Short Stories Collection

Intelligence Heist

"In our world, we have many things that the generations before us did not have. We, for instance, have machines that allow us to take another's Intelligence. Of course this is a crime and is punishable by death, if you are caught. This machine caused the destruction of numerous Certified Geniuses across the globe. We are calling this the Intelligence Heist. . ."

"...s-so did that t-tell us anything?" Chasma asked, shaking a bit and struggling against the weight of the chains snaked around their body, holding them down.

"Indeed it did. There is a way to steal another's Intelligence, and the way to do it is in this small machine right here," Jason replied. He picked up a small machine and put down the diary from which he was reading.

The machine had a trigger at the top, where flames flickered out whenever that trigger was switched. It had a long, somewhat narrow belly that the flames seemed to come out of Jason's DataBase told him that a thousand and thirty-six years ago this machine was called a "lighter".

"What a peculiar name for such a small thing. What did they possibly believe this machine could light? Certainly nothing more than a simple burn could be caused using it. It's comical; why would anyone create a thing not meant to cause complete and utter, agonizing, destruction?" Jason laughed.

"Y-you do realize that n-not everything used to be meant to-to hurt people?" Chasma whimpered. Their chains were dragging them down to a kneel, and their bowed head made it seem like they was praying to Jason.

"I'm well aware, thank you, sibling. Now, who's Intelligence should I steal first?" Jason walked over to Chasma and took their chin in his hand lightly, moving their head up so they could look him in the eyes. Jason laughed again, smiling.

It was not a loving smile. This was a smile that chilled your blood till it turned to crimson ice. This was a smile that sent winter down your neck. This was not a smile a big brother gave to his little sibling.

"Oh, I know," the smile widened, "maybe I'll start with you, little sibling? Maybe I'll steal your Intelligence first? Would you like that, Chasma? Would you?!" Jason let Chasma's head fall again, disgusted at the tears streaming down their dirty, bloodied face.

"Br-brother... p-please don't," Chasma squeaked, trying to scamper away from their brother but being unable to because of the heavy chains draped on their body and attached to their limbs.

Jason advanced towards his sibling, picking up a knife that was laid out on the table. The knife had been recently sharpened and readied for usage. Chasma whimpered once more. Their pleading gaze landed on their brother's own hard, cold stare. Their pleads gave them no advantage over what was to happen next.

Jason placed the knife against Chasma's forehead, digging one of the sides into his skin. "You understand that if you cry, it will make it worse for you. Now, when I start, I want as much crying as possible so I am simply forced to create more pain for you."

"Y-yes Jason, but would-wouldn't it be easier forrr you to--" Chasma was cut off when Jason's knife slashed his chest, cutting through his shirt easily and with little to no resistence. Poor Chasma was terrified now, as it would only get worse from there.

"You simply never learn. Talking makes it worse for you. Any sort of movement and sound makes it worse for you. Are you a masochist Chasma, is that why you keep forcing my hand? Do you enjoy the pain, my sibling?" Jason continued to slash across his sibling's chest. Blood splattered into the air and stuck to his arms, face and neck like glue.

He had a large smile on his face when Chasma's eyes glowed dim. He continued to smile when he felt a tugging sensation on the back of his neck. Poor Jason hadn't realized that he was slashing at air, now. Poor Jason didn't hear the click; didn't feel the oncoming heat that spawned behind him. Poor Jason was too late when he finally did. Such a poor, poor man Jason turned out to be.

Poor, poor Jason. My brother wasn't strong enough to continue the family legacy of stealing intelligence from unsuspecting people. You see, I started out as the family's plaything. My father abused me, my mother abused me, and Jason used to abuse me. Now, I am the family's last hope of survival. I am the strong one. I destroyed all the weak links, and now I am smarter because of it. I will continue the legacy. I will continue to lead the Intelligence Heist. I will become the smartest person in the world. I will do anything for intelligence. Anything.

word count 815. horror/scifi genre.