Struck

~ Chapter 8 ~

None of them flinched at the electricity dancing across my fingertips, or the malicious grin stretched over my face. It's funny how people could be looking death in the eye and yet their ego would prevent them from realizing it. If anything, they looked excited that their prey had a bite of its own. 

"Trust me, we've been looking forward to this for quite some time now." A brunette one laughed in response to my question, "Ever since we heard of some little girl who lost control of her power in a high school."

"We've been assigned with putting you down. Can't have a monster running around, can we?" My gaze shifted to the black haired one who I had caught staring at me initially. Assigned, he said, meaning there was someone still out there who was calling the shots.

I tilted my head curiously, "Who gave you the assignment?" 

The one in the back, who had a narrow face similar to that of a rat, shrugged. "Now that is classified information, way more important than what you're worth. "

I flexed my hands at my side at the remark, intensifying the sparks weaving between my fingers. The urge to ruin those who stood against me was almost overpowering, and it took everything I had to resist. I now wanted answers, to find out what master was pulling these puppets strings before I killed them.

Funny, a week ago I would have balked at the thought of having to kill someone. Of wanting to kill someone. Now it seemed like it would be as natural as breathing, as if it had always been something I craved to do. It was sickening, how something so bad now feel so right. 

I assessed the group once more, looking for weaknesses and strengths. The black haired man, packed with muscle and a sharp look in his eyes was clearly the leader. He stood slightly in front of the others and they all glanced at him occasionally, looking at him for direction. If I wanted answers about who was hunting me, he would be the one to get them from. The others would be useless.

In the next breath, I stretched my arm forward, blinding power racing through my veins and out my fingertips. It crackled through the crisp night air, lightning weaving from my hand to the chest of the rat faced man who had threatened me. It knocked him backwards off his feet, the smell of burnt flesh singeing the air. He groaned from where he now lay. Not dead then.

The leader wasted no time to react to his fallen friend, instead raising a hand. With the twist of his fingers, the garbage dumpster next to me began to peel apart. Strips of metal tore themselves away from the frame of the bin, sharp edges glinting under the street lamps. They floated in the air precariously, waiting for their masters command.

I was momentarily stunned. Though I may have possessed these unexplainable powers, it had never really occurred to me that others would posses similar ones. It made sense, that what happened to me was not some random occurrence but rather a predestined path to a world full of unique abilities. 

A sudden urge within had electricity surging across my skin. I had never felt this threatened. There were now actual opponents who could challenge me, and the monster within me did not like the thought of it. 

A grin appeared on the leaders face, the only warning I got before the sharp metal was hurtling towards me. I ducked to the left, narrowly avoiding a piece slicing towards my face. The movement cause another piece to rip through my arm, blood gushing out of the open wound. 

I cried out, applying pressure to it with my free hand. A quick glance revealed no severe damage, just torn skin and muscle. It would be fine for now. I stood quickly, electricity blasting out of my palm as I took aim at the man who had just injured me. He rolled out of the way swiftly, laughter following the action.