US (Formerly The After Effect - Book 2)

1 - Welcome Back

This first chapter is subject to change as the story grows and develops. Any suggestions and feedback is highly encouraged.

"We've landed in the mountains. Brink has a map on the GPS over at the control area," my mother begins to explain. Since my awakening, I've done nothing but ask questions and hug her and Travis like I'll never get the chance to again.

Travis is on my left, his arm securely curled around my shoulders. It feels magnificent to have the desire to be so attached to him again like I once was. Before I received the antidote to the memory serum, longing for him in a romantic way was never truly present. The passion I have for him now is untamed.

I angle my head up to glance over my mother's shoulder and spot the vast array of blinking, beeping machinery glowing bright teal on the other end of the shuttle. "Would you mind showing me the map?" I ask her.

Is it true we're actually back on Earth?

My mother sidesteps, and as I walk over, a voice calls out from behind me. "Hey, what's on her back?"

Instinctively, I spin around and discover a man I've yet to formally meet pointing in my direction.

"Me?" I ask for clarification, and twist around to analyze as much of my back as I can.

Starting at the top of my right shoulder blade is a two inch wide tear in the fabric of my suit which trails toward my spine, revealing my pale, goosebumped skin underneath.

Travis observes it himself, along with Stella and my mom. Their collective gasps trigger one out of me as well. There's fear in my voice when I say, "What? What's wrong? Am I bleeding?"

Travis's hand strokes my exposed skin and I shudder.

"No wonder you keep shivering," Stella notes. "Your suit must've lost functionality when it tore."

I frown, attempting to recall the time it ripped but am unable. "I don't know what happened," I admit, and then press them with the question they seem to be avoiding. "Did whatever cut the suit break through to my skin?"

The others linger for Stella to answer, all of their faces appearing puzzled. "Well, it did at one point. There's signs of scarring, which means whatever occurred, happened recently. Luckily, our healing abilities aren't affected by the suits," she explains. "You'll be just fine."

I nod and peek around at the expressions of the revolutionaries around me. Half are amazed, half are downright confused by our conversation. Apparently they aren't aware of our abilities.

"What do you think did this?" my mom wonders, her eyes landing on Stella's. She then shuffles over to the seat I'd been in and brushes her delicate hand along it's surface. "Could it be something--"

"Brink," Travis mumbles.

My eyes survey the room and meet the turquoise and black figure on the other side, sitting properly with his arms crossed over his chest. "I didn't do anything," he announces to the room without breaking composure.

Travis's finger shoots out accusingly at Brink as he storms over to him. "Yes you did! When you slammed her down into the seat, I bet she caught on something and it ripped right through her. It had to have been you! She hasn't moved since then, and she was completely unscathed before that!" he shouts.

The gravity in the room does a complete one-eighty.

Brink tries holding back a smirk, but it seeps through, which riles Travis up even more. "Stand up!" Travis commands him.

Brink doesn't move a muscle.

"I said stand up!" he roars, and yanks Brink to his feet and shoves him. "Face what you did to her!"