Hysteria

Chapter 1

Swinging a baggy sleeve around Zeke's shoulders, my shoes crunch the brown leaves on the ground when I jump. The sun's rays filter through the autumn leaves. A breeze sends leaves flying and rolling like tumbleweed, that familiar fall breeze filling the air. My fingers scrunch the cotton shirt that Zeke wears, his sleek green tank top layered over a white long sleeve. Zeke always seems to be wearing green, which works out because it goes great with his chocolate hair. That is Zeke's favorite color. Half of his head is buzzed, the top long, letting his chocolate hair rest on a side. A black Adidas backpack is slung on one of my shoulders and hung by a strap. Each step took all the keychains on each of our backpacks, jingles, and jumps as we jumped and laughed greeting each other after a long, grueling day of school.
God I hate school.
"What's up guys," Blake says as he daps up Zeke and I, giving his short, silky, charcoal hair a flip to get it out of his face. Blake towers over the two of us, he's always been tall for his age and people let him know a lot. He doesn't mind at this point he's used to hearing it. But not us, it's a part of who he is and he can't control it so it's pointless and really stupid to make fun of him. He wears a salmon sweatshirt making him stand out even more, he's like a highlighter if a highlighter was a skyscraper.
"Been surviving dude," Zeke groans in his raspy voice.
"Oh come on we can do better than that!" I am not satisfied with the dap.
Blake rolls his eyes scoffing a little as he moves his arm out.
"Ready?" I say excited, my whole soul seeking challenge.
"Yes," Blake says still laughing, setting his arm out ready for the dap, the fall breeze rustling his short hair.
We dap each other, our hands making a loud clap, all of us laugh when I start jumping up and down victoriously.
Zeke says looking around for our little stumpy friend. "You guys seen Alex? He's normally out by now-"
Alex comes bounding into Zeke from behind, answering his question while also almost knocking us down. Zeke's hair flops in front of his face. Which is surprising considering Alex is the smallest of the group. Alex laughs at our reactions, his nose scrunching up and his whole face turns pink when he laughs. Each laugh makes his blonde messy head of hair bounce.
He barely makes out gasping for breath, his baggy, orange hoodie sleeves flopping over his hands when he puts one on his chest, wheezing and laughing.
"You guys should see your faces,"
I laugh a little to myself seeing Zeke scowl a little fixing his hair that was knocked in front of his face, Blake snickers.
"Oh shut up," Zeke gives little stumpy Alex a shove causing the laughing kid to stumble back, nearly tripping over his shoelaces.
I put my royal blue Dodgers baseball hat over my brown frizzy hair backward, my hair popping out under his hat, still snickering to myself. Blake takes the first long step towards the painted crosswalk in the road from the school to start the boys route to their houses. He takes a long stride for one step but we have to take 3 steps to go the same distance, crunching over even more orange, red, and brown dead leaves that had wandered to the street, guided by the breeze. We soon follow suit, still jumping and shoving each other as they cross the street. We safely make it to the other side of the busy street and start parading down the neighborhood, a steady breeze rustling the trees. Sending even more red and brown leaves to the sidewalk and over the yellow, faded, dead grass. Alex reaches into his blue backpack, the wide assortment of key chains jingling, and he pulls out a bag of chips, the bag's design flashing yellow in the sun and the inside reflecting the sunlight like a mirror.
Always hungry. I give a sideways smile at the thought.
Almost in sync the other two boys and I all reach in and grab a chip from the stash, Alex groans in protest but lets them. Alex, and Blake all start to talk away as they trample over the dead brown leaves on the sidewalk. Zeke's already out of it and staring up at the sky, the moon is visible in daylight again, wispy clouds like white brush strokes over the blue sky. It doesn't take long for me to notice and I jokingly roll my eyes.
How does he do that so fast.
I nudge the bean of a friend to snap him back to reality, it's hilarious each time for me. Seeing my friend's dazed expression snap back like a deer in headlights. Zeke pretends like nothing happened because nothing did really, I always have to bring him back to reality and the world around him. Alex is still talking a storm to Blake telling him all about his day and all about 7th grade, Blake listening intently, taking in every word said. Blake, Zeke and I are all in 8th grade, all have already turned 14 meanwhile Alex is 13 and in 7th grade. Giving Alex's skimpy arm a light wack I ask.
"Alex, you got an airhead or somethin'?"
Alex scoffs, slinging his blue backpack to his front and begins rummaging through it, all his supplies clicking and banging against each other.
"Do I have an airhead, of course I do, what flavors do you guys want?"
"Gimme a mystery," Zeke says, surprisingly not in his own world again.
"Cherry dude," Blake ruffling Alex's fluffy hair like a brother would.
"Blue raspberry." I chip out.
Each candy hits the boys in the chest and all of them catch it . . . except me. Fumbling with it before it falls and hits the cement. They all laugh hearing it splat on the sidewalk. The blue reflects brightly against the sunlight. I pick it up and bound to catch up, this time jumping and slinging a baggy arm around Blake's shoulders. Yanking the beanstalk for a fourteen year old down to our height. Blake yelps in surprise before realizing it's just me, his short black hair flopping to one side.
"You're so mature aren't you," Blake smirks at me, his voice reeking of sarcasm as he shoves my arm off his shoulder.
All four of us snicker.
"Why yes I am, aren't we the MOST mature people out there." I bounce back, my voice equal in sarcasm.
We laugh more until Blake says giving his hair a flip again. "How much you guys wanna bet that Leslie dyed her hair so she'd look like she had powers?"
"20 bucks," Alex says confidently.
"Dude I'm broke," Zeke says with a snort as he lets his head dip forward, his hair going in front of his face again.
"I may be broke but imma say 50," I say, overpowering Alex's confidence as usual.
"Jesus Danny," Blake snickers.
"Why would anyone want to look like they have powers that might as well be signing your death warrant," Zeke's raspy voice says, immediately changing tone with it and flipping his hair out of his face.
"Or like having a big sign that says 'you who over here come and get meee'," Alex says waving his arms around making him look like a traffic director.
We all snicker before the other three boys shrug but I mumble under my breath kicking a loose pebble and watching it bounce and twist away.
"Probably don't wanna be here no more." He pauses before looking up and sees the others' expressions.
"Wha-don't look at me like that come on think about it guys, if you don't wanna be here no more and the government is getting rid of these guys with powers that seems like the easiest route to go."
The others look at each other before looking back at me, they all collectively stop.
my brown brows furrow with confusion.
Well that's weird.
"We good Danny?" Blank nudges my arm.
I scoff. "Yeah why wouldn't I be?"
They stare at me before laughing a bit awkwardly.
"Just checkin in cause Jesus that went dark Danny," Zeke hits the back of my hat's bill, causing it to fall and they all laugh as they start walking again. Scoffing I scoop up my Dodgers hat off the ground but this time when I go bounding back to the group I knocks into everyone. All four of us start to stumble over each others' feet and unknowingly close to the road, and we all obviously know to be careful around this road. It's a very busy road for a neighborhood road and cars always seem to drive way too fast. But this thought seems to skim past all of our heads as we keep jumping, slapping and shoving each other. I lose my footing and fall to his butt in the road, right as a car comes charging way too fast down the neighborhood road. I give my head a shake still laughing a bit before hearing the car, my head whipping in the direction of the sound. The Toyota zooming down the road, like a red streak.
Shit!
All of the other three laughing collectively stop and all start yelling at me and the car, Alex starts jumping up and down frantically.
"Danny move!"
"Get up! Get up!"
"DANNY!"
Scrambling to my feet right as Blake stands in front of me waving his arms and the driver of the car slams his brakes. The tires scream at the hard stop leaving hard, black streaks onto the black pavement. The car's hot breath steams out of the webbed grill, getting all in my face, the smell of gasoline filling his nose. My heart thumping like a drum in my chest as Alex and Zeke bound over and yank me to my shaky feet. Blake glares daggers at the car as he ushers his friends back to the sidewalk. The three collectively flip off the driver as he drives off. I scramble and fumble trying to get my inhaler feeling my chest close more and more, taking the air from me. Blake takes the inhaler from me and pops the cap and gives it a shake before connecting the inhaler to my mouth. Blake pushes down on the top and I can feel the inhaler opening my lungs. I don't think Blake hadn't realized it but he had put his arm on my shoulder in an attempt to steady me or himself. My hand grips onto Blake's arm holding on for dear life as I count down in my head.
1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5 . . . 6 . . . 7 . . . 8 . . . 9 . . . 10.
I let out a sigh of relief and all the other boys smile to themselves relieved everyone's ok. Zeke runs a hand through his chocolate hair.
"Jesus you need better shoes," Blake teases trying to lighten the mood, handing back my inhaler.
I glance down at his shoes and realize they were untied.
You gotta be kidding, I almost died cause of you.
I shove the inhaler in my pocket, still shaken up from what just happened. Everyone gives themselves a shake before starting to walk again, all four of us shunning the side closest to the road. Eventually each boy dips off to their own street, leaving me to walk home the rest of the way as usual. But today I bolt to my house, fumbling with the house keys and slamming the front door behind me. Ollie, my dog, barks and I jump and when I turn to see Ollie bounding and panting happily to me, his pink tongue hanging out of his mouth, dripping with spit. Ollie's golden fur shines like a sunflower when the sun's rays filtered through the blinds hit it. When Ollie gets to me he pushes up on his front legs so he's leaning on his hind legs, putting his front paws on my thighs. I smile a little, wrapping my shaky hands around Ollie's paws.
"Hi Ollie buddy I missed you, did you miss me?"
Ollie barks in response, ending it with a little whine, begging for pets. I begin to scruff and ruffle up Ollie's golden fur on top of his head. Ollie's big brown eyes glittering excitedly and happily at me.
Tossing my backpack down the hall, I watch it as it slides on the hardwood until it knocks my white bedroom door frame. Nodding to myself I slip off my shoes leaving them by the front door and stumble over to the tan couch, Ollie sticking with me. I feel the hardwood beneath my feet giving me a little reassurance. I jump over the back of the couch but Ollie walks around, his paws padding softly on the stained carpet and jumps up onto the couch, he lays his head on my lap. His big brown eyes staring up at mine and pouring his soul to me, he whimpers even though he doesn't know what's wrong. I grab the sleek black remote, it slips into my hand and presses the red power button. Turning on the TV, with a click the TV turns on and the speaker. Running my hand through Ollie's soft golden retriever fur, ruffling and scrunching it up as I mindlessly scrolls on Netflix.
At some point I just put down the sleek remote and hug Ollie, burying my head in Ollie's fur. Ollie has been and always shall be my childhood dog, my family got Ollie when he was a little pup. Ollie had barely begun to open those big brown eyes and waddle around with his little stubby puppy legs when he was adopted by me. And we've loved him from day one and I hope he's loved us, of course Ollie had done the classic puppy accidents. Like going to the bathroom in the house or even worse throwing up on the carpet or playing tug of war too hard that we broke something. That time it was both me and Ollie's accident, we're like two partners in accidental crimes. Mom had made Ollie sit and watch her clean up his mess each time, giving him a lecture like a college professor would. Ollie's paws have always been proportionately small compared to his body, that's just how he was born.
My head feels fuzzy as my thoughts swirl in my head like a hurricane and go all the way back to Leslie's hair that ends up making it look like she has a power. I try to think of all the times I've ever heard of anything about powers, lifting my head from Ollie I realize that seems like a topic everyone avoids.
But why?
I know if anyone ever has a power they get taken away, buy what makes the government immediately mark the person as "dangerous".
That would be so cool to have powers though why do the people with them have to get taken away?
Ollie lifts his head from my lap, tilting his head to the side right as I roll over the back of the couch. Nearly slipping on the hardwood in my socks as I make my way over to my backpack by my bedroom door frame. Ripping the black backpack open I grab the sleek computer, feeling the grubby stickers from all the hand oil, I slide back to the couch. Plopping myself on the couch and opening my computer. I open up Youtube, mumbling to myself as I type it on the search bar, mostly spelling it out to myself. All while Ollie sits, perched on the couch like the good boy he is, his head is still tilted curious, his tail wags in wonder.
"His-tor-y of pow-ers."
Almost immediately thousands of links pop up on the computer screen bringing me to a bunch of different news videos. With a bunch of articles on it, some history buffs. I click on a video that just started a livestream.
"What's up guys thank you for joining me, now for the past couple of videos I've noticed that a lot of you want to know more about powers and pretty much what the heck is up with them. So that is exactly what we're doin' today, if you don't want to hear about any of this, just go ahead a click off I literally couldn't care less this is what most of you wanted so here you go. Ok! So."
The youtuber claps his pale, beefy hands together signaling the start of the livestream. He wears a black monster energy drink baseball cap, his deep brown, short beard kept nice and neat. His gray hoodie almost hides him with the dark lighting in the video.
"It seems like since the beginning of since people wrote stuff down, people get powers from their emotions. Specifically when they have an emotion so strong they can't control it or calm themselves down. It is at this moment that people get a power and a streak of color that matches their power appears in their hair. And surprisingly a ton of people have tried to dye their natural hair color over it but no matter what anyone does that streak does not leave. That sounds pretty sick, I don't really get why people would want to cover it up. Anyways it's so weird that you can't cover it up with hair dye but oh well not much you can do there. Oh and there have been a few reports of how it feels when you get powers,"
The youtuber green screens the website where they are reading and getting all their information.
"Ok so right here it says," The youtuber highlights the text. "'When you get the power you finally feel free to feel whatever and however you want. That it feels like your soul is being ripped in two'-OH oh no." The youtuber laughs a little.
Sucks to suck, I smirk to myself.
"That doesn't sound that fun but anyways, some people got some powers, very bad people, like villain type of bad people. The kind of people that seem like they're from a TV show, anyways they received a power giving them too much power over people with and without powers. There's this one guy they call him, Calor, when he got his powers-he has fire powers by the way, he caused like mass destruction and like crazy deaths to people. The authorities apparently never found him and so this led to the government deciding no more powers, 'for the safety of the people' they say. Which is fair considering what Calor did."
The youtuber takes a pause to glance at the flying comments on the side before continuing.
"So now people aren't allowed to have powers at all! If anyone is caught with or using a power they are immediately taken and basically hunted down. After these people with powers are taken, no one ever sees them again and that person never sees their family again. So it's presumed . . . But THAT'S. NOT. ALL. They put freaking power dampeners in almost every building or structure there is! It's this little bracelet, now I'm not entirely sure what exactly dampens the powers with this bracelet."
The youtuber is now green screening an image of a power dampener and points at a few sections of the bracelet, laughing a bit looking at the live comments before continuing.
"But somehow this skimpy piece of metal dampens every power known. Pretty sure it's the little blue glowy strip, you know what I bet we could find out more about them, "
The youtuber types in their search bar, and scrolls for a good 5 grueling minutes while the comments silently complain. Eventually the youtuber gives up.
"Well that's it for today, I'll keep looking for more information and stuff about the power dampeners but for now stay safe and don't die."
The youtuber flashes a crooked smile to the camera before ending the livestream. I smirk as I look at Ollie and ruffle his golden fur talking as if he's a human.
"Powers sure do sound like crazy don't they Ollie? Yes they do and so does the government."