse. It turned to mud the second the rain hit it, running in streaks down the front of his waterproof suit. He was holding a clear bag that was half full of something dark.

"Did you find anything?" The officers voice changed from its rough voice. He was eying the bag with suspicion.

"It's some unidentifiable dust that was coating some of the inside of the ceiling. We don't know what it is yet so you can take it back to the station for clues." He handed it to the officer, who pocketed it.

"Was anyone hurt?" I asked. The last thing I needed in this big mess was a grumpy person ready to sue me for 'unsafe conditions'.

"Nope, everyone got out unscathed. Except for you." he nodded at my leg. I looked down and realized, for the first time, that there was a cut through my jeans. Some blood was soaking through it. I felt no pain, just the sticky sensation of blood as it ran down to my ankles. I leaned down and rolled up the cuffs. There was just a small gash, nothing that was going to ruin my life.

"I'll clean it up when I get home." I shrugged, turning back to the police. "What else do you need?"

He skim read the paper and shook his head. "I'll be honest, Miss, things are different for you since you seem to have strange instances like this a lot. I'm going to let you go home but we might call you in later."

I pulled my hood up and walked around to the back of the building. I parked my car out of the customer parking lot for fear of someone hitting it. It had been sheltered this morning by an overhang, which had probably fallen over with the collapse of the ceiling. I braced myself and turned the corner.