[ WP ] You live in a world where everyone has the way they die written on their wrist from the moment they are born . One day , your parents confess that you did n't have anything written when you were born , and they had something tattooed shortly after .

I was washing my hands after lunch when I noticed it. Out of habit, I glanced down at my wrist to look at my death mark and saw that the fading was more noticeable today than it had ever been before. Sure, several months ago it had looked slightly faded, but my mother assured me that it was just because my skin was so pale. Today was different, somehow. 
 
 
 A voice from behind me startled me: 
 
 
 “ What ’ cha staring at, dude? ” I recognized the voice of my best friend Tony. I must have been standing there longer than I thought. 
 
 
 
 “ Oh, nothing. Thought I saw something kind of weird in my death mark, but I think I ’ m just stressed from the exam earlier. ” 
 
 
 
 “ Can I take a look? ” 
 
 
 “ There ’ s nothing to look at—I ’ ll see you back in class. ” I tried to smile as I left. I couldn ’ t tell if Tony had seen the worried look on my face or not. Walking back to class I decided that I ’ d tell him about it after school at our usual hangout spot behind the gym. 
 
 
 Back in class, I sat down in my seat, and glanced around the room. My teacher for Algebra II had some generic math-related posters on the walls, as well as some weirder government-mandated stuff about death marks. Things like, “ PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR DEATH MARK VISIBLE AT ALL TIMES ”, “ REMEMBER, DEATH MARKS ARE PERMANENT AND CAN NOT CHANGE. ” 
 
 
 That poster caught me off guard today. I had seen it probably hundreds of times before now, but I glanced down at my arm again. My death mark still seemed faded. I remember Tony and some other girl in class telling me last year that a rumor had started around school of what they ( and apparently everyone else ) called mutants. The rumor was that this kid named Arthur Fisher ’ s death mark on his arm had changed one day while he was playing football for the school team during a big game. Apparently they were playing in the rain, and he noticed something about his arm and told the coach about it privately after the game. Some other players had seen the coach look as pale as a ghost after talking to Arthur. The rumors started the next day since Arthur didn ’ t show up to school. Nobody has seen Arthur Fisher in almost 4 months. 
 
 
 -- - 
 
 
 The school bell screamed its painful wail to signal that the day was finally over. The high-pitched wail was bearable simply because it meant the day was over. I had already pre-packed my belongings, and I rose to leave as soon as the bell sounded. 
 
 
 “ Seth! A moment here after class please. ” My teacher, Mr. Eggleston yelled over the din of the school bell and the sound of everyone else packing up to leave. 
 
 
 I didn ’ t know what he wanted. Had I forgotten to turn in my homework last week again? 
 
 
 “ Seth. ” 
 
 
 “ Yes Mr. Eggleston? ” 
 
 
 “ You seem like you ’ re in a hurry to leave. You were also rather distant in class today—is everything alright? ” Mr. Eggleston had a sad, mildly confused look on his face. 
 
 
 “ Oh, it ’ s nothing. Just a new video game coming out, a little anxious to get home is all sir. ” I hadn ’ t completely lied—there was a new big Madden video game coming out that half the guys in class were talking about, but the series had never really captured my attention. 
 
 
 “ Alright, if you ’ re sure then you can run along. You ’ re usually very talkative, and I just wanted to check and make sure you were alright. ” 
 
 
 “ Nothing wrong, just a little lost in my thoughts, Mr. Eggleston. Thanks, though. ” I tried to give him a reassuring look as I turned to leave. I could tell he looked unsure of himself. 
 
 
 He was right, of course. Biology was one of my favorite classes, and Mr. Eggleston was one of my favorite teachers. I just couldn ’ t get my mind off of my death mark. It looked more faded during class, and I couldn ’ t keep my eyes off it. 
 
 
 I ran over to my usual vending machine stop to grab a Snickers and a Coke, like usual. I liked to take my time and let the throng of people die down a bit before I headed towards the gym. To my annoyance, the vending machine was out of Coke. I grabbed a Sprite instead and after some time made my way towards the Gym to speak with Tony. 
 
 
 As I neared the backside of the building, I could overhear a familiar voice. 
 
 
 
 “ What if Seth is a mutant or something though? ” 
 
 
 “ No way he ’ s a mutant. He said it was nothing to worry about earlier, and I trust Seth. He said he was just stressed from the exam. ” 
 
 
 I decided to step around the corner. 
 
 
 “ I agree with Tony. Definitely just some exam stress. ” I tried to fake a big grin. When I rounded the corner, I wasn ’ t too surprised to find Tony ’ s girlfriend Erin standing there. 
 
 
 Erin jumped a little— “ Oh, hey Seth! Holy crap you scared me! ” 
 
 
 “ He seems to have that effect on lots of girls, ” Tony quipped. 
 
 
 “ Tony, why do you always feel the need to be the comedian? ” I tried to look slightly dejected. “ How many girls do you think I could pull if they thought I was a mutant? ” 
 
 
 “ Oh, so I guess you overheard some of that. How long were you standing there, anyway? ” Erin had a concerned look on her face. 
 
 
 “ I literally just heard you mention that as I came around the corner. Couldn ’ t help but overhear. What makes you think I ’ m a mutant all of a sudden? Do you mean like the Arthur rumors? ” 
 
 
 “ Let me see your arm dude. ” Tony looked serious all of a sudden. 
 
 
 “ Alright, here, see? Nothing has changed or anything. ” I tried to sound confident, but Erin and Tony knew me well enough to know when I was lying. 
 
 
 “ Your mark seems faded, dude. Is that what you were looking at in the bathroom earlier? ” I could tell he understood my earlier reaction. 
 I couldn ’ t hide anything from Tony. “ Yea. I was worried about it. I feel like I ’ ve seen it fade before, but today seems worse than it ’ s ever been. ” 
 “ To be fair we ’ ve noticed too Seth, we just didn ’ t want to say anything about it since we weren ’ t sure. ” Erin and Tony made a good couple. Always alternating sentences like they could read each other ’ s minds. 
 
 
 “ How long have you noticed the fading on my arm? ” 
 
 
 “ Around four to five months ago? ” Both Erin and Tony said in unison. 
 
 
 “ That ’ s about the same time I originally noticed it. Does today seem worse to you both too? ” 
 
 
 “ Well dude, if it makes you feel any better, it didn ’ t until you started acting weird in the bathroom. I told Erin about it over lunch. ” He tried to be reassuring. 
 
 
 “ What do you think we should do? ” Erin interjected. 
 
 
 “ Perhaps we should ask my parents about it? ” I didn ’ t know what else to do. 
 
 
 “ My brother is at my dad ’ s place this week, so I have his car. I ’ ll drive. ” Erin wanted to be in charge, so Tony and I exchanged knowing glances and we set off after her. 
 

