Broken by H.R. Davison (ebook reader color screen TXT) 📕

get here?” I ask, my voice trembling with emotion.

               

“You are in my home. Armaros had you brought here after…” He trails off for moment. “After Saul lost control.” He finishes.

               

Saul? That must be the name of my tormentor. Armaros is behind this. That means Dr. Takahashi is no ordinary doctor. “What are you?” I ask him.

               

He chuckles softly before answering. “Kathryn I am one of the Fallen.”

               

“Why didn’t you just let me die?” I ask him. Silent tears slip down my face.

               

Dr. Takahashi shrugs his shoulders in response to my question without answering. “Since you are Nephilim your body’s ability to regenerate damaged tissue is exponentially greater than a human. You should be as good as new in two weeks or less.”

               

I smile weakly at him. I am not interested in getting better unless I can leave. “And then I can go home? Can I see my dad?” I ask.

               

His face turns somber upon hearing my question. “No Kathryn. You will not be returning home. I must go now.” He stands to leave. “If you need anything please ask Amber.” He pats me on the arm gently. “I want you to know that I do not condone the way you were treated. I have spent my time here on Earth as a healer and as long as you are under my care no harm will come to you.”

               

As he is walking away I think of one more question. “Dr. Takahashi?” I call out. “What day is it?”

               

“Oh it is October 20th.” He says, as if I should have known that.

               

It is already October. I have been gone for weeks. My dad must be beside himself with worry. I missed my birthday. I am officially an adult. I think about Andy, I wonder what he is doing right now. Is he looking for me? Will he find me? Do I want him to find me? I close my eyes and press the button for more morphine. Not because I am in physical pain, but because I want to escape this reality and dream.

Andy (Then)

 

I am sitting at the kitchen table working on an English essay that is due in two weeks. I have written so much that my hand is cramping. Since I am left handed there are smears across the paper where I’ve smudged the pencil.

               

My dad walks into the kitchen and pours himself a glass of juice from the refrigerator. “Hey dad.” I say to him.

               

“Hey kiddo.” He responds. “What are you working on?”

               

“An English essay.” I tell him. “Hey dad, can I ask you a question?”

               

He laughs quietly from across the table. “You just did son.” I scowl at him. I dislike being corrected. “Let me rephrase. May I please ask you a question about…“ I trail off. Unable to decide how to word it.

               

I decide to start over as my dad looks at me quizzically over the top of his glass. “Today at school during lunch I was sitting at the table minding my own business and all of a sudden there was a sharp pain in my knee. It was like I had fallen down and cut it up. Then I felt really angry, for no reason at all. It was so strange. What is happening?”

               

My dad places his glass down on the table in front of him and takes a deep breath. “Andy you know you’re special. You are meant for so much more than becoming a bio-engineer or whatever it is you want to be.” He says with a flip of his hand. “You remember what you are son?”

               

“Yes dad, I am Nephilim. I am a guardian. It is my fate to protect mankind from destruction.” I look down at my hands clasped in front of me on the table. My left thumb over my right. I stare the odd shaped birthmark. It is the root of everything.

               

I remember the day my parents told me that I am destined to save the world. Myself and a toddler. Well, she probably isn’t a toddler anymore I chuckle to myself. Since that day my dad spends one day a week training me. He has taught me how to use every aspect of my grace. This, just like all learning, I have excelled at it. We have worked on some hand to hand combat training, but since I am only ten he wants to wait until we start any vigorous physical training. It still doesn’t explain the odd experience I had today.

               

My dad clears his throat before talking. “Andrew we decided on that day long ago that you should know what and who you are. What your destiny is. However, Kathryn’s mother has decided the opposite. She does not want to raise Kathryn the way we have raised you, instead she wants her to have a normal childhood. Her mother will explain everything to her on her eighteenth birthday.”

               

He takes a sip of juice before continuing. “Do you remember during training how I taught you to shield?”

               

“Yes.” I answer. I do remember that. My dad taught me that it is important to guard my mind and emotions from others. To build a wall around myself.

               

“The reason I taught you that is to protect Kathryn. You two are… connected. If you allow it, if you let your shield down, she will feel what you feel.”

               

The realization of what he is saying dawns on me. “I can feel what she is feeling?!” I ask excitedly. “She was mad, so I felt mad? Right?”

               

“Yes son. Since Kathryn is unaware of what she is and her abilities it is important that you continue to shield yourself.” He pinches the bridge of his nose as he talks. “As she gets older her powers will get stronger, since she doesn’t know she is doing it, you can expect to feel her more often than not. I’m sorry son.”

               

I am not worried about the future. I am intellectually intrigued about the possibilities of using this connection to learn. I rub the birthmark on my hand. I know that Kathryn has the same birthmark on her right hand. It is this mark that makes us special.

               

I wait until my dad leaves the room to lower my shield. I concentrate on Kathryn as I remember her, a chubby toddler still in diapers. I think about her and about being happy. Even though I don’t know her, I don’t want her to be mad. I radiate happiness at her, thinking about ice cream. I hope this works.

 

 

 

 

Andy (Now)

 

I stare out the window watching the passing scenery. Cody is driving the car, since my episode two days ago he didn’t want to take any chances with me behind the wheel and I certainly can’t blame him.

               

When the pain subsided I felt I had a clear lock on Kat’s position. I felt her presence pulling at me. By the time we even got halfway to the location I was being pulled, it was as if she vanished. I haven’t felt anything since. Cody hasn’t said it out loud, but I know he thinks she is dead. I know she isn’t. She can’t be. I would be nothing without her. I promise myself when I find her I will tell her everything. I will hold nothing back. I will tell her everything her mother wouldn’t.

               

“This island isn’t that big.” Cody says. “I mean we could just start at one end and make our way to the other, knock on every door until we find her.” He looks over at me with a smirk on his face.

               

I know he is trying to cheer me up. I rub the birthmark on my hand and continue to stare out the window. My eyes start to drift closed. I haven’t slept in two days. The motion of the car coupled with my weariness is taking its toll.

               

“Hungry?” Cody asks snapping me awake. “I am starving! How about we stop at one of these little shacks and get some grub?”

               

I respond with a nod. Even though I am not hungry it is best if Cody eats. He needs to keep up his strength. We pull into a gravel parking lot. Standing in the middle is a wooden building with a large porch. A handwritten sign on the door says Big Mac’s: Open. There are several cars in the lot and a large crowd is gathered on the porch.

               

I summon the energy to get out of the car and walk up the wooden stairs. Loud Reggae music wafts outside. I can only imagine how loud it will be inside. My head is already pounding from lack of sleep. I grab Cody’s arm before he can walk inside. “Hey… I can’t.” I say with a nod, gesturing at the door. “I’m going back to the car. I need to rest. Take your time and grab me something to go alright?” I hold my hand out for the car keys.

               

Cody places the keys in my hand and holds his palm over mine. He presses his other hand under my own. “Do. Not. Leave.” He orders me, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “I won’t be long. Get some rest little brother. You need it.”

               

“Thanks Cody.” I tell him. I pat him on the shoulder as I walk away. I shamble back to the car like a zombie. I roll down the windows and stretch out in the backseat. Resting my head on a backpack full of clothes I close my eyes and think of Kat.

 

*************

               

I am standing in Kat’s living room. She is curled in a ball on her sofa. She appears to be sleeping. I walk over to the sofa and kneel on the floor in front of her. I brush her long hair away from her face and tuck it behind her ear. Her eyes open and she stares at me. “I’m dreaming.” She mumbles.

               

Relief washes over me like a cold shower. She is alive. She is dreaming, and so am I. “Yes. You are dreaming.” I wrap my arms around her and press my forehead to hers. I can feel the sting of tears prick my eyes. “Kat I have been searching for you nonstop. Where are you? Can you tell me anything?” I ask her, hoping for the best.

               

She pulls away from me and sits up on the couch. I get up from the floor and sit next to her. She stares into the corner of the room and her eyes glaze over. I take her hand in mine to comfort her. “Kat?” I