《The Unseen》 Chapter 1 Lucas POV 13 year old Lucas Mauscher stood outside his house, beside him stood his longest friend. Atlas was a slightly smaller than usual german shepherd. There were tears in Lucas''s eyes as he knelt down to hug Atlas, "Bye Atlas, I''ll miss you so much," more tears streamed down his face and Atlas started licking it as if to comfort him. A man walked over and Lucas heard a snap as his best friend''s new owner clipped a lead to Atlas'' collar then led him away limping Lucas'' parent''s walked over gave him a hug. "I''m sorry Lucas." His mother said softly. It had happened while Lucas had been going for a walk with Atlas the previous week. They had come to a corner and someone with a pushbike going way too fast had run over Atlas'' shoulder and sprained it. Atlas was healed now, but he had a limp that would never go away and due to safety rules, he was now forced into retirement. Lucas was forced to lose his best friend, who he trusted with his life. He had been given an option to get another guide dog but he wasn''t ready to replace Atlas so soon. A couple of days later Lucas was sitting on his bed moping over the loss of Atlas. He decided to listen to some music. He reached over and switched on his alarm clock radio, slowly turning the tuner until he got to a channel that was playing some sad musical tune.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. This seems appropriate. he thought as he sat on his bed, soon he dozed off.
Sylvie POV Please stop! You''re hurting me!" 7 year old Sylvie shrieked, trying in vain to escape her bonds that held her down, she was lying flat on a cold metal table, writhing to try to escape the syringe full of some substance that the doctor in the plastic apron kept trying to inject into one of her eyes, she just managed to squirm away each time and he was losing patience, everytime the liquid had touched any of her skin it had burned to the point of agony, Sylvie would never allow it to touch her eyes if she could help it, but now white-coat had brought some helpers, two managed to hold her head down while two more held her shoulders. her shrill screaming echoed in the quiet room. As the intense pain entered her eyes, slowly her vision turned from black and white and blurry to barely any light at all, then she passed out. Sylvie didnt know what had made her sight go completely, but the morning after the acid she woke up and everything was black, she was in the same small cell she was normally kept in. Sylvie ran her hands lightly over her eyes to be sure nothing was covering them, then she squinted and checked again, nothing. A cold shiver went up her back and she panicked, letting out a shrill scream, she shook her head around, the darkness seemed to be closing in on her, making her already black vision darker. something banged on her cell door, "stop it girl!" a man yelled, Sylvie froze for a minute, it was the scary guard who had thrown her across the room for disobeying several times, Sylvie suddenly realised she could hear, it wasn''t the end of the world-yet. She listened to the sounds around her, shaking uncontrollably in fright but trying to keep herself under control, her instincts that she''d relied on all her time in the orphanage before being kidnapped helped now, she had to not show fear or she would become a target for bullies, current bully now being the nasty doctor. she straightened her shoulders and sat still, panic was still racing through her but she schooled her face to be nuetral.
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Chapter 2 Intermission: "you''ve been gone 20 years Stick." Matt said where was he those twenty years? sure, a lot of that time he was probably doing stuff with the war, fighting the Hand, but when he heard through one of his sources about a girl being experimented on showing signs of having those warrior genes he always needed more of, he needed to go for himself, so he went to the lab where she had been held and found the Hand had very nearly broken the girls will to live. she was holding on by a thread when he arrived, so when he brought her to a warehouse she barely tried to fight him, simply begging him not to hurt her any more. he wasn''t surprised at her condition, he had seen worse, at least they hadn''t been torturing her for information, if that had been the case he wouldn''t have bothered, she would have been a lost cause, and he tried not to waste time on lost causes. It took almost two weeks to gain her trust and he began training her, she had great potential, her senses weren''t as pronounced as he had thought, however, she could still learn to fight. And she did, she was swift at picking up moves and Stick found she was incredibly hyper-aware of her surroundings constantly. after a bit of training he found he could rarely surprise her, this level of training was usually only achieved after months of training, however she was slower at learning moves, which set their training slower than Stick would have preferred, but they got there eventually, after almost five years training, Stick felt she was ready for anything. he had learnt after training Matt, the harsher you were, the better, that way he wouldn''t be thought of as a father figure and make the same mistake again. One morning, 5 years after being free, at twelve years old, Sylvie woke up and he was gone, she was shocked, he had become the closest she had ever been to loving someone and he was gone.
Lucas (Past) Lucas woke up to the sound of the news coming from his radio, he groaned, "I wish they would just play music!" he pressed the knob to switch it off when suddenly he was called into the living room. As he walked unsteadily into the laungeroom, Lucas heard the news playing on the tv. "Lucas listen to this!" his Mother exclaimed, turning it up a little bit so the voice was clearer, ''...the scientists are saying this new device could change someones life, the new bionic eye will help people who are blind to see things they never thought they would...'' the news anchor was saying. Father walked in, "The company rang and asked if you want to be a part of the trial, we discussed it and its up to you." "I''d love it!" Lucas said "I''m gonna see! I cant believe it!" he laughed excitedly. His parents had called the people back and told them he was willing to participate. His parents had been told the date they would see them to explain it in more detail. Father and Mother had been at the meeting for almost an hour while the scientists explained to them about it all. Finally, it was over and they said they would operate the next day. The next day, Lucas was sitting on the operating table while someone talked to him, "Now all you need to remember is to turn it on or off blink twice in rapid succession & if you feel any pain when it first starts, turn it off straight away, it isnt good to pretend to play it down either, if you are in any discomfort at all, tell us." "Okay." Lucas agreed, now that the time had almost come, he was scared. "I''ll put you under now." The doctor said when Lucas heard the scientist leave the room. Lucas felt a prick in his arm then got sleepy... Lucas woke up and opened his eyes suddenly, he squeezed them shut again in surprise! everything was so bright and different he almost preferred the comfort of darkness. But, unable to resist, he slowly opened them a tiny bit, squinting at the glariness. He gasped, his heart beating wildly. Lucas started to move, then froze, shutting his eyes again to the comforting blackness for a few seconds to calm down a bit, The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. you wanted this He told himself firmly, opening them again cautiously, looking around in wonder, so many different shades! Brightness like he''d never known! Instead of the normal ''blackness'' he could see lots of things but he had no idea what they were. Lucas looked around the ''room''. So this is what a room looks like.. its smaller than I thought Lucas continued looking around, then he heard a quiet gasp, he turned his head, pinpointing the sound, he saw someone sitting beside him then suddenly they spoke, "Lucas" He recognised it as his mothers voice. "How are you feeling?" she asked. "Its strange actually seeing everything" his voice was filled with wonder, His mother laughed, "it would be!" Lucas looked around again and he heard some people walking towards him. "who are they?" Lucas asked his Mother, "Who?" she asked looking where he pointed then she smiled "Your senses are still better from when you needed them," she murmured as they walked into the room "Its your Dad and the doctor." one of them walked up to Lucas, "how is your head, sore at all?" it was the scientists voice, Lucas shrugged "Not really." "Ok, thats good, you make sure you let me know." then he walks away. Lucas'' father comes up to him and gives him a hug "I''m glad it worked" "me too" Lucas replies Suddenly Lucas feels a stabbing pain in his head he winces then starts to get dizzy his parents notice it. "DOCTOR! We need a Doctor!" they called Lucas hears running feet "quick! turn it off!" the doctors says urgently Lucas is confused for a minute then somewhere in the pain and fogginess as he feels hes going to pass out he remembers if you feel any pain blink twice quickly to turn it off the scientist had told him before leaving Lucas quickly blinked twice and everything went black... but he wasnt unconscious the pain was starting to fade but it was still there and he got really tired before he fell asleep.
Sylvie (Present) For several weeks Sylvie wandered about aimlessly, taking food here and there, careful not to get caught but slowly starving. One cold October morning she woke up, ''I''m not alone'' a shiver went up her back and she went rigid, her ears aching for any sound to tell her who or what was beside her, "Hey, you right there?" it was a boy, sitting in front of her, she tried to establish how much of a threat he was, he was skinny, his his skin sliding across bare ribs with every breath, and though he sat confidently, the air vibrated slightly as he tensed, waiting for her reaction, she then noticed there was a scent of cold chicken in front of her, "Is- that for me?" she asked hesitantly, her voice hoarse with disuse, normally she would have just taken it, but there was no guaranteeing her ability to run in her current state, he nodded, obviously oblivious of her inability to see it, but she found she didn''t mind, he''d brought her food, though he was obviously hungry himself, "Eat it slowly, ye don'' wanna retch it all out straight''way." he relaxed now, his tension draining away, "I''m Jack." "What do you want from me?" Sylvie asked instead of offering her name after she had eaten the meagre amount of chicken, Jack shrugged, a slight smirk on his face, admiration ringing from him, "Was waitin'' on ye to ask tha''," he stood up, reaching a hand as if to help her up, she hesitated then accepted, standing too, if a bit unsteadily, "I saw ye with the old fella, Stick, everyone know he a trainer, if he hung wit'' you, ''e trained ye, I wan'' you ta train meself in exchange fer me feeding ya." Sylvie considered for a minute, she had lost meaning in her life and that was how she had hit the down road, it would be good to have a reason to keep on living again, plus, free food never hurt. "Alright, its a deal, you provide food, I''ll teach you all that he taught me," "I do ''ave but one rule," he held up a finger, "ye ne''er backstab me an I ne''er backstab you, an I aint talking about none knives or swords, ye get me?" "Yea, sure, I get you." Sylvie nodded, It took a few days for both of them to get into any shape for fighting, Sylvie would have normally been way fitter than she was and even Jack wasn''t in any shape to be fighting. Chapter 3 Lucas (Past) Lucas woke up and wondered where he was then he smelt disinfectant and remembered he was in the hospital after getting his bionic eyes, he didnt turn them on as he remembered the pain from last time he sensed his mother beside him in the same place she had been before this time his father was there as well they noticed him stirring "Lucas are you still feeling pain?" his father asked concerned "No" Lucas said and then the doctor walked up "Lucas i suggest you only turn on the eyes a short time each day until you get used to them, also it is expected that you will get headaches and feel tired due to using a part of your brain that you never have before" the doctor informed "ok" Lucas said "I expect you should be able to go home tomorrow if nothing changes" he said before hurrying off to his next patient. it was the next day and Lucas was excited to get to go home the doctor came over and gave them advice on what to expect and all the other stuff Lucas didnt really listen to as he was so excited to be able to go home and be able to actually see their house, besides he fiured his parents were listening and would tell him about anything important. they finally got in the car and headed home when they got there Lucas blinked twice to turn on his eyes and stared at the house "wow!" he said "I never realised our house looked so grand he said grinning from ear to ear. Lucas looked at the flash card and thought for a second "ye-..red" he said "good" said his mother before putting them away "that''ll do for today, you might want to give your eyes a rest" his mother said Lucas nodded then blinked to turn his eyes off he then went to his room and lay down to have a restas he lay there he decided to turn the eyes on again to take another look at his room as he looked around suddenly everything went blurry then black Lucas was shocked panicking he turned them off then on again he sighed in relief then realised something wasnt right everything was... what was it called? thats right blue he then noticed he could see outside the house through his wall "Mum? Dad? somethings strange wi- AAAGH" he suddenly screamed as a skeleton walked towards him "whats wrong dear?" the skeleton asked wait that was his mothers voice whats going on? he asked himself he could also smell his mothers perfume he suddenly felt a sharp oain in his head so he quickly blinked to turn his eyes off yes it was deffinately his mother she hugged him and he hugged her back "somethings wrong with my eyes" he said "why what is it? his father asked coming into the room everyone is skeletons and my wall is gone and I got a really bad headache" he said close to tears his father grabbed him to comfort "its ok i will ring the company and see what we can do" "Thank you" Lucas says sadly and he lies on his bed to go to sleep suddenly feeling very tired.
Sylvie (Present) It took a few days for both of them to get into any shape for fighting, Sylvie would have normally been way fitter than she was and even Jack wasn''t in any shape to be fighting. Jack even started talking differently, not using so much slang any more. They started easy, Sylvie showing Jack different combinations of blocks and strikes she had learnt, he picked it up faster then she had and they started having high speed spars for fun, of course, she couldn''t teach him all she knew because a lot of it was muscle memory, she didn''t know exactly how much she knew until their fights called for a new move, then she would show Jack the move. They had been training together for almost three weeks when Jack suddenly stopped mid fight, Sylvie almost punched him in the face, then realised he''d stopped, she stopped and listened around, but no one was nearby, Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings."What''s wrong?" she straightened up, "I''ve been meaning to ask this for a few days, what''s the deal with your eyes?" "My- I''m sorry my eyes?" Sylvie frowned, he knew she was blind... didn''t he? "Yea, they''re somehow different, never once have you made eye contact with me, and they''re wider than I would think normal" Oh "I''m blind, that would be why." Sylvie was surprised he hadn''t figured it out earlier, "Blind? Yeah right, your pulling my leg." Jack said in disbelief, but when Sylvie didn''t respond for a minute he seemed to realise, "but you can fight! An always know exactly where I am! How?" "Stick is blind too, that doesn''t stop him, why should I let it stop me?" Sylvie asked rhetorically, "Is the old one blind? I never even..." Sylvie giggled, "You''ve never been around a blind person while knowing they''re blind have you?" "Don''t laugh at me, it ain''t by any fault o'' me own!" his old slang slowly drifted into the conversation as he got more defensive, "they normally be wearin'' em glasses an'' white canes, not learning me on how to fight!" he finished, Sylvie shrugged, it was a valid point, she had never told him either, which wasn''t very fair to him. "I''m sorry for not telling you, now are we going to get back to our training?" "But your blind." he stared at her, "Yes, you keep saying that." she rolled her eyes, "Ok here goes, its your fault if you get a split lip." She grabbed Jack around the neck and pulled him backwards placing a foot behind his legs so he could only fall onto his back helplessly, he gasped as the wind was knocked from him and Sylvie offered a hand to help him up he grabbed it and hauled himself up, then continued holding on and before Sylvie could react, smashed his fist into her chest, she leapt away upon impact and tried to hit his face, he was slower then usual upon reacting, and she got his face, he stumbled backwards, "Ow! I don''t get you." "What''s not to get?" she followed him and prepared to defend herself from the punch she anticipated, "Your accuracy is dead on even though you can''t see where I am." "That''s why you can''t be going easy on me, you''ll only get hurt. They stopped after awhile as the night cooled down and sat on the edge if a roof, Sylvie had easily taken to the life of constant looking over her shoulder again, she knew Jack wouldn''t kill her or anything, but he had caught her off guard a few times already and busted her lip, and even broke a rib once. Jack''s breathing changed a couple of times as if he was going to talk but changed his mind "ask your question." Sylvie stated, "how? is it only partial blindness? how do you act as if you can see?" "well its sort of like my mind creates an image through hearing sounds bouncing off objects -I think Stick called it echolocation- and I can feel the air move around me which shows me what''s moving around me, add that to smells and tastes in the air, its almost like I can see, only difference is that walls are almost see through to me and I can''t see colours." she shrugged, "that sounded less creepy in my head, just dismiss all I said, think of it as that I can see, I''m just colour-blind and have weird eyes." "no, its not creepy, that''s amazing, I never realised blind people saw the world like that," "thanks, I guess." she chuckled, "now don''t go and make yourself blind because of me, id never forgive myself." "I didn''t say I wanted to see the world like that, its just a neat way of seeing, though that must be exhausting for you, receiving so much information at once." "nah, I mean, it was at first, but I''ve gotten used to it now and it''d be weird not to be seeing like this.".