Red Numbers

Chapter 1

So I'll start with myself, I guess. I have brown hair. It's really dark, and has blonde highlights. No, I did t go to some fancy salon to get the "just the right way." They are naturally like this thanks to the sun. I have yellow eyes. I know that really peculiar isn't it. Yellow eyes, no they aren't light brown or golden, just simply yellow. I have an athletic figure. Considering I'm always constantly moving. Always.

My past. Not a lot to tell. I never knew my parents. Raised in an orphanage until I figured out how I could make it on my own. I was out of there by the age of 11. I never played those pretend games as a child. But you probably have already guessed that. Never was in a after school sports club, or a "neat" club.

I would sit there looking onto the numbers that rested unknowingly on their heads. Learning, studying, growing stronger with my new knowledge of the numbers.

It was good that I did this, now that I look back. Because I got more human contact then, then I ever have in my entire life. I learned quickly of theyre being.

I always felt that I was the only one who knew about the numbers. How they're existence was invisible to everyone else's human eyes. But when I was 10, I just had to make sure.

A girl at the orphanage had bring a friend over to play. I watched them from my place on the couch, reading the book, Call of the Wild. I remember the girls name was Mary and her friend was River. Mary and River were playing with their dolls, a simple girls game, they were a little younger then me maybe 8.

I tried to enjoy my book, but I remember they were being noisy. I was about to leave when I heard this one remark from River.

"Mary!" she squealed with enjoyment, "Pretend I can see like the numbers of your deaths on everyone." also it was near Halloween. So looking back I think she was just trying to be "scary."

Mary nodded. She got up to use the bathroom. The room fell. I jumped down from the couch walking over to River, curious and almost excited. Could it be possible that someone was just like me and could see the red digit numbers?

"Hello." I almost spoke too quietly. There was a very slim window of oprotunity open now that we were alone. I had to take advantage of the situation

"Hi there, I'm River." she spoke with the same squeal in her voice.

I cut to the chase. No need for introductions. "You can see the numbers to?" It was more a comment then a question.

River was puzzled. At first she giggle and said "yeah!" then she saw how serious I was. She looked for her friend Mary.

"So you know about them too! I'm not the only one." I was shocked and sat down with disbelief. "You know how your a 83, (probably grow up to be a dentist or tattoo remover, something serious, but relaxed to) and how I'm a 3."

She laughed nevously and looked around, "What game is this?"

I was astonished. This wasn't a game. "What game?" I almost yelled, but kept my normal quiet voice. "This isn't a game, I'm serious."

Just like that Mary came skipping in. "Now where we're we?" she turned to me "oh hello."

River whispered into Mary's ear. Mary looked at me puzzled. "Um were going to my room to play." And Mary walked off.

River hesitated. Staring at my eyes. After a while she blinked and backed down her gaze. I was used to everyone staring at my yellow eyes, they were different. "Later," she whispered as her voice cracked at the end. She then fallowed Mary into her too pink room.

That was the last I saw of River.

Now here I stand. One moment clicking to another. In the middle of a forest. In the clearing ahead is the town, Foreheight. That's where I dropped out of school. It's weird but I felt whenever I was taught a math lesson, I already knew it, all the shortcuts and the easy ways to the correct answers. So I don't think I'm missing that much.

I use a five finger discount. Yeah not the best of plans always, but It helps. Especially with the old and blind Mr. Wright manning the stand. I didn't like stealing so I tried not too only when I needed it. So I worked as a busboy at our local coffee shop. You know cleaning up the dishes and sweeping the floors. It pays a little over minimum wage.

I get along pretty good by myself. I have lived 15 years. I don't know my real birthday so I made one up. July 4th because of all the fireworks into the sky. It's nice to sit in the clearing in the forest and watch them explode.

I am shifty with where I sleep. Sometimes the owner of the coffee shop, Late Night Latte, owner, Carl, will offer me the bed upstairs. I know that sounds like he is a pervert but he really isn't. He is a nice old man and his age matches his number 63. I liked Carl. Sure, he talked on and on too me. But that was just it, he talked to me. He didn't stare at my quietness. Didn't call me shy. Just accepted the fact that I was short of words, and filled in the silence with his. He told me tons of stories of him in his navy days. How he met his perfect match Emily. And then how she ripped out his heart by sleeping with another younger guy in his 40's, Jet.

Now I'm not one for love stories as you already know, but when I thought long and hard about the details of this story I got a small microscopic lump in my throat. Hey, I'm almost human. Don't judge.

Anyways I usually sleep in this cave I found somewhere in the middle of te woods. It was a good hideout. Right next to a pond that connected to a river, So as long as I remembered to boil, I always had fresh water. It was nice out there, and lonely. Just the way I liked it.

One by one the moments connected together to create a perfect picture. As I gazed into the white sun in the warm summer air. Staring at the sun doesn't hurt my eyes much either. It's funny that way. But after maybe 10 minutes even I have to look away. That's the way it works.

Everyone has to turn at some point.