I don't feel the same Jacob that I had been, but that is still my name. Part of me dreamed that I would wake up when I jumped through the wormhole generator and it would all have been some terrible nightmare. I would look around and see what I'd come to recognize as home. Reality was not so kind. I was not waking up at 'home'. It had not been a dream. My belly was still-- I could not think of that right now. I was still in shock I think. Everything felt unreal. My surroundings were not as they had been before. They called it a safe house. My hood was gently removed and I was given a bathrobe to wear. I stood in what was to be my safe-house kitchen and just stared and tried to answer their questions as best I could. I'm not sure who it was that asked the questions. The house itself seemed to speak. Or maybe it was another voice in my head. I don't know.
A few of the questions they asked poked my consciousness awake a little. The flicker of curiosity passed like a quiet wave to briefly interrupt the darkness I felt within.
"What is your name?"
"Jacob."
"Very good. You have retained identity. Do you know what it is that they called you?"
"X-cea09-3" I replied with no emotion.
"Yes, you were the 9th of our brightest hopefuls they chose to steal from us. They-- Wait. Did you say 09-3?"
"Yes." I answered with exhaustion, clearing my throat. Unused to speaking. "3." The faintest flicker of curiosity was sparked at the strangeness of their question and subsequent silence afterwards. It was gone again by the time they spoke.
Blasted S-Clan. They've gone too far. If you've really been deemed a 3 that means that you-- No, the vial you drank was not enough. Please drink this and rest. We'll be in contact again. You must not go outside. If you are a 3, you are not safe out there. You will be appointed a Guardian to watch out for you. It will be someone you have already come to know.
Another strange liquid materialized and I did not question the order to drink this too. What were they talking about? Not safe, being a 3, having a guardian. I just wanted to run. I knew I wasn't safe. I don't think I'll ever be safe again, if I ever was.
I did not run. I just walked around my new home in a daze. Finding clothing that was my size, I dressed and even tied on the boots that I had found there. Normal, human clothing. It made me feel something. Not safe but a sense of the familiar was good. I continued my wandering around the home.
It took me three hours before I could reconnect with my own emotions. Connecting to reality was a shock and what had happened to me was not a dream. I knew that now and I laughed bitterly and then screamed with clenched fists. My Guardian that watched from a place I did not see, was encouraged and saddened at the same time. Reconnecting with my reality was a good first step to recovery. Adjusting from what I'd been through was going to be a rough journey and the hardest shock of all was about to strike. They knew what was coming. I had no clue.
It was early morning only a few days later, that I was struck by a great pain. An aura of light and a keen sense of stuttered emotions from someone other than myself. It was as if it was telling me. [Its Time-ime-ime.]
Time for what?
Brielle, I felt glad to see. Even if she was sporting strange colored skin and a wig. She was my guardian? Yes. Brielle was not to be messed with when it came to protecting those under her watch. Coming into my place of residence when she saw the obvious signs she helped me to dress in warmer clothing. I wondered why. I found out its because there was snow on the ground. Snow had been on the ground when I'd been taken. How long had I been gone? They never said. Following me closely she led me outside, alert and on guard as she took me to a strange human-looking habitation. A hospital? Why? Standing guard as I was instructed to go inside and follow the doctors' instructions, Brielle waited outside and guarded the door. I did not see the moment she closed her eyes and hoped that I would live to see the morning.
Why did she hope that? I learned soon enough. There was no expression change on my face but deep inside my inner self began to cry.
I was going to be a-- Sire. A parent. A dad? Hours later with the sounds from my hoarse throat echoing in the small room. I realized what the 3 in the name I'd been given during my captivity really meant and when all was finally complete I closed my eyes.
When I woke from passing out I was alone. Still aching and feeling even more dazed, I wandered down the hall and out the doors into the cold. I did not see, I did not hear. I did not feel the cold. I just wandered.
It wasn't until I felt a strange oddly familiar sensation that I snapped out of my daze.
NO!! Not again!
I was not greeted with harshness this time. Instead it was Brielle's worried face that started to give serious vent to her worry when I'd disappeared from the recovery room. I'd been abducted by Brielle because she was worried? The irony of this along with what I'd just experienced being a 3, kicked in and caused me to crack my first smile in forever.
Dropping me off at home, where the 3 now slept, she gave me a hug and told me to stay inside. Now that I was no longer 'growing', I could be at risk for a second attempt. I took a deep breath and agreed with a nod of my head. I would obey.
The 3. Zayden, Zion and Zach. --Wow.
Behind the scenes: