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Chapter 171: Alienated
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The True Nature Series Chapter 172: Lost
I'D BEEN HOME FOR hours and there was still no sign of Zander. He could be anywhere between San Jose and Scotts Valley. My mind wouldn't stop playing out worst-case scenarios. Why didn't he return any of my texts or calls? I was beginning to think something really bad had happened again.Everyone had tried to tell me not to worry, that he needed space. All the way home they'd distracted me with questions, and I'd answered them until they were caught up on everything - everything but my mental ability to speak with Zander. That was one secret we weren't ready to share yet. Maverick insisted on driving me home after Luke dropped us off at our cars. My chaotic state of mind must have been obvious, because when we reached my house, he quietly followed me inside. Despite all my friends' efforts, I was still worried. Ruthie's last comment to me was something to the effect that I'd regret scowling so much when I got premature wrinkles. But I couldn't stop. Everyone close to me was in dan
The True Nature Series Chapter 173: Selfish
I CLAMPED DOWN ON my own grin and shook my head. "Make it snappy," I ordered, walking out and shutting the door. I knew he'd feel better cleaned up, but I had to find something for him to wear while his clothes washed. I rummaged through a bag of Dad's old stuff in the garage and found a t-shirt and a pair of swimming trunks that might work. Minutes later, Zander returned to my room, and I giggled when I saw his attire. He'd pulled the string of the swimming trunks tight around his waist to keep them from slipping off and they draped around him like a skirt. The t-shirt was also a little roomy, but somehow, he made it work."Feel better?" I asked.He grinned. "I feel wonderful, thank you." His eyes glinted with good humor before brightening with awareness as he gave me the once over. My cheeks warmed. He chuckled and fell back on the bed next to me, smiling as he ran a hand through his wet hair. The smell of my shampoo mixed with his woodsy scent wafted over me, filling me with con
The True Nature Series Chapter 174: Fires of Hell
JUST AS SUDDENLY AS it started, it stopped. I froze, afraid to even breathe for fear it would start again. Knox whined at the side of the bed, but I didn't dare move. Zander lay still next to me. I felt the bed dip as he shifted toward me and ever so slowly, I turned to meet his inquiring gaze."What was that?" I said to his mind, not even wanting to move my lips to speak."My back was on fire," he said."Mine, too.""Can I look?"I rolled onto my stomach with trepidation, afraid of what he'd find. Carefully, he pulled my shirt up to my shoulders. He ran his fingers across my skin and I sucked in air as tiny prickles of pain erupted across my back. He yanked his hand away."Sorry," he said."What is it?""I can't believe it. Take a look at my back." He ripped off his shirt. I caught a grimace of pain as it slid over his skin. Then I saw his back and gawked. His skin puckered in red flame-like patterns across each shoulder blade. They looked similar to the markings that Dr. Fr
The True Nature Series Chapter 175: Favorites
WITH ONE LAST PET to Knox's head, I climbed onto the bed, next to Zander. He tucked my head under his chin, wrapping both arms around me. We lay there, listening to our breathing and feeling the pulsing hum run up and down our skin. It seemed to alleviate the soreness along my shoulder blades and I assumed it did the same for him.I hated to break the peaceful silence, but I couldn't help it. "Zander?""Hmm?" he replied, his eyes half-closed."You said you felt like you've known me forever. I feel the same, but the truth is ... we don't know that much about each other at all.""What do you mean?" he asked, his voice sharpening with alertness, his body stiffening."Well, for starters, I don't even know your favorites."He snickered as he raised himself up on one elbow and stared down at me. A simple smile tilted his mouth up on one side and the corners of his eyes crinkled with curiosity."My favorites?" Trying not to grin like a spaz I licked my lips and pinched them between
The True Nature Series Chapter 176: The Sentavoti
"THEY'RE DOING IT AGAIN." A tall, blond man leaned against a doorjamb as he watched three small children building giant Lego towers. A moment later a woman joined him. "What are you talking about, Uriel?" "They're communicating without saying anything out loud," he said, his voice full of amazement. "I've seen them do this before.""No, they aren't. They're just being quiet for a change. Enjoy it."His eyes glinted with good humor as he smiled at her. "Well, there's that, too. But look more closely. I believe that they are constructing a house with those blocks, which is incredible for their age. What fascinates me the most is that they are taking turns placing the blocks. And they seem to be communicating without speaking out loud." The woman watched as one of the little girls looked into her brother's eyes, the two of them sharing some kind of thought, before placing her block on the stack.He grasped her arm. "Did you see that?""You're right.""It's odd for toddlers, d
The True Nature Series Chapter 177: The Girl on the Wall
I THREW OPEN MY eyes in alarm, expecting the worst. My rapid heartbeat slowed as I realized Dad and Knox were still sleeping. The scream had only been in my head, in my dream. Suddenly, something flashed across my wall.It was the image of a girl getting out of bed and talking to me, playing like an old black and white movie on the wall of my bedroom. She looked familiar, but I couldn't hear what she was saying. When I didn't respond, she gestured wildly with her hands. I sat up and stared. Where had I seen her before? I wondered if I was still dreaming. The picture slowly started to fade and I reached out as if I could stop it. "No!"The girl looked desperate now. She placed a hand over her eyes and then lowered it before repeating the action and looking at me expectantly. When I didn't understand what she was saying we both stared helplessly at each other. As her image continued to fade, she looked so sad I would have done anything to make her smile. But I couldn't and in the n
The True Nature Series Chapter 178: Moving Forward
AS RUTHIE AND I drove to school the next morning, we tried to guess how the rest of the students would treat us after what happened at Zena's party last Friday. She'd played me like a fiddle, making me think she and Zander had been up in one of the bedrooms. I'd searched the rooms for him only to be chloroformed. Although I'd been aware of my blood being drawn, I hadn't been able to do anything about it, nor had I seen who attacked me. Hours later, Ruthie and Phoebe found me unconscious. When I returned downstairs, Zena and her friends insinuated that I'd been up there all night with the football team.I wouldn't be surprised if my locker was "decorated" with an assortment of words that ended with "slut." Ruthie didn't think she'd do that considering the smackdown she'd given her. It had been pretty impressive, but Zena had a way of escaping the worst gossip."Great," I grumbled. "Now you're an even bigger target than you were before." She shrugged. "You know who I really want to k
The True Nature Series Chapter 179: The Sharum
DR. FRANKLER ANSWERED THE door right away, her eyes widening at the sight of Zander standing next to me. "He's joining us," I said firmly. With a look up and down the corridor, she gestured for us to enter. We settled into the chairs across from her desk while she sat behind it. Leaning forward, she asked, "Before I get started, did you have a question for me?" How did she know that? Zander and I slid sidelong glances at one another, neither sure where to start. Zander spoke up first."Your back," he said. "You said the scar on your shoulder blades wasn't the mark of Cain. But you didn't explain. We want to know what it means."Dr. Frankler melted into her chair looking surprised. "I told you. It means you can trust me.""Do you have the same scars on each of your shoulder blades?" I asked.She perked up. "How did you know? You've seen them before?""Yes," I said. "On--""On me," butted in Zander. "Let's start with me," he said, speaking along our mental link. "And find o
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