Not the Norm: Sub-Normal, #1

By Becca J. Campbell

Eden has a dangerous secret.

In a world where GenEns (enhanced humans) are the norm, her own ability is flawed. If anyone found out about the glitch in her genetic code, she'd be deemed a sub-norm, as one unfit to exist in the human race. Her certain fate would be extermination.

She always thought keeping her defect secret was her biggest struggle. That concern vanishes when her life is put in danger. Suddenly, fighting back is her only option, and she's completely unprepared.

Her only chance for survival is by wielding her damaged power. But fear and painful memories threaten to hold her back. What will happen to her if she unleashes the terror within?

A Sub-Normal short story. Approximately 6500 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Surreal Media Studios
• Release date: Jun 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781497732254

Becca J. Campbell

An avid lover of stories that tiptoe the line between fantasy and reality (even when they plunge off one side or the other), Becca J. Campbell looks for new angles on bridging the gap between the two. She holds a special place in her heart for any story that involves superpowers or time travel. Her passion is defying the limits of her own creativity. Becca’s journey into writing began as many of her other creative endeavors do – by daring herself to try something new. The question “what if I wrote a novel?” and some hastily scribbled notes on a church handout were the inspirations that jump-started her first book. Since then, she has written half a dozen additional novels and several shorter works. As the wife of a musician and mother of three young boys, Becca’s life is never dull. Whether it is writing, painting or knitting, she enjoys making stuff that wasn’t there before.

Book preview

Part One

Still dripping from her shower, Eden Roosevelt turned the corner to the kitchen and pulled up short. Her heart shot into her throat. There was a stranger in her apartment. He stood in the center of her kitchen, the sliding glass door open behind him. Crap! She must have left it open after having coffee in the courtyard earlier. His dark eyes flicked to her. She wrapped the robe tighter around herself and stared at him.

The young man's hand yanked back from the piping hot blueberry muffins that sat on Eden's kitchen table. In that flash of movement, muscles rippled beneath the dingy brown shirt clinging to his chest, boasting a million ways he could hurt her—with or without his ability. Her eyes darted over his ratty form, from his stringy black hair to the worn jeans hugging his thighs to his scuffed leather boots. She swallowed hard.

He could be anyone. A psychopath who could read minds. . .a Peeping Tom with telekinesis. . .a rogue with supernatural strength, avoiding the authorities. . .she'd seen clips of that one on the local news. She shivered. The government's track record for control still wasn't that great. Technology had advanced too quickly. Regulations couldn't keep up with it.

Fear's icy claws clamped around her throat. She had her own ability, of course—everyone did. And hers wasn't benign like most of the population. But there was one problem. She hated pain. Really hated it. There was also the issue that she couldn't quite remember how to wield her power. The blinding, opaque pain had obscured the memory. Staring into the eyes of the stranger, she knew her only chance was to bluff.

What do you think you're doing? She spat the words at him, shooting venom through her glare.

The man jumped when she yelled, his dark eyes widening with true fright. His hands flew up in submission. Whoa. Hold on. This is all just a misunderstanding.

Eden put a fist on her terrycloth-clad hip and jabbed a finger at him. A thrill of