A shocking experience

The knock on her door was gentle. “Claudia? Honey? Dinner’s ready.”   “I’m not hungry,” she replied, huddled in the corner of her dark bedroom, knees to herself, arms wrapped around them.   She was famished, but she wouldn’t endanger her family by stepping out of her room while they were around. She’d already fried the fuse box, forcing them to rough it out for her actions. It had been lucky her father had had old camping equipment in the basement. That way her parent and little brother didn’t have to suffer too much because of her.   The handle on her bedroom door turned.   “Stay out!” she yelled. There was a flash of light, the snap of electricity connecting with something conductive, then she was left with the afterimage. The bolt had been going for the handle. It always went for what her emotions were aimed at, and if she’d been closer, or there had been nothing grounded between her and it, she’d have hurt her mother, risk killing her. Fortunately, the plug by the door had attracted the bolt.