Unreal

P11: She's Alive

Daren's POV:

I finally find a perfect spot for Autumn and I to hide out until morning. The storm dies down during the night. The peace pretends to be restored, but it's not. They're still looking for us both. I stare down at Autumn to keep my thoughts from Mel.

Ever since Autumn's body shined bright after she stopped breathing, she's been unconscious. I'm doubting the skills of Dr. Daring's men considering they didn't find us then.

It's not like she just glowed. She put the Las Vegas strip to shame. Slowly her breathing came back and her side stopped bleeding, but she hasn't opened her eyes no matter how many times I bed.

I want to take her to a hospital, but I know I can't. It wasn't because people are looking for us or the fact she's not entirely human.

Something in me told me to just wait.

So, that's what I did.

I waited.

I grasp Autumn's hand in my own and brush her thick waves of hair back. Her skin isn't as cold as I thought it would've been. It's actually searing. I clench my jaw, baring the burn. I brush her hair back like I know Mel would've if she were here. I swallow hard.

The moment hits me hard.

They shot her.

They shot my sister.

They killed her. No one deserves all the pain these people are causing. Not even Autumn.

"I swear to you, Mel, I will get our brother back and make sure those sick bastards pay." I growl softly as I unconsciously grip Autumn's hand tighter.

She whines. "Hey, give my hand a break."

My eyes widen as I look down at her. "Autumn?" It feels like deep down, reason is telling me I'm delusional from grief.

"My hand, Darren." She reiterates and tugs on her hand in my grasps.

"Oh!" I chuckle as I ease my grip.

She slowly flutters her eyes opened. I nearly fall back. Her once brown eyes are a fierce hazel. I squint my own as if it's a trick of the light or something.

"What?" She frowns. Her nose wrinkling.

She sounds well for a person who'd been shot and died.

"How do you feel?" I ask instead of answering.

Her frown deeps as she thinks it over. "I feel different." She looks up at me. "What happened?"

I take a deep breath. "What do you remember?"

She gives another far off look. "I remember the weird noise and the storm. I remember that we were being shot at. I also remember..." Her gaze softens into pity. "I'm sorry."

I close my eyes and shake my head, not wanting that look from her. I think it's my least favorite of all the looks she's ever given me. "It's fine. She died doing what she loves. Being a pain in someone's ass. Excuse my French."

"Can I sit up?"

"What else do you remember?" I ignore her request.

She narrows her alarmingly different eyes at me. "I remember we crashed and that I was--" She stops and touches her side.

I'm not quick enough to stop her. We both look under the balled up material on her side to see her skin looking perfectly normal. Lifting up, I can see the glint of something metal. I grab me.

Underneath her was the bullet.

I hold up for both of us to examine. "Autumn..."

"How?"

I shake off the shock. "Something else happened. Do you remember?" I press.

I don't know why I want her to remember so badly. Maybe I'm hoping for her to explain what the hell happened. What changed in her? How is she still alive?

Unfortunately, she shakes her head softly, making me lose any hope for answers.

"I remember you calling my name, but that's it. What happened?"

I wipe my face clean of any expression to make sure I'm not scaring her. Despite all she has been through, she's still a kid.

"Let's find some place to clean up and I'll explain then." I offer.

After searching my eyes for a good minute, she nods. I help her sit up.

"Are you sure you feel OK?" I don't want nor need her collapsing on me in the middle of trying to get out of the woods.

She nods and rolls her eyes. Just like Melody. A pain in my ass.

"Alright. Let's get a move on." I grunt as we both climb onto our feet.

"Where are we going to go?"

This reminds me of the first time we met. She was relying on me to get her out of there and away from the people who wanted to hurt her. It's funny how so much has happened, but it all ends up the same.

"Well, we can't go back to the cabin." I try shaking off my grief.

There's a time and a place to let it hit me. Now isn't the time. Taking her hand, I move through the bushes closer to the road. We stay ducked down to keep from being seen. The car is still in the same place when we abandoned it, but the road isn't so empty. I drop her hand, crouching down further. She does the same.

"Let me see. You know I have better vision." She whispers.

I roll my eyes and allow her to step in front of me.

"There are a lot of armed men. They're discussing the best areas to search for us. They at least want to find bodies." Her fingers curl into a fist. "Darren, we need to get out of here now."

I nod and start back into the woods, moving deeper. Hopefully, if we keep in the same direction, we'd hit town.

"Thank you for not abandoning me." Autumn breaks the silence.

My steps falter as I frown back at her. "Why would I leave you?"

"I don't know. It's my fault Mel..."

I stop and look at her. "It's not your fault. Do you understand?"

She avoids looking at me and nods. My hand squeezes her shoulder. I turn back around and keep moving.

"What will we do when we've gotten away from them?"

"We'll come up with a plan."

Our feet crunch against the fallen tree debris. Every so often, Autumn would pause, listening to something in the distance. I'd stop until she relaxed. The air is stiff with tension. I feel like that at any moment we'll be under siege. My muscles clench, ready for any type of combat.

"I'm different now, aren't I?" She breaks the silence softly.

I have to admit even the way she speaks to me has changed. Her appearance is different. Her presence is even more alarming. Whatever caused that glow had definitely shifted something inside her. It feel like she was activated despite being taken from the lab.

"Yes."