Read Online The Mechanics of Being Human by S. E. Campbell - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: S. E. Campbell
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on some top secret project for a security company. The invention was named Model 28. No one is sure what happened, but something made him change his mind about presenting the project to the company. Jax said something like, 'It's too dangerous to be at the hands of the human race.'" Her dad laced his fingers together. "People came to get the invention. Could have been the security company, could have been somebody else who'd heard about what Jax was doing. The group called itself Galliham and was led by a man named Ark. They were hit men. Jax wasn't home. He was on a trip to Los Angeles. Beth knew how important it was to keep Jax's invention away from them, so she fought the intruders. Jax doesn't know for sure because he wasn't there, but he found the remains of Model 28 on the floor and burned up research papers. He guessed Beth destroyed his work so the men couldn't get it, and they killed her when they found out what she'd done. Somehow Melody got caught up in the mess and she ended up dying too. Jax lost everything that day. He grew cold, distant, and honestly, neurotic. He was inconsolable until he got you."
Fawn shivered at her dad's words. Poor Jax. Who would kill a wife and child over some stupid invention? It was such a waste of life.
"That's so sad." Fawn stared at her hands. "So how did I lose my memory?"
Her parents exchanged glances again.
"An inventor not inventing is like a human not breathing," her dad said. "Some men came after Jax again when they heard he was working on Model 29. They tried to hurt you. There was a big explosion and some head trauma. Your dad brought you to me and begged me to help you. I did what I could. You regained your health but not your memory. You were in a comatose state. Nothing we could do. Jax was in despair. He realized he couldn't be around the people he loved, so he gave you to us to protect you."
"But you're telling everyone I'm your real daughter." Her eyes widened.
Her dad frowned at her somberly. "Well, we never had any kids of our own. Delanee just doesn't have the ability. Jax is smart and found ways to go beyond the law. He got you a new birth certificate, a social security number, everything . Nobody will ever know you belonged to him and that you could potentially hold the secrets of Jax's work."
"Iâ¦see." Fawn stared at her quivering hands. It all made sense now. The memories, lying on the table, the smell of grease. "And my real parents?"
"We don't know them," her dad said. "Jax doesn't know either."
Confusion and anger bubbled up to her skin like the cheese on the potatoes her mom made for dinner the night before. She gripped her chest, trying to fight down the angry, confused feelings within her. Trying to hold in the feelings was like trying to grasp fire.
"Why did you hide all of this from me?" Fawn asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" her mom said. "We care about you. And you knowing about Jax was only going to put you in danger. Nobody can know you aren't our real daughter, Fawn. Not even the neighbor boy you've taken a liking to."
She hung her head and a veil of sandy blonde hair concealed her parents from her. Sweeping agony boiled beneath her surface alongside other powerful emotions. Hurt. Rage. Confusion. Yet she knew this was not her mom and dad's fault. They were trying to protect her. The betrayal, though, was white hot. So hot it felt like lava crawled up her throat.
"Fawn?" Her dad reached over and jostled her shoulder. "We care about you, alright?"
Her mom nodded adamantly. Fawn sniffed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to sort through the mixture of responses which flashed through her mind. It would be so easy to be angry, to storm to her room and lock the door. It would be easy to leave the apartment to follow Jax too. Maybe he was close by. What was hard was swallowing all of the boiling hurt within her and choosing the good emotions she felt for her parents instead.
"Can I still call you Mom and Dad?" Fawn asked.
"Of
Fawn shivered at her dad's words. Poor Jax. Who would kill a wife and child over some stupid invention? It was such a waste of life.
"That's so sad." Fawn stared at her hands. "So how did I lose my memory?"
Her parents exchanged glances again.
"An inventor not inventing is like a human not breathing," her dad said. "Some men came after Jax again when they heard he was working on Model 29. They tried to hurt you. There was a big explosion and some head trauma. Your dad brought you to me and begged me to help you. I did what I could. You regained your health but not your memory. You were in a comatose state. Nothing we could do. Jax was in despair. He realized he couldn't be around the people he loved, so he gave you to us to protect you."
"But you're telling everyone I'm your real daughter." Her eyes widened.
Her dad frowned at her somberly. "Well, we never had any kids of our own. Delanee just doesn't have the ability. Jax is smart and found ways to go beyond the law. He got you a new birth certificate, a social security number, everything . Nobody will ever know you belonged to him and that you could potentially hold the secrets of Jax's work."
"Iâ¦see." Fawn stared at her quivering hands. It all made sense now. The memories, lying on the table, the smell of grease. "And my real parents?"
"We don't know them," her dad said. "Jax doesn't know either."
Confusion and anger bubbled up to her skin like the cheese on the potatoes her mom made for dinner the night before. She gripped her chest, trying to fight down the angry, confused feelings within her. Trying to hold in the feelings was like trying to grasp fire.
"Why did you hide all of this from me?" Fawn asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" her mom said. "We care about you. And you knowing about Jax was only going to put you in danger. Nobody can know you aren't our real daughter, Fawn. Not even the neighbor boy you've taken a liking to."
She hung her head and a veil of sandy blonde hair concealed her parents from her. Sweeping agony boiled beneath her surface alongside other powerful emotions. Hurt. Rage. Confusion. Yet she knew this was not her mom and dad's fault. They were trying to protect her. The betrayal, though, was white hot. So hot it felt like lava crawled up her throat.
"Fawn?" Her dad reached over and jostled her shoulder. "We care about you, alright?"
Her mom nodded adamantly. Fawn sniffed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to sort through the mixture of responses which flashed through her mind. It would be so easy to be angry, to storm to her room and lock the door. It would be easy to leave the apartment to follow Jax too. Maybe he was close by. What was hard was swallowing all of the boiling hurt within her and choosing the good emotions she felt for her parents instead.
"Can I still call you Mom and Dad?" Fawn asked.
"Of
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