#alternate5

Keith, Alternate5, page 128

Alyx was the one that had a horrible life and did what she had to to shelter herself from the pain, and then Kyle blundered into her life and helped her to be vulnerable and learn to love again.

But in the process, they've switched types. Alyx learned to let go of her anger and learn how to be a better person. Kyle, distraught over his sister and suddenly being pushed into a world where his alter-ego has killed nearly everyone alive, has started harboring anger more and more as the story progresses.

It's Kyle's fault. But he doesn't know better. Alyx is the one that learns how to deal with her anger. Kyle was so laid back and chill in his natural life and then his world is turned upside down and he has all this survivor's guilt because he knows that he has the potential to become what Jason is now and he feels like he's somehow at fault and he doesn't know how to say that.

I looked over at Alyx, her dark red hair in a messy bun just like I remembered seeing it for the first time. She was sitting in the grass on the hill, watching the sunset. I reached out and took her hand in mine and felt a reassuring squeeze.

I squeezed back and looked at the sunset. Magnificent colors of orange and purple and blue painted the horizon and made even more special by the fact that the sky wasn't tinted strange colors. We were home, and together without any bleeding, without any fighting, without any carnage or gore or the pressure of battle around us. Kara was babysitting Jared at the playground nearby while Maegan finished classes.

"I never imagined a world like this," Alyx said quietly. I looked at her and smiled.

"What do you mean?"

"There are so many people, all around us. Living. Breathing. Hoping and dreaming and thinking with little fear to be found. Your world still has issues, but at least the large percent of the population isn't dead."

She looked at me and smiled. "I'm glad we're here. I'm glad we made it."

I grinned back and looked at her beautiful green eyes. "So am I. We did it. We won."

I sat up and wiped grass off my jeans with my free hand while Kara approached with a grumpy-looking Jared holding her hand. Alyx stood up and let go of my hand to brush herself off while a wind from the north brushed her hair into her face.

"It's getting windy and Jared apparently didn't eat lunch," Kara said. Jared frowned grumpily and crossed his arms. I laughed and looked at the sky to the north; large dark clouds were drawing close and seemed to be bringing rain.

"Yeah, we should probably go," Alyx agreed. I walked with the three of them to the sedan parked in the parking lot and opened the door for Jared. He wasn't allowed to use his telekinetic powers in public because it would draw too much attention. Especially when everyone carried around a cellphone that could record high-definition videos.

Jared hopped in and put his seatbelt on. I sat down beside him, Kara got into the driver's seat, and Alyx sat down in the passenger's seat. The car started up smoothly and we started the drive home.

Thunder cracked above us and I was unpleasantly reminded of the time I was stabbed with a phyriim conduit while flying in a dropship with Alyx and a squad of marines.

We arrived home after a short drive--the park was only two streets away--and all exited it. Meagan, Kara, and I had decided to pursue the local college. Kara had introduced herself as my cousin, although we all knew that that wouldn't hold up for long. Dad was working with a few friends of his to come up with a feasible cover story for her.

Kara parked the car and turned it off and quickly exited the vehicle. She was probably heading for the kitchen; since getting back a month ago, she ate more than anyone else. I figured it was because of being in stasis for so much of her life. Jared unclipped his seatbelt and opened the door without moving his arms and then hopped out of the car. I rolled my eyes and followed him out, closing the door behind me. Alyx got out of the car and walked around it to end up at my side, and somehow our hands found each other.

We walked inside and headed for the couch, where we sat down together and cuddled. Jared turned on the TV and started watching the Discovery channel, which had quickly become his favorite.

I felt Alyx's heartbeat and knew she could feel mine. Once again, a feeling of peace and happiness settled over me. My life had changed radically over the past year, and I really wouldn't want to go through it again, but I was grateful for everything I learned.

Alyx kissed my cheek and I blushed.

Why does she have to die? Why can't she survive in his universe? He survived in hers; why not the other way around? She can survive, she can adapt. She's strong enough and he's patient enough.

I sighed as I sat down on the bed and the small voice in the back of my head started talking again.

He doesn't love you back.

I scowled and ignored the voice. Of course he did. The way he looked at me told me a lot. I ran my hands through his hair—something I'd been wanting to do for a while—and enjoyed the feeling until I saw him looking at me. I froze and looked at my hand, still tangled in his hair.

Pain, love, heartbreak, death, revenge, betrayal, and lots more death.

Fraternal twins are mysteriously transported into an alternate universe where they've managed to annihilate nearly every human being through the use of genetic manipulation.

An alternate universe where humanity is on the brink of destruction and there's some romance and a lot of death.