I have a talent, or an ability you could say, in which wherever I go and whoever I meet, I can see how dangerous they are from a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being the lowest level of danger and 10 being the highest. I do have drawbacks with my ability, sometimes fearing individuals who are near me on a daily basis and only seeing their danger by coming into contact with them. Whether it be a handshake or a quick brush on the shoulder, I don’t know a thing until I’ve touched the person. This “talent” is useful though, as I can keep myself and my loved ones in a safe vicinity. My safety was compromised, however, when the most dangerous man I would ever cross realized that I knew how dangerous he was.
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It was another slow day at work, where minutes felt like hours and hours felt like days. The girls that sat around me were gossiping loudly, succumbing me to eavesdrop. I couldn’t help but overhear them discussing the new guy coming to the work that day, about how incredibly handsome yet mysterious he was. I brushed off the conversation, it wasn’t as if I haven’t heard gossip of the sort before and we obtain new employees all the time. I received an email from my boss later that afternoon, asking me to create copies of the documents I typed for him from the day prior. That’s when I first saw him, the new employee, in the copy room. He was just there, scratching his head in confusion, attempting to figure out how the copy machine worked. I approached him with the documents in my hand,

“Need help?” I said softly.

He beamed a small smile that could warm up any room.

“Yeah…”

I helped him with the machine, several thoughts swimming through my head. He appeared gentle and sweet, yet had a mysterious vibe to him just like my colleagues had said. His hair was a dark ebony, not too long yet not too short, and he didn’t have any facial hair. He had captivating hazel eyes with skin that was on the paler side. His slightly muscular build was accompanied by his tall height.
“Thank you, I would’ve been here all day if you hadn’t come in,” he explained, extending a hand to me, “I’m Kai.”

I shook his hand firmly, “I’m Elise.”

Then I saw it, the number 10 in deep red hovering above his head. My heart raced and my breath quickened, I couldn’t believe the number right in front of my eyes.
“U-uh excuse me, I’ve got to get this to my boss.”

Before he could say anything more, I hurried to make the copies and rushed out. How could someone with such a kind aura, be so menacing? I was on the edge of my seat the entirety of the day, I have never crossed someone with a danger level of 10 before, the highest level I’ve seen being a 7. What type of wicked monster could this man be? I decided to leave work earlier than usual, I felt sick to my stomach after the encounter. I packed up my things rather fast, wasting no time to get to the room where all employees clocked out of their shifts. As soon as I finished clocking out I heard a gun click on the back of my head, causing me to drop my bag.

“Going somewhere Elise?”

His voice was no longer gentle, but rather stone cold and vicious.

“P-Please. I’m j-just not f-feeling well.”

I felt the gun barrel press further into my head, making me tremble under his words.

“Not feeling well? Well that’s just awful. You know how truly dangerous I am, but simply tell me, tell me how do you know?”

I couldn’t even utter a word, every part of my body was shaking and my voice was caught in my throat. Is he so dangerous to the point that he could easily slip by, undetectable, while holding a gun? He presses the tip harder into the back of my head.

“Don’t want to tell me hm? You and I both know that I mustn't grow angry, because everything goes downhill after that my dear.”

The anger in his voice was clear, and at that moment I realized how lethal this man is. All my life I had faced rigorous obstacles as time went on, and I couldn’t just go down that easily. I wasn’t going to subdue to his commands. I temporarily stopped trembling, stood up straight, and mustered up all the remaining courage I had left,

“Tell me first, who are you?”

Kai moved closer to my back, dragging his icy cold fingers along my neck. Chills ran up and down my back, but I held my ground.

“I was sent by the Red Hands to discover your whereabouts, however killing you,” his voice dropping an octave lower, “is my own decision.”

He continued talking,
“The Red Hands is an organization full of dangerous people just like myself, but our crimes are far more fatal than the petty act that’s happening right now sweetheart. You and your kind have had enough excitement exploiting us and it’s time we truly start erasing you all one by one.”

My courageous facade ebbed away,

“M-my k-kind?”

“Yes, the kind that can see right through people, the kind that can see the venom dripping from someone. All of the incredible justice enforcers, they have what you have, your ability. Incorrupt lawyers, social workers, police officers, court judges, you are what keeps the Red Hands from gaining absolute power.”

Then I heard it, the inevitable final click of the gun’s chamber. The deadly bullet was locked and loaded, ready to strip me of my life in the matter of seconds.

“This is your end, Elise.”