章 18: Chapter 17
Metropolis wasn't far from the town where Kara and the others lived, and there were even direct trains going there, many of which operated throughout the day.
So Kara and the other two bold girls immediately decided to go have some fun.
After buying the tickets, they called their families to inform them.
The adults from the three families felt helpless. The tickets were already purchased, so how could they ask the girls to refund them and come home? It was simply a case of asking for forgiveness instead of permission.
So, the adults could only tell them to be careful and return before the last train. If needed, they would go to pick them up at the station.
Moreover, if they ran out of money, they could call their parents for help and avoid panicking.
In summary, they were given plenty of advice.
Especially in the Kent family, where Martha kept asking Kara if she had enough money, while Jonathan reminded her not to cause trouble and, above all, not to reveal her strength.
How to explain it? It was a bit annoying, but also a sign of concern from the older generation.
After calling their families, the three girls finally boarded the train and chose a compartment for themselves.
It was an old train. The seats on both sides could fit four people, and there was a table in the middle.
Dani and Jennifer sat across from each other, while Kara leaned against the window. They also bought some snacks for the trip. The three chatted, excited about the day ahead.
Kara couldn't help but wonder if, even though Metropolis was a fictional city, it had some real-life inspiration. Some said it was based on New York City, others said Manhattan.
The first comparison was due to its prosperity, and the second was because of its geographical location.
Even if Metropolis wasn't as advanced or bustling as it would be in the future, it was certainly more exciting than their small town.
Their main goal for the day was the amusement park in Metropolis. Their town only had a park with a couple of benches, a few swings, and seesaws, mostly for kids.
Even if a small town were to buy large-scale equipment like roller coasters, drop towers, or pirate ships, how many people would use them?
It would be a waste of money.
So, they could only dream of visiting a large city like Metropolis to have some real fun.
On the way, before the train even departed, the three girls were already planning what to do once they arrived.
First, they'd visit the big shopping centers. Even if they couldn't afford anything, it didn't matter. They could admire the beautiful clothes and jewelry. After all, they were still young, so high heels weren't a priority yet.
Then, they'd check out the difference between the cinemas in the big cities and the ones in their small town. In truth, it wasn't about watching the movies but enjoying the experience.
They also wanted to try different snacks, drinks, and bubble tea.
Finally, they would go to the amusement park in Metropolis.
There was a small debate about whether they should visit the amusement park or the zoo. Dani wanted to go to the amusement park, while Jennifer preferred the zoo.
In the end, since Kara voted for the amusement park, Jennifer had to give in.
Kara found it amusing. They had gone to the zoo during elementary school field trips, but they rarely visited amusement parks.
The three girls were chatting happily when, suddenly, something strange happened.
In an instant, Kara noticed something was wrong. First, the voices of her friends started to fade. Even though they were right beside her, Kara, who had enhanced hearing, could no longer hear their conversations clearly.
Then, she saw strange symbols appear on the walls of the train. Specifically, there was a screen in the aisle that normally showed information like whether the restroom was occupied or the destination of the next stop.
But now, there were symbols with unknown meanings, almost as if they were magical runes.
Finally, the train's speed began to spiral out of control, accelerating multiple times in a moment.
If it were an ordinary person, Kara would have been terrified, but she wasn't just anyone. That speed didn't frighten her at all.
However, when Kara instinctively stood up, she felt a sudden dizziness, her vision and mind becoming clouded. All the other passengers had vanished, and she was the only one left standing.
At the same time, the train began to slow down, and outside the window, Kara saw a mysterious space that resembled a cave surrounded by rocks, almost as if it weren't on Earth.
Clang.
Suddenly, the train doors opened.
"Is that an invitation for me to step out?" Kara raised an eyebrow, guessing the meaning. Normally, she wouldn't have paid attention, but this time, she decided to step out with her usual boldness.
"Let's see who's behind this," Kara thought. Her goal was simple: figure out who was responsible.
In the worst-case scenario, she could always escape. The train's maximum speed had been around the speed of sound, but now she could fly at supersonic speeds.
The most important thing was that someone had targeted her, and Kara worried that if she didn't deal with it, her family might be in danger.
As the saying goes, "You can run, but you can't hide."
Kara was the target, and her family was her weak spot. The last thing she wanted was for them to be harmed.
So, she had to face it.
She stepped out of the train, and since there was no platform, Kara had to jump down.
Anyway, she wasn't some weak woman, so it didn't matter.
After exiting the train, Kara turned around and saw that the train had disappeared.
Everything she saw and experienced now had an eerie vibe.
Kara frowned, her expression growing serious, but she continued walking forward, and after passing through a stone tunnel, she reached another space.
It was a spacious hall, and on one of the walls were strange, terrifying sculptures. Kara could feel a malevolent aura emanating from them, almost as if they were alive.
At the far end of the hall was a round table with seven chairs arranged in a circle. However, only one of them was occupied by an elderly man with long hair and a beard.
"I am the wizard Shazam. I've been waiting for you, my champion."
"What?"
Kara was stunned on the spot. Shazam? Are you kidding me?
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