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Attuned - Chapter 4 rewrite

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Chapter Four

     

Educational Hour

     

    The air was stale. I was finding it hard to breathe. I looked around and it was dark. A dripping noise broke out in the room, and an echo trailed after each drop. In the middle of the dark room was a table – kind of like the ones you see at the hospital that hold surgical instruments. It felt like I was lying on a hard cold floor. But it wasn't the floor; it was a stone alter of some variation. I couldn't move and it felt like my arms and legs were fastened down with thick leather belts. Moving my legs around, I tried to get out of my restraints. I gave up quickly, still struggling to breathe.

    Suddenly I could hear some footsteps, but I couldn't see anybody.

    “Hello?” I called out. Nobody answered. “Jonah? Michael?” I looked all around me, as much as my restrained body would allow. Then I heard a crunching noise – it sounded like the noise a child made when they were chewing into a piece of boiled candy; hollow and hard. It wasn't a pleasant sound but it didn't last very long.

    A smell drifted into the room and I winced at it – blood. Was it my blood? I didn't feel any pain.

    “Jonah?” I called again. I didn't want to be here, now. It was starting to grow fearful. The footsteps came closer to me, each step on the hard floor echoed into my ears. Looking over to the table with the tools on it, I saw a pale hand pick up one of them; a spiked looking tool. But it wasn't made from wood. It was shiny like a blade. I couldn't imagine what it would be used for, but I didn't want to find out. I struggled in the straps more.Despite knowing I couldn't get free, I still tried.

    The steps moved closer to me now, and a face came into view. A man with short, white hair looked down at me, pricking his fingers against the spiked end of the tool. He sighed and then touched my forehead, his fingers cold and clammy to the touch. I recognized him somehow, but he was older than I remembered. His face looked somehow troubled, like whatever he was going to do was a pity.

    My breathing became quicker, shallower, and I was looking at his deep brown eye, his other eye was mangled somehow but I couldn't see it very clearly in the light. He was looking me up and down, analyzing my body, I could only guess. Then, suddenly he pushed the tool down into my abdomen, and the pain was excruciating. I pursed my eyes shut as tight as I could and then I screamed in agony.

    My eyes opened and it was still dark. I stopped screaming but the pain lingered. Someone was gripping my hand, rubbing it gently.

    “Jonah?” I waited for my eyes to adjust. I had been dreaming, but was I awake now?

    “I’m here, Charlie. You’re alright.”

    I rolled to my side, and I could feel the sweat on my head and over my body. Breathing a sigh of relief I pulled Jonah’s arm to me and held it against me, tightly. “Jonah, it hurt,” I sobbed.

    He brushed my hair away from my face. Michael burst through the door and ran to my bed.

    “Charlotte! What’s happening, are you okay?” He was panicked. I let go of Jonah’s hand and turned to Michael and hugged him as hard as I could. His heart was pounding in time with mine. My stomach was still in pain. For a dream, that felt so real. The lingering pain ached sharply and I sobbed again.

    “She had that dream again.” Jonah’s voice was pensive. He got up and closed my door. Taking very measured steps,he walked back to my bed and turned up the oil lamp on the bedside table. I turned my head around to look at Jonah as he sat down.

    “You saw my dream?” I brushed the hair out of my face, trying to ignore the pain in my abdomen. There was a long pause and Jonah looked at Michael. “Jonah? What did you…”

    “Charlie, the person in your dreams… you've dreamed about him before?” Michael quickly interrupted me. I looked up at him and slowly nodded, wincing from the memory and the current pain which seemed to pulse with pain with every beat of my heart.

    “It’s been years since she’s dreamed about him.” Jonah explained. “The last time, he was in her dreams for a week, and I put a stop to it. It was the same gentleman this time.”

    I turned to Jonah, letting Michael go. “How did you know? I didn't feel us swap, I was in my dream the whole time and then when it did stop, you were here with me.” Now I was confused. I didn't even see him in my dream.  I groaned and pulled myself into a tight ball.

    “I heard you call my name, while I slept. In my head, you called me. So I woke up, and then you called me again. Only this time it was more panicked and scared. So I ran here to see if you were alright, and then I realised you were sleeping. And then I saw his face in my head, as if you were showing me what was wrong. You were squirming in your bed so I held your hand and then you just woke, screaming.” Jonah’s eyes were down cast and he bit his bottom lip. I guess my dream hurt him physically as much as it hurt me. I wondered if he felt the stabbing pain in his stomach like I was. My hand went to my pain, and I rubbed it, absentmindedly.

    “Charlotte!” Jonah shrieked. I couldn't sit up anymore, and the pain was getting worse. Jonah pulled my arms away from my stomach and there was blood all over my gown and hands.

    “Oh dear!” was all I was able to say as I looked at my hands. Then everything went black.

          

    I was hurting all over, like my muscles had done a physical work out for a couple of days. But I was glad to feel the pain. At least that meant I was alive. I slowly opened my eyes and it was bright all around me, as if the sun was shining inside the room. Blinking my eyes a lot seemed like a useless event. Everything was blurry. I felt really groggy too, like I’d just had an entire bottle of port and the after affect of the alcohol hadn't quite subsided yet. I was lying down, and then my stomach started to throb. I groaned and tried to move.

    “Charlotte?” I heard Michael from across the room. “Hey, she’s awake.” I saw a blurry shadow move up to me and my eyes started to slowly adjust. Michael’s face looked relieved.

    “Charlotte, you’re safe. Try not to move. Your skin is still trying to repair itself. We had to sedate you and your brother. He wasn't making the job easy for us.” I didn't recognize the voice. But he sounded earnest. I didn't really understand what he was saying. His language sounded different to what I was used to.

    I heard a groan close by. I looked over to my right and saw some strange square objects hanging from the wall with little lights moving to and fro on it.

    How strange, I thought.

    Further along I saw a bed and my brother sat up and held his head, like he, too, was recovering from too much alcohol consumption.

    “Jonah,” I called to him, my voice croaking strangely. Another groan, frustrated, escaped his lips.

    “Charlie, you… are you okay?” he stammered. He swung his legs over the bed and slipped off the bed, falling onto the floor into a heap.

    “Jonah!” I looked at my brother on the floor, his hands pushing his body up slowly like he weighed more than he was accustomed to.

    “What the hell did you do to me,” he gasped, looking up at the figure that stood close by.

    The man next to my bed looked down at Jonah with pity.

    He wore a long white coat and had long black hair, tied up at the back with a leather thong– it was utterly and shockingly straight. His skin was tanned and smooth. He had a strange necklace around his neck that began with two parts that bent toward each other and ended in a singular length with a circle on the end of it. He had something attached to his jacket pocket that had his face on it. It also had a name on it; Adrian.

    “Jonah, you know what I did to you. You were making our job very difficult. Your sister needed immediate attention and I was the best person to handle it quickly. If you didn't keep interfering the way you were, I could have helped her faster. I had to do something.” Unrepentant, the doctor explained confusing brother, as Michael helped him up off the floor. I didn't understand what they meant. I must have been asleep.

    “Well, Sir,” Jonah gritted his teeth, obviously furious with Adrian.“Getting people to hold me back only made me more protective of my sister. You didn't appear the way you do now. And if she had woken up and seen you, she would not have been quite as composed as you required!” Jonah looked up at the man as Michael put him back on the bed. “What was that… strange thing you were doing anyway?”

    Adrian smirked. “I was healing her. That’s how I heal.” He turned to me and checked my temperature with his hand. “You’re making good progress, Charlotte,” he assured me. “Do you still feel any pain?”

    I nodded.

    My stomach was still burning, but not as bad as it did when I was lying in my own bed. He held his hand over my body and looked at me, “Here,” he asked me gently. I nodded again.

    “May I?” He asked me, quietly, watching my eyes. He didn't move an inch as he waited for my answer.

    I looked at Jonah and then to Michael, who gave me a gentle smile and a slight nod.

    “You may,” I whispered to the Healer.

    Then slowly his hand turned into a yellow vapor – still in the shape of his hand, but transparent and wispy. I watched his hand as he slowly placed it on my skin through the cotton gown I was wearing. I didn't remember putting that on, but I didn't complain as it was very warm, although not very comfortable.

    His hand isn't cold or clammy, I though, silently. Instead, it was warm and soothing.

     Gently, the pain began to ease. I looked up at Adrian’s face and his eyes were closed. He didn't even appear to breathe for a moment, and then he let out a quick breath, relaxing his shoulders. He opened his eyes. “You’re almost healed. You can sit up now if you wish. Just move gently.”

    I looked at Michael and he looked relieved. I slowly inched myself up to one side. My body felt very stiff and sore, but not the way my stomach had felt. Michael came over to me and held my back while I sat upright. “Thank you, Michael,” I smiled at him, awkwardly. I could see the room more clearly where I sat now. I looked around. We weren't at the healers’ house near home. This place looked very alien to me. Noises whirred and sometimes beeped and tiny lights flashed on and off as if little fireflies were winking at us.

    “Uh… where are we?” I didn't feel very comfortable. I looked at Jonah and his face looked annoyed. “Jonah, where are we?”

    Then the room began to smell like fresh rain after a hot day – my favorite smell. I looked around for a window, and saw it wasn't even open. And it was sunny outside and no clouds at all. I scanned the room and Michael took my hand. My breathing sped up, and I felt very anxious.

    A man slowly walked around the corner of the curtain that was half curled around the area of my bed and I could smell a hint of roses, as the smell of rain got stronger. He took a couple of steps toward the end of the bed, and didn't speak.

    “Hover brought us here.” Michael muttered, looking down. He had a look of remorse on his face. Hover nodded at me, looking down from my face.

    “I’m sorry, my love,” Michael looked up at my eyes.

    I shook my head, “What about Father? I mean… how long have I been…”

    “Five days.” Hover interrupted me. His voice was soft, matching his face. He was very attractive. His eyes were still looking away from me. He stood uncomfortably and his very short clean red hair was combed perfectly forward without strays. He wasn't very tall at all, although that was probably because he wasn't standing upright. He slowly looked up, showing me his eyes, and his soft voice broke as he continued to speak, “I saw you hurt. I contacted some of our people and I went with them to bring you here immediately. I was… scared for you.” He blushed.

    I blinked and looked up at Michael. He shrugged and shook his head, and looked like he didn't know what to say.

    I left Father a note, telling him that you needed to get out and clear your head. I told him that Michael and I decided to take you to the city to visit relatives as a surprise and for him not to worry. I didn't say when we’d get back, but I told him to write us whenever he wanted to with an address that will direct letters here. I looked at Jonah and felt many different emotions at once; fear, relief, confusion, and worry only some of them.

    “Thank you, Jonah.”

    “He’ll be alright. Uncle Nick was supposed to arrive in a day or two from when we left. They’re probably back at Uncle Nick’s, fishing at the lake. So he won’t be alone.” Jonah explained aloud.

    Uncle Nick was Mother’s brother. They looked almost identical except that Nick was about thirteen years older than Mother, and he looked much older as well. He was also my fathers’ best friend. I can’t imagine how Uncle Nick must have felt while my parents were courting. He must have been a supportive and quite the gentleman.

    “Adrian, is she okay to walk around for a bit, and Jonah too?” Hover asked, in his quiet voice.

    The youthful looking healer put his hand on my forehead again and closed his eyes. After a few moments, he nodded, “She should be okay for a little while. But she will need some sleep later. So please don't get her to…”

    Hover interrupted, “No. Just a talk, that’s all.” Adrian nodded.

    “That’s perfectly fine. A little walk might do her good.” He slowly moved my legs off the bed and Michael moved Adrian aside to help me off the bed, which he didn't seem to mind.

    “I’m going with her.” Michael told Hover, looking sternly at him.

    The healer went to Jonah and put his hand on his head, the same way he did to me. “Feeling better?”

    “Yes. I’m perfectly fine.” Jonah eyed off Adrian with a stern look on his face and got off the bed, slowly this time.

    My feet felt very sore. It hurt to put them against the cold reflective floor. I took two steps and I couldn't help the face I pulled when the pain shot through my legs. I winced and looked at Jonah.

    “She shouldn't walk. She’s in pain,” he told the healer, helping Michael to hold me up.

    Adrian looked at me up and down, and then saw my feet. “She has fluid retention, she should go in a wheelchair,” he explained.

    A what? This place certainly felt very alien, and the more I looked around the room, the more confusing it seemed.

    Then Michael picked me up in his arms, our faces dangerously close. My heart thumped against my chest and I forgot about the strange room for a moment. He smirked at me in his cheeky way and I put my head on his shoulder.

    “I can carry her. Let’s go,” he motioned with his head to Hover.

    Adrian made him stop and took a strange contraption from my finger which made a box on the wall complain loudly. He also removed a strange sticky circle from my wrist and then let Michael pass, carrying me effortlessly through the door that, somehow, swung back to its place after Michael pushed us through it. Jonah slowly followed behind.

     

    We went down a long hallway. It was so bright; it was as if the hall was lit from under us. I was momentarily trapped in awe. We passed several doors painted white with shiny round spheres to one side - these must have been the door latches.and another hallway before stopping next to another. Hover looked up slowly at me and quickly looked down, as he opened the door, turning the little shiny sphere. He was acting very odd, and I couldn't remember ever seeing someone act so repentant for looking me in the face.

    “Please,” he motioned a welcoming arm into the room as he stood by the door frame – still looking down. His body language made me think of servants who didn't look up at their masters; hunched and eager to please.

    His smell was so strong, now, and I kept taking in deep breaths; rain and roses. I made me think of my childhood, when Mother would take me to the markets on warm Summer days. The air was always humid when the flower markets were in town, and it almost always rained.

    It was a pity that Hover seemed to carry himself as if he wasn't important. I always thought he was an uptight, evil man who ordered people about. Maybe he revered other people over himself, instead, thinking little of himself. I started to respect him for it.

    At the far side of the room there was a window that seemed like it was built right into the wall; no latches. In the center of the room was a coffee table that was perfectly square, no notches at all. I could even see the room reflected on it.Five small pale blue sized armchairs gathered around it.

    Unlike in the hallway, this room had a soft floor covering that was coloured to match the chairs and the light that was filling the room was predominantly from the window. Michael gently put me in the chair closest to the window. I felt a little out of place; I was only wearing a gown. Not quite the same as my sleeping gowns, it lacked lacing around the edges, but it was still very warm.

    The room wasn't cold either, which helped, although there was no apparent fireplace here. Jonah sat across the room from me and Michael took a seat next to me, putting my feet up on his lap and gently rubbing them. I’d never felt someone touch my feet before, and it felt strange. I felt a little self conscious about it, as it was not customary to show our legs, ankles or feet around people. But his touch felt so good, I didn't mention it.

     Hover entered the room, leaving the door open, and took a seat next to my brother. I looked over at Hover, waiting for him to look up at me, but he looked only at his knees. “I trust you are all comfortable?” he asked, gently. He didn't see me nod, but Michael and Jonah hummed a reassuring noise at him that helped him relax his shoulders, somewhat.

    Hover looked up slowly at me, and I held my eyes on him, hoping he would do the same. “Charlotte, I suspect you have questions for me.” He blinked quickly, trying to keep his eyes on me, as if it was an effort. He cleared his throat, “I am aware that you and your brother attune to one another.”

    I looked at Jonah and at the same moment, he looked back at me.

    Attune? I said, silently, to Jonah.

    His eyes narrowed for a moment and then he shrugged. He turned his head to Hover. “Why do you watch us,” Jonah asked, changing his sitting position in the chair and looking directly at Hover.

    “I suppose that is a fair question. I’m sure Michael has told you a little bit about us.” His gentle voice seemed almost submissive. It felt like we could have asked him anything, and he would have answered. I nodded at Hover – he was glancing equally at all three of us. “You probably think I’m some evil villain,” he smirked, lightly at us - Jonah and I - as he talked.“One who gathers mobs of gifted people, only to bring chaos, for no particular reason.”

    Yes, that would sound right… well until I met you, I thought, carelessly. I saw Jonah smirk at me from his seat, but he said nothing.

    “But in actual fact, I’m a guardian, or a protector. I try to connect to as many people as I can, so I can look out for people who have special abilities, like you.” Hover’s soft voice didn't falter, and he put his hands together, resting them on his lap. He had a very calm scent – aside from the roses and rain that was still streaming from him, I could smell his feelings even from where I was sitting. I was used to doing this with Jonah, but it seemed my gifts extended further, sensing others’ feelings, easily.

    “Hover is like a lighthouse, in a way,” Michael explained, interrupting my reverie and turning toward me with his eyebrows raised. “His job is to look out for us, to make sure no harm is coming to us. Sometimes, unfortunately, people who come to the organisation are not the best kinds of people, and so then he has to keep an eye on them so that they don't hurt others.”

    Organisation? That sounds pretty official…

    I wonder what kind of trouble this will get us into, Sister, Jonah mused.

    “Yes. I’m a watch dog. I can’t hear anything people say or think – which gets very frustrating sometimes. But my varying abilities help the organisation to protect those who need protecting.”

    “So…” I couldn't resist asking, “You’re not evil?”

    Hover smiled and sniffed a laugh through his nose, quietly. He looked up at me and shook his head. “No. I have limitations and rules. I never watch people at the wrong times. For instance if you intimate with somebody, it is my own policy that I don't observe. The same goes for when you bathe. My limitation is that the way I see people is like as if I am standing in front of them, a few feet away. If someone was to be in front of you – and I didn't know them – I couldn't see them. So there could be a danger that I wasn't able to see. Fortunately, when two or more people I have connected to are in the vicinity of one another, if they are standing apart, I can see much more. It helps. But… of course, they do not know that I would need them to stand a certain way. It is just how this ability of mine works, I’m afraid.”

    “Is that why you’re called Hover?” Jonah asked. I tried not to be too distracted by my brothers’ pleasure of knowing that Hover was a watchdog.

    Shh, I retorted at him silently.

    “Yes, it is one of the reasons. My real name is David Shepherd. But my true name reflects my abilities. You see, people are drawn to me by a special scent. Not just people with abilities. Normal people also gravitate toward me. Like I said before, I never know what people think. I’m not a mind reader or anything like that. So when I’m stopped by people in the street, I have no idea what scent they've caught. Nor do I know their names.” Hover crossed a leg over the other and took in a deep breath.

    “How does your ability work, when you smell people?” Jonah asked.

    Hover looked uncomfortable, but wasn't tense. “Well, you see, peoples’ scents talk to me. It sounds weird, I know. Try to visualize somebody’s scent as something tangible. I see it as a map. Everybody carries around a map of themselves. Where they have been, and what they are doing at the moment I pass them by, are all on the map. Each time I pass somebody, it is as if they are physically handing me their map – even though they are completely unaware of it. The map has no words, so to speak, but if I touch a place on that map, I see what happened when they were back at that place in their life. I don't hear sounds or voices, I just see. But like before, I only see them. I don't see who they interacted with in the past. Sometimes it’s very difficult to have this ability. I see people in pain a lot;struggles they have been through that bring them to where their present day.” His voice trailed off and he looked as if he was hurting.

    “Why don't you call yourself by your real name?” I tried to change the subject quickly, as the subject was clearly upsetting him.

    Hover looked at me, eyes slightly glazed over for a moment before he looked down at his hands - they were shaking. “Well,” he cleared his throat and adjusted his seating position.“Our true names have a certain type of power over us. That is the main reason. But also, some people come from a home of disharmony. They prefer having a name that relates to them, not to their heritage. It is something that caught on some time ago.”

    Maybe we should lay off asking him about himself, and ask him about us, and this place.Jonah suggested. He nodded at me, directing me to ask the question that has been burning in the back of mine and Jonah’s heads.

    “What do you know about our ability?” I asked Hover and stopped Michael rubbing my feet. They were starting to get a little better now, and I could move my toes without it hurting. After I put my feet onto the floor, a woman came in with a tray of big white mugs. Hover held up his hand to me, to stop my inquiry.

    “You must be parched; I took the liberty of ordering you all some hot drinks before I saw you in the other room. I hope you don't mind.” Hover explained, bowing his head and not looking at me again.

    “This is called Chai tea. You will enjoy its aromas, I think.”He brought a cup to me and pulled the table closer to me, so I didn't have to reach as far, placing the mug on a tiny square object on the table. I smiled and inhaled. It smelt like Christmas. Jonah raised his eyebrows at me and then looked at Hover.

    Hover saw this motion and nodded at Jonah, “Black Forest Latte.”With a slight bow to Jonah, he handed over the steamy cup and Jonah sniffed out a short nervous laugh before smelling the drink deeply, holding the mug in both hands.

    “Oh! This smells heavenly.” Jonah grinned, taking a sip. I watched my brother enjoy himself. I was glad he was starting to relax. I still felt a little tense about the situation. I still had no idea where we were or what this place was. Gadgets marked the walls here and there - so alien - and a strange rug that reached all four corners of a room, a box that drew pictures and made noises. It was all strange.

    “A Cappuccino for Michael.” Hover nodded at Michael and put his mug on a little square next to mine. “Thank you, Mary,” Hover took the last mug, and kissed the woman’s cheek.

    She couldn't have been more than a millimeter shorter than Hover. She didn't look much older than me either; probably even younger. She smiled, blushing, and closed the door on her way out. Hover smirked at himself, looking at his hot cup of… something potent. It certainly wasn't tea. I looked at him for a moment, curious and he saw my look and said “coffee” as he raised his cup.

    Lord on high, that woman is stunning, Jonah thought. He glanced at me and winced, and I realised he didn't mean to tell me that, glaring at him with my eyes narrowed. Oh, my apologies, Charlotte.

    Hover looked up at us, still smiling. “My wife,” he explained, pointing to the door, and his cheeks flushed pink.

    Married? I really didn't see that coming. He seemed so young.

    Damn, Jonah said again. I tried hiding a smirk, looking away from him.

    “So…” I began, reaching for my Chai tea. I could smell my hot drink from where I sat and the spices were heavenly. Hover took a sip of his coffee and then put his mug down onto another little square. He crossed his leg over the other and clasped his hands again.

    “Yes, you’re question about what I know about you both. Well, I understand that you can swap positions with a thought. Past that I have no visual knowledge. I do know what you are capable of though. It’s the reason we have been waiting for both of you to be ready. It’s not actually possible to talk this through with you - individually.” Hover looked down at his hands as if he were expecting my disapproval. There was silence for a moment.

    Jonah cleared his throat, looking at me and then twisted around again to look at Hover, “So what you’re saying to us is that we've only just scratched the surface?”

    Hover looked up to Jonah approvingly and smiled, “That’s correct. I have been informed that you can communicate to each other silently.”

    “Yes, we can also choose to swap bodies, not just places.” I added.

    “I see,” Hovers soft voice trailed a bit, as if he didn't expect that one.

    “Uh, this… not… something we wish to regularly practice,” Jonah glared at me.

    “Oh, definitely not. We decided it was in our best interest to not swap bodies. It would create some problems.” I nodded, explaining to Hover about our personal limitations. Hover laughed softly.

    “Of course. It’s excellent that you've given each other limitations. Not many people with abilities plan limitations unless they are told a good reason why. I’m impressed,” Hover smiled at Jonah and then at me.

    We are doing so well, even though school hasn't even started yet! I grinned at Jonah and he snorted out a laugh. I looked at Michael, still smiling, and he glared at me. My smile fell and I shook my head at him, “Sorry” and cleared my throat and looked at Hover with my semi-serious; raised eyebrow, and determined staring.

    “Well, I’m glad that you’re feeling better, Charlotte. If it’s alright, I’ll excuse myself for a little while. I’m sure you have a few things to discuss. I have something I need to attend to for a moment. I won’t be long. Please stay and relax.” And with that, Hover got up, taking his drink with him, and left the room.

    I looked at Jonah, “so… there is more to us that we haven’t discovered yet, apparently.” Jonah looked at Michael and then to me, confused. He slowly nodded, probably enjoying the idea of doing more exciting things. I felt a bit more reserved, however.

    “Yes it sounded that way, didn't it?” Jonah got up from his seat and walked to the window.

    “This is why I had to come here, Charlotte. A lot of what was happening to me was small and not noticeable to other people. Do you remember one time you asked me if the mole on my neck had moved?” Michael explained.

    I smiled, “Yes, I thought I was seeing things – over thinking. It was silly to think that though.” I shook my head and took a sip from my drink.You have to get the recipe for this drink, I said to myself. I let out a small “mm” as I took another sip, slightly distracted for a moment with my senses.

    “But you were right. After that, I realised I could make it move. It was only a small thing, but Hover had already picked me out. He was just waiting for me to realise it. One day, Shelly was talking to me at work about something and I got really angry at her. Then suddenly I grew taller right in front of her. It freaked me out and I ended up running outside into the local forest.

    “Shelly was patient with me, but she eventually found me and she sat down and explained what it was. I wasn't sure I understood at first so she took a small blade out of her pocket, which scared me, I thought she was going to seriously harm herself right in front of me, or worse… harm me for my strange changes. I was glad to have been far from other people, because anybody walking by would have been scared to death, themselves.

    “She tried forcing the blade onto her skin and the blade broke apart right in front of my eyes.” Michael had never told me this story so it was interesting to hear how he found out. Although now I felt as though I should have freaked out more than I did, just so he didn't feel like he was alone. I was so pleased about what he was, and what Jonah and I could do. I shouldn't have felt guilty, but it swept over me for a short time.

    “So they helped you put the puzzle together,” I anticipated his continuation from the story.

    He nodded, “Yes. If it weren't for Hover and the other people, I wouldn't have been able to show you butterflies.” He smiled at me. “They taught me how to read my ability, so that I could do things with it, other than scare myself half to death with excessive height and other strange oddities. What is different about my ability is that mine is driven by imagination. I picture what I want to change to, and I concentrate on only that. When I undergo metamorphosis - that is what they call it - I feel my body change. You see, we have these very tiny things that make us who we are, called atoms and it’s as if I can sense every atom in my body. Each atom explodes, I think, creating the image I visualize. It’s almost like a reflex action, but I have it under control so much to a point that I can create whatever I can imagine. Mary trains people. She’s quite good. She told me that it was natural chemicals and hormones released into the body that caused it. Most gifts work from them.”

    Jonah put his hands on the bottom of the window frame, which sat just above his hips, and leaned against it with his head down.  Michael, holding his hot cup, leaned back in his chair and took a slow quiet sip. Silence gripped the room for a moment and then Jonah turned to me and knelt down next to the seat I was in. Putting his hands on the armrest, he bit his lip and looked up at me. His pensive eyes were frozen on me.

    “What are you thinking about, Plain-Old Joe,” I sat back in my seat, leaning a bit more toward Jonah, putting a hand on one of his.

    “You’re still in pain. Forget it. It can wait.” Jonah brushed my face, gently. I could feel his anticipation, though, and it made me all the more curious.

    “Tell me. Surely talking about it wouldn't hurt me.”

    He took a deep breath and smiled. “I was just thinking about what Michael just told us. Reflex actions and the like. I think I know something we can do. But we can’t test it here. Not in this confined place, at least.”

    Just as Jonah had finished his sentence, Hover burst through the door. We whipped our heads around and looked at him. His face was panic stricken, and his body looked tense. Michael stood up, putting his cup onto the table, and looked right at Hover.

    “What happened, Hover, what’s wrong?” Michael stood dead still and the muscles in his arms tensed.

    Hover looked at Michael after a few moments, as if he had only just realised he was being spoken to – a delayed reaction. His eyebrows were lowered over his eyes, and he looked down at Jonah and I. “Another case was just brought in to see Adrian. He’s unconscious, but stable for now. Adrian has spent the last ten minutes or so repairing the damage.”

    “What happened?” I slowly got up from the seat. My feet ached but it wasn't as bad and I was able to stand up. I saw Michael cautiously look at me. I looked at him, “I’m okay Michael,” I said, raising my hand to him. He relaxed, but kept watching me. I turned my gaze back to Hover, whose face seemed to have turned blank, only he had his eyes closed.

    “I don't know…” Hover whispered.

I have been working on my manuscript, and here is a rewrite of my original manuscript chapter 4, where I've changed the era, language (more of an older spin than modern), and other details, such as travel, town names etc. Instead of in a familiar country (where i live) i changed it to a new world.
here is the original:
Attuned - Ch 4Chapter 4 – Like us and different
The air was stale. I was finding it hard to breathe. I looked around and it was dark. A dripping noise broke out in the room, and an echo trailed after each drop. In the middle of the dark room was a table – kind of like the ones you see at the hospital that hold surgical instruments. It felt like I was lying on a hard cold floor. But it wasn't the floor; it as cold like a concrete slab, but up higher. I couldn't move and it felt like my arms and legs were fastened down with something. Moving my legs around, I tried to get out of my restraints. I gave up quickly, still finding it hard to breathe.
Suddenly I could hear some footsteps, but I couldn't see anybody.
"Hello?" I called out. Nobody answered me back. "Jonah? Michael?" I looked all around me, as much as my restrained body would allow. Then I heard a crunching noise – it sounded like the noise a child made when they were chewing into a piece of boiled candy; hollow and hard. It was


I'm taking this rewrite more seriously because this will eventually be self published. So enjoy it.

the characters and other details are copyrighted and any similarities to actual people are purely incidental. Attuned and its storyline belong to me. It may not be reproduced without explicit permission from myself only. thank you for respecting copyrights.
© 2015 - 2024 Astarsia
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