The Solitarian: Part 1 of The Amaranth Series

by Amadore, Chalyn

  As I dress in a pair of super cute blue jeans and a flowing pink blouse I like what I see. I look at the dazzling bling that my Keyan gave to me less than a week ago. Ever since that day we have been on cloud nine. Having our little nights of fun by going halfway to paradise and tap dancing on going all the way. It’s hard to not toss my legs open and let it happen but he is adamant about waiting until I’m eighteen. I slip my feet into the cutest baby doll shoes. When I walk over to the corner, I spot a tiny red light blinking behind one of the recessed lighting cans. I wouldn’t have spotted it if the light had been on. I grab a chair and stand on it to get a better look. When I get closer I see a tiny camera the size of an eraser top of a pencil. I’m not even sure why I looked in this direction. I rip it out and my heart starts to beat. Why is that here? Did my parents put it there? I start to panic. I don’t know exactly what to think.

  “Hey.” Keyan whisper through a raspy sleep voice.

  “Hey there.” I turn to face him while shoving the camera into my pocket.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Getting ready for class. Something that you should be doing as well.” He sits up and rubs his eyes. He then musses his hair about. When he smiles at me, my heart does a little dance.

  “I know. Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “I like to see you resting so easy. I can’t imagine how it must feel for you to sleep in a bed without worrying about someone coming to try and kill you.”

  He reaches out to me and I go to him. I lay back into his arms and he wraps them around me. He kisses my cheek with rapid repetitive motions. “I can’t remember the last time I felt like this.” He says. “I’m so glad I’m not in that cave anymore. Now that I’m here with you it seems so… barbaric.”

  “I’m glad too. And I really like the creative ways that we satisfy one another.” I wink.

  “How about a little satisfaction right now?” he yanks at my jeans.

  “No. We’re going to be late.”

  “Okay. I’ll shower.” I lift as he heads in to shower and dress. I pull the camera from my pocket and take another look at it. If my dad continue these erratic antics I’m going to leave sooner than later.

  “I wonder why Phoenix never got back to me. Maybe it was just some nut job ranting about something that he knew nothing about after all.” I say out loud. I crush the camera beneath my feet and toss it into the waste basket. When Keyan is dressed we head out to our first days as college students together.

  Classes are as boring as they were in high school. The only difference is that the teacher could give a flying fig whether you get it or not, and they are a hell of a lot longer. I move from my first god awful three hour class to my next. When I enter the room I am the first. I sit and open my text book to see what I am facing.

  “Hi, I’m Raven.” A girl says to me in a raspy sultry tone. I look up from my text book.

  “Hi, I’m McKenna but all of my friends call me Kenna.” I say switching my eyes back to the book. She sits next to me and I watch her out of the corner of my eye. She stares at me for a while. She looks as if she wants to say something more but the classroom starts to fill up.

  The professor enters and begins to speak. As he gives his introduction of the course I glance at this Raven girl that keeps staring at me. I get anxious I want to tell her that I don’t swing that way. But I don’t want to offend her. So I’ll just keep pretending that I don’t see her looking. After three grueling hours of listening to this man ramble on it is time to go. I gather my books and stuff them into my bag. I pick it up and hitch it over my shoulder. As I exit the girl Raven tries to catch up.

  “Hey…umm. McKenna?” I sigh as I turn to face her. I know what’s coming.

  “Yes.” She slides a pair of sunglasses onto her face and I’m confused. Why the fudge is this broad putting on shades inside of the building.

  “Oh…I was wondering if we could do a late lunch. I wanted to talk about maybe being study partners.”

  “Thanks but I don’t know. I’m going to meet my boyfriend in the café.”

  “Please can I come with? I’m starving.”

  “Okay?” I’m baffled. Why is this girl clinging to me like this? She doesn’t know me.” I look her over and she resembles a biker chick, from the spikey black leather boots to the black stretch pants. She is dark. The only girly thing she has on is the red bra that is peeking from her dark paisley tank top. One side of her head is clean shaven and the other is flowing red and black greasy curls that hangs to her shoulder. She has a pencil in her back pocket, that’s it.

  I walk a few steps ahead as we reach the cafeteria. She removes her glasses, thank god, and follows me inside. I spot Keyan sitting at a table reading a text book. I break into a wide smile as I hurry over to him. I lean in and kiss his cheek as he notices me.

  “Hi baby.” I shriek.

  “Hey there, how was your classes?” he closes the book.

  “I guess they were okay. I can tell that this psych teacher is going to be a real hard ass.” He frowns at my language. I pretend to zip my lips and sit beside him. “Oh by the way this is Raven…”

  “Just Raven.” She snaps. Then extends her hand.

  “Well hello. I’m Keyan.”

  “Hello Key-an” she draws his name out and sits across from him. She stares at him for a while as well. What is this bitch’s problem? I was going to be nice but that is out of the window.

  “So Raven why are you stalking me?” I ask like I’m joking.

  “No I’m not stalking anyone. I’m new here. I’m from Texas and I needed a friend. You looked friendly so I…”

  “Shit. I’m sorry. I’m a little paranoid these days.”

  “It’s okay. What about you two? Are you guys from here?”

  “Well I’ve lived here for a long time but I was born in California.”

  “What about you Keyan? Where are you from?” as she waits for an answer she slides those damned shades back on. They aren’t regular shades either. There are a weird high-tech kind. She gives a wide devilish grin as she rests her eyes on Keyan. Come to think of it they are the same as the glasses my dad put on.

  “You’re a Falconer.” Keyan sighs, as he whispers.

  “Damn right Keyan McGrath. Didn’t think you were alive? But your Spiral life-ring, amazing as it is just gave you away.”

  “What? Wait? How did you find…”

  “Your email to Phoenix. I was sent here to investigate you, but what a find. You see Keyan, you’ve been MIA for a very long time.” She whispers. “The aboriginal bloodline has been wiped out. Thanks to The Order. There are only mixtures of what you are. They are weaker and easier to kill. We have been searching for you to wipe out the aboriginal gene.” She searches the room for onlookers. I’m terrified. “No longer do we have to get to the life-ring. We can kill them without really trying. They are more human than Amaranth. The only trait they still possess is the ability to create more and outlive us. So when I eliminate you there will be no more pure Amaranthines left. Now stand up or I will start with you little curious girlfriend here.” We stand slowly. “Follow me to my truck.” She pulls out a small dagger with jewels and an engraved falcon on it. Keyan looks to me as I start to sob. I never should have sent that stupid fucking email. Now we’re going to die. “I have one question Keyan. Why didn’t you keep your bloodline going?”

  “I’m not answering any of your questions.”

  “Oh you will. Or you will watch your little girlfriend die a horrible painful death.”

  We get to her green pick-up and she opens the door. If we get into this truck we will die today. He looks over at me and his eyes are sad. He mouths “I’m so sorry.”

  “I would think that the last aboriginal would be making little Amaranthines all over the globe. But not you. No one has been able to track you for decades.”

  “Because of The Order. They refuse to allow us peace. We were created just like humans. We deserve a chance to love, to thrive in society, j
ust as you are.”

  “Now that’s where you’re wrong Mr. McGrath. See…you are an abomination. You are a mistake in creation. Much like a rodent. You spread your disease infecting the human race until we are distinct. And it is The Order’s job, sanctioned by the highest power to rid the world of your pestilence.” She spews.

  “We were created like you. We are the miracle of creation. We are a beautiful species that you don’t understand so you want to destroy it.”

  “Shut up. It doesn’t matter. I need to get rid of you before the Cognoscente faction finds you.”

  “Wait who?” we say simultaneously as she points the dagger at my side urging us to enter the truck.

  “The Cognoscente Faction is a new Order of Falcons. They are scientist that study Amaranthines. They feel as if they could be the key to miracle cures for humans. But it is just another way to infect us with your venom.”

  “But that sounds noble. Amaranths could help to cure fatal diseases such as cancer or even AIDS.”

  “No you idiot. They are their own kind of disease. They are AIDS. An infection waiting to wipe out the human race.” She presses through her teeth.

  “But they…”

  “If they find your boyfriend before I kill him they will dissect him like a lab rat. Because he is the last of the aboriginals, they would mate him and probe him. It would be a fate worse than death I assure you. Now get in the damn truck.” She yells. I look around for some sort of help. Keyan is stunned at her enlightening news.

  “Things have gotten worst. There are people who torture and mutilate us. It is sickening. They must be stopped.” He says angrily.

  “They cannot be stopped no more than The Order can. They are massive and have millions of dollars behind their research.”

  Suddenly I spot a security officer driving our way. I look at Keyan and then her. She is preoccupied with Keyan’s words. So I break free then kick her directly in the knee cap. She screams and Keyan attempts to grab the knife. She slices it right through his hand. His yells out in pain. I start to scream ‘Help!’ the guard comes running and she takes a defensive stance.

  “I am going to cut your eye out of your head. I heard that my ancestors plucked them out and kept them for souvenirs. No one has had the pleasure in about ninety years…I want one.” she lunges toward Keyan and I scream. They began to fight. She is very skilled at what she does. And Keyan as well. They punch and kick one another as she attempts to jab the dagger into his eye. I scream and scream. Finally the guard reaches us and draws his gun.

  “Drop the weapon ma’am!” She backs away from Keyan and he hurries over to my side out of breath. “Put the knife on the ground, lady!” he points the guns at her. She smiles as she holds her hands up high and drops it onto the ground. Keyan grabs the dagger and the guard quickly turns to look at him. Raven seizes the opportunity and leaps into the air landing on top of the guard. She grabs his gun and they tussle about fighting for it. Keyan and I run to his car. As he pops the locks I hear a gun shot. The guard falls to the ground and I scream.

  “Oh my god! She shot him!”

  “Get in Kenna! She is coming for us. Get in now!” he yells as I get myself together. He starts the car as she races toward us. She aims the gun at the vehicle and begins to fire.

  “She’s shooting at us!” I wail. He speeds through the lot. As we pass her she aims and fire once more hitting Keyan in the side.

  Chapter 18

  Keyan manages to drive back to my house with a bullet in his hip. I cry uncontrollably as the blood squirts from his side and down his leg. I help him out of the car and into the pool house. I grab a wet towel and hands it to him.

  “It seems like you will be patching up my bleeding wounds for eternity.” He jokes.

  “That’s not funny Keyan.”

  “I know…McKenna?”

  “Yes.” I say searching the room for a solution.

  “I should go and your family should send you away. They are going to kill you. You all should run now. I don’t want a repeat of Cor…”

  “Don’t you dare say it Keyan. I love you and we are going to leave together. I’ll explain to my mom and dad. They can take care of themselves.”

  “No. I won’t watch you die. I can’t, not again.” a tear fills his magnificent eyes. I run over to him and take his face into my hands.

  “We will be together no matter what. If I have to live in a cave to be by your side, I will do that. Now come with me, I need to find my dad.” I grab his arm and hurry toward the house. I spot my parents car, so I know that they are home. “Mom! Dad! Where are you guys? I need your help!” I yell and they come running.

  “What’s wrong Kenna? Why are you yelling?”

  “Okay what I am about to tell you is really farfetched but I need you to trust me okay?”

  “Go on dear,” my dad says too calmly.

  “A girl named Raven showed up at my school today.” My dad looks over to Keyan and notices that he is bleeding. “Don’t be alarmed dad. This girl Raven is a…”

  “Falconer. Raven Dilutor is a part of the Order. If she finds you Keyan she will kill you. And even though you are strong, all of the years that you have lived inside of that cave has weakened you.” My dad stands. “We must leave now.” Keyan and I look at one another.

  “I will explain in the car let’s go. I will send someone back here for your things.” We follow my dad and mom. We get into their car and he speeds out of the driveway and down the road. I recognize the route that he is taking as he dips off of the highway and down a back avenue.

  “We’re going to the warehouse aren’t we?”

  “Yes. No one but my people knows about it.” I hold Keyan’s hand as he lies back taking the pain. He opens and closes his mesmerizing peepers. I look on helpless.

  We pull into the back entrance which has a large garage door that opens as we approach. My mom watches as I care for the man that I love so dearly. A sort of sadness dances in her glare. I wonder why she feels so bad. He helps Keyan out of the car and over to an elevator.

  “I’ve never seen this before dad where does it lead?”

  “Come now Kenna we must get you to safety.” He waves for me to join them.

  We step onto the elevator as soon as it opens. My dad holds Keyan up as his eyes start to fade.

  “What’s wrong Keyan? Are you alright?”

  “He’ll heal darling just give it a moment.” The elevator travels for a while when we get to what seems like the pits of hell my dad punches in a code. He looks at us and we look away. Only I peek when he punches in 33215. The doors open and the bright white walls mixed with the fluorescent lights blind me. My dad places on a pair of glasses like he had on at home that day and Keyan moans because the light hurts him as well. Keyan shuts his eyes tightly as his knees give out beneath him.

  “What’s wrong Keyan?” I yell as two brawny men hurry to assist my dad with him.

  “Dr. Yoakum please give Mr. McGrath one hundred and twenty milligrams of methohexital immediately.” An Asian man in a lab coat nods as he rounds the corner and follows the brutes that are carrying Keyan away.

  “Dad, what the hell is going on? Where are we?”

  “We are inside the US headquarters for the Cognoscente Faction of The Order.”

  “What!” I yell.

  “Before you assume let me explain.”

  “Fuck that! You brought Keyan to a lab to be tested on?”

  “I was going to tell you honey. This right here is your legacy. Our family started this research forty years ago and we have been making progress. I went to Palasca because someone had reported seeing a caveman bathing in the valley. I took you because you have a natural tracking sense especially because you have Amaranth blood flowing through you.”

  “What!” I scream and tears start to fall down my cheek. My father is the mad scientist. “How? Why dad?”

  “I have a genetic disorder called Hemoglobinopathy. It is a genetic defect that results in abnormal struc
ture to one of the globin chains in the hemoglobin molecule. It causes me to be very ill. I’ve had it before you were born. I started to do research on myself using Amaranthine blood. I felt that because they could regenerate I could excavate the genetic defect. But instead it made me stronger and smarter. I would always have to keep going through dialysis and replacing my blood with that of an Amaranth. I grew tired of the procedure and read about McGrath. He is the only living aboriginal, and if he were still alive, I would be free. You see, the Amaranths that breed now are only distant relatives of an aboriginal. They have to be infected. None of their children are born like Keyan was. They all have to be activated, contrary to Keyan who at the age of transition simply…transitioned. I need his blood. I need him to breed so that I can be cured, so that I can cure the world.”

  “Dad you sound insane. Mom?” I turn toward her.

  “Listen to your father dear.” She says in a hypnotic tone.

  “You are part Amaranth. I thought that because you were born with the blood in you that you would somehow transition on your own. But no. you have some traits. But you too would have to be activated by a male Amaranthine. You found him so easily Kenna. Your instincts are exact. You had envisages without consummating the relationship. It was amazing to watch.” He smiles. “I knew that you would help him escape successfully. I very carefully watched you two bond in the mountains. It was like you were drawn to one another by some incredible force.”

  “You’re disgusting! I hate you!” I turn to run and there is nowhere to go. I’m trapped in this scientist’s prison.

  “Let me show you all of the good that I have done since I’ve been in charge honey.” He takes my hand and leads me down a hall. I look at my mom with tears streaming down my face and plopping onto the floor as I walk. They are monsters and I led my beloved Keyan right to them. “Here, look my darling, you see that little girl, she has leukemia. Since I have been flushing her blood and refilling it with the blood of an Amaranth woman she is getting stronger. She no longer needs Chemotherapy. We just have to keep the blood flowing through her.”