“Uncle G… can you see this?” she asked, looking around. “Everything is so sharp and clear. It’s amazing!” She smiled and looked at Percone. “Even your face… I can see every curve…” she said, touching his face. He duplicated her actions, cupping her cheek.
“Julie, we should be getting back,” Uncle Gregg said, grabbing her hand and moving her away from Percone.
“Wait,” Julie said, pulling her hand back. “I want to watch the trees some more,” she said. She turned back to Percone and saw Eli standing behind him.
“Eli!” she shouted and ran over to him. “You have to see this, c’mon,” she said, taking his hand.
Eli: Percone!
Eli stared angrily at him. “Come look at the trees with me,” Julie insisted, not noticing his angry glare directed towards Percone.
Percone: Well if it isn’t the man himself, in my own neck of the woods. I can see why you did what you did. She is fun to play with. Wonder what punishment you will receive?
Neither Julie nor Uncle Gregg heard the silent exchange between the two Earthlings.
“Are you still angry with me, from before… when I kissed you?” Julie asked Eli.
Eli pulled his glare away from Percone and looked at Julie with softer eyes. “I would never be angry with you for that,” Eli said.
“I feel strange..” she suddenly said. Eli held up her chin and looked at her eyes.
“I’m afraid it’s my fault, Eli. Julie and I took something Percone offered us. I neglected to ask about the side effects,” Uncle Gregg took the blame.
“I’m sure he didn’t volunteer the information either,” Eli replied.
Percone: You spoiled my fun.
Eli: You are never to come near either of them again.
“Percone is not to blame, Eli. I should have known better. He was just trying to help,” Uncle Gregg defended.
Percone flashed a sarcastic smirk in Eli’s direction.
“I think you have forgotten what it means to be an Earthling,” Percone said aloud. “Hopefully the punishment handed down by Suron will help refresh your memory,” Percone taunted.
“No, that’s not right,” Julie fretted. “You should not have to be punished for trying to help me. I’m the one who is to blame,” Julie turned to Percone.
“Can I speak to Suron?” she asked him.
“Julie, let me worry about this. Suron will be fair,” Eli told her.
Percone: Sacrificial lamb?
Eli: She stays out of it.
“Let’s get you back to the house,” Eli said, taking her hand.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Julie. I’m sure we will talk again,” Percone said, blocking their path. He reached for Julie’s hand but Eli batted it away.
Eli: You will not touch her.
Percone: Afraid we might connect?
Percone grinned and took off into the trees.
Julie looked up at Eli. “You two don’t get along,” she commented.
“He is not to be trusted,” he said.
“He has been my friend and confident for a long time, Eli,” Uncle Gregg said, joining them.
“There are things about my people and our way of life that you don’t understand, Gregg. Just please use caution around him and do not let your guard down,” Eli warned.
The three walked back to the house.
As they got close to the deck, Julie saw Austin sitting at the table, eating. She ran up the steps and embraced him.
“You’re feeling better, too.” He laughed when she squeezed him too hard.
“How long have you been up?” Julie asked.
“Long enough to be on his second plate of food,” Marcus teased.
“Oh my God, that looks good,” Julie said, staring at his plate.
“Julie, what do you like?” Uncle Gregg asked, joining them.
“Everything,” she answered and everyone laughed with her.
“You didn’t eat yet? Where were you?” Austin asked.
“I just had to clear my head,” she answered, as Eli joined them.
“Austin… how are you feeling?” Eli asked.
“I’m getting there,” Austin smiled. “Um, I wanted to say thank you, Doctor Elsworth, for your help back there,” Austin said.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do more,” Eli responded.
Uncle Gregg brought over a plate filled with all kinds of food: eggs, sausage, bacon, and bagels overflowed the dish. “Wow, this looks incredible!” she exclaimed.
“Eat up,” Uncle Gregg encouraged.
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Julie said as she began devouring the gourmet breakfast.
Marcus joined them at the table with another plate of food. “What is that… your fourth?” Austin teased him.
“Fifth… but who’s counting?” Marcus admitted.
Uncle Gregg looked over at the table with a warmness in his heart. He liked seeing their smiling faces and hearing the sound of their laughter.
“Eli, can I tempt you with anything?” Uncle Gregg asked.
“No, but thank you,” Eli replied.
“So, tell us… what happened on the helicopter?” Marcus asked.
“Everything happened pretty quickly,” Austin said. He looked at Julie to see if she wanted to retell what happened. She was looking down at her plate.
“All I remember is Luke and I were fighting over his gun when I heard a shot. The next thing I know, the helicopter was spinning out of control,” Austin told.
Julie stopped eating. She closed her eyes trying to block out the images of that event. “Julie? Are you okay?” Eli asked. He had moved beside her.
“Yeah… I’m fine. I just don’t want to talk about all this stuff right now,” she admitted.
Everyone got quiet and resumed eating. “Okay, now it’s too quiet,” Julie said when the sounds of utensils scraping the plates got on her nerves.
“How about we talk about why we are the way we are?” Austin suggested.
Uncle Gregg came and sat at the table with everyone. “We can do that,” he said.
Julie reached for Austin’s hand under the table as Uncle Gregg began telling their story. She watched Austin’s expressions carefully as the explanation unfolded.
Uncle Gregg did a much better job of gently explaining things than Marcus did, Julie thought. She became concerned when Austin just stared blankly.
“How much did you know?” Austin turned to ask her.
“I only knew about my own abilities, not why I had them, until I met Marcus,” she admitted. “He told me you didn’t have any abilities,” she said.
“Austin… when did you first notice you had the ability to heal?” Uncle Gregg asked.
“I don’t remember exactly. I remember cutting myself and it closing right up. Maybe a few days ago?” he answered.
“Did anything traumatic or unusual happen? I’m looking for some kind of trigger,” Uncle Gregg stated.
“Traumatic? Not that I can think of. I do remember seeing numbers at the carnival that Julie and I went to,” he said.
“I have to ask you something personal,” Uncle Gregg began. “Did you notice these things before you met Julie?” he asked.
Julie frowned.
“No, after. Why?” Austin asked.
“Marcus, Eli… could you excuse us for a moment?” Uncle Gregg asked.
Marcus was about to argue that he was still eating, but instead picked up his plate and walked over to the other side of the deck. Eli followed.
Julie had a look of concern on her face. “Do you think my meeting Julie had something to do with my suddenly having these abilities?” Austin asked.
“Not meeting her alone. If that were the case, just being around me could have triggered it,” Uncle Gregg stated. “I know this is personal, but I have to ask. Have you two been intimate with each other?” he asked.
Julie’s eyes widened as Austin and she looked at each other. Austin looked back at Uncle Gregg. “Are you saying that that co
uld have been the trigger?” Austin asked. Julie rested her head in her hands.
“I do have knowledge of a sexual encounter being a triggering factor in latent abilities,” Uncle Gregg confirmed.
Julie stood up. “Then this is my fault, again. Everything bad that happens originates with me.” Julie began to shake. The old familiar voice telling her to run was vocalizing inside her head.
Eli and Marcus were out of hearing range but could see Julie’s reaction. “Uh, oh. There she goes again,” Marcus commented.
“Julie, calm down. I just said it was a possibility,” Uncle Gregg said.
“Julie!” Austin stood up and reached for her.
“No, don’t!” she shouted, backing up.
Austin did not respect her wishes and grabbed her arms roughly. “You are not going to run anymore,” Austin said. “I don’t care if that was the reason… it doesn’t matter; it was in the past. We have to deal with the now,” Austin told her.
Julie shook her head. “You don’t understand. If I hadn’t come here… to Marion… you would still be you, and nobody would be dead and… and…” Julie rambled, pulling away from him.
“Stop blaming yourself,” Austin said pulling her back to him. “I need you… I need you to help me deal with all of this,” he said, softening his voice. “Please,” Austin brushed back her hair. “Help me,” he whispered and kissed her gently on the cheek. Julie let out a few shuddering breaths, then nodded and hugged him.
“Score one for my cuz,” Marcus said. “He must have been studying your technique, doc,” Marcus teased.
Uncle Gregg stood beside Austin and Julie, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. “I’m sure each of you have more questions, but let’s take a break. Eat some more, then rest. We’ll talk again later,” he told the two. Julie and Austin walked back to the table.
“You know what, I think… I’m just going to go lie down,” Julie said.
“Jules,” Austin said.
“No, really, I’m okay. I’m not going to run. I just need some more rest,” she explained. Julie excused herself and went back into the house.
Back in her room, she sat on the bed. She felt numb. I wonder what other surprises will bop me on the head, she thought.
There was a knock on her door. She raised her head and saw Eli standing in the doorway. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said.
“I don’t think I am ever gonna be okay,” she responded.
“Sounds a bit melodramatic, if you ask me.” Eli smiled.
“I think I’m entitled,” she stated, almost returning his smile.
“Perhaps, but stressing over things you can’t change won’t help the situation,” he told her.
“How do I move past all this?” she asked.
“Decide what you want to do, then do it,” Eli simply stated.
“I just feel so lost, Eli. I wanted so badly to know about myself, and now I wish I didn’t. What is that saying, ‘ignorance is bliss’? I miss being ignorant,” she said.
“That’s not the Julie I know,” Eli said, coming into the room and sitting next to her.
“How can you know me when I don’t even know me?” she asked.
“When we first met, you told me all you wanted to do was make people feel better. Is that still true?” Eli asked.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Then you haven’t changed. Yes, you know more about yourself, but it hasn’t changed who you are in here,” Eli told, pointing to her heart.
“Everything you are saying makes total sense, yet I feel different,” she said.
“How?” he asked.
“I don’t know…” she said, standing. “I feel like I am here under false pretenses. You heard Uncle G, we are blended into embryos. Isn’t that like tampering with the natural order of things? I just feel like I don’t belong here,” she explained.
“What if I told you that we only use embryos that have been tested to be unusable or unlikely to make it to term?” Uncle Gregg said, standing in the hallway with Austin.
Julie thought about it for a minute. “I still have a problem with what happens to the mothers,” Julie answered honestly.
She glanced at Austin. He had a troubled look on his face. Austin and Julie locked eyes and she could tell that Uncle Gregg had told him about his mother. Austin entered the room and, after giving a quick glance toward Eli, embraced Julie.
Julie hugged him tightly. She knew that the news had to be difficult for him. She pulled back and looked at his face. It was wet with tears. “Oh, Austin, I’m sorry,” she said, holding his face.
Julie noticed that Eli and Uncle Gregg had left the two of them alone. She took Austin’s hand and led him to the bed so they could sit down.
“Talk to me. Tell me what you are feeling,” Julie encouraged him.
“I feel… I feel like my whole life has been a lie,” Austin confessed.
“Your life hasn’t been a lie. You were kept in the dark about a lot of things. The person you grew up to be is still here,” she told him.
Julie found it ironic to be having this conversation with Austin. She was using the same analogies Eli had used on her.
“I just can’t believe that my mom is not my mom,” he said.
“Austin, she is still your mom. She might not be your biological mother, but she helped raise you. That is a mom in every sense of the word,” she reminded.
“How am I ever going to feel normal again?” he wondered aloud.
“You’re asking the wrong person that question. I’ve never felt normal my whole life.” She laughed.
“I can’t even imagine how you lived. That guy… Luke… he was… evil. How did you survive?” Austin asked.
“I still can’t believe it’s over. I keep expecting him to just show up and bring me back into that hell,” Julie admitted.
“It’s a new beginning… for both of us,” Austin realized.
“Yeah, it is.” Julie smiled.
Austin leaned over and kissed her. The kiss was soft and tender. He put his hand on the back of her neck and kissed her again. This time the kiss was more heated than before. She felt the need in him. Julie pulled back. “Austin, we shouldn’t,” she said.
“Jules, I need you,” he pleaded. He attempted to kiss her again. Julie pushed him back.
“Austin, I can’t. Not here, in this house,” she told him.
“It’s because of him, isn’t it? he asked, a dark look shadowing his face.
“What are you talking about?” Julie asked.
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you,” Austin told.
“Who?” she questioned.
“Don’t play dumb. I’ve seen the way you look at him, too,” Austin accused. He stood up and began pacing.
Julie was shocked at the tone of voice he was using.
“Where is all this coming from?” she asked him.
Austin put his hands on his head. “I’m all mixed up inside,” he said, squeezing his head.
Julie went to him and removed his hands. “Stop that. Let’s go talk to Uncle G, maybe he can figure out what’s wrong,” she suggested.
“I don’t want to talk anymore,” Austin said. “Maybe I just need more rest,” he looked at Julie. “I’m sorry, I was being irrational,” he admitted.
“Austin, I know this is difficult for you, but don’t take it out on the people trying to help you,” Julie advised.
“I need to sit down again,” he said, swaying slightly. Julie walked him back to the bed.
“Lie down,” she coaxed.
“Stay with me,” Austin said. His eyes were already beginning to close.
“I’m right here,” she said, holding his hand.
Julie waited for Austin’s breathing to become steady. After about fifteen minutes, she felt that he was in a deep enough sleep to leave him. She went to talk to Uncle Gregg.
She found him sitting in the living room, talking with Marcus. “Where’s Eli?” she asked.
“Probably hugging some trees,” Marcus quipped. Julie frowned.
She sat down on the sofa, facing Uncle Gregg. “I’m worried about Austin,” she started. “He is really having a hard time dealing with all of this,” she told.
“How are you dealing with all the new information?” Uncle Gregg asked her.
“That’s just it… I’m not, really. I’m more concerned over how I can help him through all of it and I haven’t had time to digest it all myself,” Julie said. “But I guess in helping him… I’m sorta helping myself at the same time,” she concluded.
“Julie, eventually both Austin and yourself will get over the initial shock of it all and begin to figure out what your next step is,” he said.
“I know what my next step is,” she said. “I want to go home. That is, if I still have a place to live,” she clarified.
“Why would you think you don’t have a place to live?” Eli asked, entering the room.
“I just figured with all the trouble I’ve caused… and Mrs. Gosley,” she spoke.
“Julie, as tragic as the events were that happened… none of it was your fault and you will always have a place to stay,” Eli confirmed.
“As grateful as I am to you, Eli, for providing that opportunity to her,” Uncle Gregg said to him before turning to Julie. “I was hoping you would spend some time up here with me. I’m sure you will have more questions as time goes on,” Uncle Gregg said.
“I’m sure I will too, Uncle G, but that’s what telephones are for. I need to do this. I need to go home and see what it is like to not live in fear every second of the day,” she explained.
“Not that I’m volunteering, but I can keep an eye on her since we will be working at the same hospital. I’m sure Doc here wouldn’t mind stepping in for those random freak-out moments,” Marcus piped in.
Uncle Gregg closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. He knew what was coming next.
Julie stood up, anger evident in every part of her body. “I do not need a babysitter! I can take care of myself… and if I did have any problems or questions… you can be sure you are the last person I would go to!” She ranted angrily at Marcus.
“Sure, you can take care of yourself. That’s why we all spent the last two days chasing after you and that crazy-ass thug with a death wish. Face it, Julie, your life screams damsel in distress,” Marcus commented back.
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