Summary - We can't tell you who we are or where we live. It's too dangerous. What we can tell you, is that you're screwed. We all are, really. How can a small group of young adults save the world? How can we, of all people, be the heroes? Simple. One wrong turn changed our lives forever. And now, we're fighting to save yours.
Author Notes - Disclaimer: I do not own Animorphs or any of it's original characters. Those belong to K.A. Applegate and co. I take no credit for those.
Animorphs II - Where it all began is the first book in the multibook series, featuring the original Animorphs and several original characters - following them on their journeys, their battles and their war. However, unlike the original series, Animorphs II is more mature - adult based. The characters are all much older, and the story is far more graphic. I decided to take a chance with this one, since I haven't read the series in over 6 years. Anywho, here's the first chapter.
Note - Many of the Original Characters are going to be OOC, due to them being a lot older than they were in the original. Also, all Canon pairings are remaining, with the exception to Marco, who is paired with my OC.
Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated.
I can't tell you who we are. Or where we live. It's too risky. Too many people would love to see us dead. Too many people are waiting for the right chance to strike. What I can tell you is this. There's a war beginning on earth, a war like none you've ever learned about in history class, or read about in the news papers or online. A war so advanced, so outlandishly unbelievable, that even the higher powers of the world are unaware. Or they're part of it. We haven't figured that out yet. It's all too new to us. We live in a city, in a country, in some part of the world. You have to trust me on that. Because this is for your own good. All of this.
A week ago we were normal. We were just trying to find our place in the world. Now, we're fighting a war that is too complicated to explain.
All in due time, human. We'll explain it. If we live long enough.
"You're absolutely out of your mind," I huffed, pulling my hoodie tightly around my thin frame. I pushed a lock of hair out of my face, my eyes locking on Marco's. "There is no way you're getting me to try that on."
"Please?" he pouted. Something about him pouting made my heart melt. Nothing like a really cute guy pouting.
"Fine," I growled, snatching the ugly piece of clothing out of his hands. It was a week before senior prom, and Marco was determined to get me to dress up. I didn't understand the big deal, but apparently I lacked the sentimental gene.
It took me a minute to zip the pale blue dress up. I had to admit, it was sort of pretty. In a way too classy, way too expensive sense.
I stepped out of the dressing room and sighed, pulling my hair off my shoulder, wiggling against the scratchy tag.
"I like that," he nodded, pulling me over to the mirror.
"You're so gay," I muttered sourly. He smiled at that.
"I wouldn't be with you if I were," he teased.
"Shut up," I muttered.
"It brings out your eyes," he said softly, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"So does my black hoodie," I grumbled.
"C'mon, Kay, Rachel even got Tobias to go, you're going," he pushed, turning me so I was looking directly into his chocolate brown eyes. My heart melted. He knew all the right ways to convince me to do just about anything.
"So?" I huffed.
"So, for one night, you're going to dress up, and enjoy it," he said, leaning down to plant a kiss on the top of my head. We were both short, but Marco had two inches on me. And rarely let me forget it.
"Fine," I pouted. "You owe me," I added as I went to change back into my comfortable clothes. I hated dress shopping. Normally Rachel would drag me through every possible store in the mall, twice, before letting me pick the darkest, cheapest dress I could find. And then she'd refuse to let me get it, even though it was coming out of my own pocket to begin with. It was refreshing to go with Marco for once, even though his knowledge of dresses and shoes was sort of scary.
He's just pissed that I'm not all into prom like Rachel is, I thought as I zipped my jeans. I grabbed the dress off the stool and unlocked the dressing room door. Sighing, I handed the dress to Marco, who had already picked out his tuxedo a week earlier. Hence why the dress had to be sky blue. I wanted a nice, black dress. But of course, that wasn't going over.
"You let Marco pick your dress?" Rachel asked in amazement as she spun me around, forcing me to nearly fall flat on my face.
"It beat having to spend hours scooping the mall," I shrugged.
"I like it," Cassie said softly from her perch on the bed.
"Me too," offered Tobias. I felt myself blush. I couldn't figure out why Rachel was making such a big deal out of all this.
"It's just a dress," I sighed.
"No, it's your senior prom dress," Rachel said smugly. "And it's really beautiful, despite Marco's horrible choice in dresses. You look stunning," she said, smiling brightly. Her blonde hair fell over her shoulders like a wave of amber flames. I smiled and shook my head.
"It's no big deal."
"It's senior prom!" Rachel cried out, as if I insulted her.
"So?"
"So, it's the last big get together before graduation. Don't you want to remember it the rest of your life?"
"Not really," I shrugged.
A year ago it would have mattered. It would have been a huge ordeal. But that all changed when my parents were killed in a house fire while I was away for two weeks during summer vacation. Now, nothing really mattered anymore. Rachel had a bad habit of forgetting that. Not like Cassie, who saw the look cross my face.
"It's going to be fun," she said softly, her hands tightly gripping mine. "You'll see."
"Whatever," I sighed. I walked into Rachel's bathroom and for the second time that day, changed back into my jeans. I stopped and looked at myself in the mirror. I couldn't believe how dark the circles were under my eyes. Sure, I had a lot of sleepless nights since the fire, but it's not like I didn't sleep. I was a lot thinner too. The last year had taken it's toll.
"Kay," a voice came from the other side of the door.
"Hmm?"
"Your brother's on the phone," Rachel's voice chimed.
"Okay," I sighed. I pulled the plastic around the dress before opening the door. Tobias was holding my cell phone, waiting for me to make my way across the room. Which wasn't easy, considering the amount of clothing and makeup sprawled out. Eventually, I made it safely to the other side of the bed.
"What's up?" I asked, sitting down on one of Rachel's beanbag chairs.
"Where are you?" my twin brother, Cody, asked. He sounded worried.
"Rachel's, why?" I asked.
"Do you have the car?" he asked, skipping my question.
"No, Marco does," I said. "He had to pick up a few things."
"Well call him and tell him to swing by the diner, I need a lift home," Cody demanded.
"We'll get you on the way back to the hotel, around 7, okay?" I offered. Cody and I had been staying at various hotels since the fire destroyed our house. More times than not, I spent the night with Marco, rather than cooped up in a musty hotel room.
"I need a ride now," Cody argued.
"The diner's only a few blocks away, want me to come get you? We can walk back to Rachel's and wait for him?" I was used to this from Cody. Ever since our parents died, he didn't like walking alone. Not since the police ruled it an arson. He was convinced that whoever set fire to the house, was going to find us.
"Okay..." Cody said doubtfully. "Don't walk alone."
"I won't, I think Jake's working today, isn't he?" I looked over at Cassie for my answer.
"He gets off in five," she nodded.
"Cody, I'll get Jake to walk with me, since the gas station's only two minutes away from the diner, okay?" I offered.
"The gas station's the long way," he argued. "Can't you get Tobias or someone to walk with you?"
"Cody, I'll be fine. I've walked a lot farther alone before," I said gently. "Trust me, I'll be okay."
"Kay, please," the tone in his voice made me stop dead. I pressed my eyes shut and nodded to myself.
"Okay. Okay, Cody. I'll try to convince Rachel to let me borrow Tobias, okay?" I threw a look at Rachel. She smiled widely, clearly, having a plan of her own.
"Okay. See you in 15 and a half minutes," Cody said before hanging up. Of course he had timed how long it would take.
"Your brother's still that worried?" Cassie asked, a troubled look crossing her face.
"Only when I don't have the car," I nodded, pulling on my shoes.
"We'll all go with you," Rachel said with a sly smile.
"Okay then?" I said tiredly. Between Cody and balancing school and track, I was beat. I hardly had time to keep my relationship with Marco from hitting the rocks. It was all beginning to take it's toll.
The walk was easy enough. We stopped at the gas station first, to get Jake, before heading directly to the diner, where Cody was pacing back and forth nervously. He looked up as soon as the little bell over the door rang. A look of relief crossed his face as soon as he saw me. Shaking my head, I waved him over.
"Marco's gonna meet us here. He's leaving the car at Rach's," I explained. "Said it's too nice out to spend the entire night in the car. Anyway, it only seats 5," I said with a shrug.
"Okay..." Cody looked even more fearful than normal.
"What's wrong kiddo?" I asked. Even though technically we were the same age, Cody was an hour younger than I was, and sometimes, it made all the difference.
"I just have a bad feeling," he muttered softly, so only I could hear it.
"Everything's going to be okay," I promised.
Little did I know how truly wrong I was.