First Pulse Against the Shell

Everything snapped into focus at once. I tightened my gloved fingers, testing the grip, and felt actual strength surge through my forearms. A clear plastic dome pinned me against cardboard, narrowing my view. Not an issue. I pressed one fist firmly forward into the transparent shell. It yielded with a crisp, hollow pop, bending just enough under my knuckles to prove I had the power to push back. I held the pressure, taking in the store lights reflecting off the curved surface.