Subject 15

CHAPTER 22 - Seth

I was back in the woods, and they were closing in – the men in black suits with blinding lights. A cry rang out into the night as I bolted for the far end of the woods, aiming for a clearing so I could take off. Instantly white lights nearly blinded me as more men poured from the trees, cutting me off. I knew I was surrounded, and I knew what I had to do. I closed my eyes, feeling the power pulsing through me as I gave the animal control. As I grew, I opened my eyes, staring into the terrified eyes of my pursuers as they–

Screamed. My alarm was blaring in my mind, the sun setting on the horizon, and I took a few shaky breaths, covering my face with my hands. I felt the weight on my lap stir, and Samantha's soft voice asked, "Nightmare?" I slowly nodded, taking my hands away from my face, and Samantha quickly planted a kiss on my cheek, just below my Mask. I could feel the heat from her lips from the light touch. She said, "Don't worry. It's over now. I'm here."

I nodded again, then looked to the horizon and said, "You need to get home."

She nodded, and got up, my side becoming cold after her absence, and she replied, "So do you."

I shook my head and shrugged, countering with a emptiness in my voice, "I live in the Old Faction... getting there this late might be dangerous, especially for me."

"Oh..." replied Samantha, grim understanding coating her voice as she stiffly stretched. I got up and rolled my shoulders, and said, "Yeah..." Samantha smiled and said, "You know... I don't believe you've met my father." I looked down into her eyes, my stretching cut short, and we stood there, just staring at each other for a few seconds. I saw my Mask's color change from its pale white to a trusting, sky-blue color in her eyes, and I nodded, saying with a slight sigh, "You drive."

She smiled and nodded, stating, "I'll drive." I got in the passenger side, and configured the seat again, it having returned to its default settings, and Samantha laughed as my legs slowly stretched with the moving chair. I smiled with her, and then we were off again, driving further south.

As we were driving back to the highway, I asked, "Do you still live with your parents?"

Samantha shook her head and said, "Nope. I have a small apartment near the college, but I visit them often."

I nodded, and then Samantha turned and said with mock seriousness, "And no, I am not going to take you there first."

I held up my hands defensively and said, "Hey, I never said I wanted anything like that."

Samantha laughed and said, "I know! It was a joke, tough guy."

I gave a nervous chuckle as I said, "Sorry. Humor wasn't really something I developed in the wilderness."

Samantha gave another light laugh at that comment as we turned onto the highway.

We drove a short distance north on I-35E, then took a right a few miles down, then another right, and finally a left onto a street called Fabrication Drive, an interesting name if you ask me. It was the driveway to this huge house, almost spanning the distance between two roads. "This entire place used to be nothing but fields," Samantha stated, "but my dad bought the plot of land and built this house you see now."

I looked at the house, and it was almost like a castle; a very Victorian style make, with a tower on either end of the house, a huge oaken door, and big stained glass windows. The dark house looked regal in appearance, but with the towers it also looked as if it could serve in the role of a fortress just as easily. I turned back to Samantha as she activated the underground garage, and I asked, "You're dad built this?"