Broken - Afflictions of the Evolved (The Evolved Trilogy) Read online

  BOOK TITLE

  Broken

  Afflictions of the Evolved

  Shawnda Currie

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  Copyright © 2012 Shawnda Currie

  Published by Flea Circus Books

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-:10:0987864580

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9878645-8-1

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  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to my three biggest fans; my husband, Troy, and my two boys, Logan and Nathan, who continue to encourage me on this journey.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  A gigantic thank you to my editor Cheryl Peters and publisher Flea Circus Books. A special thanks to all of my friends and fans who make this all worthwhile. Photograph courtesy of Lisa Doyle.

  DISCLAIMER

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to real world events or persons living or dead is purely coincidental or used fictitiously.

  Suggested reading: Altered – Revelations of the Evolved (Book One of The Evolved Trilogy) available at amazon.com

  http://www.amazon.com/Altered-Revelations-Evolved-ebook/dp/B007OUUBQW

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  CONTENTS

  1. Las Vegas

  2. Serenity

  3. The Teacher

  4. Signs

  5. Enchanted

  6. Answers

  7. Unexpected Visitor

  8. Dr. Hendrick

  9. Coincidence

  10. Jail Bird

  11. Practice

  12. Old Friend

  13. Message

  14. Replenish

  15. Separate Ways

  16. Paradise

  17. No Joke

  18. Theories

  19. The Good Doctor

  20. Forge Ahead

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  1.

  LAS VEGAS

  We made sure not to speed as we drove towards the city limits of Las Vegas. It was night time and even with our built in telepathic radar; we didn’t have built in night vision, so a police car could be hiding anywhere.

  If a cop did pull us over, it wouldn’t be easy to explain why two seventeen year olds were travelling together in a black Mustang they didn’t own. We had fake ID’s but the police officer might have too many questions; the answers would not be forthcoming.

  I could never explain to a rational person how I, Lacey Bennett, was to stop three events from happening in order to save my boyfriend’s future from nuclear devastation.

  It wasn’t until Taylor helped me develop my own psychic ability of telekinesis in order to break out of a rehabilitation center – kiddie jail in my mind – known as Clear Waters that I learned of the evolved.

  My jaw was in perma drop down position as Taylor relayed the story of how he arrived in my time, after we had taken refuge in a secluded cabin after the escape. He had come from the year 2064 where he lived in underground titanium encased bunkers after nuclear war destroyed living conditions on the surface of the earth around 2040.

  Scientists developed technology to transport a human’s “essence” or soul through fluctuations of earth’s time portals that contained a microchip that super speeded DNA rejuvenation had construed Taylor.

  “To put it in laymen’s terms, the microchip acts as an egg which accelerates into a human body for the essence to inhabit – almost like an instant clone,” Taylor had explained in his matter-of-fact attitude.

  He continued on to illustrate that most people from the future, known as the evolved, have second nature varying degrees of basic skills such as: telepathy, shielding, telekinesis and mind reading. During one of his often long winded explanations he said, “Then we specialize in one particular field such as controlling, seeing the future or healing. The elite evolved develop super strength, speed or transforming capabilities. It is very rare when someone has more than one specialty – although it does happen.”

  Apparently I was one of those rare and gifted souls from the present. I always knew that I was different but I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I could move things with my mind, communicate without speaking or peek inside other people’s minds and read their thoughts. But I could. I was also able to teleport both Taylor and I to the scene of a train collision, which I prevented, thank you very much. Don’t ask me how I was able to do such an amazing thing, but somehow, my entire being kicked into overdrive and gave me the power I desperately needed.

  You would think that the entire Universe would want to save the future from ruination but sadly that was not the case. Taylor’s father who had gone rogue years earlier, was hell bent in preventing us. He was also armed with a group of dark spirits. The difference between the evolved and the dark spirits was the scientist who created the time machine for the bad guys seemingly lacked the technology to perfect the acceleration process.

  Taylor and his friend’s core body temperatures run much hotter than ours; this causes their metabolism to increase forcing them to eat large quantities of food almost constantly.

  The dark spirits, however, are completely bald and have a lower body temperature; this causes their bodies to disintegrate faster as the enzymes of their cloned shells are more unstable. They have amazing psychic abilities like we do. But before they become too weak, they must initiate their retrieval sequence via ESP to the microchip of their mainframe and head back to the future. By the time they travel back in time again, the light-spirited ones have changed location. Taylor’s father was one of the initial soldiers to travel to the past before he became a deserter. Since he used the original time machine, he is able to remain in the present unlike his minions.

  The last few months had been absolutely crazy: escape from Clear Waters, rescue mission for Sable (Taylor’s sister Tawny’s boyfriend), daring bank robbery, and almost dying at the hands of Taylor’s father Mr. Dalton. I deserved a break from the mission of “saving the future.” No, I needed a retreat from it all or I would literally go crazier than my mother. God rest her soul.

  Preventing two trains from colliding had been the first mission. Interference from Taylor’s father almost killed us both. Amazingly, it all worked out but our hideout had been compromised so we had to leave town. After dropping Taylor’s best friend Zed at the bus station, Taylor and I decided at the last minute to go to Las Vegas to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

  This was my first time in sin city. The bright lights were truly magnificent as we drove out of the darkness of the highway and into the bustling city. I was anxious to get out of the car as we had been driving for days. We stopped along the way only to sleep and eat and restock. Plus, after recent events we didn’t think it was safe to stay in one spot for too long. Taylor assured me we would be safe in Vegas for a few days. Nobody would ever think to look for us here.

  When I discovered that Mr. Dalton had manipulated Taylor’s visions of the train wreck, I had doubted his feelings for me. But our passionate make out session against the Mustang prior to getting on the road assured me that Taylor cared just as deeply for me as I did for him. He didn’t just show me he loved me; he said the words!

  My cheeks flushed as I replayed the scene in my mind. His messy blond hair tickled my face as he kissed my neck. In between kisses, his brilliant green eyes peered into mine. My breath hitched and my knees became weak. The only thing that held me up was his muscular arms. I wanted him to have his way with me but we both contained ourselves. There would be plenty of time for that. Or at least I prayed there would be.

  “Lacey, this is going to be awesome,” exclaimed Taylor as he pulled up to the front doors of a fancy hotel,
snapping me out of my fantasy.

  Taylor popped the trunk of the Mustang and we both exited. A young valet wearing a short sleeved dress shirt and a bow tie immediately rushed to the partially opened driver’s side door and handed Taylor a small white ticket. He gingerly placed it in his pocket.

  Then he grabbed our two suitcases filled with clothing and toiletries we purchased en-route to Vegas and placed them on a wheeled cart located a couple of feet away by the front entrance of the hotel. I slammed the trunk shut and the valet drove away to park the car. I couldn’t shake the strange feeling that I wouldn’t be seeing the Mustang again.

  I sucked in a deep breath to gain my composure. I wasn’t going to let my paranoia ruin this for me. I walked behind Taylor as he pushed the cart through the automatic sliding doors towards the receptionist counter located to the left of the lobby.

  A pretty blond with her hair pulled into a pony tail and sporting a buttoned navy blue blazer with a white collared blouse underneath greeted us happily. I glanced at her golden name tag that read Jessica.

  She immediately focused her gaze on Taylor and smiled widely; exposing her perfect white teeth. After realizing that she may be staring a tad too long into Taylor’s eyes she turned her head slightly to glance in my direction. I could have sworn her smile turned into a smirk once she caught my eyes. I didn’t like her already.

  “Maybe it’s his cousin or something…..she hardly looks his type,” Jessica thought to herself, not realizing that both Taylor and I had the ability to read minds. I looked at Taylor with an arched brow. He smiled slyly and shrugged his shoulders, Jessica none the wiser that we were privy to her thoughts.

  Taylor handed Jessica a credit card. “Book us for three nights, please,” he said politely.

  She entered some information into the computer, pushed a piece of paper on the counter for Taylor to sign and handed him two swipe keys. “You will be staying in Room 521. Let me know if you need anything and I will see personally that it’s delivered.”

  Jessica kept her gaze on Taylor as she said the last statement and I could feel my cheeks starting to burn with jealousy – again. This time I took the high road and kept my comments to myself even though I wanted to let her know that I was definitely not Taylor’s cousin and totally his type.

  After placing the swipe cards into his jeans pocket, Taylor pushed the cart towards the elevator located along the right side of the lobby. I pressed the white button with the up arrow. Once the doors finally opened, an elderly couple followed us inside.

  Taylor pressed the number five button as well as the number seven even before the old man had time to reach out his arm or say it out loud. The man scratched his thin white hair wondering how Taylor knew what floor they were going to. His wife stared back and forth between Taylor and me.

  “Hmmm…..must be some spoiled rich kids spending their parents’ money,” she thought.

  If only this lady knew the truth about the experience we had just lived through. Now if things went according to plan, I would save her lineage from living underground. Not to mention that I could never see my father, stepmother or stepbrother again as that would be the first place the bald headed misfits would look for us. It didn’t bother me not to see Judy my stepmother again, but I did miss my dad and Josh. I let out a breath and bit my lower lip, my way of sulking for a moment.

  My self pity was interrupted when the elevator came to a stop at the fifth floor and the doors opened.

  “After you,” Taylor said as he grabbed the cart handle with his left hand.

  We walked along the dark blue carpeted hallway until arriving at Room 521. Taylor placed the swipe key inside the slot and turned the handle to open the door.

  I flicked on the light switch located beside the door. A large picture window located in the center of the far wall was decorated by cream colored curtains that were tied back at each side with a matching colored cord. A flat screened television hung on the left wall over a shiny oak dresser. A small fridge sat beside a queen sized bed made up with a burgundy comforter and an assortment of pillows along the right side of the room.

  “Well, what do you think?” asked Taylor carrying our suitcases. He placed them on the floor at the end of the bed.

  “It’s great,” I replied as I walked towards the window to peer at the city lights and tall buildings. The view was fantastic.

  Taylor walked to my side and pulled my body into his chest. He gently kissed my neck working his way to my lips. Butterflies danced around in my stomach. No guy has ever had this effect on me. Just his touch alone made the hairs on my body stand up. As I was getting really into it, he stopped. I did my best to hide my irritation.

  “Why don’t you have a nice hot bath while I return the cart?” he said. His hands rubbed the tops of my shoulders. It was his way of calming me. Maybe he sensed my sexual frustration.

  Though I was disappointed that he didn’t push me onto the bed and rip my clothes off, I smiled and nodded in agreement. I could use a bath to freshen up. Besides, we had plenty of time to become intimate.

  The bathroom had light brown walls just like the main room but white squared tiles instead of the beige carpet. A Jacuzzi tub sat invitingly in the far corner. I could smell the aroma of vanilla scented candles that were strategically placed around the ledge of the tub. I turned on the water to a desirable temperature and pushed down on the drain plug. I dumped a few capfuls of bubble bath and chuckled as small bubbles rose up and hit my cheeks before bursting.

  While the water filled the tub I went to my suitcase and pulled out some jeans and a black t-shirt. I tried to wipe out some of the wrinkles but it was useless. Furrowing my brows at my limited supply of clothes, I placed them neatly on the bed and went back into the washroom. I would just have to go shopping tomorrow while we toured the city.

  I stared at myself in the mirror and admired the heart shaped necklace that hung around my neck. The gold certainly made my blue eyes pop. I wondered if Taylor thought of that when he picked it out. I certainly wasn’t expecting such a beautiful Christmas present. My gifts seemed mediocre compared to his though he assured me that the CD I purchased by Michael Bublé was perfect. The song “Feeling Good” had been his parents’ song which was completely unknown to me at the time of purchase. I thought it was my intuition that guided me to buy it. But it turned out to be the influence of Mr. Dalton. The present now seemed contaminated in my mind but Taylor insisted he loved it.

  Sighing in disgust that a father was ready to kill his own son, I unclasped my necklace from the back and laid it gently on the sink counter. I wasn’t as gentle with my clothes. I just let them drop to the floor in a messy pile. Once inside the tub, I immersed my entire body under water. The hot water felt great on my tense muscles. After rinsing shampoo and conditioner from my long brown hair, I rested my head against the back of the tub and hummed a little tune until the water became lukewarm.

  With one towel draped around my body and a smaller one wrapped around my hair, I walked to the bed to grab my clothes. I shook my head and smiled widely in disbelief.

  My pants and t-shirt had been replaced by a beautiful red cocktail dress that bunched in the middle and had a see through design made of lace material for the arms, a pair of black suede heeled shoes and a matching black purse with a long thin strap. A folded note was tucked inside one shoe.

  In neat printing, it read “You are cordially invited to spend a wonderful pre-New Year’s Eve with your partner in crime. He’ll be the handsome one in the black tux awaiting your arrival in the Ciel Rouge Restaurant.” I giggled out loud. That boy was not only full of himself but also full of surprises. I hadn’t even heard him come into the room. Not only was he extremely sexy, he was also super stealthy.

  After getting all dolled up in my new dress and heels, checking my hair and makeup for the tenth time and rubbing my necklace with my fingers for luck, I grabbed my purse and got into the elevator to go to the main floor. I walked through the lobby and glanced towa
rds the reception area. I thought Jessica’s jaw was going to drop off her face as I strutted towards the Ciel Rouge. I acted as if she wasn’t there. I didn’t even have to peek inside her mind to know what she was thinking. Her stunned reaction was all I needed for a little boost in my confidence.

  It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust from the bright lights in the lobby to the dimly lit restaurant. Then I spotted Taylor in his black tux standing beside a chair at a small table in the corner. He was right, he did look very handsome. Maybe I could convince him to forget our late supper and come back to the room.

  My cheeks blushed uncontrollably as I walked towards him even though I was careful to block my thoughts with a red X, not just from Taylor but from anybody else who might have mind reading abilities. After everything that had transpired, I was cognizant to know that I was not the only one with these gifts in my time period.

  Taylor flipped over his left hand and gestured me into the chair beside him. He pushed the chair under me as I sat down. After I was comfortably seated, he briskly walked to the other side of the table and sat down, a huge smile on his face.

  “Wow, you look smokin’,” he complimented. His eyes discretely lowered from my face to my chest. His smile widened. It was a total Kodak moment.

  “You don’t look so bad yourself,” I replied. I stared at his luscious lips and envisioned them kissing my breasts. I chomped down on my lip to snap myself out of it.

  Taylor sipped his glass of water from a wine glass. “I took the liberty of ordering for us.” Of course he did. He had an infatuation with food.

  As soon as he uttered the last word, a waiter appeared with a tray of food; nachos, potato skins, mozzarella sticks and chicken alfredo. It was a good thing Taylor always had a huge appetite because I could never eat all of that.