Chapter 2

“Mr. and Mrs. Mclain, your son has been through an overwhelmingly traumatizing experience, he is in no shape to start school yet.” Alex listened through the door of the psychiatrist’s office, “I strongly recommend you take him on a second shorter vacation trip to help him battle his PTSD, if not, then he may never fully recover. I would advise the Same for Sam, Mr. Miller” Alex motioned for Sam to come forward and listen, the psychiatrist, Dr. Milton, was addressing his father now.

It had been three weeks since the plane accident. At the ER, doctors reported that not a single scratch or bruise was found on his body, despite him sitting so close to the front, right behind the first class. Sam listened intently, his face morphing into a new expression every few seconds. His eyes widened suddenly and he leaped away from the door, “They’re wrapping up!” he mouthed to Alex, and they both made a hasty dash down the hall to the waiting lobby, each barely getting to a chair before their parents emerged, they had gotten over the awkwardness of both living in Ballard, Seattle.

Alex’s mother greeted him with a reassuring smile, “C’mon, honey, let’s go home.” She spoke to him as if he was some super sensitive Don’t-Be-Mean- To-Me-Or-I’ll-Shatter kind of kid, it annoyed him to no end, “Do you think we should stop over at McDonald’s, Harold?” She asked Alex’s father. “Of course, Sara, anything to make our super-sensitive, losing-to-PTSD, severely traumatized, mentally disturbed son happy!” Alex stared at his father, Did you really just say that?
They parted with the Millers and got into their sedan. The drive home was silent, Alex had decided not to go to McDonald’s after all. Getting home, Alex immediately slumped onto the bed, “Alex,” His mother called from downstairs, “Do you want to sleep? If so, then I’m gonna cancel the plans for this afternoon.”

“Do what you want, Mom.” Alex called from the bed, “Just don’t include me.” He was already worn out for the day.

Waking up, Alex immediately went to the bathroom. He stared at himself in the mirror, though he was still battling PTSD, he no longer experienced nightmares. Because of this, he looked a lot better and… More muscular? Yes, Alex realized, he didn’t really do any exercise since the incident, and yet he looked at himself and he looked fit. Congrats, you’re one step above being an eggshell.

Alex rubbed at the radial artery underneath his wrist. It had been a habit of his since the incident, mainly because it felt numb all the time. He was curious at first, but then he gave up after scratching it on several instances. This time, he scratched until his nails hurt, there was barely any feeling where he scratched it. Alex persisted and… 

Bingo!

What…? 

He saw his skin tear off but underneath, he saw… Is that metal? Yes, it was metal. The metal was warm beneath Alex’s fingers, it was also very sensitive and seemed to shift with ease, like the rest of his body. The metallic “Flesh” had a dark matte sheen to it. The skin around the metallic flesh was also extra sensitive, but colder than normal.

It was amazing how much information Alex could gather in less than a second because he leaped back and hit the wall in terror. He didn’t let that deter him and he ran down the stairs three at a time and hit the ground running, making the floor shake around him as he tore through the hallway at literally inhuman speeds. “Mom! Dad!” He shouted as he threw open his parents’ door, “The-my wrist!” He stammered shakily, “It’s-it’s… My skin! Something… It’s numb and…” Alex showed them his wrist, fully expecting them to see the exposed metal, but it was just normal skin. “What? It was-It was here just a minute ago!”

Sara was first to get up from the bed in which she and Harold were seated, concern was evident on her face. “Now, Alex, you must have had a nightmare, let me tuck you back in.” She said as she escorted him out of the room, “I’m sure you’ll sleep well this time.”

“B-but, it was here a moment ago!” Alex protested, “It was here!” Sara hauled him onto his bed and pulled the blanket snugly over his shoulders, she left the room without a word.

Alex whimpered in bed, what is happening to me? Am I insane? Am I inhuman? Thoughts swam around in his head, chipping away at his ability to think. Suddenly, the memory of the green light, the dark cave, the loud buzzing, and the iron pole came into mind. What is that thing? It’s still inside me! Alex drifted off thinking these thoughts. He didn’t dream of anything, inky blackness obscured his vision. There were only words: Who am I? Where am I? Why am I here?