Short Stories

Danger

Being in high school, you see weird things. It's normal. We all believe we're different than most people, but normally you aren't. We all have something in common, but that's the thing. At least, one person in your life is more different. If it's someone at your school, your friend, your enemy, your family or someone you just pass during the day. But, what if it is you? What if you woke up one morning and you found out you could do things no one else could? Something you couldn't do a day before? In this case, that's me.

It was my second day having the power and I had figured it out. In my head, I can see a number scale. When I look at someone in the eyes or in some cases, touch someone, the number goes up until it stops. The number scale only goes up to ten. I didn't know what the numbers meant until my mom sent me to the bank to get cash out for her. The boy in front of me, he was blank. I got no number from him. I brushed his hand while he was walking passed me when he got a call. His number went to an eight.

That scared me. I never had a number go that high before. I got threes and fours. The minimum I got was a one.

So when he brought out a gun and shot at the ceiling, declaring he was robbing, I wasn't a bit surprised and that's when I figured out my power.

I could measure how dangerous someone was by touch or looking at them in the eyes.

I was on break when I figured that out, so heading back to school scared me. I didn't want to know who was the most dangerous at my school and who was the weakest.

So when Monday came, I stared at the ground most of the day. In doing so, I bumped into people and found their number anyways. A bunch of twos, threes, and fours. None reaching the higher numbers. I gave up after a while, noticing that most people were low at my school and I couldn't be happier.

I reached my fifth hour class and noticed someone at a desk already. Someone I haven't seen before. He had brown short curly hair. He was wearing a loose grey shirt and jeans with black boots. On the back of the chair, was a leather jacket. I breathed in deep. I smiled slightly.

Just how dangerous can he really be? I thought to myself. He looked up suddenly and met my eyes. I froze as his number rose and kept rising, finally settling at a number. My eyes widen as he kept his gaze on mine. Deep emerald eyes.

His number was ten. The highest on my scale. I let out a soft breath and went inside, my heart racing. I didn't let him see my face, knowing my cheeks were stained red. He was handsome and I now knew he was dangerous.

The bell rang and students started entering. Girls whispered and looked at the handsome stranger. I gripped my desk and looked straight ahead, his eyes still on me.

The teacher came in, Mr. Donald. He sat in the desk and pulled out a sheet of paper. He glanced up and saw the new student. He cleared his throat.

"Alright, class, seems as if we have a new students. Say welcome to Alexander." Mr. Donald introduced.

We all murmured our greeting, some girl giggled while doing so. I rolled my eyes. I sighed and pulled out a notebook and a pencil, just waiting to leave. The teacher continued on with the lesson and I ignored the eyes boring holes in the back of my head.

It was lunch time when I could finally go home. I only had six classes and I had lunch right after. So I walked to my house which was about two blocks away. I was half way home when a motorcycle pulled up beside me. His helmet was off so I could see who it was. My breath disappeared. It was Alexander. His green eyes roamed over me and he started to nod.

"You." He said, his voice slightly deep. "You need to come with me."

I shook my head, flabbergasted. "Um, no thank you."

His eyes flashed. "Did I give you an option?"

My cheeks filled with warmth. He got off his bike and grabbed my arm. He pulled me to his bike and handed me a helmet. Calmly I put it on. He then picked me and carefully put me on his bike. He slipped on in front of me.

"You might want to hold on." He warned. I circled my arms gently around his waist and hugged him. He started his bike snd I shrieked a little and he was off.

We stopped at an old building on the country side of town. It was getting chilly and I rubbed my arms. I got off the bike without his help. Alexander hopped off as well and strode to the entrance. He looked back at me and inclined his head toward the building. He went inside and I took that as my cue to follow.

Inside were men a lot like Alexander. Leather jackets and boots. I bit my lips and bumped into someone. He came up a seven. I stepped away and pushed foward to to find Alexander. A hand clamped my shoulder snd whirled me around, the number scale leveling at a ten. I breathed out a breath of relief. Alexander's eyes grew dark.

"Welcome to my gang, sweet girl." He growls lowly. I gasped. He smiled. "Now, I need your help. I know you have a power. I can tell who has power, but it's not worth much."

I raised an eyebrow. "Mine is much better. I can just measure how dangerous people are."

He looked amused. His friends on the other hand looked shocked. "Boss, that might just help us."

Alexander smiled. "Indeed." He came closer to me. "We use this one to find out who is more dangerous in the gangs and our business. We can take out our enemies by getting to the weaker ones first. Question is, will you do it?"

I stood there, staring into Alexander's eyes. I thought it over. "Would I be in any danger?"

He shrugged. "Maybe."

I frowned. "What do I get in return?"

He smiled. "Training to become the first badass girl in a gang."

I smirked at that. It would be neat. "Sure. I'll do it."

His boys hooted. "Welcome to the Gang, Adele."