Shower taken, hair brushed, contacts in, breakfast eaten. I'm walking to school again. My neighbors are noisy as ever with their bullshit. I don't care about you forgetting to lock your damn door. How am I going to kill him? I don't even know his name, I don't know what he's thinking, and I don't even know how he's preventing me from moving. The only logical explanation is that he's like me. He said hello again as if he knew me, but how? Is he looping too? That would explain how he found me the second time around. Damn it, I don't know. Why can't this shit power work in my favor for once? The one time I need it, it malfunctions. Should I call the police instead? How would I even explain this?

  "Oh yeah, there's some guy that's going to come to my school after hours to hunt me down and shank me with a knife, can you come help me with that?"

  More likely than not, even if I get protection, he'll just avoid school, maybe even try to get to me from home. If he's really hunting me specifically, he'll know my address. Why doesn't he hunt me before I leave, then? Maybe he sleeps in?

  I make it to school. (shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!) Noisy as usual, why can't I ever just think in peace? (Fuck... I forgot about the homework...) I'm not going to give this bastard any more control over me. He thinks he can change my schedule? I'll show him just how little he matters. (I wonder what the lunch menu is today...) I'm going to make him suffer for what he did. After class, I take the scenic route to avoid any undesirables when I'm stopped by a voice.

  "Um... are you okay?"

  It's Alex, he looks concerned. Concerned? About me? This fucking idiot thinks he can pity me? Do you think you're better than me? (He looks so mad...) You piece of shit, you should feel thankful I even talk to you. Calm down, I can't make him worry. Smiling in this situation would make him doubtful; I'll act confused.

  "Why do you ask?"

  (Because you look like a psycho...)

  "We're friends, aren't we? You look more tired than usual... is something wrong?"

  This fucking kid, my problems are none of your business.

  "...You're right, I actually got in a fight with my mom this morning... I said some things I didn't mean..."

  (That explains it... I should help...) This arrogant piece of—

  "Everyone fights with their parents sometimes! As long as you're honest about it, I'm sure your mom will understand! You're a good guy, Felix, your mom knows that better than anyone!"

  What a bunch of bullshit. You don't even know her or my situation. I smile with tears in my eyes.

  "...Thank you! You're a good friend!"

  (He's... crying?)

  Obviously. This might make you pity me, but that doesn't matter, does it? None of this matters. You want to feel like a hero? Fine, get it over with.

  Thinking back on it, on my first interaction with the man, I wasn't frozen until he turned around. Doesn't that mean if I sneak up on him, I can kill him? A sharp object would be too bloody, so I need something blunt. How about a baseball bat from the shed outside? I'll need the key to it. How am I going to hide the body, though? Once this is all over, I can't exactly go to prison because of this moron. Blunt force trauma from behind wouldn't exactly support self-defense. Do I need to face him head-on, but how? He does have a knife, but how would I explain having a bat? I'm not in the baseball club. Dammit, I'm no murderer, how the hell am I supposed to do this anyway? Why is he targeting me? This is all bullshit! All I do is mind my own business, even if he somehow knows I have powers, how is that my fault?! That fucking monster needs to disappear. My stomach growls. Great. I forgot to eat. I look at the clock and realize I skipped class. I was warned about that before; I'm going to be written up. That fucking shit stain impacted my schedule after all. I'm going to make him pay for that.

  It's after school. Everyone is gone. That means he'll be here soon. I stole the key to the shed from the teacher's room; those morons really thought a camera would be a deterrent. I knew it was off You really should watch what you think around me. There he is in the courtyard, now I just to— He starts turning around. I'm going to die! I won't be able to move again! Run! I can move! I can run! I'm going to get away! Where do I go?! The guard isn't at the security desk! Fuck this, I can't rely on anyone, I just need to get out of the building! I run to the nearest exit. The guard is at the door.

  (pretzels...)

  What? Why is he standing there? I smile.

  "Excuse me, I need to get back to the field. The coach sent me to pick up his bat in the faculty lounge."

  (donuts... jam...)

  ...Why is he just thinking about food? He isn't even answering me. Get the fuck out of the way.

  "Um... is there a reason you're ignoring me?"

  (dinner... steak...pork)

  ...Shit, was he...

  I hear footsteps. I hear him.

  "Why so tense? Is something wrong?"

  Run. Run. RUN. I sprint away. Where can I get out? Where is everyone?! There should normally be at least some people around! It's hard to breathe, I'm not built for this shit! I'm not a damn track member! I'll just hide in a classroom! Bar the door! I enter the nearest classroom and push desks to the doors. I'm sweating. What should I do? Make a scene? Call the cops? Fuck it, he's here, might as well. I pull my phone out to call 911 and... no bars? What the hell do I even have this for?! I hear the window open and turn my head, he's climbing through the window!

  "You've given me some trouble. I'm going to take my time with you."

  No, no, no, no.

  "Still, I'm surprised. Why did you think you could hide? I can sense where you are, silly. You should've known that by now—"

  I swing the bat at his head and feel nothing except air. He just took a step back, that's all it took.

  "That wasn't very nice."

  He grabs the bat and pulls me in; his knife pierces my gut. The furnace turns on again.

  "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

  I scream, that's all I can do. He grabs my hair and looks in my eyes.

  "You're loud."

  Just like that, I can't move anymore. My torso is on fire, and I collapse to the ground almost immediately. It hurts to breathe, my stomach churns. My throat constricts. My head lurches forward.

  "Hmmm, I think I'll just leave you here. Have fun."

  I wake up in bed. My throat hurts. My gut still feels cramped from the injury that isn't even there anymore. All I can do is curl into a ball. The smell of blood pricks my nose. I'm not even bleeding. Tears fill my eyes. Fucking pathetic. Crying over shit that hasn't even happened yet. You're truly disgusting, Felix. What is crying going to do? You couldn't even hit him. You ran away like a coward. What was it you said? That you would kill him? You even thought about what you would do with his body after, what a joke. Sneaking up on him is impossible, running away is impossible. Fighting head-on is the only way, and you tried running. Running like a bitch. That's all you're good for.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  ***

  Shower taken, hair brushed, contacts in, breakfast eaten. I look in the mirror next to the front door before heading out, and I practice my smile. It's a good smile. The noise surrounds me again, but that's okay. This is normal. I smile and wave as I pass people by; they smile back. My way to school is normal, and my classes go normally. I didn't worry, Alex, this time. We talked about butterflies again.

  Funnily enough, I'm much calmer this time around. I guess it's because I have a better understanding of what I'm up against, just another super-abled person. I wonder if his power has any drawbacks. He can sense me, and he can paralyze people. That's two powers, isn't it? Can he sense me just because I have powers, or can he sense everyone? Oh well, he won't be alive for much longer. I'm eating in my spot again. Right on cue, the rich girl opens the door. I smile at her.

  "Hello again."

  I've heard those words before.

  (Great, it's Mr. Sunshine himself.)

  She answers like before.

  "You're eating lunch in here? How much of a freak are you?"

  As freakish as anyone with powers, I guess.

  "Haha, yeah. What about you? Why are you here?"

  (Gross, I hate how desperate this guy always is.)

  "I just called you a freak, and you laugh. How desperate are you?"

  This girl's kryptonite is pleasant conversation, huh? It's better than being stabbed, at least.

  "Desperate for you, or in general?"

  She glares at me like I'm a bug before walking away.

  "I was joking. What was your name?"

  She looks over her shoulder.

  (Is this guy serious?) "We've been in the same class for months, and you don't know my name?"

  Why would I? We haven't spoken until recently. I smile awkwardly.

  "Sorry, but we've never spoken before, so..."

  She sighs.

  "Ada."

  I'm surprised she answered. She continues.

  "...Sorry."

  What?

  "Sorry for what?"

  She looks away, practically growling her response.

  "Sorry for calling you a freak, that was mean."

  What?

  "It's just... you're always smiling like some weirdo, it creeps me out!"

  I respond.

  "Why does that creep you out?"

  She stares right in my eyes.

  "Because it looks fake. You smile like my father."

  Okay?

  "Is that a bad thing?"

  She scoffs as if the answer is obvious.

  "Obviously! He's a lawyer! I'm saying your smile looks just as fake as his!"

  Oh, so she has daddy issues. I guess being "honest" would be best here. I smile sadly.

  "Yeah... I'm... not very good with people, so I try to smile to look more friendly than I am. I just wish... I could be better at making friends."

  She pulls her hands to her chest, frowning. Her eyes go from me to the wall, to the stairs under her.

  (That makes sense...) "I guess... that explains things, but lying isn't going to make you friends... idiot."

  I look downwards and mumble my response.

  "I know..."

  (This guy really...) "Tch... it can't be helped... I'll be your friend."

  Seriously? She's easy as hell. So easy, I start tearing up.

  "R-really?"

  (Don't cry...)

  Disgusting, I thought you were smarter than this.

  "Yeah... really. I'm busy right now, but I'll talk to you later, okay?"

  Sure, being "friends" with someone like you seems convenient.

  I head to class after the bell rings, and I hear Charlie's antics again. I have a special seat in hell for you. Why the fuck would you willingly cut yourself? What an absolute moron, that shit hurts like hell. I kind of feel like irritating him, so I snitch on him to the guard again.

  After school, my phone still has no reception. I can't call the police. I have the bat in my hands, and I enter the courtyard, and he turns around right on cue. I hold the bat in front of me as he starts the conversation.

  "Hello again."

  I can't make eye contact, so I'll just keep an eye on his body.

  "No response? You're hurting my feelings."

  As if I care. I step closer.

  "Didn't your parents teach you that it's rude to ignore people?"

  How should I do this? Last time, he just stepped out of range and pulled me in.

  "Are you scared?"

  Yes.

  "Heh, I'll make it easier on you."

  He tosses the knife behind him... what? I sprint forward immediately and swing for his skull, and I hear a wet crunch; his arm is in pieces. At least I thought so, he grabs the bat with the arm I hit, and I let go instinctively.

  "That hurt..."

  He tosses it aside.

  "Now we're even."

  I put my hands up, and he pivots forward and punches me in the stomach.

  "Gah!"

  My body lurches forward on impact, it's hard to breathe. He sweeps my leg and throws me over his shoulder. My heart leaps... I hit the asphalt with a deafening slam. My shoulder cracks.

  "Come on, you can do better than that. Get up."

  He sounds amused... I struggle to stand up. Everything hurts... my hammering chest isn't helping. I want to run away, to be honest. I don't think that's an option, though.

  "You're a pretty quiet person."

  How observant.

  "What did you... want me to say? Thanks for killing me?"

  He chuckles.

  "Yeah, right. Just swing at me already."

  This bastard!

  I swing at his face and feel nothing except air. Again. My shoulder is screaming at me, my hips yell. Swing, miss, pain. Swing, miss, pierce. We've been fighting forever; my lungs squeeze.

  "Tired already? It hasn't even been two minutes."

  This bastard... he's laughing at me...

  "You'll have to forgive me, oh wise one! Some slit-eyed fuck knocked the breath right out of me!"

  I swing. I miss. He grabs my ankle, and I fly. I hear a pop in my side. His foot slams into my stomach, my stomach cramps. It's hard to breathe.

  "You're arrogant, huh?"

  He kicks my mouth, a dull crack sounds. My head snaps back. My ears are ringing, my mouth tastes like blood. My vision's a blur.

  "Gross."

  What's going on?

  "You're so pathetic."

  That's the first time I've heard him sound so bored. He kicks me again. I hear a thud as my head is forced down. I feel sick, I can't get up, and I struggle to move my arms. Again, again, again.

  "What a w— -f ti-e"

  I can't feel anything; my head is being slammed down.

  The ground is so dark.

  I wake up in bed again, my eyes watery, my body is trembling, I lurch over in my bed and heave. All over my bed. Embarrassing. Disgusting. I need to clean this up, but will I even get the chance to sleep in this bed tonight?