Evolution by Kelly Carrero Read Free Book Online Page A

scream as her face contorted into absolute agony. A split-second later, the same searing pain that had engulfed me in the science lab ripped from the bottom of my right ear and across my throat, ending just below my chin. It was the most excruciating pain I had ever felt, then it was over just as quick as it started. The image of Chelsea was no longer there. The pain in my neck was gone, too.
    I looked down at Chelsea’s hand; she was no longer holding onto me. She was holding her hand out wondering what the hell was going on. “What the hell did you do that for?” Chelsea yelled at Aiden. Ben was standing there with the same confused look on his face that was plastered on Chelsea’s.
    I didn’t see what Aiden had done to deserve that reaction from them, but if I had to guess, I would say Aiden had broken her hold on me not so subtly. Within seconds, though, they were no longer looking at Aiden like he was crazy. Instead, they were gazing into each other’s eyes like the closing scene out of some romantic movie. It was as if the previous fifteen seconds never happened.
    I turned to Aiden, trying to figure out what the hell was going on, but his facial expression told me nothing.
    Nothing was making sense anymore. It was as if two days ago I’d woken up on some other planet.
    “Okay, we’ll leave you two lovebirds to it,” Aiden said as he picked up my bag with one hand, and ushered me out with the other.
    At first I didn’t budge. I wanted to work out how I had somehow landed in the Twilight Zone. But Aiden had other ideas, and seeing as though he was the stronger of us two, he won out. Unable to find my voice, I waved a goodbye and let Aiden lead me out onto the esplanade.
    We didn’t go home right away. Instead, we headed to the beach.
    “So, what happened back there?” I asked as I sat down on the sand dunes, hugging my knees to my chest as I looked out at the sea.
    There was the usual after-school crowd trying to get in a surf before sunset. I had never learnt to surf, which was kinda crazy since I grew up in the surfing capital of Australia. And at that moment, I wished so badly that I had learnt. Apparently, it was good for the soul—a way to release the stresses of the day. Boy, did I need to let go of some of mine.
    Aiden sat down behind me so that I was sitting in-between his legs. “I don’t—”
    I cut him off. “Don’t give me any of that crap about you not knowing, or that it would be best if Anna tells me, ’cause I don’t want her to tell me. I want you to explain it to me now.”
    “Look,” he paused, pulling me back so that I was leaning against his chest. “I really don’t know what happened when Chelsea grabbed your arm. From what I was able to get from your thoughts, it kinda seems like you had a vision of some sort—but I’ve never experienced anything like it before.”
    “A vision? Does that mean that… Is it really going to happen?” I shuddered.
    He didn’t answer. I turned my body so that I could see his face. His expression was that of someone about to give the worst possible news.
    I buried my head in his chest, tears spilling down my cheeks. I felt like I was going to throw up. I had just pre-emptively witnessed what was probably my best friend’s murder. How could that be possible? How could that happen to her? Who would do that to her? No one hated her enough to do something like that to her. I didn’t even know anyone who was capable of such a thing.
    “Hey, hey, come on,” Aiden said, trying to console me. “I don’t think the future is set in stone.” He stroked my hair. “And I know you don’t want to hear it, but I think we should speak with Anna.”
    He was right. I needed to speak with someone who could help me save Chelsea, but I couldn’t stop crying. The fear in Chelsea’s eyes kept replaying over and over. The way her face contorted in agony was just too much for me to handle, so I stayed wrapped in Aiden’s embrace until my eyes ran dry. In