Really sorry this chapter wasn't up earlier. Every time I started typing my inspiration goes blank. However, when I'm not writing and bored I spend all my time thinking about this story. Anyway, the time hasn't been wasted because I spent all the time outlining the story and analyzing the characters.
Also, Thanks a bunch to everybody who reviews this story and a special thanks to Lolaluvsbooks who gave me my first review. Hopefully those who read this chapter will get a better understanding of the relationship between the colony and Rose.
"How many people are there here?" I couldn't help asking. It was strange to not come across a single human in two years and suddenly find a large colony by accident. We were walking through the caverns on our way to the kitchen probably.
"Thirty-eight of us now; including you. Two of us are souls." He said. I smiled at him again although I had no idea or reason why. He smiled back and looked down. I wanted to keep him talking, the more he talked; the more I got that human-like feeling which was strangely addictive. At least I didn't feel much of an animal now.
"So, how did you get here?" He chuckled at my question.
"That is a long story." He answered.
"I have time" I encouraged. Giving him another smile; and again he looks down.
"Me and my sister, Melanie, were staying with her boyfriend, Jared. Melanie heard that our cousin was somewhere in the city end she went to find her. She didn't come back; we found a note instead. It told us we needed to find a new hiding place and that she was gone. Jared found a sort of secret map that lead us here to find uncle Jeb and these caves. We also found that our cousin that Melanie went looking for was here."He explained. I could tell that it was very painful and sad for him when he thought that his sister was lost.
"A year passes and Melanie's body shows up in the middle of the desert out here and she was about to die. We took her in and we knew that there was a soul inside her, Wanda was inside her." Now this confused me. Both Melanie and Wanda were here with separate bodies.
"We soon found out that Melanie was still alive in Wanda's head and they actually talked to each other. They're like twin sisters now. They know everything about each other. They even loved the same people when they were sharing the same body. That is why I think about both of them as my sisters. In the end, Wanda was about to kill herself and let Melanie take over her body. Doc took her out but from the persuasion of a knife to the throat, we put her inside another body; one where the human soul inside it was long gone. "He finished.
"Wow" Was all I could say. I guess my ideas on Souls were wrong. There might actually be a good side to them occasionally. Occasionally.
We reached the kitchen now. They were serving corn on the cob, beans and…SAUSAGES! How in the world were they able to bring perishable food out here? Jamie grabbed two plates. I breathed and the beautiful aroma had reached my nose. I even tasted it on the back of my tongue; it had my mouth watering. I hadn't eaten proper veggies in how long? Two years? It felt longer than that
Jamie judged that I was hungry and got what he called was two 'Kyle helpings'. We headed for the table where Melanie, Jared, Wanda, Ian and Jeb sat. They were some of the last ones eating. As soon as we sat down their conversations died down. Two women from another table were eyeing me carefully; mostly glaring. One whispered to the other and I could tell that one of them was called Maggie. There were several silent moments as I felt several pairs of eyes on me as I sat down and started eating my food. I started with the corn, it tasted brilliant.
"Mmm. I actually haven't had corn in two years. Or any other type of veggie for that matter" I said trying to make a little small talk with Jamie if everybody else was going to be silent. Apparently they were all listening.
"Really? What did you usually eat?" Jamie asked.
"Coyote, or if I was up north I would try mountain lion." I said casually. Everybody except Jeb had either dropped their forks or their jaw hung open. "Don't worry. I didn't eat them raw. As I said my animal DNA allows me to survive on just about anything, such as a carnivorous diet. I much prefer human food though." I quickly added and went back to my food. Everybody else followed a few seconds later but with open ears.
"Couldn't you like get it from the store? I mean your eyes would pass a check." Jamie asked. He was quite intrigued.
"I preferred not going to the stores actually." I said with a hint of distaste in my tone. Jamie attempted to lift my mood with a change of subject.
"So what can you actually do? I mean we know you are really strong and can change your eye color; is there anything else you can do?" He asked; his voice saturated with curiosity.
"Well," I began. This was going to be a long list and no doubt that a few people will be a bit frightened by me. However something inside of me wanted to tell Jamie everything about me. "Apart from having five times the strength of a naturally strong human; my skin is harder than yours; a knife would only scratch me." I waited for that to sink in.
I continued, "I heal ten times faster than you, my skin can change colors like a chameleon and blend in if I stay still." I placed my hand on the table. I made my skin camouflage into the faux wood grains on the surface. Everybody stared, wide eyed; I had to admit it was surprisingly enjoyable.
"Whoa" Jamie said; everybody else was speechless; Jeb made an impressed whistle.
"I can also extend my fingernails instantly from under the skin of my fingers." I let my skin fade back to normal. I pushed away me and Jamie's plate so they wouldn't get in the way. I quickly extended my nails as fast as a bullet. Everybody jumped when they came out. Both Wanda and Melanie clung onto Ian and Jared tighter. Perhaps I shouldn't have brought them out so fast. I drew them back under my skin.
"Doesn't that hurt?" Jamie asked; he was amazed.
"No, not at all. Of course it tickled a bit when I first started doing it" I answered and then continued my lecture.
"As you can tell, my eyes can change color. My eyes go silver out of habit because I usually leave them on in case anybody found me. I don't know whether you have noticed but my eyes are more orange than they should be. Those are cats' eyes mixing in with my brown. They are very useful; they allow me to see in the dark as well as long distance." Jamie's eyes poured into mine as he tried to examine them. Then his face relaxed and instead gazed into my eyes. Surprisingly, I did the same.
His eyes were lush and kind. I could sense some desire behind them but only very faint. I felt like I could gaze into them for hours. They were endless and inviting. A few long moments passed. I felt blood beginning to flood my cheeks. I pulled away right before he did.
I just realized that I had blushed. I hadn't blushed since…since…
"Well they really are something." He said slightly uncomfortably. I could tell that everybody saw our exchange; especially Melanie and Wanda who seemed to see a lot more than the men. Their expressions were a mix of concern, awe, joyful, suspicious, anticipation and worry.
"I can also run faster than a cheetah without getting tired for a few hours. My sprints are about as fast as a formula one car. My teeth are as sharp as sharks' teeth and I have an unlimited number of sets just like a shark. However, my teeth still look like human teeth. Not to mention all five senses were enhanced as well. Last but not least, I have a photographic memory which comes in handy. Apart from all that, I'm relatively human" I concluded. I finished off my meal. I was hungrier than I thought. Jamie insisted on taking my plate when I could perfectly walk and put it away. When he was away, the table was very silent and everybody was very nervous. I guessed that they were worried I would hurt them.
"Although, I don't find this something to brag about. I don't regret changing because it saved my life, but… I don't like the fact that I'm not completely human. It makes me feel barbaric and like I've lost ho I truly am. "I said sadly. This calmed some people, but not everyone. Wanda and Melanie were worried before and now they were still worried, but this time they had a bit of concern and sadness in their eyes.
"Well Rose," Jamie was back. I noticed that I was actually relived and smiling when I heard his voice. "I think we better head to bed because tomorrow we will be harvesting some of the tomatoes." He said; he also smiled. It made my insides fly. This was unusual, the only time I had ever felt like this in my life was when…
Ugh. I didn't dare remember the name, otherwise pain, betrayal and disappointment would flood me; mostly pain. Jamie took my wrist and led me to the door to the other caverns. My heart slightly jumped at the touch. When we left I overheard the conversation that followed at the table. They forgot that I could hear me because it was about me.
"Jeb, do you think we should kick her out?" asked Jared.
"No. I don't think so because I don't think she'll do any harm. Plus, she could be a really big hand around here." Jeb replied.
"I don't know, especially with Jamie being so close to her" Jared said.
"I don't think we'll need to worry about her hurting Jamie. " Wanda answered instead.
"Why do you say that?" Jared asked, obviously confused. Melanie answered before Wanda did.
"Oh come on! You had to see the way she looked at him. And how you or anybody else couldn't stop her from leaving except Jamie. She also woke when Jamie entered the room. She always smiles when he does. Plus, have you seen how she acts when she talks to Jamie? How her voice comes out?" She waited a few moments for an answer. Silence; so she answered herself, "She talks to him in a more than friendly way. She sounds most 'human' when she talks to him. She talks to us like she is giving a lecture and stating the facts. Her voice is so boring and robotic when she talks to us, except Jamie. Do the math and you come to the conclusion she is falling for him." Melanie said.
"How in the world would you notice and know all that in less than three hours?" Ian asked this time and Wanda answered.
"First, it is obvious. Second, you can see it in her eyes. And third, we are women. We know these things because we've been there." Wanda explained. Jamie was right, they do both act like twin sisters. They both think similar things as well as know each other. Jeb spoke next,
"Well, as long as she doesn't cause any trouble then she is welcomed here. No matter what Maggie and Sharon thinks. She is very human apart from those things. Anyway, Kyle will get a kick out of not being the strongest person around here." Then I tuned out of their conversation as it moved to a different topic.
That fact made my mind wonder a bit on how strong Kyle was, but only a little bit. My mind was more focused on what Melanie said. Was I falling for Jamie? Did I really think of him like that? This left me puzzling for a few moments. I knew that my feelings and thoughts were already confused so I came to my favorite conclusion and answer: Only time will tell.
He led me to a room that actually had a door. There were three single beds in the room and he let go of my wrist. He left the room for me to get changed. He knocked and came in after I was done. I crawled into the bed next to his.
"You can get changed in here. Don't worry I won't look." I said.
"Sure" he said, but his words sounded like that he was thinking a different. He climbed into his bed and said, "Good night," he waited a few moments and then staged a cough.
"What?" I asked.
"You're supposed to say 'sleep tight' when I say 'good night.'" He explained.
"Okay, sure. Sleep tight" I said
"Don't let the bed bugs bite" He answered. Of course there weren't bed bugs here.
And for the first time in two years I didn't dream nightmares; I didn't dream memories; I didn't dream 'animal' dreams like hunting a coyote; I dreamt about Jamie.
Again, sorry about not posting this up sooner. But I will at least be posting a new chapter every week. I would appreciate reviews GREATLY. Even just a few words mean a lot to me.
Thanks!