Conniveo

Chapter 17: Validation

God damn it. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

My heart was racing at a billion miles a minute. I didn't know what to do. I had been reckless. When I looked originally, I had seen only Kana in the room. I had thought it was safe. I flashed back to reality and had to help Greg with drinking a glass of water because he couldn't hold anything. Then we tripped and somehow her entire family was there. And that guy - Kana's brother - was so fast. Or maybe I was too slow. Whatever the case, he had Greg. I had to get Greg back. But what if he had already taken Greg away? I focused my eyes and flashed to Kana's world. Kana's father was in the room now, in a much larger size than I had seen him originally. I guess he was the type of Homini that could increase how buff he was. He was talking too. I strained my ears until I could hear him.

"-in barely two minutes. You have until then to explain yourself."

"Look at this," Greg raised a hand to view. "I can't touch anything and I thought...maybe you'll have the technology to fix it," He looked at his hands and frowned. "This doesn't make any sense."

"What is wrong, Greg? What should I help you with?" Kana looked like she was about to cry. It made me feel weird, like something was kicking the already pounding heart in my chest. Greg seemed to study his hands.

"I couldn't touch anything but now I'm...normal."

"I do not understand you."

"When I was at home, I started to disappear. I was becoming transparent and my hands could barely make any form of physical contact with the objects around me. But now, somehow, it looks it's been fixed."

Greg moved his hand and touched Kana's brother's face. He still seemed confused at the change, yet he was happy that he could touch the guy. Suddenly, Kana's brother yelped and jumped away.

"I'm sorry," Greg apologized. "I'm still trying to make sense of-"

"You touched me!" The guy looked really upset. Or was that fear?

"Greg, you must refrain from touching anyone or anything until we can get you sterilized," Kana said coolly.

Greg raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"You and Eugene are carrying a lethal pathogen. It does nothing to you, but it is deadly to us."

"Deadly pathogen?"

"Kana!" Her mother exclaimed. Everyone turned to look at the woman. "You...you know this man?"

Kana looked uncertain for a moment. "Yes."

"How could you do this to us, to your own kind? You have been in liaison with the otherworld invaders?!"

"They are not invaders!" Kana screamed.

There was a loud spark as an electrical surge travelled across the room. Everyone fell silent.

"Kana, try to control yourself. Your erratic brain waves are dangerous," the bigger blonde man remarked quietly.

"I'm sorry, Father."

I looked at Greg and got a sudden realization. I had a chance at going to get him. Kana's brother was no longer holding him. I imagined that maybe I could trip in, grab Greg and trip out so quickly that nobody would get the chance to stop me. But Kana's brother was barely three feet away, and I wasn't sure how quickly he could react. Maybe I could-

Something grabbed my shoulder. I flashed back immediately as my heart started racing. Right before it got caught in my throat as I found myself staring into my mother's eyes. She looked scared.