Woven at the Soul

Got Us Feeling Helpleeeessssss

"Wow."

Along with our new friends, we read the files that we essentially stole from the Trial.

They've got to have copies, right?

We leafed through, freaked out on how much testing was done. There were some photographs, and those were images we'd never erase from our minds.

People and animals bound in ropes. People being injected with needles. People being euthanised.

Terrifying.

"So basically, this organization, the Trial, experimented on us, and now we're super humans? Wow. I mean, that would explain the mysterious origin of our powers." Stephen mused.

"Did you not read the last document? The world is going to be invaded and destroyed. Humanity is going to end. We can't go up against an army of over powered aliens, Stephen, that's insane." Arlene scowled at him, seeing only his ignorance.

"Can you guys stop yelling at each other? I just wanna go home...I miss my mommy..." Madeleine scolded them, shaken beyond repair.

We looked around the room silently, and as if we all realised something at once, we all turned to the folder that explained what is about to happen. I flipped it open and we read how it would happen and where it would start.

It starts in China.

We're in North America.

North America is to be attacked last.

We're stuck here.

"They've really outsmarted us." Zamira commented, her tone of voice drifting off.

We have no way of stopping them. The Trial was right. We can't win. All we can do is wait. Wait and train.

"How long do you think it'll take for them to get here?" I asked, getting more nervous by the second.

"A week, maximum. I mean, they're aliens. They must have some type of fast travel." Izac said, refusing to look up.

We sat on Stephen's living room for another hour, knowing how defenceless we are.

One week.

One week until the world ends.

How shall we spend this last week?

I could tell Madeleine had an idea.

"Let's go home! Just for a little. We don't have to stay. I just wanna see my mommy." Madeleine chirped, trying to win us over.

"Y'know, we should do that. See our families one last time; it'll be nice." Arlene agreed "I don't want to leave any unfinished business."

"How are we going to get there? I really don't want to walk all the way back." Izac said, wincing at the very thought.

"I've got a car. We can take that." Stephen offered.

It's not like we had a choice.

We followed Stephen out to his garage and hopped in the back of his car. It was all grey; good for being inconspicuous.

The first hour was excruciatingly boring. Nothing to do, not much to talk about that we hadn't already discussed.

Second hour. Three of six are asleep. Only me, Izac and Stephen are awake.

I noticed Izac writing something down, but his handwriting was so messy that I couldn't make it out. It didn't even look like English. I didn't bother with it or him.

Third hour. Izac just fell asleep.

Fourth hour. Zamira took over for driving so Stephen could get some rest. Madeleine, Arlene and Izac are still asleep. I'm still awake.

Fifth hour. Zamira realises I haven't slept.

"You can get some rest, Parcee. I'm a good driver." she smiles.

"I'd love to, but I'm afraid my brain is going 100 miles an hour. I can't stop thinking."

She sighs.

"I get that. Just, at least try to relax. It's gonna be okay."

Liar.

"Liar!"

The world is going to end. It's not going to be okay. How can you even say that?

"The world is going to end. It's not going to be okay. How can you even say that?"

I slumped over in my seat, glaring out the window. What was that? Those weren't my thoughts, but I said what they said anyways. Weird.

No one spoke a word for the rest of the trip.

The car rolled to a stop in front of a house-er, mansion. Madeleine's house. She swiftly walked up to the door as if she came home from school. She rang the doorbell and waited patiently for her parents.

After about two minutes, the door creaked open.

Her mom was nothing like I expected.

I'm sure that before the incident, she was held together and beautiful, but this took a toll on her. Her eyes were red from crying and she had smudged makeup all around her eyes. She was dressed in a dirty bathrobe which obviously hadn't been washed in a while.

But her smile made it all disappear.

"Maddy!"

They shared a few words, hugs and tears.

"The world is going to end? Honey, you know that's impossible."

Her mom seemed to be in complete disbelief. We couldn't leave her like this. I pulled out the file and let her read it.

"Maddy, promise me..." her mom went quiet.

"Be home for lunch."

"I promise, love you. I'll kill lotsa bad guys for you!"

This kid.

They hugged goodbye and we went to Izac's house. I walked up with him.

When his family answered the door, I was surprised how dismissive they were. For what they knew, their son come back from the dead.

And all he got was a disinterested reply.

Izac left without another word. He didn't even seem sad when we got back to the car. Strange.

Next was Arlene's parents house. She went up with Zamira.

I couldn't tell what was happening, but her parents were smiling, and she was too. I'm glad her parents were happy for her.

My turn.

I strode up to the door and rang the doorbell. My dad came to the door.

"I told you you'd get yourself hurt by sleeping with your window open."

He slammed the door in my face.

I wanted to ring the doorbell again, but hesitated. I slowed walked back to the car, disappointed, but also not. Why did I expect my parents to care? To be honest, it was a stupid notion to think they cared.

We left town, not daring to look back.

We didn't have time for this.

It was time to train.

Even though it won't matter anyways.