Chapter 24

Kelly

I rolled onto my back flinging my arm over, and coming into contact with something warm and firm. A small groan sounded and the bed dipped slightly as something shifted its weight. My eyes shot open. Cautiously I look to my sides, seeing the back of someone. I breath in shakily, I slowly start to slide towards the edge of the bed, as I get further away from the sleeping man in my bed the bed dips in, again the figure moans and shifts before settling back down. Taking more care this time, I edge closer to the end, till I jump off completely. Taking deep shaky breathes, I clutch at the towel I have wrapped around me closer.

'What did I do?' I have to know, tip-towing over to the other side of the bed, I try not to cringe at the pain shooting throughout my body. Mentally preparing myself for what I was about to see, I bent down. And stopped.

Seth.. Suddenly the past few days event come rushing back with such force my head starts spinning. "Oh thank god" I let out on a sigh, closing my eyes, relief washes over me and I sink to my knees resting my head on the very edge of the mattress. Finally after what seems like an hour I open them again, moving my head to take in Seth's profile.

Asleep, there is no hardness in his angular face. And his eyes don't seem to be piercing or truth seeking, there is only Seth. A sense of his vulnerability sneaks over me, he is just a child, weighed down with the decisions of an adult. Unable to help myself I reach forward slowly brushing a few stray strands from his face. I smile softly, I guess underneath that entire tough guy exterior, maybe he wasn't such an ass after all.

After hoisting myself up I pad softly towards the bathroom with a change of clothes, planning on a long warm shower and some relaxed alone time for the first time in a few days.

Seth

A loud crash has me jumping up from my sleeping position, my eyes snap towards the sound source. The bedroom door is wide open. A further survey of the room reveals Zack and Sara rummaging through the wooden bookshelf at the end of Kelly's room.

"What are you doing" I demand, cursing the sluggish tone of sleep still lingering in my voice. Sara doesn't turn, but sends a message to me. "The mission! Zack says he gave it to Kelly". My eyes widen and in the next instant im off the bed and searching the shelves of the other bookcase next to the window.

Pushing aside books, and small figurines of animals and landmarks. I come up empty until the last shelf. "Sara" I yell. She rushes to my side already aware through our bond of what I've found. "You found it?" She says breathlessly, all the excitement, blushing her cheeks a rosy pink.

Zack is now, standing to my left. Staring with amazement at the small wooden box I'd found hidden behind a fake book. "Are you sure this is what your looking for, I mean we've had this for years, it's a toy" He whispers.

The bathroom door suddenly opens a rush of steam exits, before Kelly her face flushed slightly from the heat and her hair damp from the shower. "What's going on, hey! What are you guys doing that's my stuff!" she says storming over to me. She snatches the box from my hands. What do you think your doing! Rummaging through my stuff!" Zack interrupts her rant, 'Kelly, it belongs to them" he says quietly still with a tone of awe in his voice.

She gives him and incredulous look, "What belongs to them! This is mine!"

Footsteps come through the open door behind us all. Alex and Jack walk towards our party. "What's all the commotion up here" Alex asks. Whereas jack tries a more blunt approach "What's goin on!". Kelly answers before the rest of us clearly distressed. "They're all going through my stuff! Sneaking around in here! Taking things. Saying they belong to them!" She says glaring at all of us, but saving the worst stare for me, and I know why.

Jack tilts his head to the side, "What! Explain Zack" But Zacks eyes are focused on the box. I follow his gaze. A blue light is shining from the inside.

"Sara. What's happening" I ask. By now everyone is staring at the box in Kelly's hands. Sara shakes her head "I don't know brother".

Kelly's mouth is wide open and she begins to slowly hiss. "What! What is it" I demand. She shakes her head her eyes wide with terror, "I don't know! Its burning!" Then she opens her hands, letting the box fall to the ground. We all stare on with amazement as it spins the box starting to glow blue, rising into the air, suddenly the box isn't there anymore, and a small device is rising spinning with the speed of light. I shield my eyes against the glare. A buzzing sound fills the room. But as suddenly as it starts it all stops. The light the sound, everything.

I look around at the room, "What just happened", Alex asks. But Sara answers her; "It chose her" I look down at Kelly's hands, the device it settled there.

I looked up at Kelly's face and our eyes meet. "She's part of the machine now"...