CHOSEN: A Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Dystopian Novel by A. Bernette Read Free Book Online Page B

might as well have been a new language to Stella. It was
the one area they realized they had very little common ground.
    Even
with that difference, Alexis was fun to hang with and could get them just about
anything they wanted around campus. She had a way about her that people
couldn’t resist. Most people at least. Dr. Lima seemed immune to Alexis’s
charms but anyone else they’d come across so far was fair game. 
    Before
her guilt stopped her, Stella had even thought of having Alexis try to get her
something special from the campus gift shop that she’d seen the first day
they’d gotten there. She would ask her mom for some extra money when she talked
to Stephen. She’d been saving for something special and was rationing her
lubles.
    She
and Stephen were on a short Spring break that was kept at the same time as most
of the world during the first week of Spring, near the end of March. It was
usually a couple of months before the Antarctic region became too cold and they
left for home. That is, unless you never planned on leaving the artificial
warmth of the ARC. Rather than doing a fun camp for art or music she was stuck
in science camp, also known as school. She tried to comfort herself by
reasoning that being there didn’t mean she couldn’t still have fun. 
    When
camp was over Alexis would go back home to Australia where they weren’t frozen
in ice and she’d see real people who weren’t buried in work, and even go to real
school some days. She managed to make her time in Southern Allegiance fill two
needs. Her father lived there with his new wife and he’d already come for her a
couple nights and brought her back later in the evening. When camp ended and Stella
went to Antarctica, Alexis would spend the weekend with her dad.
    Stella
could only imagine what it would be like to go to school all the time with
other people. For her she only got the few weeks between leaving the ARC and
the end of June and the months of August to November. Those were the months
when school was in session and Antarctica was still in the dead of winter. The
rest of the time would be spent on the ARC, learning virtually and through
online classes or self-study. 
    She’d
be heading home in less than two months and that alone made her smile. At least
she would get to see other people for that last month or so at school and for
her birthday party. It was better than spending it alone with Stephen.
    As
Stella jumped and tried to do kicks in the air, she noticed a growing crowd gathering
outside in the square. She bounced slower trying to figure out what was
happening. From where their room was, she couldn’t see what was going on or
hear anything.
    She
jumped off her bed. “Come on Alexis. Something’s going on down there. Let’s
check it out.”
    Alexis
stood up, looked out the window, and smiled. “Maybe it’s a party. Let’s go.”
    As
they came out the door of the dormitory building they could hear the voice of
Camp Director Dr. Lima. She was lecturing the group about something but they
didn’t know what. Confused, the girls slowly joined the crowd trying to get a
better look and to hear what Dr. Lima was upset about this time.
    Alexis,
stood on her toes, and then came back down. “Nothing to see here really. Just
some boys fighting. But that…now that is interesting.”
    Alexis
pointed at a small group of men and women standing to the side, near a
building, looking oddly stiff and out of place. They were staying in the
shadows but backed away and out of sight as soon as they noticed Alexis looking
at them.
    “I
wonder what that was about,” Alexis said trying to see them better.
    “Who
knows? Probably nothing. Just seeing who the trouble makers are and adding to
their files,” said Stella. 
    “There
isn’t anything left to see here. You all need to go back to whatever it is you
should be doing,” Dr. Lima said, dismissing the crowd. As the crowd parted, Alexis
began walking towards the building where the three