Rising Up

Chapter 5

          "Woah," the words fell out of Clint's mouth after I stepped out of the bathroom, my newly cut and dyed hair still slightly damp from a shower. The last twenty four hours had been crammed full of poking, prodding, and all forms of pulling. My once childish face with overgrown hair and pale skin had been completely and drastically changed. I not only was a new person on paper, but I looked like it and felt like it, too.

The new Allen Adams.

I swiped at my new dark wash jeans in attempts to rid them of loose hair, my skin still tingling from its transformation. Alice's jaw dropped when her eyes landed on my bright blue contacts Max picked up at an underground market. Her eyes drifted across my new features. "You look-" she stopped cold.

"Weird. I know. I feel weird, too," I forced out a painful chuckle.

"I was going to say different," she said in awe. I shrugged my shoulders and glanced over to the mirror nailed to the old worn, cement wall. I no longer looked like a awkward seventeen-year-old teen anymore, I looked like Sam. My features twisted and shaped in ways I never noticed before. Without my muddy brown eyes and long, shaggy hair, I looked like I could actually be related to my brother. Not just related, but a twin.

Alice's hair had been dyed as well but Max didn't have to do much to her overall appearance. Her olive skin and soft features didn't need much work. Her hair was dyed to a darker, less dull red and her freckles were faded. Her bright green eyes were the centerpiece of her whole face, complimenting her features along with her sweet personality.

Clint was much the same. His hair was dyed to a light tan and was cut in a way that complemented his strong jawline and his small nose. He, too, had green eyes, but they were dull compared to his sister's. He, along with his sister, didn't look like he was sixteen anymore, rather early twenties. The only thing added on to Max was newly dyed black hair, masking his aged grey.

We were a whole new group of people. People that actually mean something.

"Now that the essentials have been taken care of," Max dried his hands on a worn washcloth, "we need to move. The sooner we leave Harthan, the better our chances of being able to impact major groups of Simplex. The transport leaves at 6 am tomorrow. I expect all of you up bright and early and dressed for success. Are we clear?" Alice and Clint nodded and headed off to their rooms.

"Allen," Max grabbed my arm when I walked past him. I turned my gaze over to him questioningly. "We'll get your brother back. I swear." I nodded a small thank you and closed my bedroom door behind me. I laid awake staring up at the dull white ceiling until I was engulfed in the darkness of sleep.

ØØØØØØ

"Identification, please," the transport officer asked as we walked up to him. I held out my card and he glance up at me, taking in my features. "You're Sam Adam's brother?" he asked. My heart sped up as I nodded slightly.

"Yes I am," I said boldly. The officer searched my face for a moment then chuckled, causing me to relax. He handed the card back and permitted us access.

"I went to school with Sam. He always spoke so highly of you," he said fondly and held a hand out to me. I took it gingerly and shook. He grinned. "It's an honor to finally meet you, Mr. Adams." I nodded stiffly and boarded the transport vessel. "Have a safe trip!"

"I'd be lying if I said that didn't scare me," Alice said letting out a breath after the doors slid closed. Max yanked at the cuffs of his button down shirt and turned to face the window, clearly trying to calm himself down to some degree. Clint let out a loud yawn and sat down on one of the black seats of the private transport.