Final Life: Book One in the Transhuman Chronicles

CHAPTER FIVE

  My body started shaking. Suddenly Farrell’s face was right in front of mine, his hands on my arms as he jostled me away from vision and back to reality. "Hey, Dominique, you okay?"

  Confused and a little embarrassed, I backed away from him. "Wh-what time is it?"

  He checked his watch. "Three-thirty."

  I had dozed off only for a few minutes, but it seemed much longer. Now I took in my surroundings. I was back at home on the white couch, but I knew I had just been in that red desert. The heat still lingered on my skin while the pain continued throbbing at the back of my neck. But why had I called out for Farrell?

  "What just happened?" I asked out loud.

  Farrell studied me for a moment before backing away and sitting on the coffee table. "I came in the house, and you were having a nightmare."

  I thought of the first time I had seen the red desert. It was two nights ago at Infiniti’s party, and then I saw it again when I got home. It was like I was dreaming, but I wasn’t because my dad had said my eyes were open. "So I was dreaming? With my eyes…closed?"

  "No," he said. "They were open."

  My hand went to the birthmark at the back of my neck. What the hell was happening? And why me?

  "Dominique, what is it?" he asked. "You know, if there’s something going on, you can tell me." He touched my hand, and the feeling of lightheadedness returned. "Maybe I can help."

  Maybe I could tell him. After all, I needed someone to tell me I wasn’t crazy. "Well, there is something going on, I guess." I heard the garage door open, and I added quickly, "Can you maybe come to my room tonight after everyone’s asleep?" My heart pounded as I waited for his answer, hoping he'd say yes, but afraid he'd say no.

  He nodded, his eyes searching mine, his face filled with concern. He squeezed my hand, and a burst of recognition shot through me. I had been here before, in this very spot, with Farrell, having this conversation. He pulled his hand away, and the moment was over as he increased the distance between us.

  Without saying a word, I got up and went to the bathroom. I stood there for a moment, my mind processing the emotions running through me—fear, anxiety, but mostly familiarity. But how? I washed my hands, wondering if I could somehow wash away all the weirdness that was happening to me, but I knew I couldn’t. As I stood there, I heard someone enter the house.

  "Where’s Dominique?" I heard my mom say.

  "In the bathroom," Farrell replied.

  I couldn’t stay locked away forever, and I knew the longer I waited, the harder it would be to come out. I took a deep breath, exited the bathroom, and walked to the kitchen, pretending nothing had happened. While I busied myself with putting groceries away, Farrell and Mom chatted about school and work. I was disoriented by Farrell's calm. Luckily, Infiniti texted. She wanted me to come over.

  I left the house and headed down the dark street. What was wrong with me? My thoughts took me to the surprised look on Farrell’s face after he pulled his hand away from mine, and the surge of recognition that coursed through me. I rubbed my hands together, my fingertips still tingling from his touch, when I crashed into a body.

  "Hey!" Infiniti called out.

  "Oh, crap!" I said, reaching down for Infiniti who had tumbled to the sidewalk. "I’m so sorry."

  Infiniti laughed hard. "What the heck!"

  "I was coming over to your house. I, uh, didn’t see you," I said, trying not to laugh too hard until I knew she was okay.

  "No shit," she said, raising herself up and dusting off her shorts. "Well, I’ve got some news that might knock you on your ass."

  "Yeah? What?"

  "It’s Trent."

  My heart skipped a beat. "Trent?"

  "Yep, Trent. He just sent me a text wanting to know your number." She flashed her phone at me, showing me the message.

  "Whoa," I whispered.

  "So do you want me to give it to him?"

  My hand shot up to my hair, twisting it fast. "Uh…I don’t know. What about Veronica?"

  "They’re totally over. Besides, she and Billy Weber are an item now."

  I had met Billy at lunch, and really liked him. And it seemed like Veronica did, too. She couldn’t keep her hands off him. "Really?" I asked.

  "Really. And that makes Trent available." She waved her phone in front of my face. "So…what do you want wanna do?"

  The first thing I thought about was Farrell. There was something about him that I was drawn to, but he made me nervous. Trent? He was fun and exciting. Plus, Farrell lived with me, so that would never work. Then I thought of my visions. Crazy people have visions. Maybe I needed to see a doctor, take drugs. Or, maybe I needed a distraction, like Trent.

  "Uh, hello," Infiniti said. "He’s just asking for your number!"

  A nervous laugh escaped my lips. "You’re right, you’re right. Well, I guess go ahead and give it to him."

  She grinned and texted him my number. "There," she said. "It’s done."

  I lowered my hand from my hair. It wasn't really done, I hoped, but just beginning.