Sprout

By Liliana Marchesi

The final chapter of saga that kept readers of Dystopian novels – and not only them – on their toes, dragging them in the love story between Kendall and Trevor. A story of star-crossed lovers, made even more difficult by a government whose sole purpose is to turn the whole of humanity into a bunch of puppets.

Brooklyn. Kendall has finally managed to escape from the Headquarters of the Mind, where Axel held her captive with the help of a mental Manipulation. But now that her past has resurfaced, how will she face the present and the terrible future that awaits?

The Orphans living in the Mausoleum will try to train her, and Trevor, who will be the toughest of all with her, will do everything to help her use her Root at its best.

But will it be enough?

"Sometimes, to win in life… you have to lose."

An ending that will make you reconsider every single character. And until the last page... remember that anything can happen!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Apr 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781507158616

Book preview

Preface

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The first thing I felt upon waking up was the heat of someone’s body next to mine.

I was lying in a bed, wearing nothing but lingerie and a tight bandage around my leg.

I was alive.

Although my memories of the moment in which Trevor had jumped off Brooklyn Bridge with me in his arms were blurred, it was clear we had both survived the impact with the water. And judging by the stone walls of the room where I had woken up, we were both safe in the Mausoleum.

Wishing to lose myself in Trevor’s blue eyes and to savor his deep kisses, I slowly turned around.

But it wasn’t Trevor who was holding me tight, and it wasn’t Trevor’s smile that welcomed me back to the world.

In the bed next to me, his fingers on my naked hips... was Matthew.

1. Together

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Matthew’s smile faltered in front of my confusion.

The warm hands resting on my body, which at first I had thought belonged to Trevor, no longer gave me that infinite sense of peace that I had felt as I regained consciousness. Now, it was as if Matthew’s fingers were burning my skin, unleashing the fury of emotions in me that I had stifled during my days of captivity at Axel’s hands.

I had no idea how I had ended up in the boy’s bed or how he had gotten into mine but in the middle of the vortex of memories that stormed my mind I managed to catch a glimpse of an episode that turned my stomach even more.

It was when Matthew, on the pretext of showing me the Mausoleum, had led me to the gym. And in one of the rooms for mental training he had forced me to kiss him almost against my will, manipulating me with his Root.

YOU! My voice came out croaking, as if I had not spoken for days. It was a sign I had been unconscious for some time.

Before Matthew could say anything in his defense, trying to protect himself from my  clumsy and uncoordinated movements as I tried to push him away from me, the door to the room suddenly opened.

Julia came, breathless as if she had just run along all the underground corridors of the Mausoleum, and without showing the least surprise at seeing me and Matthew lying in the same bed, turned to him. Matt you'd better get your butt out of there! Now!

More and more confused – even by the fact that I had immediately recognized Matt and Julia – I was still watching Matthew while, without hurrying, he moved the sheets and slipped a pair of jeans he picked up from the ground.

Matt, hurry up! He's coming! The nervousness that permeated Julia's voice made me even more anxious, shooting my heart rate up.

So what? He should thank me! If it wasn’t for me his girlfriend would be dead, Matthew exclaimed, standing up and buttoning up his pants.

You're absolutely right, Matt Trevor appeared in the doorway. Let me hold your hand in acknowledgment... so I can break your fingers more easily.

The hold that Trevor had on the anger he was feeling at that time was clear in his eyes and body language; he was tense and ready to attack at any moment. It made me want to hug and kiss him even more.

Seeing him there, just a few steps away... My memories were back almost in full now, and the knowledge of what Trevor and I had gone through together, how our love had been put to the test, gave birth to the bitterest tears that had ever crossed my face.

Matt! Time to go! Julia grabbed her friend by the arm, determined to pull him with her  as she left the room.

Fine! Matt replied, annoyed, giving up once and for all the idea of getting dressed slowly.

And then... finally Trevor and I were alone.

For a brief moment that felt forever our eyes embraced in a vibrant look of emotions, feelings so intense that not even the mirror was able to reflect them fully.

Then suddenly the door slammed shut. An invisible force turned the key in the lock, sealing the small room to let out the rest of the world. The sheets that hid my body shrank at the foot of the bed. And Trevor was over me in a flash.

His hands slid up my hips, caressing with desire as they had done many times before, prompting my skin to evoke his every touch, his every kiss.

At that moment, feeling his body clinging to mine brought me back to the days when I was held captive by Axel and in particular to the moments when my Root had somehow managed to create a link between me and Trevor. And now, finally I could feel the firmness of his muscles pressed against me. No invisible wall separated us, and I felt even more pain thinking about the past and about what had been taken away from me.

Without giving too much importance to the wound in my thigh, which was still burning, I raised my legs encircle Trevor’s waist, trapping him. Even though I knew that he would not leave my side for a while still.

Our breaths crashed against one another and then echoed in the room, accompanied by the beating of our hearts, excited and happy to have finally found each other. Because if Trevor's heart was living inside me, then my heart lived in him.

The concern about what Trevor could have thought at finding Matt in my bed evaporated like water on fire as his lips burned mine. And I, kidnapped by the intensity of what I was feeling, could not help but let myself be carried on a cloud of pleasure that would bring me to heaven.

Kendall. Trevor’s voice, warm and caressing, joined me in the weak sleep where I slipped after hitting the brightest stars in the sky. Kendall, how are you feeling?

When I opened my eyes I found myself in front of the brightest stars of Earth. They were a deep blue streaked with gray.

At first I could not say anything. The emotions that I had recently felt – and those that I was still reeling from – just at being in Trevor’s arms were so strong that I was afraid of not being able to control my voice... and my tears.

I thought they had wounded your leg, not your tongue, Trevor joked, stroking my lips with his thumb.

Then, thanks to that ironic side he had that never lost an opportunity to tease me, I came to myself. It's not hurt but it got tired a lot recently, I said with a wink.

At that point I was expecting Trevor to laugh at me again but he didn’t. Grabbing my face with one hand, he sealed his mouth to mine, making me savor another shade of his soul. One that in all that time had suffered in secret. One that in all that time had never stopped hoping that things between us might go back to how they were.

I missed you. The whisper came from his lips to mine without seeing the light of the world that had divided us.

Me too, I whispered, drying from his face a solitary tear that quietly left a trail of pain on the cheek of the man I loved.

After a few minutes spent listening to our silence made of breaths and heartbeats, Trevor brushed a lock of hair from my forehead to deposit a kiss there, then moved away just enough to look into my eyes. You didn’t answer my question, Kendall. How are you feeling? He could not have asked me a worse question.

Confused, I said with a sigh. What was Matt doing in the bed with me?

He was trying to commit suicide.

Trevor, I'm serious. What was he doing in bed with me? The firm tone with which I asked the question again forced him to put aside his irony.

When we jumped from the bridge you fainted almost immediately. You lost a lot of blood from the leg and you were under the effects of a massive dose of poison. I tried to protect you with my body from the impact with the water and then I swam to the nearest shore, dragging you. When we arrived here at the Mausoleum were almost falling into hypothermia. Discovering how Trevor had rescued me showed me even more how strong his feelings towards me were. And that Orphan brat – Matt – developed a few years ago a power that would... warm you up.

Are you telling me that Matt was in bed with me to save my life? Recalling how I'd attacked him immediately after opening my eyes I felt guilty.

"No! I'm saying that I saved your life. He has just turned into a radiator." Seeing him try to hide his jealousy made me want to kiss him again.

So Matt can control the temperature of his body? I suddenly remembered the day he had come and introduced himself, bringing the food. That time had not been the first time I had seen him but since Trevor had clouded my memories from the night I had arrived to the Mausoleum with Emily in tow, I hadn’t remembered who he was. After staying with Julia to look at me eat, he had helped me to get out of bed. And when I had put my bare feet on the ground and my body had involuntarily shivered, his hand on my back had become warmer immediately.

He might light up like a torch but he'd better learn to control his hot spirits if he doesn’t  want to die before his time.

And how long were you forced to leave me in his arms? I asked, still teasing him a little for the jealousy that had driven him to grab me from behind as if to claim what was his and nobody else's.

Two endless days, he said, tickling my neck with his breath.

And why did you suddenly get here? How did you know I was awake?

As an answer, Trevor reached out, drawing my attention to a strange black watch. But when I stopped to examine it I discovered that it was not a watch at all. In the small rectangular panel there were no numbers but images. Moving pictures.

But this is...

Trevor did not let me finish the sentence. Since your escape from the headquarters of the Mind stirred the waters up there quite a bit, I had to attend to some business that didn’t allow me to be near you. But I would never be able to leave the Mausoleum without being able to look over you. So I installed a small camera in this room connected directly to this toy.

Tell the me truth. You did it to keep an eye on Matt, didn’t you?

Let's say that this was one of the advantages of being able to be present at least virtually. Trevor was still behind me, his mouth brushing against my neck. And by the movement of his lips I  knew he was smiling.

And what are the advantages of being able to be physically present...? In one way or another our conversations always ended up turning into something arousing.

Shall I show you right away?

Eager as ever to abandon myself to his touch again, I turned my head back, offering the sweetness of my lips.

But a light knock on the door brought us back with our feet on the ground. Guys, don’t hate me Sphinx wants to see you. Her voice full of regret, Julia reminded us where we were and to who we had to be accountable to.

Tell her we’re coming, Trevor said drily.

Then, taking me by surprise, he made me roll over in bed, his body on mine. He lifted my arms above my head, and aware that by doing so he would kindle in me the spark of passion – which was always about to explode in his presence – he started nibbling just below my ribs, alternating the aggression of his teeth to the gentleness of his tongue.

Trevor... I gasped. We have to go. Begging him to stop was the last thing I wanted to do but frankly I wanted to avoid seeing Sphinx break the door of the room.

After kissing my side until I could not breathe, Trevor stopped. His eyes were burning with desire so much that I had to look away to be able to get out of bed.

Tonight you are moving into my room, he ordered me, slipping on his jeans and a black shirt that I had no idea when he had removed.

And I, who had never been so happy to receive an order, laughed, resigned at that idyllic moment being interrupted. Are you afraid that Matt will slither into in my bed again?

No. I just don’t like to leave... things hanging. His hands came back to find me. And I assure you that I’m not finished with you yet.

2. Roots

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After putting on a gray shirt with the word ‘Free’ on it, which Trevor told me he chose in case I’d lost my memory again - A little hint to remind you that you are now free were his words – as well as a pair of light jeans that were slightly threadbare at the knees. The wound in my leg still hurt.

How is my thigh? I asked worriedly.

Very well, I would say. The languid look that Trevor gave me hinted that he wasn’t referring to the wound.

Trevor!

Come on, Kendall! Let me have some fun. The last time you were a guest of the Mausoleum I had to pretend I’d met you only after the episode with Emily.

I’m sorry. All of a sudden I thought back to all that Trevor had gone through after tampering with my memory the first time, when my love for him had been trapped in a remote part of my mind. I just need a little time to understand what happened to me, and just look through the information, I think.

I know, don’t worry. Trevor's hand stroked my cheek, giving my heart some peace. But I don’t think that Sphinx will be as patient.

And there was the peace gone.

Sphinx... I said while Trevor opened the door of the room that had given us a few hours of love and intimacy, inviting me to follow him into the hall. There are some things I'd rather not know, I confided.

A hard feat since she can read your mind, don’t you think? he asked.

Yup. But you were able to hide from her that you had been to the pub to see me the time I prepared you that delicious Tabasco sandwich.

As soon as I had finished speaking, Trevor’s melodic laugh echoed along the stone walls of the tunnel that we were walking along. Speaking of that delicious sandwich – cute nickname you gave me.

What? What nickname?

Mr. Tabasco. Trevor gave me a look full of testosterone that made me blush like a child.

And how do you know? Immediately after having asked the question, I remembered what he’d told me to reassure me just before jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge with me in his arms. Don’t worry, Kendall. Your Mr. Tabasco will take care of you.

Do you remember the time when, in the amphitheater of the Mausoleum, Sphinx asked me to give you your memories back? I nodded without saying anything. Of course, I already knew it wouldn’t work. When I came to visit you at night, to be near you while you slept, sometimes you woke up. Thus, prior to tarnishing the memory of my presence in your room, I made small attempts to see if I could bring something out.

I know. Now... I know, I said sadly, unable to say more because of the lump that was forming in my throat when I thought about the pain that Trevor had to endure alone.

And yet, he continued, Although I had never managed to get any results, that time in the amphitheater something emerged. You managed to see a few moments, though unconnected, about the night you saved Emily’s life and I managed to catch a glimpse of other small details. Including that nice, spicy moniker.

Recalling the incident that gave rise to the ‘Mr. Tabasco’ nickname a smile arose on my lips, but was quickly overshadowed by the fear linked to the encounter that awaited me. Sphinx, at least according to the conversations we had during my brief stay at the Mausoleum, knew who I was.

After Axel hit me with the poisoned dart, forcing Trevor to inject me with a mix of Radical cells to counter its deadly effects, some memories resurfaced. And I remembered Jason examining them on Sphinx’s orders.

It was then that the Head of the Orphans recalled me and my mother, and the night we came to her at the Mausoleum for help. Help she denied us. She told me that she had sent Darnell, who at the time held the same role of Leader Trevor was holding today, to inquire about us, about who we were. And he, along with the information he was requested, reported the news that my mother and I were dead.

My mother had died, but I ... I was gone God knows where.

That was the only information that Sphinx had deigned to share with me but it was clear that she knew much more. And now, even though I had not fully understood many aspects of my past yet, I didn’t want Sphinx to become aware of what I had discovered my time of captivity at the Mind’s headquarters. I still didn’t trust her.

The way in which Axel mentioned her when talking to Claire, when he had ordered her to report the information to Sphinx, hadn’t given me the means to understand what kind of relationship there was between them. Were they in cahoots? Or not?

We’re here, Kendall. Lost as I was in my musings I hadn’t realized that we’d already crossed half the Mausoleum. "Listen to me. I don’t know what you want to keep secret from Sphinx and,