The Day the World Changed: Part II
Washington, D.C.
President Mitchell sat on the sofa in the Oval Office, listening intently as the heads of the CIA and FBI laid out their briefing. The room was quiet except for their voices, the heavy drapes filtering the afternoon light across the familiar presidential seal on the rug beneath his feet. Today's briefing was different. Usually, his daily briefings were conducted by junior intelligence officers, but today they had sent in the big guns. Hearing their words, it seemed there had been credible chatter regarding a new domestic terror threat. The intelligence they had gathered wasn't vague or speculative. They spoke with precision: an extremist cell operating within the country, its members organized and well-funded. The chatter had increased in recent days, and there were signs they were moving toward action. The agencies had coordinated their resources, and now, their heads sat before him, making it clear that decisive steps were needed to protect the homeland.
The President remained composed as he listened, his hands resting on his lap as he absorbed the weight of their words. He had no doubts about their assessments. The two officials in front of him were seasoned professionals, and their request for more resources and heightened security measures made sense. As he listened, he found himself agreeing with their recommendations. This wasn't the time for hesitation—swift and firm action was required.
Just as he was about to voice his approval, the door to the Oval Office flew open. His Chief of Staff rushed in, slightly out of breath, followed by two Secret Service agents and two members of the military with weapons at the ready.
"Jennifer, what's the meaning of this?" the President asked, standing up, his calm demeanor slipping as he had never seen his Chief of Staff looking so flustered.
Jennifer Robbins was still catching her breath. She had been on the far side of the Executive Office Building when she got the call. Unsure of what she was hearing, she had asked for the TV to be turned on in the meeting she was attending. She watched for about 30 seconds before rushing out, heading straight to the Oval Office. As she went, she called for additional guards, just in case. Why a shitstorm like this had to land on her watch, she'd never know.
"We have a situation, sir," she said, her voice tight with urgency. "Roughly twenty minutes ago, there was a domestic terrorist attack—what looks to be a truck bomb—at the Federal One Financial Building in downtown LA…"
Before she could finish, the President cut her off, his face tightening. "Oh God. How bad is it? Is the building still standing? Do we have any casualty reports yet?" His eyes flicked to his intelligence chiefs, the weight of their briefing hanging heavily in the room. It seemed their intel had been right. They'd just received it a day too late.
"Unknown at this time, sir," Jennifer replied, her voice wavering slightly. "But that's not what's just rocked the world." She paused, feeling the absurdity of what she was about to say. "I don't know how to put this, but... it seems like maybe an alien has arrived and is currently saving the people trapped in the building after the explosion."
She felt ridiculous saying it out loud, but what else could she call it? The images she'd seen were impossible to explain any other way.
The President stared at her, clearly trying to gauge if she was serious or if this was some kind of misguided attempt at humor. His tone sharpened. "Say again, Jennifer? Did you just say alien? What's going on?"
Jennifer swallowed hard, fighting the urge to fidget under his gaze. "I'm sorry, Mr. President, I don't have any details right now. The situation is still unfolding. I don't know what to call what I saw, but before I came here, I watched as a woman—at least, I think it was a woman—pull the entire front of the building off, and then... the people inside started being lowered to safety as if by magic."
Without waiting for a response, she moved swiftly to the intercom, her voice steady again. Moments later, a flat-screen TV was wheeled into the Oval Office. "I think it's best if we all see it for ourselves. What I'm telling you doesn't even come close to describing what I saw happening."
She quickly flipped the TV on and tuned it to ABC, the live broadcast filling the room with a surreal image of the scene unfolding in Los Angeles.
The President watched the screen, struggling to process what he was seeing. It looked like something straight out of a movie—too outlandish to be real. People were floating down to safety from the remains of the building, and in the sky above, he saw what appeared to be a woman hovering in midair. If his eyes weren't deceiving him, she was the one responsible for the entire rescue operation.
He turned to his FBI and CIA chiefs, his voice firm but with urgency. "Get on this—right now. I need to know what the hell is going on. Who is she? Is she a threat? She appears to be helping all those people. We need answers, and we needed them twenty minutes ago."
"Right away, sir," they both responded in unison before swiftly leaving the Oval Office.
The President exhaled and sat back down on the sofa, continuing to watch the event unfold, his mind racing. They needed to craft a response to this, and fast. The daily press briefing was in two hours, and if the White House had nothing to offer, the press would tear them apart. He watched as the camera focused in as best it could on the woman floating there. She appeared to be wearing an unusual-looking face mask. She looked human but... Whatever this was, it felt monumental—like a turning point, not just for the country, but for the world.
Bella had already saved hundreds of people, lowering them to safety, but her task was far from finished. Though the edge of the building was now clear of people waiting to be saved, she hovered beside the open structure, focusing her senses. The sounds of faint heartbeats could still be heard, combined with the subtle scent of blood, telling her there were still humans inside—either hiding, trapped, or injured. She would have to go in and get them herself.
Time wasn't on her side. The building continued to groan under the weight of its own destruction, and she had no idea how long it would hold before collapsing entirely. She needed this to go faster.
Her gaze swept downward, locking onto the man she assumed was in charge of the rescue operations on the ground. Without hesitation, she swooped down to speak with him, knowing they had to coordinate their efforts if she wanted to save every last person inside.
Captain Samuels could not believe the day he was having. What had begun as the greatest tragedy he had ever witnessed had turned into the largest rescue operation of his career. The woman—if she was even human—had already saved hundreds, possibly over a thousand lives. People Samuels knew wouldn't have stood a chance otherwise. The elevators and stairwells had become inaccessible almost immediately, as the fire raging throughout had not been able to be contained and now burned uncontrollably, consuming everything throughout the first three levels of the building. He was surprised the structure was still standing, but while survivors continued to emerge, his team worked tirelessly, ushering them to safety in the park, which had been converted into a makeshift rescue and medical center to treat the injured—though, thankfully, there weren't as many as he'd feared.
Suddenly, the woman swooped down, hovering directly in front of him.
"I've gotten all the people I can see, but there are still more inside. I'm going to start searching floor by floor. If you could use as many bullhorns as possible to instruct anyone able to come to the edge, any time saved could be critical. I don't know how much longer the building is going to stay up," she said, her tone calm and matter-of-fact, as if saving countless lives was just another day for her.
Samuels snapped out of his shock, her words cutting through the haze of disbelief. "Right away, Miss…" he turned, shouting to his men. "You heard the lady! Start making noise! Tell the remaining people to get to the edge of the building, now!" He turned back to the woman, his gratitude clear. "Thank you for what you've been doing."
Bella gave him a brief nod before flying upward. In the blink of an eye, she reached the top floor, landing lightly before bursting into a run, moving from office to office at lightning speed. Her senses were on full alert, honing in on the smallest sounds and movements—any sign of life. She found people hiding, terrified, huddled in corners, but with no time to waste, she grabbed them, rushing them to the ledge, jumping out and flying down at her fastest speed. Their screams trailed behind, their fear palpable due to the sheer speed and intensity of the situation. She would have liked to give them a smoother ride, but there was just no time for that—every second counted.
Floor by floor, she cleared them, moving with urgency. The higher floors were easier, but by the time she reached the lower levels, the grim reality set in. The air was thick with smoke, and the lifeless bodies of those who hadn't escaped began to appear. Smoke inhalation had claimed them, and though it tugged at her, she had to keep going. The living had to be her priority.
On the fourth floor, she landed in the middle of a fiery inferno. The flames licked at her, but her shield held, protecting her from the onslaught. Smoke billowed around her, and the roar of the fire was deafening. The fire had fully engulfed the floor, and she doubted anyone below could still be alive. Still, she darted from room to room, moving through the flames as though they were nothing. Then, just as she was ready to call it, something caught her attention—a voice. A woman's voice. Bella froze, focusing, and there it was—two faint heartbeats.
Sally was beyond scared—terrified not for herself, but for her little girl, wrapped tightly in her arms. They were trapped. She had waited for the firemen, but they never came, and now the fire had consumed their only exit. She knew they weren't going to make it. Wet rags covered their mouths, a futile attempt to block the thick, choking smoke, but the hopelessness of the situation was crashing down on her. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and when she tried to tell her daughter how much she loved her, the words were lost to a violent coughing fit as the smoke filled her lungs.
Suddenly, the door shattered, splintering apart, and through the flames stepped a... woman? She clutched her daughter closer, calling out through the smoke. "Please! Take my daughter. You have to save her!"
Bella's eyes locked onto the terrified mother and child. Without hesitation, she rushed toward them. "Don't worry," she said firmly. "I'll save you both. Hold on to your daughter—tightly."
Sally was about to ask the woman—who, for some reason, was wearing a mask—what she meant when, in an instant, the woman lifted her as if she weighed nothing at all. And then they were moving—no, running—straight through the fire. Flames licked at them from all sides. Sally screamed, clinging to her daughter as the woman charged through the inferno. Suddenly, there was light—daylight—and before she could process what was happening, they were airborne, leaping over the edge.
Her scream continued, fear overwhelming her senses, but then... they weren't falling. Sally's breath hitched as she realized they weren't plummeting to their deaths…
They were flying.
Sally looked at the woman in disbelief. Who was she? It felt impossible, but they were flying down to safety. The ground came up gently beneath them as the woman touched down, setting Sally on her feet with the ease of someone who had done this hundreds of times before.
Sally's legs trembled, her mind reeling as the realization hit her—they were saved. She looked at the woman, her voice breaking. "Thank you..." The words caught in her throat, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find more. Overwhelmed, she just held her daughter tighter.
Bella smiled at the pair—the little girl staring up at her with wide eyes, still clutching her mother. "You're very welcome," she said softly, then soared back into the sky, scanning the building for any remaining survivors. But she knew... she had gotten everyone she could. The fire raged uncontrollably on the lower floors, and she had no choice now.
It was time to call it. The building was coming down, and there was no way to stop it. Everyone who could be saved was already out. She wouldn't risk any more lives by letting the structure collapse on its own.
Bella swooped down, hovering in front of the man in charge. "There's no one left alive in the building. It's coming down. I can't hold it up any longer with the fire eating through everything from below. You need to get your men back to safety. I'm going to attempt a controlled collapse to contain the smoke and debris."
The fire chief nodded sharply, his voice rising as he barked orders. "Move everyone back—now! The building's coming down!" As his men scrambled, urging people to retreat to a safer distance, he couldn't help but glance back at the woman in disbelief. If she was the reason the building hadn't already fallen, what else was she capable of?
As Bella watched the area clear, she flew up one last time to survey the scene, her eyes scanning for any signs of life as she flew around the structure. No movement, no sounds—the building was empty. Satisfied that everyone was now at a safe distance, she focused, her mind straining as she began to work on creating the largest shield she had ever attempted. It was difficult; after everything she had done, her mind felt mentally fatigued, but she forced herself to push through the exhaustion. Slowly, her shield expanded, her mind forcing the shield to grow until it stretched around the entire building like an invisible cocoon.
Once the shield was in place, she removed all the smaller ones she'd been using to hold the building together since the beginning of her rescue efforts. The collapse was almost immediate.
The building crumbled in on itself, but Bella's shield contained the wreckage. As the structure folded inward, she methodically reduced the height of her shield, compressing everything into a controlled, compact area. It was hard to do, but she knew it would make the cleanup easier and not pollute the surrounding air.
After the building finally came down, Bella released a long sigh. She had done it. It felt like it had taken days, but she had saved hundreds—if not over a thousand—lives. As she floated high in the air above the wreckage, for the first time, she allowed herself to truly contemplate what had just happened. Until now, her focus had been razor-sharp, singularly trained on saving every life she could. Now, with the crisis over, she looked down toward the park where everyone, including the press, had gathered, and she wondered what her next action should be.
She could just turn and fly away, leaving behind nothing but questions... Or should she approach the press, who she knew had been broadcasting everything live, documenting each moment of her actions? What would be the best course of action? If she vanished without a word, people would speculate, creating one outlandish story after another to try to explain what they had witnessed. Without any words from her, they would ultimately reach the wrong conclusions.
But could she speak to the press? What could she say about herself that wouldn't lead to exposure in some way? Bella considered telling a carefully constructed version of the truth—omitting key details, of course. There was a way to talk to them without revealing she was a vampire. Truthfully, nothing about her actions here today screamed vampire. If anything, people were more likely to think she was an alien. But was this the right course of action to take?
Her mind worked quickly, running through hundreds of possible outcomes, analyzing each scenario with clarity and its possible ramifications. In the end, one plan seemed to make the most sense—a blend of truth and silence. She could reveal enough to satisfy the public's need for answers while keeping the crucial parts of her identity and what she was concealed.
Decision made, Bella glided down gracefully from the sky, floating toward the crowd of press and onlookers. Hundreds of cameras were already trained on her, and she stopped her descent, hovering ten feet above the ground, ensuring everyone had a clear view of what she had to say.
It was time to meet the press.
Bella looked around at the crowd below. The hundreds of camera flashes were almost blinding, and she knew each video camera pointed her way belonged to a different network, broadcasting her... thankfully covered face across the globe. She had never imagined she would find herself in a situation like this. She had stood in front of audiences before, performing on stage and singing, but that had been when she was pretending to be human. This was totally different. Now, she found herself floating in the air in front of the world, her every move and word about to be watched by millions.
With a steadying breath, Bella worked to recall everything she had learned in her public speaking class back in college. She hoped it would pay off as she straightened her posture, aligning her body to project both confidence and humility. Every word mattered now. She needed to be clear, composed, and above all, in control.
With a strong, steady voice, she spoke, loud enough for all to hear. "Hello, everyone. I have some things I'd like to say, and then I'll take a few of your questions."
Bella worked to organize her thoughts, but it wasn't easy. Her mind was juggling so many different things at once that it felt impossible to prioritize what needed to be said first. But the world was watching, waiting. She knew she couldn't delay any longer.
She took a breath and began, her voice steady despite the weight of the moment. "I'm glad I was able to help as many people as I did today. Exposing myself to the world like this was not how I expected this day to unfold." She paused, searching for the right words. "By chance, I was only a few blocks away when I heard the explosion, and well... when I saw the building, I had to make a quick decision. In the end, the decision was simple: I couldn't stand by and watch people die when I knew I could help."
She could see that everyone was hanging on her every word, listening with bated breath. Bella continued, her tone growing more sure as her nervousness left her. "I know you must all have questions about me. The truth is, I value my privacy deeply, so there are some things I won't answer. But I'll do my best to be honest about the things I can share."
She paused again, allowing everything she'd said to sink in. Then, with a smile and a nod, she spoke, "With that said, I'll take a few of your questions."
The sudden cacophony of questions screamed at her from all directions would have rattled almost anyone. Bella, of course, could make out every word being shouted, but she knew no one else in the crowd could hear—let alone understand—anything in the overwhelming noise. She raised her hands, motioning for calm.
"Please, one at a time," she called out, her voice cutting through the noise. "I've never done anything like this before. Honestly," she added with a wry smile, glancing back at the wreckage of the building, "this right here is a lot harder for me than what I just did back there."
Thankfully, the racket died down, and one reporter managed to shout out before the rest. "Who are you? Are you an alien? How were you able to do what you just did?"
Bella nodded, acknowledging the reporter's questions. "Well, as I mentioned earlier, I value my privacy, so I won't be sharing who I am." She smiled, knowing this next question was coming. "And no, I can assure you, I'm not an alien. As for how I was able to do what I did... well, that's a little more complicated, and I won't be getting into specifics. But let's just say something happened to me..."
She paused for a moment, weighing her next words carefully. "I guess a good analogy might be how The Incredible Hulk was exposed to radiation, which gave him his powers. That's not what happened to me, but it was an event along those same lines... Thank God I didn't turn green."
A few chuckles rose from the crowd, and Bella smiled, feeling more like herself. She had considered using Spider-Man as an example, but talking about being bitten by something felt a little too on the nose.
Another reporter asked, "Is this the first time you've used your powers to save people?"
Bella smiled, shaking her head. "No, I've been helping people for many years, but I've always done it in secret, never making my presence known. This was the first time something happened where staying in the shadows wasn't an option."
"Do you know what happened here? Who was responsible for this?" a voice shouted from the crowd.
Bella's expression hardened slightly as she responded. "I have no idea who was responsible. I'm assuming it was some sort of bomb. That's a question for the authorities." She paused, her tone sharpening with distaste. "Hopefully, they'll find the assholes who did this and bring them to justice."
A few yells of agreement rose from the crowd around her. Bella had her own ideas of what justice should look like, but she doubted the government would drain the culprits once they were caught.
"Why are you wearing a mask?" a female reporter from CNN asked.
Bella gave a slight shrug, offering a small smile. "Well, I'd like to go back to having a normal life after all of this, and that wouldn't be possible if people recognized me everywhere I went." She paused briefly, then added, "I'm also thinking about my family. They don't deserve to have their lives turned upside down because of my actions today."
Bella paused for a moment, feeling she should make some points clear. "There are a few things I think I should say. What I did today was positive, but I want to make sure people understand that they shouldn't count on or expect me to swoop in and save the day every time some tragedy occurs. I was able to act here today because I was nearby. If something happened tomorrow on the East Coast, for example, there would be nothing I could do. I'm fast, but I'm not Superman fast." She paused briefly, her tone softening. "And I really want the public to understand that while what I did here today was helpful, and I'm sure many will say it was heroic, the real heroes were the first responders—they were the ones who ran into that building without hesitation, putting their lives on the line. I'm pretty much invulnerable, so when I do it, it's not saying much."
She let her words hang in the air so they could sink in before continuing. "Now that I've made my presence known to the world, I have a feeling I'll be helping out more often when I'm able. But even so, I'm just one person, and I'm also not perfect. I can make mistakes. Today, things went well, but sometimes situations can spiral out of control, even for me. That said, I promise that whenever I do step in to lend a hand, I'll always try my best."
Bella heard someone yell from the crowd, "What should we call you?"
Now that was an interesting question, and one Bella hadn't anticipated ever being asked. She knew this day would be talked about extensively, and they did need to call her something. But what? Her mind raced. Her first thought, obviously, was Wonder Woman, but sadly that was already taken. One thing was certain—she didn't want to be stuck with some demeaning name for the rest of eternity. No way was she going to be referred to as 'something-girl.' She still thought Supergirl got a raw deal when her counterpart was Superman.
Her thoughts sped through countless options, none of them quite right—until one name surfaced that struck a chord. "You can refer to me as Starshield," she finally said, her smile growing as the name rolled off her tongue. It felt right. Strong, protective, and fitting, given that she did have a shield after all.
Bella nodded inwardly, satisfied. Starshield. That would do just fine.
Bella felt this was a good moment to bring things to a close. "Listen, everyone. It's been... interesting talking with you all, but I think it's time to let the authorities do what they need to. My part in this is over, but their work is just beginning."
She paused, her voice softening as she continued, "I know I saved a lot of lives today, but sadly, many others weren't so lucky. By the time the building collapsed, I want to assure the families of those who lost someone that no one was still alive inside. I'm truly sorry I wasn't able to get your loved ones' remains out before the building came down. I did everything I could, but time just wasn't on our side."
Bella took a deep breath before finishing. "Now, I'm going to take off... and I don't know when you'll see me again. So, I'll just say—until next time."
With that, Bella offered a small smile and a quick wave to the cameras before turning and flying off, gliding back over the park. As she soared above the rubble of the collapsed building, she lifted the shield she had placed over the site, allowing the investigators to sift through the wreckage.
As Bella left the scene behind, a new thought began to settle in—one she hadn't fully confronted until now. In many ways, she had just set off her own bomb within the vampire world. Her actions today were a direct challenge to the secrecy their kind had clung to for thousands of years. She wasn't sure what the fallout would be, but given what she'd heard of the Volturi... well, she knew her trials were just beginning.
Bella flew until she was certain no one had followed her. Satisfied, she landed gracefully before breaking into a run. The city soon disappeared behind her as she moved effortlessly through the landscape. She didn't stop until she reached a quiet cluster of trees, where she finally slowed, coming to a standstill. She carefully removed her mask, really looking at it for the first time.
It had held up surprisingly well for something so simple—just an elastic band keeping it in place. She ran her fingers over the blue and gold design—it was pretty, in a way she hadn't fully appreciated during the brief moment she'd pulled it off the mannequin. After a moment, she slipped it into her pocket and pulled out her phone. The screen blinked to life, revealing the number of messages waiting for her—78.
Closing her eyes, Bella took a deep breath, steadying herself. She hoped she hadn't completely upended her life, but there was no going back now. In the end, she had to believe that the good she'd done today outweighed whatever consequences might come her way. With that, she tapped play on her first message, bracing herself for what would come next.
Whew... Bella saved the day. Thoughts?