Surreally Falling

Electrilla

As I wake, I can feel my bruised rib cage. I immediately smell the grass and stand as quickly as I can. I arm my mind and prepare to run from any threats, but the air is still. I study my surroundings, trying to create a memory as to what I'm doing here, but I come up empty. It looks as though I'm in a forest, but some trees are knocked down, the ground is steaming, I see a few bodies around me, and it's quiet. I run to the nearest person and kneel next to them. "Are you alright? What happened here?" I ask, frantically.

It's a man, older than myself. His head turns, he groans and flutters his eyes. Then, they widen with fear. "You! Get away from me. Please don't hurt me anymore!" He shrieks.

I'm startled and confused. "Me? I'm just a teenager, I'm not capable of any-"

"Please, get away!" He cries again. I stand and begin to run, wondering how I could've done any of this.

I run as fast and as far as I can. I reach the edge of the woods and see a crowded street. I stop myself and step backward before I'm struck by a car. I see people roaming the streets and I know I'm in some kind of city. Suddenly, my head begins to ache horribly, as if someone's stabbing my temples. I fall to the ground, crying in pain. I clench my fist and start to feel my palms burn. I open my eyes and look at my open hands... I think I just found out what that man was talking about.

***

From that day on, I wore gloves at all times. I had to keep my hands hidden and concealed. I still don't remember how I got in the forest that day, or exactly what that man was talking about. All I knew was that he wasn't lying when he said I caused all that destruction. Over the months of walking the streets, my powers came in handy. At first, if a fight started over what food could be found, I'd calmly step back and let the other person have it. Once I began to feel the hunger pains, though, I'd fire a lightning bolt from above at the ground to scare the other person off. Most of the time, people thought it was a gun because it all happened so fast. Scaring the people off became entertaining to me. Although, most days, I feel like it was just out of boredom. It was the closest thing to "fun" I'd ever had that I can remember, at least.

I'm munching on a mini-pack of Chips Ahoy cookies I finessed from the gas station as I walk down the street. I turn the corner looking for a place to relax for a few minutes. I'm walking down the alley when I'm suddenly grabbed from behind by my shirt. Some guy, a few inches taller than I am, swings me onto the ground. "Dude, come on-" I start.

"Shut up!" He yells and swings some kind of blade in my face. I see he's got a couple of friends with him. "Kid, you should know better than to walk down my street," he spits while crouching towards me.

"Your streets?" I laugh. "I live on them. Go run back home to mommy and daddy, why don't you?" I finish and attempt to stand up. One of his friends comes up behind me, kicks my arm so I fall back down and holds me in a sitting position by twisting my other arm behind my back.

"I don't care who's living on the streets, as long as they know that they're mine and they need to get off." He swings his knife around a little more, and I realize it's a butterfly. I study the blade and realize it's not just a practice blade, and it's a sharp one.

I start to feel my hands warm up again.

"I suggest you back off," I try to warn them.

"What're you gonna do, freak?" His friend hisses into my ear.

"Get off of-" and I'm cut off again, but this voice is different.

"I'm guessing you should listen to her. You know how shit goes with the strangers around here. You never know what tricks they have up their sleeves," a confident and calm voice threatens them. I lean over as the one kid lets go of my shoulders.