Thank you for reading and your feedback!

Thank you so much! :)

Thank you MrRedoot! :)

Good question. I figured the operator was panicking and pressed the wrong button.

:') thank you so much! That means a lot. Unfortunately I don't think I have the time but I wish I did!

I had seen all the web comics before, and it perfectly describes what I can do. The Trolley Man, no matter what The Trolley Man does, a train will hit one person or a group of people. That's my "super power" if you can call it that.

It's a horrible thing really, because no matter what, someone dies. And it's always the single person who gets sacrificed to save a group. The worst thing about it, is that the people never know that they're about to die when I pick them. I guess it's a good way to go, quick and painless, but I still feel like a murderer.

The day I first realized I had this ability, I was at an amusement park (which shall remain nameless but the ride has closed since anyways). There I was with my parents, I was only 10 years old. We were walking by roller coasters, the whole park was filled with screams of glee as people plummeted down sharp hills and got spun around 360 degrees on other corkscrew tracks.

This malfunction happened as a cart of passengers was coming in hot on a track and then they reached the part where people were flipped upside down. Except the ride stopped.

200 ft in the air, arms dangled, and the passengers were shouting with joy for a brief moment, but soon they were screaming for help. The operators of the ride were frantically trying to get the people off the coaster but they didn't know what to do.

Then the strangest thing happened. My whole world went dark and time slowed down. One of the ride operators was about to press the button to release the safety bar. But in my field of vision, I saw a handful of people near me glowing a golden aura. The people on the ride emitted a violet shine. It didn't make sense to me -I was a little kid, so I didn't know better- but I thought I was having a heart attack at first.

I looked at my parents and tried to talk but my voice was coming out slower than molasses. I was trying to ask them, "What's with all the glowing people? Why is everything so dark all of a sudden? Why has time slowed down?"

But I could still move my hands at regular speed. So I pointed at a random person to try and show my parents that someone was glowing, but as soon as I pointed at the stranger, they collapsed.

Time reverted back to normalcy, the darkness lifted, and I could talk like nothing happened. But no one was talking. Everyone was watching the group of people on the roller coaster as the safety bar lifted up and all of the people fell 200 ft.

Miraculously though, there was a giant inflatable that appeared out of nowhere below all of the people. They landed safely, although they bounced upon initial impact, their lives were saved.

I couldn't believe it. Did I just save that whole group of people?

Then everyone around me swarmed the stranger who passed out and they called for a doctor. Then they called an ambulance. The man passed away, and I felt like I was responsible since I pointed at him.

It would take me another incident to realize that my pointer finger was indeed the determination if someone lived or died. But when I asked my dad if pointing a finger at someone could kill, he said.

"No chance, sonny. That sort of thing sounds like it came from a comic book."

That was my first experience with the power, and unfortunately I've had many more since.

r/randallcooper

Thank you I'm glad you enjoyed but unfortunately I don't have the time :'(

Thank you so much! :)

Celia roamed through the palace gardens, all by herself. A masterpiece her mom had planned and built with the help of other workers for the palace grounds. It was a worldwide phenomenon but only the inhabitants of the castle could enjoy it.

It was festooned with a variety of flowers and vines all from different parts of the country. It was set up in a terrace farming pattern, walls upon walls of clay with greenery flowing over. The garden was the perfect place to get lost in nature and take a peaceful stroll perfect for contemplation.

Celia being able to run around the gardens was one perk her mom had being an employee of the Royal Kennard family. And it was a major perk since Celia was endlessly entertained for hours. Her mom never watched her too closely but she noticed that Celia would always be in good spirits and she would talk to the flowers or plants or.... something like that.

Her mom was concerned. Celia seemed to have conversations with someone in the gardens but no one was ever there.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much," Sarah the guard said. "Kids have imaginary friends all the time."

"Yeah. I suppose you're right," Celia's mom said. "But she's eleven years old. It just seems like she should have outgrown that phase by now."

Both of them were taking a break, eating lunch on the massive patio made of smooth cream colored stone. They watched Celia from afar. She was chatting with something that wasn't there.

"I just can't believe you can see me. I've been traveling through these walls so much recently, but no one seems to hear me. And of course, they don't see me either. But here you are, you can communicate with me like... I'm alive!" A man said. He didn't appear out of the ordinary, just a normal looking man. Young and in his 30s. He was in a nice fitted suit.

"Who are you anyway?" Celia asked.

"Really? You don't know who I am?"

Celia shook her head. "Should I?"

"Why, I'm the king. Or, I used to be the king. I'm the grandfather to king Benjamin, I ruled for 30 wonderful years. And now I have since passed on, and no one seems to remember me. But I'm King Morris." He sighed.

"Oh. I think I've seen you in paintings... Maybe?"

Morris felt a little sting but it didn't bother him. "You're pretty young I suppose. Why would you know me? It doesn't matter anyways. It's refreshing actually, talking with someone who's not gawking at you and who's not afraid to speak their mind."

"So are you a ghost then? I see a lot of them on the grounds but we haven't talked before."

Morris exhaled. "It's overwhelming coming to the realization that I am a spirit, and that's all I will be for the rest of time, but yes I am a ghost. I've been staying in the royal quarters though lately. It's been my goal to try and find a way to communicate to King Benjamin and his family. I really don't like this treaty they're trying to sign. Not to mention, he's making a huge mistake by not spending more time with his family. He's letting the work of the kingdom consume him and he needs to take a step back."

Celia shrugged. "I could try talking to him for you, if you'd like?"

Morris' lip curled up. "That would be wonderful. The only thing is, the family is quite insulated from everyone else... Your mom is the gardener though, right?"

"Yes."

"Let me think... I feel an idea forming." Morris gazed out into the garden, deep in contemplation.

r/randallcooper

Thank you! :)

Connor thought he had outdone them all. His latest caper did not feel as transactional as all of his other crimes. This instance involved the life of another person. Rather than simply stealing someone else's money or property, he had now impacted the future of someone's life.

But it was Patricia Lewand. She wasn't a person in Connor's eyes. Patricia had been part of a family fortune that was a heavy hitter in the railroad empire in the late 1800s of the United States.

Unlike Connor's upbringing, Patricia had no idea what struggle was like. People who grew up with a gold spoon in hand were not human in Connor's eyes. They had no brain and they couldn't function outside of their own small pack of wealthy elites.

So there was no issue of morality when it came to swindling her out of some fortune by marrying her. The old witch he met in New York City indeed sold him a love potion that worked. But their wedding was over, and the potion was starting to wear off.

Connor and Patricia cuddled each other on the couch in their living room in the mansion that her parents bought for the two of them. Patricia lay next to Connor, but she got up suddenly and said, "Something's not right..."

Getting up from the couch, she wandered to a chair in the corner and gazed out the window. She was practically on the other side of the room.

Connor had a devilish grin. "Is everything all right, darling?" It was around the time and day that the witch had predicted the love potion would wear off.

"Yes. Everything is fine... I'm just starting to have some thoughts."

"Oh? And what about?" Connor was excited because he knew she was thinking about divorce, and that would lead to him getting his fortune through a settlement since she would want to end things with him, and they didn't sign any sort of prenuptial agreement.

Patricia pulled out a long filter and put a cigarette at the end of it and struck a match. She drew in an inhale and blew out a cloud of smoke. "I'm just confused that you didn't try and pursue my sister. She's a little older than I am, and it's well known that she's not going to be alive for much longer due to her condition... So by marrying me for my fortune, you might not get away with it. But you could have married her and waited for her to pass, and then you would have forever been part of this family and you forever would have received monies and you probably could have married me too."

Connor was stunned. He tried to think of something to say but his lips fumbled.

"You think you're so smart but I can see you right through you."

"I'm sorry," Connor said, and he actually meant it. In the process of making her take the love potion, he also developed some feelings for her. In his head, the plan was to get a divorce, but in his heart, he actually wanted to see if maybe they could work.

"You have some considerable talent, I'll give you that. But I still think you do more and do better." Patricia shrugged. "I have an idea for a score myself... Would you be interested to hear it?"

"Yes, absolutely. What are you thinking?"

Patricia's head tilted to the side. She was still gazing out the window, and didn't look at Connor. "Hm. We'll have to stay married for a little while longer. Are you still interested?"

"Yes, yes, yes, please tell me."

Patricia had a devilish grin much like Connor's and she took one big puff from her cigarette. Connor leaned forward, waiting to hear the details of the next potential caper.

r/randallcooper

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed! :)

:') thank you so much for the kind words!

Detective Quincy entered the locally famous Alibi bar east of Los Angeles. It was a smoky, dimly lit bar filled with ex-cons, their rough exterior and hardened expressions betrayed their past lives behind bars. The air was thick with the scent of cigarettes and cheap liquor. Glasses clinked and low murmurs filled the room. The patrons sat at dark wooded worn tables, nursing their drinks and swapping stories. The atmosphere was tense and uneasy, as if at any moment a fight could break out. In the corner, a lone figure sat, playing a melancholy tune on a worn out piano.

Leaning up against the bar, Quincy waited for the bartender Maurice to come by. He wore a tight black shirt and tight black pants.

"Hey I'm Maurice. What can I get you this evening?" The bartender asked.

"Just the man I'm looking for. How do you do?" Quincy asked. "I'll actually pass on the drink, but thank you, though. I'm here to talk about Jonathan Byron. You see, I'm a detective. Was he here last week on Monday? That's 10 days ago."

"Oh yes, Jonathan Byron. He was here 10 days ago."

Detective Quincy smirked. "Was he here on Tuesday?"

"Yes, he was here on Tuesday."

"Very interesting. What about Wednesday?" Detective Quincy rubbed his chin. He knew that Maurice was lying.

"Uh-huh."

"Thursday?"

"Yep."

"... Friday?"

"Jonathan's got a real drinking problem if I'm being candid." Maurice chuckled.

"That's funny, so his Alcoholics Anonymous attendance is purely for show then?"

"I guess so. I don't judge." Maurice shrugged. "What's this about anyways?"

Detective Quincy scanned the bar. He knew the place well, one of the only people on the police force that actually understood what Alibi was all about. "You see, Jonathan actually disappeared. This was the last place he was seen according to an eyewitness."

"Oh. He disappeared?"

"Yeah, but he didn't take any money or steal anything. We're actually worried about his safety, Mr. Maurice. There's no way he was here this whole week. He disappeared on Monday night. Last seen going east in Arizona on Tuesday."

Maurice scoffed, irritated by getting caught in the lie. "I don't know what you want me to say. Why don't you bother the Arizona police force and get them to shake their asses for you?"

Detective Quincy cleared his throat. "This may seem like a weird question, Maurice, but how's your wife recently? Has she been depressed?"

"What else is new, pal."

"Moreso than usual?"

Maurice narrowed his eyes at Quincy.

Detective Quincy frowned. "I only ask because, and I hate to tell you this, Jonathan was having an affair with your wife."

Maurice had a vein pop in his neck. "Wait. Who is this guy?"

"I thought you knew him? I thought he came here everyday?" Quincy mocked.

"Look, I don't know this guy, okay? And stop spreading this lie that my wife is having an affair!"

Detective Quincy took a deep breath. "Maurice, I only say this because Jonathan and your wife are both in grave danger, and I need as much information as I can get if they are going to survive. Now, I can imagine you don't care for Jonathan, but you still love your wife. We need to take action now to protect her."

Maurice looked like he was about to explode with rage, but he exhaled and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket. "Meet me out back."

r/randallcooper