Unstuck
Authors Note:
I have 7 Chapters finished, will post them 1 at a time so I can see what someone else thinks. Are there continuity issues? (Namely flopping from past to present.) Things that don't make sense (some of those things will tie together in later chapters.) I would rather have constructive suggestions rather than the basic "I like it" or "you suck" I'd like you to tell me why. Also, I have no beta reader and characters are OFC. Also, while I typically write and read femslash, this is a het story with a male lead character. There is no sex (at least in the first 7 chapters) and violence is menial. Would rate at a T for now. Hope you find it interesting.
CHAPTER 1
A young man woke up in a makeshift cot in an unfamiliar room. There were tubes and cables and IV’s attached to him. His head was pounding in a way he never felt before and he was still a little groggy. He tried to remember what happened to him but all that came to mind was NMD 14, the acronym for Non-Militarized Districts. The man had heard of the place but had never before left a Corporate Owned Land.
Then again, he had suffered head trauma. The man knew that there were NMD‘s and COL‘s and he knew he had been from a COL but he wasn‘t sure which one There were, after all, 12 of them. As he was trying to separate his dreams from reality, a nurse came into check on him. She asked him questions like the year, his name, where he worked, but he couldn’t remember. He could answer simple things, like how many fingers she held up, but his memories were scrambled. The nurse assures him that amnesia is common after waking up from a coma but it will take a little while to remember.
“It will probably,” the nurse said, “come back in pieces.” She told the man she was going to get the doctor and would be right back. The man looked at the medical chart on the wall opposite his bed. They were calling him John Doe.
The doctor came in a short time later asking for another CT scan. “What’s your name,” the blond and overweight doctor asked him. The recent coma patient thought about it for a little while and decided on John. He told the doctor it was the tag on his chart and that he really just didn’t know his own name.
Three hours later, John had taken a CT scan, an EKG, three blood tests and a urine sample. He was taken back to his ICU room, more exhausted and sore that when he first woke up.
He must have slept along time, John mused. It was the middle of the day when he woke up but when he looked out the window the sky was a violet color as the sun started to descend.
He was lost in thought when there was a knock at the door. John flinched at the sound. The door was half open anyways, so he could immediately see the man working his way in. The guy was huge, maybe 250 pounds and 6’4. He wore thick rimmed glasses that were taped together on one side. His face was unkempt with an obvious lack of hygiene that made John feel like throwing up.
“Do you remember who I am?” asked the grungy man. John shook his head softly.
“Do you remember who you are?” The man’s eyebrows furled at the silence. “I’m Arturo Fakel…your partner? Our team is the Primary Control Panel? To keep magic out of the hands of…”
“Wait, what about magic? We are in America, right? The only magic here is David Copperfield and that Angel guy,” John sputtered. He would have laughed at the ridiculous notion of magic if he didn’t hurt so bad.
Ari looked at John, confused. “David Copperfield? The tattoo artist in COL 4? That’s the only Copperfield I’ve heard of, and he goes by Penny. And angels? Like hand of God kind of Angels? There are myths but I’ve never actually seen one.”
This time it was John who was confused. “I don’t think we’re on the same page here. You said we’re partners? Once I get out of this place you’ll have to show me what you’re talking about. I have no proof of my ideas, just two months of nothing but dreams.”
Ari agreed just as the nurse walked in the room. “It’s getting late, sir,” stated the nurse, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave so he can get some rest. He’s had a rough couple of months.”
Ari agreed wholeheartedly, he wanted what was best for his closest friend and was just happy to know that he had made it out of that coma. Ari tossed a coin purse filled with chocolates toward his friend, who caught the bag with his left hand.
“They’re your favorite Kelton, have some tonight and maybe you’ll remember who put you here. I want his ass in for attempted murder. But I know you must be feeling kind of strange still so I’ll let you sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow.” And with that, Ari walked out the door so that the nurse could run some more diagnostics.
Two weeks after waking up from a coma, Kelton was feeling much better. The doctors agreed to release him as he was healing rather quickly. As he was waiting outside for a taxi, he lit up a cigarette, his first one in months, and began to ponder his name. Was it his last name or his first name? He needed to talk to Ari but he hadn’t heard from him since the day Kelton came to, even though he promised to call. He must be really busy, Kelton told himself.
Instead of a taxi, Ari drove up in a tore up ‘57 Chevy. It was dark green with more rust on the body than paint. It reminded Kelton of Christmas- the trees, the decorations, the cookies- but he couldn’t remember anything specific.
Ari pulled up to the curb by Kelton, the lack of a muffler ensured that almost everyone in the district could hear them. Kelton didn’t care, he just wanted to get away from the bleach smell and light green tiles. He took one last drag off his cigarette and tossed it to the side as he climbed into the hazard trap that was Ari’s car.
“Have you remembered anything yet,” Ari asked, pulling into a fast food restaurant.
Kelton sighed, “not really, but I do have a question for you.” Kelton didn’t wait for a response to launch directly into the question. “Kelton. Is it my last name or my first name?” He’s anxious about the answer, although he isn’t sure why. He looks down at the floorboard as he picks at some of the loose threads in the seat.
Ari just smiled. “Does it matter?”
Kelton rolled his eyes, not used to the constant teasing from his partner after two months of not hearing it. “It does, actually, for me anyways. I want to know who I am.” He switched his gaze to the scenery outside the window, but continues his nervous habit of picking at the seats.
“Neither,” Ari said. “I mean, it’s your last name as far as anyone is aware. The name you were given at the Academy was Siran Kelton. I graduated about 10 years before you, so I’m not sure what your name used to be.”
Kelton found this interesting. He never went to an Academy. He was pretty sure anyways, the memories were still a jumbled mess but there was not one related to his name or an Academy. He was, however, quite curious. “So what name did the Academy give you and what was it before?”
Ari was a little unsure at first. He and Kelton never really had discussions like this, even in the whole two years they worked together. Ultimately, Ari decided on the truth because it might help Kelton get his memory back. “My birth name,” Ari started, “was Brett Dashir, the Academy gave me the name Arturo Fakel.
Ari made his way around the drive through and started heading south, driving and eating at the same time. “I’ll bet you’re wondering where we’re going right now, aren’t you?” Kelton nods his head slightly. “Well you’re just going to have to find out when we get there.”
The two pulled into the parking lot of an old bar with several motorcycles and a couple trucks. Ari opened his door and waited for Kelton to follow suit. Ari walked into the place. It smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap booze.
They approached a booth where four people were sitting- three rather intimidating men, probably bikers, and a thin blonde woman, perhaps in her late 20’s. “Fellas…” Ari says slowly but it sounds like a warning. The three bikers at the table quickly finish their drinks and vacate. They don’t actually go anywhere though, they just kind of ceased to exist. It was an odd experience for Kelton to see, even with the fresh in his mind concept that magic is real.
The woman sat back against the wall, a foot propped up on the bench she’s on, as if to say that the seat was taken. Ari paid no attention and sat on the bench across the table. He motioned for Kelton to sit next to him, so he did.
It was obvious that the two knew one another. Ari commented on her hair, which is long and blonde, mostly. They ends were black. Kelton thought it looked nice but kept his thoughts to himself.
There was silence for a few moments and the woman fidgeted in her seat. “What do you want Arturo?” The venom in her voice was clear. Kelton seemed a bit uncomfortable but Ari just sat back and laughed. His curled hair bounces and his belly jiggled from the full-bodied laugh. It was clear from the lines in his face that he didn’t smile enough, let alone laugh.
“You,” Ari retorted. He was against the wall, with Kelton in the aisle seat. Ari’s body language indicated that he wanted Kelton to let him up. Kelton stood and the woman snorted, trying to avoid laughing, she had nothing to say anyways, she thought.
Ari was gone. In his place stood a woman, tall, with long, straight red hair. She looks to Kelton like she was glowing, faintly and very subtle, but glowing nonetheless. The red head approached the blonde in the seat. She smiled seductively and whispered in her ear. The blonde gasped audibly in response. Red ran her hands down the other woman’s curves, moving down, slowly and it was obvious where those hands intended to go. Just before Red’s hands would reach the blonde woman’s center, the blonde grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and pushed Red to the floor.
The entire scene happened rather quickly. One moment Ari was standing next to me; the next there was a random red headed woman on the floor with hands around her throat. Even with the blonde straddling and choking her, Red looked up into the woman’s eyes and smiles. The blonde made a sound in the back of her throat, a mix between a grunt and a growl. She released Red’s throat and started to back away, but hesitated. It was a fraction of a second of thought before the blonde kicked her in the side and stalked back to her seat, frowning. Red sat on the floor and laughed.
“You’re a prick, Arturo, I hate you,” the blonde woman said, still pouting and making the red head laugh more. Red stood up and before she could reach the table she turned back into Ari. There was no fancy transformation like in the movies, it just happened as though there was no red headed woman to begin with.
“Oh come on, love, you don’t have to be that way,” Ari grinned and instead of moving back to his seat, he went up to the bar. As he started to speak to the bartender, the blonde directs a force-ten glare in Keltons direction.
“And you are…” the woman said to Kelton, expecting him to finish the sentence. He didn’t. Instead he fished around in his pockets and found a badge. It read ‘Seran A. Kelton’ and had a picture. It was obvious that it was Kelton’s picture but when it was taken, he had so much more. He lost a lot of weight in the coma, he was a much whiter shade of pale. Looking at it was making him nauseous. He had dark hair and dark eyes that seemed to glow; after the coma they just looked sunken and exhausted.
Kelton pushed his badge on the table and slid it toward the woman across from him. She inspected it like it’s made of real gold and before I could ask her name Arturo came back to the booth. He had three plastic see through cups filled half way with a milky green liquid that sloshes a bit on the table when Ari sets them down.
Kelton blinked at his abruptness, having lost that moment entirely, as the woman began to focus her attention on Ari. He paid no mind to the fact that Kelton was very obviously uncomfortable. Instead, he swatted his hands in front of me towards the wall, signaling for me Kelton to scoot over. He complies.
Ari passed a drink to the woman, then one to Kelton. The drink smells strongly of black licorice and alcohol. Absinthe, Kelton would assume. Ari held his glass up for just a moment, an air toast, before he downs the drink in one shot. Kelton looked at his own glass. He brought it to his nose and lightly inhaled. Kelton decided right then that he didn’t like black licorice.
Before he managed to drink it, he looked at the woman across from him. Her drink was gone and she was looking at me and smirking as if to dare him to drink it. He sniffed at the liquid once more, for only a short moment before tilting his head back and pour the contents down my throat. Kelton tried to ignore the taste but his body cringed anyways. The liquor was strong. It tasted more of molten metal than of licorice. The woman with us laughed. I glared at her and laughed even harder. Louder.
Kelton came to the realization that everything is louder. He could hear all of the patrons more clearly, distinguish every voice and every word. “It’s an amplifier Kilton,” whispered the voice that belonged to Ari. “Helo fixed it up for us.”
In his confusion, the only response Kelton managed to choke out was a strangled “Helo?” Ari’s eyebrows furrowed and he frowned for many moments before finally speaking. “Helo…” he pauses. The words came out slow, as if he was trying to guide Kelton to the memory. “The bartender.” Still nothing from Kelton. “Our Listener.”
Kelton nodded once, slowly, in agreement but clearly still not comprehending. Arturo rolled his eyes and leaned towards him. “Good God,” he muttered. He got close to my ear and in a harsh whisper told me, “our fucking informant, dude, I thought you said you were ready to come back to work?”
“I’ve got it, sorry,” Kelton says, hoping his lack of an excuse will help. Ari and the blonde start a business related conversation and Kelton has no idea what to do. He didn’t understand anything they were talking about. Kelton shrugs his shoulders and looks at the woman again. She was very pretty, he thought. She was looking at Ari though, not at him. They were speaking in soft whispers of things that made no sense, so Kelton takes the opportunity to gaze around the bar.
After about 20 minutes into their conversation, the woman stands up to leave. Before he had the chance to ask her name she was gone. Ari looked at Kelton as though he needed an inspection. “We have a job,” he stated. “In Los Angeles. Are you going to be up for this?”
While Kelton thought it was a nice gesture to offer him recovery time, he really just wanted to get to work. Anything to not be home alone with no idea of what’s going on. As they went to part ways, Ari says behind him, “don’t forget to practice your abilities. We’re going to need them where we’re going. Before Kelton could even respond, Arturo had shifted into an eagle and was only a speck in Kelton's vision.
I have 7 Chapters finished, will post them 1 at a time so I can see what someone else thinks. Are there continuity issues? (Namely flopping from past to present.) Things that don't make sense (some of those things will tie together in later chapters.) I would rather have constructive suggestions rather than the basic "I like it" or "you suck" I'd like you to tell me why. Also, I have no beta reader and characters are OFC. Also, while I typically write and read femslash, this is a het story with a male lead character. There is no sex (at least in the first 7 chapters) and violence is menial. Would rate at a T for now. Hope you find it interesting.
CHAPTER 1
A young man woke up in a makeshift cot in an unfamiliar room. There were tubes and cables and IV’s attached to him. His head was pounding in a way he never felt before and he was still a little groggy. He tried to remember what happened to him but all that came to mind was NMD 14, the acronym for Non-Militarized Districts. The man had heard of the place but had never before left a Corporate Owned Land.
Then again, he had suffered head trauma. The man knew that there were NMD‘s and COL‘s and he knew he had been from a COL but he wasn‘t sure which one There were, after all, 12 of them. As he was trying to separate his dreams from reality, a nurse came into check on him. She asked him questions like the year, his name, where he worked, but he couldn’t remember. He could answer simple things, like how many fingers she held up, but his memories were scrambled. The nurse assures him that amnesia is common after waking up from a coma but it will take a little while to remember.
“It will probably,” the nurse said, “come back in pieces.” She told the man she was going to get the doctor and would be right back. The man looked at the medical chart on the wall opposite his bed. They were calling him John Doe.
The doctor came in a short time later asking for another CT scan. “What’s your name,” the blond and overweight doctor asked him. The recent coma patient thought about it for a little while and decided on John. He told the doctor it was the tag on his chart and that he really just didn’t know his own name.
Three hours later, John had taken a CT scan, an EKG, three blood tests and a urine sample. He was taken back to his ICU room, more exhausted and sore that when he first woke up.
He must have slept along time, John mused. It was the middle of the day when he woke up but when he looked out the window the sky was a violet color as the sun started to descend.
He was lost in thought when there was a knock at the door. John flinched at the sound. The door was half open anyways, so he could immediately see the man working his way in. The guy was huge, maybe 250 pounds and 6’4. He wore thick rimmed glasses that were taped together on one side. His face was unkempt with an obvious lack of hygiene that made John feel like throwing up.
“Do you remember who I am?” asked the grungy man. John shook his head softly.
“Do you remember who you are?” The man’s eyebrows furled at the silence. “I’m Arturo Fakel…your partner? Our team is the Primary Control Panel? To keep magic out of the hands of…”
“Wait, what about magic? We are in America, right? The only magic here is David Copperfield and that Angel guy,” John sputtered. He would have laughed at the ridiculous notion of magic if he didn’t hurt so bad.
Ari looked at John, confused. “David Copperfield? The tattoo artist in COL 4? That’s the only Copperfield I’ve heard of, and he goes by Penny. And angels? Like hand of God kind of Angels? There are myths but I’ve never actually seen one.”
This time it was John who was confused. “I don’t think we’re on the same page here. You said we’re partners? Once I get out of this place you’ll have to show me what you’re talking about. I have no proof of my ideas, just two months of nothing but dreams.”
Ari agreed just as the nurse walked in the room. “It’s getting late, sir,” stated the nurse, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave so he can get some rest. He’s had a rough couple of months.”
Ari agreed wholeheartedly, he wanted what was best for his closest friend and was just happy to know that he had made it out of that coma. Ari tossed a coin purse filled with chocolates toward his friend, who caught the bag with his left hand.
“They’re your favorite Kelton, have some tonight and maybe you’ll remember who put you here. I want his ass in for attempted murder. But I know you must be feeling kind of strange still so I’ll let you sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow.” And with that, Ari walked out the door so that the nurse could run some more diagnostics.
Two weeks after waking up from a coma, Kelton was feeling much better. The doctors agreed to release him as he was healing rather quickly. As he was waiting outside for a taxi, he lit up a cigarette, his first one in months, and began to ponder his name. Was it his last name or his first name? He needed to talk to Ari but he hadn’t heard from him since the day Kelton came to, even though he promised to call. He must be really busy, Kelton told himself.
Instead of a taxi, Ari drove up in a tore up ‘57 Chevy. It was dark green with more rust on the body than paint. It reminded Kelton of Christmas- the trees, the decorations, the cookies- but he couldn’t remember anything specific.
Ari pulled up to the curb by Kelton, the lack of a muffler ensured that almost everyone in the district could hear them. Kelton didn’t care, he just wanted to get away from the bleach smell and light green tiles. He took one last drag off his cigarette and tossed it to the side as he climbed into the hazard trap that was Ari’s car.
“Have you remembered anything yet,” Ari asked, pulling into a fast food restaurant.
Kelton sighed, “not really, but I do have a question for you.” Kelton didn’t wait for a response to launch directly into the question. “Kelton. Is it my last name or my first name?” He’s anxious about the answer, although he isn’t sure why. He looks down at the floorboard as he picks at some of the loose threads in the seat.
Ari just smiled. “Does it matter?”
Kelton rolled his eyes, not used to the constant teasing from his partner after two months of not hearing it. “It does, actually, for me anyways. I want to know who I am.” He switched his gaze to the scenery outside the window, but continues his nervous habit of picking at the seats.
“Neither,” Ari said. “I mean, it’s your last name as far as anyone is aware. The name you were given at the Academy was Siran Kelton. I graduated about 10 years before you, so I’m not sure what your name used to be.”
Kelton found this interesting. He never went to an Academy. He was pretty sure anyways, the memories were still a jumbled mess but there was not one related to his name or an Academy. He was, however, quite curious. “So what name did the Academy give you and what was it before?”
Ari was a little unsure at first. He and Kelton never really had discussions like this, even in the whole two years they worked together. Ultimately, Ari decided on the truth because it might help Kelton get his memory back. “My birth name,” Ari started, “was Brett Dashir, the Academy gave me the name Arturo Fakel.
Ari made his way around the drive through and started heading south, driving and eating at the same time. “I’ll bet you’re wondering where we’re going right now, aren’t you?” Kelton nods his head slightly. “Well you’re just going to have to find out when we get there.”
The two pulled into the parking lot of an old bar with several motorcycles and a couple trucks. Ari opened his door and waited for Kelton to follow suit. Ari walked into the place. It smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap booze.
They approached a booth where four people were sitting- three rather intimidating men, probably bikers, and a thin blonde woman, perhaps in her late 20’s. “Fellas…” Ari says slowly but it sounds like a warning. The three bikers at the table quickly finish their drinks and vacate. They don’t actually go anywhere though, they just kind of ceased to exist. It was an odd experience for Kelton to see, even with the fresh in his mind concept that magic is real.
The woman sat back against the wall, a foot propped up on the bench she’s on, as if to say that the seat was taken. Ari paid no attention and sat on the bench across the table. He motioned for Kelton to sit next to him, so he did.
It was obvious that the two knew one another. Ari commented on her hair, which is long and blonde, mostly. They ends were black. Kelton thought it looked nice but kept his thoughts to himself.
There was silence for a few moments and the woman fidgeted in her seat. “What do you want Arturo?” The venom in her voice was clear. Kelton seemed a bit uncomfortable but Ari just sat back and laughed. His curled hair bounces and his belly jiggled from the full-bodied laugh. It was clear from the lines in his face that he didn’t smile enough, let alone laugh.
“You,” Ari retorted. He was against the wall, with Kelton in the aisle seat. Ari’s body language indicated that he wanted Kelton to let him up. Kelton stood and the woman snorted, trying to avoid laughing, she had nothing to say anyways, she thought.
Ari was gone. In his place stood a woman, tall, with long, straight red hair. She looks to Kelton like she was glowing, faintly and very subtle, but glowing nonetheless. The red head approached the blonde in the seat. She smiled seductively and whispered in her ear. The blonde gasped audibly in response. Red ran her hands down the other woman’s curves, moving down, slowly and it was obvious where those hands intended to go. Just before Red’s hands would reach the blonde woman’s center, the blonde grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and pushed Red to the floor.
The entire scene happened rather quickly. One moment Ari was standing next to me; the next there was a random red headed woman on the floor with hands around her throat. Even with the blonde straddling and choking her, Red looked up into the woman’s eyes and smiles. The blonde made a sound in the back of her throat, a mix between a grunt and a growl. She released Red’s throat and started to back away, but hesitated. It was a fraction of a second of thought before the blonde kicked her in the side and stalked back to her seat, frowning. Red sat on the floor and laughed.
“You’re a prick, Arturo, I hate you,” the blonde woman said, still pouting and making the red head laugh more. Red stood up and before she could reach the table she turned back into Ari. There was no fancy transformation like in the movies, it just happened as though there was no red headed woman to begin with.
“Oh come on, love, you don’t have to be that way,” Ari grinned and instead of moving back to his seat, he went up to the bar. As he started to speak to the bartender, the blonde directs a force-ten glare in Keltons direction.
“And you are…” the woman said to Kelton, expecting him to finish the sentence. He didn’t. Instead he fished around in his pockets and found a badge. It read ‘Seran A. Kelton’ and had a picture. It was obvious that it was Kelton’s picture but when it was taken, he had so much more. He lost a lot of weight in the coma, he was a much whiter shade of pale. Looking at it was making him nauseous. He had dark hair and dark eyes that seemed to glow; after the coma they just looked sunken and exhausted.
Kelton pushed his badge on the table and slid it toward the woman across from him. She inspected it like it’s made of real gold and before I could ask her name Arturo came back to the booth. He had three plastic see through cups filled half way with a milky green liquid that sloshes a bit on the table when Ari sets them down.
Kelton blinked at his abruptness, having lost that moment entirely, as the woman began to focus her attention on Ari. He paid no mind to the fact that Kelton was very obviously uncomfortable. Instead, he swatted his hands in front of me towards the wall, signaling for me Kelton to scoot over. He complies.
Ari passed a drink to the woman, then one to Kelton. The drink smells strongly of black licorice and alcohol. Absinthe, Kelton would assume. Ari held his glass up for just a moment, an air toast, before he downs the drink in one shot. Kelton looked at his own glass. He brought it to his nose and lightly inhaled. Kelton decided right then that he didn’t like black licorice.
Before he managed to drink it, he looked at the woman across from him. Her drink was gone and she was looking at me and smirking as if to dare him to drink it. He sniffed at the liquid once more, for only a short moment before tilting his head back and pour the contents down my throat. Kelton tried to ignore the taste but his body cringed anyways. The liquor was strong. It tasted more of molten metal than of licorice. The woman with us laughed. I glared at her and laughed even harder. Louder.
Kelton came to the realization that everything is louder. He could hear all of the patrons more clearly, distinguish every voice and every word. “It’s an amplifier Kilton,” whispered the voice that belonged to Ari. “Helo fixed it up for us.”
In his confusion, the only response Kelton managed to choke out was a strangled “Helo?” Ari’s eyebrows furrowed and he frowned for many moments before finally speaking. “Helo…” he pauses. The words came out slow, as if he was trying to guide Kelton to the memory. “The bartender.” Still nothing from Kelton. “Our Listener.”
Kelton nodded once, slowly, in agreement but clearly still not comprehending. Arturo rolled his eyes and leaned towards him. “Good God,” he muttered. He got close to my ear and in a harsh whisper told me, “our fucking informant, dude, I thought you said you were ready to come back to work?”
“I’ve got it, sorry,” Kelton says, hoping his lack of an excuse will help. Ari and the blonde start a business related conversation and Kelton has no idea what to do. He didn’t understand anything they were talking about. Kelton shrugs his shoulders and looks at the woman again. She was very pretty, he thought. She was looking at Ari though, not at him. They were speaking in soft whispers of things that made no sense, so Kelton takes the opportunity to gaze around the bar.
After about 20 minutes into their conversation, the woman stands up to leave. Before he had the chance to ask her name she was gone. Ari looked at Kelton as though he needed an inspection. “We have a job,” he stated. “In Los Angeles. Are you going to be up for this?”
While Kelton thought it was a nice gesture to offer him recovery time, he really just wanted to get to work. Anything to not be home alone with no idea of what’s going on. As they went to part ways, Ari says behind him, “don’t forget to practice your abilities. We’re going to need them where we’re going. Before Kelton could even respond, Arturo had shifted into an eagle and was only a speck in Kelton's vision.