《Anamnesis》Chapter 3: Zoned Out
Advertisement
Bren stares at Jax for a while. He must have zoned out again. Bren calls his name several times and doesn’t get a response. He didn’t think he had been talking to Jerry, the pub owner, for that long. Jerry has just left to get them drinks. He ordered them both water, because he doesn't know what Jax likes, and he definitely wasn’t ordering Jax alcohol. Bren didn’t know if he had ever had any before, and he wasn’t in the mood to deal with an emotional drunk Jax.
Bren flipped the cardboard coaster in his fingers thinking about Jax. He is a mystery that they all have been trying to figure out. Bren and the others can’t get him to open up and talk. They didn’t know a lot about Jax’s past except that he was in an accident three years ago and spent a long time in the hospital. He and Sina had noticed some strange behaviors and hyper senses that go beyond what a normal human has. He also becomes easily agitated, zones out, and frequently complains about headaches. Fuchsia knows more about Jax than she likes to admit and has kept her coworkers in the dark for too long.
Earlier today when Jax knocked himself out, Fuchsia said he looked like something had scared him. They were all in shock when it happened. Bren had carefully placed him on the table as they waited for him to wake up.
Jax hadn’t been on the table for more than ten minutes and Fuchsia was pulling equipment out and running scans on him. Sina and Bren both snuck peeks at the diagnostic screen. Fuchsia was too absorbed in reading the scans to notice what they were doing. Bren wasn’t sure what he had seen but he knew it didn’t look normal. Fuchsia did a series of rapid result blood tests and found evidence of Blue Cryo. She was really upset when she found out about the drugs, but it would have to be dealt with later. She didn’t tell them if she saw anything in the scan, but she seemed really stressed about something.
Advertisement
Bren worries that if Jax finds out about what she did that he is going to be pissed and this will be a major setback for them. Eventually, she will have to come clean about all the lies including those about their work and even why she hired him.
Bren finds himself staring again at Jax’s hair. It is silvery with a few strands of white and is cut off at his shoulder. He almost doesn’t look real as he sits motionless on the bar stool. His eyes are a beautiful gray with bright blue flecks and completely unfocused. His skin is unnaturally pale and flawless except for a few scars. A white tunic hangs loosely on his form and the black pants he wears are a stark contrast to the rest.
Jerry brings the drinks back and he decides he is going to have to try harder to get Jax’s attention. He wanted to order food quickly so they could avoid the crowd. Jax’s appearance tends to draw attention, which is not something either of them want.
Bren reaches out and brushes a few strands of hair out of Jax’s face revealing several scars. Jax jumps and looks like he has been shot. Jax readjusts his hair after realizing what has happened and his once pale cheeks are now tinted pink. Bren smiles at his reaction but doesn’t say anything, looking back at the bar as if he hadn’t noticed.
Jerry comes back to take their order. Jax looks indecisively at the chalkboard menu. He turns to Bren and tells him he will take whatever he is getting. Bren asks Jax if a hamburger is ok. He nods quickly and looks away, obviously embarrassed.
He orders a burger and fries for both of them. Jerry rushes back to the kitchen to make the food. After several minutes of silence, Bren asks Jax if something is bothering him. Jax shifts uncomfortably on the stool and then begins to talk.
Advertisement
Only minutes into the conversation Bren realizes what has upset Jax. He had spotted the ID card of the person he had jumped last night. Bren is not ready to have this talk with Jax, his stomach now in a knot. Should he even try without consulting Fuchsia first? His explanation would be easier if there weren’t so many lies to begin with. He doesn’t know what to say but he is starting to think he needs a stronger drink to get through this conversation.
Jax looks at Bren with exhausted eyes. He wants him to give him an answer that will make his worries go away. Although, deep down, Jax wants the truth. Jerry appears and drops their food off.
Bren orders a whisky and then returns his attention to Jax.
He smiles and pushes Jax’s food closer towards him saying “Nobody makes a better burger than Jerry.” He secretly hopes that he will start eating and give him more time to figure out how to answer him. Jax nods but stares blankly at the plate and looks like he is going to break as Jerry drops Bren's drink off.
Bren says under his breath “Damn Fuchsia” cursing her for making this harder than it should be! Bren swirls the amber colored liquid around and throws it back thinking “I will be damned if I take on this conversation without a little liquid courage.”
Advertisement
- In Serial55 Chapters
A Sense for magic
Vance is a young man who has been blind since birth. He lives with his father and older brother. Over the years, he sought remedies for his affliction but had no luck. This year, an Arcanist visits the small town of Wethermane. Vance is curious and intends to visit this powerful stranger, hoping for either help or hope. What he receives is something else, something greater - opportunity. This book will follow his tale from afflicted young man to budding Arcanist, his struggles along the way, and hopefully a little humour. Book cover art by: Ollie Wodge
8 158 - In Serial106 Chapters
Legends of Balarel - A Leisurely LitRPG
Glenn Redwood has longed to become an Adventurer since he was a young boy, and has focused every waking moment on that goal since turning 14. Answering the challenge of the Gods of Balarel, he has fought Monsters, Leveled, and grown stronger. Yet the day before his 16th birthday, the day he will earn his dream or lose it forever ... the Gods have made a wager. And no mere mortal wishes to draw the attention of the Gods. ***** This is my crack at writing a leisurely LitRPG. My focus is more on telling interesting stories set in a world where people live under a MMORPG-like ruleset enforced by the Gods, and less on writing another story where the MC gets massive stat boosts every chapter before heading off to wreck the world. There will be plenty of blue tables (it’s LitRPG!) but my Adventurers are just starting out. This fic is about the journey, not the destination, so expect everyone to Level ... leisurely. Updates: M-T-W-Th. I’ll post 3000-4000 words a day, or 12000-15000 words a week. If this posting pace ends up being too much for me, I reserve the right to slow posts down a bit. Inspirations: Blessed Time (Royal Road) Is It Wrong To Try To Pick Up Girls In a Dungeon? (Anime) Trails in the Sky (JRPG Series) MC: My MC is a genuinely good person who’s both a talented warrior and tactically savvy. He prefers to solve problems without violence but will resort to force if necessary to protect his friends or innocent people. I’m tired of stories starring anti-hero MCs facing endless doom and gloom, so I wanted to write a nice guy with an adventurous spirit who helps people in a thriving fantasy world. That’s all.
8 115 - In Serial88 Chapters
The Virtues' Magecraft
The Golden Dawn has initiated the Age of Tribulation. Destruction is imminent for each of the Nine Realms. And on Midgard, the Princes of Hell are returning. To prevent the destruction these demons will bring, the Magecraft Association has called upon seven mages to handle them. One of those seven is Alexander Lane. A Demon-Born without any training in magic. This ordinary life of his in this unordinary world has always been a struggle. But in his ever changing reality, it'll only become more of a curse. He must learn magecraft and fight for the sake of his world. For his life, and for others.
8 240 - In Serial34 Chapters
The Ripper
Let's get one thing straight I'm no hero nor villain, I do what I want when I want. Eric Lycan is a 29 year old man who was born with extraordinary abilities. These abilities caused him to have a horrible childhood with so many people after him, key amongst them being the government. After years of running Eric is tired of it all and decides it is time he stops running, it is time he fought back after all he has nothing left to loose. Book 1 in the Next Gen Superverse
8 178 - In Serial7 Chapters
The Man who can't be moved.
What would you do if you fell in love with a man almost twice your age? Well this is what happens to Dallas. He meets this man at his dance studio and they hit off right away. But he has 2 kids and is almost 34 years old while Dallas is only 20 almost 21 Follow Dallas on this complicated journey to figure out if he's ready for a already made family.
8 226 - In Serial100 Chapters
Escape The Night - Season 3
"I don't remember much about what happened. All I remember was waking up in a coffin with the crown on my head."Joey Graceffa has survived two deadly dinner parties, and has no intention to live through another one. However, he received a letter from a distant relative, informing him that he has inherited a castle. When he went to investigate, he was attacked by the dark spirit that haunts the castle walls."I would have to go through it again. I would have to watch them die without being able to help them."Invites are sent, and twenty of his friends appeared at his doorstep, ready for a party in the medieval era. However, things are not as they seem, and the guests soon discover that they must fight for survival if they want to return home. The guests must protect, betray and kill one another to survive, but even the strongest people can fall. "My friends were going to die."Only a few can return home, but who will they be?
8 103

