Danger Close

The Elevator

The dingy elevator jerked back and forth, as if at any moment the cables supporting the moving metal box could snap and send its occupants careening down into the dark depths below. Thoughts like this had always passed through Ashley’s mind, usually grimmer. It was mostly to put her into the mood of her profession, as it was much easier to kill in cold blood with darker thoughts on the mind. She was tall for a teenager, her 17 years on planet Earth had brought her to an impressive height. Her flimsy build made her look as if she would blow away in the wind, though her hidden muscles told other stories of her strength. She had been training all her life after all, moulding her body into a weapon fit only for killing. Her body however, was not the most dangerous thing about the young woman. Her body was a gun, but her powers were the bullet. Everything about her seemed timid, frail, and upon a harsher glare: pathetic. The man that shared the elevator with her was oblivious to the fact she could lift entire cars above her head with little difficulty, and could most definitely kill him with no problem at all. The thought had even crossed her mind once or twice. She had caught him staring at her, eying her auburn hair with what could only be interpreted as interest. His gaze, by no means on a carnal level, held almost scientific motives. Whilst Ashley’s super strength left her invulnerable to most physical attacks, there was something undeniably off-putting about his piercing stare. She had no idea whether or not the man had powers, as so many had nowadays. Ash, as she preferred to be called, only knew that she didn’t want to find out. Their eyes met briefly, grey and brown collided. He turned away from her, an amused smile crossing over his face as if he had heard her.

Ding

The elevator stopped suddenly, her desired floor being reached. Without gazing back at him she escaped the enclosed space, walking down the dingy halls of the apartment corridor. The doors closed soon behind her, and with a quick glance over her shoulder she confirmed her fears. The man had followed her, staying at an almost perfect distance behind her he appeared to be fishing keys from his black trousers. From her turned position his face was clearly visible. Whilst she wouldn’t describe him as attractive, she wouldn’t class him as unattractive. He didn’t seem to smile much, no dimples marked his face, nor a single wrinkle. As if facial expressions scarcely visited the suited young man. He appeared older than her, and most definitely better dressed. Messy brown hair sat atop his head, dangling down his eyes in a wild fringe. His outfit seemed to be that of a businessman, though he was too young to be one. A tucked in shirt with black trousers and shoes, a spotted navy tie was pinned to his shirt. She couldn’t help but compare his fashion sense to her own, torn denim jeans, with Queens of the Stone Age T-shirt that had faded with time. Covering that was a black leather jacket that had definitely seen better days. He had found his keys, glaring victoriously at them. Putting them into the door closet to him, he spared her a parting glance. Once again full of interest, it disappeared as quickly as it came. A slam signified his departure from the corridor.

Number 21 Ash thought subconsciously, finding the need to note the door in which he lived. It was, after all, right next to the door of her intended target. She couldn’t allow herself to become distracted, even by other potential power users.

There wasn’t a formal name for them yet, the discovery of the so called ‘superpowers’ was relatively recent, and the fear was naturally high. Some used their powers for good, as if there were such a thing. People living out childhood fantasies through newfound abilities. Just the thought of the egotistical ‘Heroes’ made her snort. She used her powers realistically, abiding by the laws that Governed Britain’s new evolutions of humans.  She even had a job. Though her job involved the killing of potentially innocent ‘Supers’, she found pride in her ability to adapt to her new life. Her strength had caused problems at first, breaking the bones of friends and families at the slightest of touches. But her employer had taken her in and trained her, without asking for anything in return.
The murder of superhumans withstanding of course.

She stood in front of Number 22, and could hear the panicked voice of a man inside.

“I just want to be normal, why can’t I be normal?” a frenzied voice could be heard from within, and Ash moved without hesitation. With the lightest of kicks the door was sent off its hinges, sending it flying back into the tiny apartment. Splinters flew violently around, and the occupant that had been standing behind the door only moments before was crushed under its weight. Still remaining in the corridor, Ash peered inside and evaluated the damage she caused. Laying against the far wall of the small room, sat a young man. His body was slumped forward, and blood matted his snow white hair. The colours clashed vibrantly, giving her a headache. The room was a mess, even before her entrance. Magazines laid strewn across the floor, having been knocked into more disarray by her intrusion. Sufficiently satisfied that the room was safe to enter, she walked in. There was no sound, immediately putting her on edge. The man had yet to move. His blood was forming a thick pool around him, the laminate floor did nothing to hide the amount he had lost. She was sure he was dead, his chest didn’t move, and most of his blood appeared to be on the outside of his body.

She was sure he was dead.

Walking closer she knelt near the corpse to inspect it closer. Her boots were covered in blood, and the thought of buying new ones briefly flitted across her mind. The body continued to lay still, whilst she took to standing.

“Nothing personal 22, shouldn’t have drawn attention to yourself.” She spoke, her voice was soft, contrasting her punk appearance.

“You shouldn’t have either.”

Her eyes opened.

She was in the elevator once again, the strange man standing beside her. Her eyes widen in confusion, frantically scanning the small shuddering box, constantly landing on the apathetic young man, whose eyes yielded nothing. The room she had just been in, the life she had just taken, did not exist at all. For a brief fleeting moment she had been in a world of her own, confined to her own desires and motives, the very desires and motives that brought her here today. She had day dreamed before, but never so vividly. The man beside was staring directly at her, and she could scarcely break eye contact.

“Honestly, sending someone as well-known as you to kill someone like me. What was daddy thinking?” His voice was as cold as his eyes, and the tone was nothing but mocking.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just here to visit a friend.” She murmured, shifting to put more distance between them. He was her target as it seemed, knowing yet unafraid of her. He must know her ability, yet his composure is a calm cool, as if standing with a friend. He never took his eyes off her however, always watching and noting every flinch and flicker of her body.

With a notable shiver she turns to face the man, and he does the same. Ash suddenly felt very aware of how small the elevator was, as well as how slow it felt to be moving.

“If you know what I am, why aren’t you scared? Usually they start running now.” Her voice was thick with layered boredom, hiding the small fear that grew inside her. An amused smile grew across his face at this, before he leaned back to rest against the shuddering walls of the elevator.

“It’s not like I would get anywhere is it? Besides, no matter how strong or fast you are Ashley Jones, you won’t be able to touch me.” Her eyes widen at his smooth declaration of her name. How had he known? Of course she was fairly known throughout Britain, various escapades that had unfortunately became public knowledge would forever vilify her name, but she had never encountered a target that directly identified her.

Ding.

The doors opened, tearing her eyes away from him and towards the newly revealed area. Expecting to see the long corridor housing the number 21 and 22 apartments, she was shocked to discover the main entrance to the apartment building.

Hadn’t she been traveling up?

“We were yes. The first time. Then you went and had that day dream killing the mystery man with the snow white hair. Not one of my best implants but it fooled you, eh?”