This chapter is told by the POV of Devin
"No. Look here you freaky ass mother fucker. I'm not putting up with this shit right now. I just found out I have a huge crush on a girl. I kissed that girl. And then she ran away from me. Now is not the fucking time!" Steven yells then stands up and places his hand on the pale boys forehead. He closes his eyes and pushes his arm forward. The boy falls to the ground unconscious and unmoving
"Woah! You gonna finish him off?" I suggest
"Nah, he's no real threat" he says and walks off
"Wait, so something happened with one of the girls? Please please please tell me it wasn't the ten year old?" I say jokingly, cheering up at the surprising little victory we just had
"Ha. Ha. Not funny." Steven says irritated "It was Madeline, I really like her, I think she hates me now
"Awww man, she'll come around, just you wait" I say and walk ahead of him leading the way back to the campsite to wake up Levi and the little one. Once they're awake we wait for Madeline then we set off again for the city.
It only takes us about 6 hours to get there, and the sun is barely coming up over the buildings. This place has gone to shit. The streets are all cracked up and alot of building either have holes in them or are just rubble on the ground. We begin walking around more until we see a small group of people rushing out from behind a large building, across the street and into another building
"Guys, quickly, follow me!" I say in an urgent, hushed tone. Levi bends down and grabs a metal piece of rubble and absorbs its material. We follow the people into the building and walk into them cowering under a large office desk from us
"Wait, wait. We aren't going to hurt you" Madeline says soothingly to the people. I look closely at their faces and realize I know them! It's Jack, Olive, Samantha, and Selena. They used to party all the time with Beth and Kelly. I dated Selena's girlfriend way back when
"Hey guys, it's been a long time!" I say taking a step towards them "No need to hide, they're friends"
"Devin? Is that you?" Selena says the first to stand up. She runs up to me to give me a hug and stops when she sees my arm pops
"What happened to you?" Jack asks as him and the other two also stand
"I kinda blew my arms up" I say, my face turning sour
"Umm, I thought he meant the fact that you died over a year ago, but I would like to hear both stories" Olive says grinning to her own comment
"Yeah, no time" Jessica says pointing outside to two large metal men
"We can take them!" I say and take a step towards the doors
"No! We run!" Samantha says and puts her hands on the floor. She pushes down and two little red demon creatures come bursting from the cement outside infornt of the metal brutes
"Hurry, while they're distracted!" Olive shouts and begins running to the back of the building. I turn before I get out of sight and see the metal men beating the shit out of the little demon spawns. I decide that without the use of my arms I don't stand a chance. I follow my old friends out the back and sprint down the street to a little shop in the middle of downtown where the sneak through a backdoor
"Why did we pick this place?" Steven asks shutting the door behind us
"Because, the man we have been staying with lives here. This is his workshop" Jack replies out of breath "I think he is still gone though, he left before we did"
"Hate to do this now, but you guys mind giving your power info to us?" I say wanting to know if they pose a threat if they turn on us
"No problem!" Selena says excitedly "I can glow in the dark, Jack can copy peoples abilities on a lower level, Samantha can create little slave demons, and well, Olive can melt into a puddle and morph back to normal" I kinda laugh at that last one and Olive glares at me
"Yeah. Well what about your guys? I bet yours aren't much better!" Olive snaps at me
"Well actually, I can create and control electricity, Madeline can freeze stuff and shoot ice, Levi can absorb any material he touches, Steven has an assortment of mind powers, and I'm not sure what exactly Jessica can do if anything" I say looking over at Jessica
"Well actually-" she starts
"Actually she has enhanced agility and endurance, like Captain America. Right Jessica?" Steven says looking dead at her
"Yeah, that" she says giving him an understanding look. Something is definitely going on there
"Who's the guy you are staying with?" Levi asks
"My name is Tanakeo Tanokoda, or Tano Tano for short" a low voiced Asian man says behind me "Do not be alarmed, I may look very old but I am actually only 19 years. I have a rare ability, I can see deep into a machines workings and replicate anything I have seen, sometimes even with improvements. Some call me the machine maniac by how obsessed I am with my trinkets"
"We found him!" Madeline exclaims
"We need your help sir!" Steven blurts out
"Yes help our friend please!!" Jessica yells to the man
"SHUT UP!!!!!!" I shout as loud as I can. I look at Tano Tano and walk up to him. I get on one knee and bow my head with my arms dangling, still frozen in the ice "Mr. Tano, I would be greatly humbled if you would take it upon yourself to fix my arms, sir. I need them to protect the ones I love from the new evils in this world. Please, will you kindly help me?"
"Holy shit kid, I'm too stoned for this. The thing is.. I can't fix your arms. The best I can do is build you new biotech ones, but without a steady charge, they're just as useless as those fingercicles you have now" he says bluntly
"That's fine. I can keep them charged with my power. Just please, build me new arms. I'll do anything" I say begging. Tano Tano just looks at me and smiles
"No need dude, I'm happy to help a friend in need"
YOU ARE READING
Journey in the Aftermath
AdventureThe second book in the "Journey" series. In the aftermath of the bombs that wipe out all those without abilities, the world has become a brutal place. Survival means doing what is necessary, not always what is right. Dedicated to my loving girlfrien...
