Temple_GD_

[REND] 17.1 - Steering Into Trouble

Amber Deen Leska

Amber Deen rolled her shoulders. The gnawing pain below her left shoulder blade bloomed. She thought she’d never experience this again after becoming superhuman, but here it was. This might be psychological; otherwise, her regeneration would’ve taken care of it. She might be unconsciously tensing her body. She had super healing capabilities, but also possessed super strength that could harm herself.

She had no choice other than to endure it. I...

[REND] 16.2 - Fun Alone Time

Deen and I looked at each other. We were prepared for this question. Deen answered, “No, not yet. We… were concerned about their effects and wanted to talk to you first.”

This was a reasonable enough reason. Admitting that we didn’t trust the pills was a no-no. Lying that we took them was risky. We had to find out if Dario had a way to test whether we had taken them.

“There’s no need to worry,” Dario said. “I’m sure Myra has explained to you that they accelerate ...

[REND] 16.1 - Fun Alone Time

“Are we seriously going to barbecue me?” I asked while sitting in front of the fireplace.

We were back at Deen’s rented house at Poblacion Verde Hills, debating how to dispose of the bits of crushed fingers I shed during practice. I thought of just chucking them into the garbage. Anyone finding them would assume they were pieces of meat trimmings. But Deen wanted to do something first.

“More than barbecuing your fingers,” Deen said, looking for the remote control for the...

[REND] 15.4 - Besties Together, Strong

“Weeee…” I said in a deadpan tone as the car went round and round the circular ramps leading to the higher parking levels. “This is why I don’t like driving a car—looking for a place to park is such a hassle. I didn’t expect Sanders Mall to be already packed at this time.”

“People are getting off work.” Deen expertly drove her car up the spiral. If it were me driving, I would’ve crashed already. “The employees from the buildings around us funnel to the mall to ea...

ExD - 5.23.24

“Sisters?” My mind ground to a halt, shocked by the insanity of what Deen was suggesting. Or maybe I understood it wrongly. “What do you mea

“Sisters?” My mind ground to a halt, shocked by the insanity of what Deen was suggesting. Or maybe I understood it wrongly. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, hoping that Deen had a shred of decency left.

“Sisters. Sister play,” she said as if it was the most logical thing in the world. “I can be the older one or the you...

ExD - 5.23.23

(Author’s Notes: This chapter and the next one are ExD chapters. We’ll have a REND chapter tomorrow, as per our usual schedule.)

“Your turn?” I repeated, rolling my eyes. “You mean my turn to do… stuff… to you?”

Deen nodded. “You’ve had your fun. I made sure that you’ve had your fun. Now, it’s my turn to have fun.” She patted the bed. “Come over. Fun, fun, fun.”

“Wow, so you did all that expecting something in return?” I was just messing wit...

[REND] 15.3 - Besties Together, Strong

Moving with punctured innards during the Adumbrae attack was one thing. The drive to survive—hey, that rhymed—plus the adrenaline rush would also allow others to do what I had done. Stories about surviving the craziest situations were plentiful. Might even consider it hysterical strength. Having experienced it before could be why I had an easy time achieving hysterical strength now.

But I was certain that other people couldn’t do what I did when I returned to my condo aft...

ExD - 5.23.22

(Author’s Notes: To new readers, this is not a REND chapter. This is an ExD chapter, a spin-off of the original REND, set in a universe where Erind and Deen got together. If you’re interested in this premise, it’s best to read from the beginning of this collection, available here, to understand what’s going on. It has a lot of content.)

I made sure to cover Deen with the blanket. This was a stupid idea, I just realized. If Mom came over, there was no way to explain what was goin...

[REND] 15.2 - Besties Together, Strong

I held my hand close to my chest. It was trembling—my hand. Also, my chest. Only now did I notice my harried breathing.

“W-why did you stop me?” I blurted as my mind booted back up. My surroundings gradually registered in my brain. I couldn’t tell how much time had passed. Only one thing was in focus—punch and punch. Also, punch. “I can… I can continue. I need to… practice—”

“No!” Deen firmly said. “Look at your hand!”

“My hand?” I dumbly repe...

[REND] 15.1 - Besties Together, Strong

“So… what did Ramello want?” Deen asked as the car came to a stop at a red light.

We were headed to New Hope for some bestie training session—somehow, that sounded weird. How about Besties Fight Club? That movie was about two guys who turned out to be only one. In contrast, we were two girls who were definitely two. Maybe… What if I were the real person and Deen was a figment of my imagination, a supposedly perfect version of me? She had plenty of traits that most women wanted...

[REND] 14.2 - Human Rights of the Non-Humans

“Recall, Marty, the Due Process Clause in the Bill of Rights,” said Professor Holtz, striding near the students’ tables. “No one shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law—this does not apply to Adumbrae, yes. One can view that the Bill of Rights ensures ownership of property and its bundle of concomitant rights. Ergo, Adumbrae don’t have property rights.”

Ergo. Sounds like the name of a French pastry. But ‘ergo’ was Latin, I th...

[REND] 14.1 - Human Rights of the Non-Humans

It was a rainy Wednesday morning. Rainy and humid. Heavy droplets tapped the windshield while we were waiting for the traffic lights to turn green.

Deen and I were on our way to Eloyce University. Having my personal chauffeur was such a godsend since I was no longer human.

Most bioscanners installed in public places, like subway stations, were made to detect the bizarre brainwaves of Adumbrae—the more progressed the infection, the higher the chance of detection. Myra assured us ...

[REND] 13.4 - How to Train Your Monster

“Wha-what? An actual Adumbrae cult?” I was surprised because this didn’t come up in our research.

Deen and I thought that trauma from the car crash affected Kelsey as she grew up. She could’ve dearly wished for a stronger body never to get hurt again, attracting an Adumbrae from beyond the veil. This cult thing didn’t seem to be a story that anyone, even Reo, would joke about.

Well, I’d probably do it to develop a face. Or just for kicks. I’d use this next time.

[REND] 13.3 - How to Train Your Monster

“Hysterical strength?” Deen asked, glancing at me.

“First time I’m hearing about it,” I said.

“Lots of stories about feats of superhuman strength from normal people in emergencies,” Myra explained. “A mother carrying several children as she escapes their burning house. A man lifting a damn huge car to free someone underneath. There was a story about an old lady fighting off a bear in Redwood about three years ago. That was a hoax, though.”

“It was?” Dee...

[REND] 13.2 - How to Train Your Monster

Finally! I had been looking forward to this the entire day. I barely listened in class, instead imagining myself mowing down a bunch of super-powered enemies—main character material. And whatever Myra would teach us in fighting Adumbrae would also be useful against these artificial, Core-bearing hero wannabes. Superstrength and speed, a very durable body, and fast regeneration—all those traits we shared, even if to varying degrees.

Myra held up three fingers. “The three m...

[REND] 13.1 - How to Train Your Monster

The sharp edge of the knife glided across my pale skin like the blades of a figure skater elegantly slicing through the ice. Sometimes, I was surprised by how poetic I could be. Time to be uncouth next. Fucking hell, my skin’s tough!

No wound. I tried again. I couldn’t explain it, but it was more grating to cut my stomach compared to digging my chest. Maybe because there were fewer nerves on the chest or something. A small red line appeared. It then quickly sewed itself shu...

[REND] 12.3 - Adore Your Core

I blinked in surprise. I didn’t expect to cause this much damage because I consciously held back. I thought I’d just crack the concrete. My knuckles barely felt pain, though my skin was scraped and bleeding. It healed in a blink. The force of the impact that had shot up my arm reminded me of the satisfying feeling of biting hard with my monstrous jaws while transformed.

Could be low-quality concrete—I had no idea about construction and stuff. But I also felt that I had gotten stro...

[REND] 12.2 - Adore Your Core

Dario moved ten feet away and beckoned Deen to attack. Though wearing a determined face, Deen hesitantly approached him. She balled her fists and raised them; from her form, it was apparent she was inexperienced in fighting.

“Go ahead,” Dario said. He didn’t put up any guard, just standing there with his hands down.

Wow, I’m commentating inside my head, I thought with a giggle. A possible future career?

“Kick his ass!” Reo shouted.    

[REND] 12.1 - Adore Your Core

“Floating…?” I couldn’t see shit. Wasn’t this the usual scene when someone was about to die?

They’d hallucinate heavenly light or an angel coming to fetch them. I didn’t believe in heaven or hell. My concern was Deen dying on me. It was the dead of the night. I wanted to sleep instead of calling an ambulance or the morgue.

Would the morgue guy—I think they were also called undertakers; very cool term—know that something was wrong with Deen? Right, the Core. I cou...

[REND] 11.4 - Marshy Rowy Reunion

I can’t believe this is going so well. I was grinning broadly behind my mask, watching Overdrive order his subordinate to fetch Tattoo Sleeves and his group. There was a secret doorway behind one of the cabinets holding expensive-looking porcelain vases at the back of the room.

“Tommy Gee’s just getting Teflon,” said Overdrive, raising his hands. The small barrel on his aug-arm had receded. “I swear on my mom’s grave there’s no funny business here.”

“I k...

[REND] 11.3 - Marshy Rowy Reunion

Overdrive

Overdrive’s eyelid uncontrollably twitched when he saw a message from Jim Ambrose pop up on his phone. That literal metallic dick couldn’t help but ruin Overdrive’s good time.

[ Jim Ambrose: 12 next week. Don’t be late. ]

Twelve more people? So soon? Those bastards were chewing through the homeless population of La Esperanza like munching on a corn on the cob. Their demands on him were increasing lately.

Could they not un...

[REND] 11.2 - Marshy Rowy Reunion

The buses that pass near Poblacion Verde Hills run only until midnight, compared to the Metro buses downtown that run twenty-four-seven. It was only nine-fifteen. I had a ride out of here, but I’d have to travel on foot back home. Jogging was good for your health.

I got off the bus at a stop about five minutes to the train station. Hiding behind a dumpster—it was a huge dumpster that completely blocked my short self from view of the street—I turned my red hoodie inside out, wearin...

[REND] 11.1 - Marshy Rowy Reunion

Ice cream, ice cream, I scream for ice cream, I sang the old commercial slogan in my head. Although I super like ice cream, I’ve never actually screamed for one. On the way to our Marsh Row mission, our group—Johann, Everett, Deen, and I—stopped by a convenience store to buy snacks. Johann said it might take some time waiting for our contact to arrive.

That was how I had this cold cup of Melby’s ice cream. Chocolate fudge with brownie bits. Life was good.

ExD - 5.23.21

(Just a head's up to new patrons, this is part of a spin-off of the old REND. The spin-off has more than 60+ chapters already. If you want to read this, it's probably best to start from the beginning of the ExD collection.)

“Did you girls have fun?” Mom asked as we filed back into our condo unit.

I grumbled in response, placing all the stuff we shopped for on the dining table. We went to a lot of stores to buy clothes and shoes and other girly bullshit. My social battery was ...

[REND] 10 - An Inquisitive Tower

Sgt. Jeremiah Hall (Tower Cop)

Sgt. Jeremiah Hall of the La Esperanza City Police Department scratched his greying stubble while Capt. Ward hollered at him over the phone. Hall mumbled ‘Yes, sir’ a few times, adding grunts of agreement to appease the irate captain without particularly listening to what the latter was saying. Hall kept his eyes on the road, wondering when the van would pass by.

“Hall? Are you still there?” Ward barked. “Were you liste...

[REND] 9 - Cue in Planning Montage

Am I in an actual planning montage? I was back at the base of Dario’s group. Our base, I could say. Deen was here with me, plus the six hero wannabes. I fidgeted while sitting on a pile of blocks. This was so much fun. I could imagine the cuts, the splices, layering the shots, and the background music. Main characters were always part of planning montages.

“Are you uncomfortable?” Deen asked. She was sitting on a lawn chair beside me. “Want to trade places?”<...

[REND] 8 - The Fairy King Sees All Sometimes

Reo Hinode (Oberon)

Reo Hinode had been in complete darkness for more than two hours now, the longest time he had had his eyes closed while awake.

Well… not counting the times he couldn’t sleep at night, lying in bed with eyes shut tight, alone with his thoughts. He’d berate himself for the idiotic decision of joining the group. He’d be afraid of dying, just like any sane person would be—the difference was he had been close to death a few times. Wors...

[REND] 7.4 Inhuman Besties

“Are you seriously asking me to wound you?” I asked Deen. I knew I wasn’t normal, but I was now beginning to wonder if my supposed best friend was less normal than me. “No way I’m gonna do that.”

“Please, Erind,” Deen said. “I can’t do it myself.” Her hand trembled. “It was already so difficult pricking myself with a needle to test. I think… I think I’m healing faster. But I’m not sure. I need like an actual cut to be certain.”

“Uh, no one’s for...

[REND] 7.3 - Inhuman Besties

“The first—? Wait a minute. Why do you speak as if there are others like me? You also alluded to it last time.” A chandelier switched on in my head as I understood the situation. “You’re an Adumbrae. You’re infecting multiple people. And here I was thinking I was special,” I said with an exaggerated sigh. “Turns out there are many others.”

Not really. Since the beginning, there was only me. And you. And me… And—

“Yeah, yeah, don’t speak in riddle...

[REND] 7.2 - Inhuman Besties

I blinked, trying to make sense of what was happening. “What are you talking about? Save me from what?”

Kind of sudden to break down. Then again, after we had been through, this was probably a normal reaction for normal people. I had never experienced breaking down or crashing out or whatever was the term used by the younger generation nowadays.

Was I going to be subjected to Deen’s emotional bullshit all the time I’d stay here? Maybe it would’ve been better if I died in...