Chapter two: You're not the only ones

Ryder parked the car. April was looking at the lake, when Ryder turned to her. "Are you ready." April stared at him. Before this, he was always an ass. Now he was being polite and caring. April had never seen this side of him. She had always thought it existed, yet she could never get him to open up.

"No, but lets get this over with it." Ryder smiled, but April could still see that he was worried about her. April opened the door and got out. She started walking towards the lake. Ryder quickly joined her.

There had always been something with this girl, Ryder though as he joined April. When they were seven, they had been playing around. Ryder had thought that she was beautiful. He had kissed her, and April had run off. They hadn't gotten along since then. April always complaining how he had stolen one of the most important things, her first kiss.

Ryder had felt bad about that, but he could never apologize for it. It still plagued him in his sleep. All the other girls were nothing like April. April sent sparks when they touched. The kiss hadn't last long at all, but it had been enough to make Ryder fall in love with her. She hated him though.

Ryder couldn't help it. Whenever he saw her with some other guy, he wanted to hurt him. He couldn't do that, anymore that he could kiss her right now. Ryder realized he was staring and looked back at the lake. It was pretty, especially now at twilight. It made him want to write. No one knew he wrote. It was a personal secret. Imagine if that got around school. He was more worried about what April would think, though.

April could feel Ryder's eyes on her. She continued looking ahead. April was still thinking about earlier when Ryder had almost kissed her. It still scared her that she had wanted, had almost need that kiss. When he had pulled away, it felt like something valuable was gone. April couldn't afford to think about that now. Something was going on, and she planed to find out what it was. She saw something out of the corner of her eye. She turned towards it.

"What is it." Ryder asked.

"I'm not sure." Shaking her head, she continued forward, towards the lake. She saw it again. This time she rushed towards it, stopping near the trees. Ryder caught up to her, and followed her line of sight. A boy stood there, but that wasn't what was concerning her. There was also a girl. A girl she knew.

..........

London stared at the girl with the long, curly, blond hair. She had always wanted curls, but that wasn't why she was staring at her. She knew her. She had seen her that night. The door had been open, the girl spread across the table. Flesh and blood smeared across it, most likely hers. Her eyes opened, drugged, and yet terferided.

Asher and the other boy were looking at the girls. Neither of them were moving. Both of them were totally poker faced. London made the first move. "You," She started, glancing between the two newcomers. "herd it didn't you."

April didn't need it to be explained, she knew what they were talking about. "Yes." She put simply.

London just sighed. She could see this suddenly getting bigger. There was something going on hear. London didn't like it. She decided rather than to be hostile, god knew what would happen then, she would try to be friendly. "I'm London. That's Asher." She held out her hand.

Without a second thought April shook it. She didn't know, London, but that didn't matter. All of them were somehow screwed into this together. "April." She said pointing to herself and then to Ryder. "Ryder." London smiled.

"Well, lets figure out why the hell we are here." London, after making sure it was okay with Asher, brought them over to there spot. The two of them had found it. A little part of the lake shore that was clear. It was in the middle of the forest, and only the two of them knew it. Often times when London was upset, Asher would find her out here. Over the years they had add stuff. Hollowing out a log, so that London could keep her drawing stuff there. After the voice, London had gone home to grab her drawing supplies. Pausing to tell their parents were they were going to be.

Blankets were also there, since they spent more time here, then at both of their houses combined. Books were often hear too. London sat down, immediately feeling at home. The fact it was also dark helped. She waved April to sit next to her. April did.

They were in a half circle. "So." April started.

"We were all there. That night, three years ago. Right?" London said.

"Ok."A girls voice said. "I wasn't expecting this."London, along with everyone else turned to see a girl with black hair.

........

Vivienne looked at the group of people, who she just found out, were there that night also. Vivienne was currently leaning against a tree. Carelessly neabling on cherries she had found. She hadn't eaten diner. She was looking at this group of people.

A girl with brown hair, that reminded her of fresh baked cooking was staring at her. She almost faded into the forest, the way she was dressed. Another girl with blond hair and an outfit that was really blue sat next to her. Next to Blue was a guy. He had on a black, leather jacket and a red shirt underneath. Vivienne probably would have gone after him, if he wasn't in love with Blue. By the way Blue was seated next to him, she obviously didn't share his feelings, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't.

Night, the girl with brown hair, was sitting next to another guy. He was cute. Black hair and green eyes were her favorite. Night and him, Nature boy, were close though. She could see them getting together. As much as she liked using boys, she liked shiping more.

They were staring at her, as if she was crazy. "I know what you're all thinking. I found the cherries and a tree." She took the pits out her mouth.

Night looked at her. "That's not what we're thinking. The dress is the focus, at least for me. Considering you were there, and heard the voice most likely, I was wondering why you thought this was a formal event."

Vivienne rolled her eyes. "I was going to a party. I didn't have time to change. If it helps I'm wearing clothes underneath."

"Really?" Vivienne, who was tired of this dress, took it off. Both boys looked away quickly. The girls exchanged glances. Vivienne had on jeans and a yellow tank top. It was much better than the dress.

"See." Eventually everyone turned back to her.

"Does anyone know why we are hear?" Another voice said. Another guy walked into the clearing. He wasn't anything remarkable. Curly brown hair, hazel eyes. Normally she probably wouldn't even noticed him.

Night looked at everyone. "Well, I have no doubt we are stuck in whatever this is, togther. I'm London."

Blue following London's lead told them her name was April. Eventually Vivienne figured out everyone's name. She preferred her nicknames for them though. Evan, the new guys name, was going to be called Windy in her head. No doubt he would hate it.

.........

London wasn't sure what she had been expecting. 4 other people who had been there that night, hadn't been it. Everyone one was now seated in a circle. It was an interesting group of people. Everyone was very different from each other and yet we were all here for the same thing.

"That night," London started. Everyone flinched at those words. "What do you remember?"

"Nothing." all the boys said at the same time. All the girls stayed quiet, the horrors coming back to them quietly.

London, after getting the visions out of her head, looked at the other girls. They had expression that London saw whenever she looked into a mirror thinking of that night. She knew they remembered it. Probably not everything, but enough to bring nightmares that made you not want to go to sleep.

"Almost everything." Vivienne said. April and London agreed.

"Faces, blood, doctors. Just stuff I could see. I don't remember any of the other senses, just sights that made nightmares real." London had wrapped face her arms around her, while she was talking. April had her eyes closed, slowly rocking back and forth. Vivienne stared at nothing, her face blank.

All the boys were looking concerned at the girls. Even though these people didn't know each other, they already shared something only close friends could have. "Voices. Talking. Saying that we were taking the mutations well. That we wouldn't remember, at least not the boys. They couldn't handle it. " Vivienne said. Somehow saying those words sounded real. She had no idea what they meant though. From London's sharp intake of breath, she had an idea.

April started talking before Vivienne could say anything. "Pain. Cutting. It felt like someone was inserting something into me." The three of them shivered simultaneously. Ryder was rubbing soothing circles across her back. April didn't even seem to notice.

"Mutations." London said taking everyone by surprise. London's thoughts were everywhere. She was suddenly horrified and yet glad too. She had always thought that something had changed her that night. People always said, that people changes. They didn't change so much overnight like I did.

Vivienne was sitting straighter after what London said. She was figuring out something. Vivienne knew that it wasn't all fun and rainbows. Then again Vivienne couldn't remember when anything had been. "What, do you mean?"

"I-I think," London looked into the faces of the others. Dread all of a sudden consumed her. They were going to freak, if they even believed her. "That, um, all of us were mutated."

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Hey. Okay what do you think. Thanks to my coauthor divergentkatniss for the cover and cast list. :)