Title Unkown (For Now)

This here is chapter 1 of a story I have been working on for a while. I will most likely be posting up other chapters whenever I work on them. Anyway hope everyone enjoys it and wouldn't mind feedback.

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Written by Shawn E. Bekaert

Writers Notes

Nothing in this story represents any actual names or business that exists. Expect for common knowledge of certain states, cities, and governments. Most of this story is pure fiction. There are some characters that inspired by those I know but most of it is purely fictional.

Prologue

As I sat at the bar of the club I looked around at the dance floor as a bunch of drunken college kids shake their bodies to the irritating beat they refer to as music. The smell of alcohol was near nauseating and sight of half dressed woman being played by sex obsessed boys filled out the rest of the club. But all of that was mere background imagery as I spotted the man I was looking for at the end of the bar. He wasn’t alone of course; alongside him was his gorilla referred to as “Big Frank”. Jasper and Frank are my leads to a connected criminal, Salem Caplet. I kept my eye on Jasper and Frank as they stood there talking to the bartender. The bartender seemed to hand Jasper an envelope after being handed another one from Jasper. Jasper placed the envelope from the bartender in the inner pocket of his gray sweatshirt, which covered his Guns N’ Roses t-shirt. Jasper turned to Frank and pats the back of his right hand across Franks leather vest telling him they got to get going. As both men headed out the back of the club I carefully followed them, hoping they will lead me to Salem.

As they walked through the back alley I couldn’t help but think it was much better than that club. It smelled like trash but it was more tolerable then before. I stopped and hid behind a dumpster as the two goons reached a door to a warehouse that hasn’t been used in years. Jasper and Frank both looked side to side and behind just to see if there is anyone watching, fortunately for me however I wasn’t spotted. Once the two of them walked into the warehouse I carefully followed them and snuck in without being seen. The warehouse was as expected old, dusty, and filled with useless junk. I managed to hide myself behind what seemed to have been an old car. This warehouse must have been used as a body shop at one point, but now it’s used as a meeting place for something illegal. The two men just stood there as they waited for someone; one guess as to whom it was they were waiting for. Of course my guess was accurate as Salem stepped out from the western area of the warehouse.

“Sir we have your money from the bartender.” Jasper handed Salem the envelope he obtained back at the club. Salem opened it and fingered through the dollar bills. “Good.” Salem lets out a small breath as he closes his eyes and opens them slowly. Salem looks at Jasper with his usual emotionless expression he’s known for. Salem looks to Jasper’s left before asking him “Jasper were you followed?” Jasper looks puzzled at Salem’s question “No. Why do you ask?” Salem turns around and starts to head for the door, “Because we have a little spy hiding behind that Junker to your left. Take care of him.” Jasper turns around and motions to Frank to check behind the car. As Frank walked behind the car he sees no one there. “Uh Jasper there isn’t anyone here.”

Just as he said that however he got a little surprise as the sound of something hitting a trash can echoes over his head. Frank looked up as a trash can falls from above and lands over his head. As Frank tries to get it off I charged towards him and ran up a tool box sitting close to the car. I lunged off the tool box and smashed my knees across the trashcan, knocking Frank back against the car. I rolled forward on the hood of the car and landed on my feet on the other side facing Jasper, “Jasper I presume?” Jasper looked at me for a moment with irritation before charging at me. I rolled my eyes and at the last moment side stepped Jasper causing him to run into the side of the car. As Jasper stumbled back from the car holding his ribs, I just shook my head before bending to my left and kicking my right leg up, kicking Jasper in the chin hard knocking him back against the car. I pulled out a couple handcuffs and handcuffed both men to the car before running off to capture Salem.

As I ran out of the door I pulled out my cellphone and dialed a number. “Hey it’s Tobias. Yeah I kind of was spotted by Salem as I was following his goons, they’re currently handcuffed to an old car in the old warehouse next to the club. I’m going after Salem so feel free to send a police car to pick up the others.” I ran down another alleyway on the other side of the warehouse looking for Salem. I stopped however when I heard a whistle. The sound echoed through the chilly winter night’s air, common in southern Minnesota. I looked around, but couldn’t pin point the direction until I noticed a shadow on the ground. I looked up onto the rooftop of the office building for the local newspaper. There I saw him Salem just staring down at me. As Salem stared I ran up a dumpster and lunged for a fire escape right next to it. After grabbing onto the railing I pulled myself up and climbed my way onto the roof. Once, I made it onto the roof I looked over and saw Salem leaning against a door. “Well Tobias. I figured it was you.” “Really if so then why bother sending your two goons to catch me. After all you know very well those two are in your words “Mere Humans” to those like us.”

Salem chuckled as he moves from the door. “That’s simple Tobias, amusement.” I walked from the edge of the roof and towards Salem. “Well now that you’ve had your fun, time for you to come with me and face your judgment, so to speak.” “And what makes you think I’ll come willingly Tobias?” “Who said anything about you coming willingly?” I removed my sunglasses and placed them in my coat as Salem, and I circle around one another. The two of us stopped with my back to the door and Salem’s to the street. Salem holds his right arm out and as he did dark psychic energy manifests around his hand and takes the shape of a sword. I focus my eyes on Salem using my psychic powers to copy his and create a sword made of psychic energy like his, except made of white colored psychic energy. Salem lunges at me swinging his sword; I however block his attack with mine. Salem manages to overpower me and push me against the door. “Poor Tobias, your power to copy abilities may help you out of tough positions. But in a one on one situation against me it just prolongs your ending. Without power it’s pointless to fight.”

I just chuckled and twisted myself to my left and released my sword, making it disappear. The moment the blade disappeared I swung my right leg up kicking my shin against Salem’s arms forcing him to release his blade. Salem stumbled back as I turned myself over onto my feet during the kick. Salem looks at me not showing any emotion, but I can tell he’s a little ticked off. Salem notices something in the distance, “Well Tobias, I would love to stay and finish this, but gotta go.” Just then Salem runs towards the edge of the roof facing the street. Salem leaps forward and uses his psychic powers to manipulate gravity and lunge at a dark helicopter. Salem lands inside of the helicopter and as he did the doors closed and it flew off. As the copter flew off I pulled out my phone and redialed the number I called before. “Hey it’s me I lost him. This time it was a dark helicopter. No worries though. One day I’ll get him. That’s a promise!” Once I hung up the phone I placed it in my pocket and looked up at the night sky. The sky was partly cloudy tonight, but clear enough to see the waning gibbous phase of the moon. As I looked at the sky I couldn’t help but think how strange my life and the lives of my friends has changed over the past four months.

Chapter One

The sound of footsteps was all surrounding as the nearly packed mall was buzzing like a beehive. The Mall located in Samstern, Iowa is a huge place where nearly the past three months all kids, teenagers, and soon to be college students spent their summer. The aroma of fried foods and other fattening food from the food court is power enough to make anyone hungry. With weeks before college starts I couldn’t help but stop by the mall to get in my last couple hours of observation of human patterns and behaviors. Well I was trying until I felt someone practically pile on top of him and shove me over the railing of the second floor. I looked over my right shoulder and glared at culprit. “I have told you many times not to do that Brad.” Bradley Callahan pretty much my only friend back then. Bradley is a young man full of life, too much of it I say. He seems to like to risk it, pretty much too just impress any female in a skirt. He claims to be a ladies man even though I’ve seen him strike out more times than blind man playing baseball. Brad looks over the railing as he stands on right side, crossing his arms on the railing. “So Toby tell me what are doing?” I just turn towards him and look at him without even bothering to answer his question. “Let me guess “Observing”. Man you should try to socialize more Tobias. If we haven’t been friends since kindergarten you would be alone.” Brads attention quickly changes to a group of young girls. Bradley whistles as he stares at them. “You’re such an animal. You’re too easily distracted by any girl in a short skirt and tight top.” “Hey at least I speak to girls. While the only thing you do is stay far back and watch.” I turn to Brad as his comment sounded a little weird to me. “I would reconsider revising that statement Bradley. You made me sound like some kind of pervert.” “Maybe I meant to Toby.” “Oh really, well I bet you ten bucks that I can go down there and talk to those woman getting each them to write their numbers down.” “Hmmm, you’re on.”

As soon as Bradley accepted the bet I headed down the stairs towards the first floor. Bradley stood there near the railing as I walked over towards the group of young girls. Bradley chuckles as he expects me to make a fool of myself. But he eyes grow wide as he sees the girls and I laugh a little. He looks shocked as the three young girls write down something on napkin and hand it to me. Bradley practically bangs his head on the railing as I walk away and head up the stairs. “Alright fork it over Bradley.” I hold my hand out as Bradley regrettably pulls out his wallet and hands me ten dollars. “Brad I may prefer to watch others and study their behaviors at times. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to talk to woman. Actually a child would know how to talk to woman. You just be yourself, be pleasant, and always remember Woman are always right and we are always wrong.” I grin at Bradley who chuckles as he rolls his eyes. “Whatever. But tell me what did you say to them?” “The truth, I told them I made a bet with you that I could get their phone numbers.” “Really?” “Yep, and then we laughed and I said I know I can’t your phone numbers, you all way too hot for me.” “What? Really?” “Oh yeah, and then I said if you could please just write down any random 7 numbers each, I can go up their collect my ten dollars and keep him from staring at you like the sex obsessed pervert he is.” Bradley just clammed up there as I said that. “And they did.” I grinned and looked over as the three girls are staring up at us. I wave slightly before turning to Bradley. “Like I said; be yourself, be pleasant, and that Woman are always right and we are wrong.”

“Hey wait a minute you said you would get their numbers, but you didn’t so I won the bet.” “Actually no I won, I said I would get their number, but I didn’t say what numbers. And since they each chose the number they wrote down, it’s their numbers so I won.” “You know that argument doesn’t hold much weight to prove your point.” “Yeah, but it hold just enough for reasonable doubt. Now let’s go and look around, you’ve stared at those girl’s legs and chests long enough.” I pulled Brad by his arm and shoved him forward to get him moving so he leaves those three young girls alone. It was pointless trying to make Brad act mature at times, no matter what I try I know he will just ignore me and ogle at some young woman. “Come on Tobias why ruin a guy’s fun like that?” “That’s what you call fun? Ogling at every woman you see especially if they are in a skirt or low cut dress. I call it being a pervert.” “Oh come one Tobias, why do you always call me a Pervert? You know that ruins any chances of getting myself a date with one of these, mm mm scrumptious looking girls that flock around this place like bird flying south for the winter.” “Please you don’t need my help ruining any shot of getting a date.” Brad growled at my remark there and decided it was best to slap across the back of head, however I know he was going to pull that and ducked forcing him to miss. I then stood up and slapped Brad in the back of the head. “Ow.” Brad rubs the back of his head as I chuckle. “Oh don’t worry it’s not like you have to worry about brain damage Brad. You would first need a brain to do damage to.” I laughed harder for moment there at my comment, but stopped in my tracks and placed my right hand on my head as I was struck by one of my frequent annoyances.

For a while there I was suffering from these annoying migraine headaches I was experiencing more and more frequently. Sometimes it was debilitating, sometimes just a nuisance. I thought they were something serious, something that I needed to get checked out. Which I did several times and each time I was told it was most likely a mix of dust, weather, and allergies. No matter what medication they gave me the headaches just got worse, and that day it was extremely bad. But what seemed strange to me about them was the fact I could swear I could hear incessant chatter. Almost like a crowd talking at me at once, unable to make out what they say or where they are coming from. I’ve wondered if I was maybe losing my sanity at times, but realized maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me from the stress of these constant headaches. Brad saw me in pain and helped me to a bench as I could barely focus to move on my own. Brad knew about these headaches and figured it was more than just allergies, just like I did. “Tobias you alright?” I just looked at him and smirked saying “Yeah I’m just peachy.” But I was anything but peachy. The voices were loud and kept getting louder and louder, until eventually they stopped. Nothing but silence until I heard Brad saying “Man this is bad, what if it’s a brain tumor or something?” “I doubt it’s a tumor Brad.” Brad looked at me with a shocked look on his face. “I didn’t say anything about a tumor. All I said was do you want me to call a doctor.” I looked at Brad as his left hand was son my right shoulder. “What? No, you said; Man this is bad, what if it’s a brain tumor or something?” Brad looks a little more shocked. “How? How did you know that is what I was thinking?” “Thinking? Dude you were saying it, I heard you.” “Heard me? Tobias I never said that.” Just then as Brad was trying to explain I heard something that he was only saying in his head, the headache got worse and I basically lose consciousness, collapsing there on the bench.

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The busy chatter and sound of footsteps filled the halls of the school which stood empty for Three months. While I was falling unconscious, a few states over a bunch of kids where starting their first day of school at a local college. ULCU; United Learning College/University, located in Phoenix, Arizona a weird name for a college, but it does have one of the best records of students in the country and a good percent of students that graduate have been known to go on and have very successful careers. Among the crowd is obviously one of the popular girls. Lillian Rashid a quite outspoken woman, clearly she prefers to be the one in charge and doesn’t seem like most guys, especially those looking at her as she walks around the campus. Lillian brushes her long black hair past her light tanned shoulder as she stops to look at a map on a bulletin board. Lillian studies the map trying to memorize several location, mainly the ones she knew she was going to frequent a lot. Her focus on the map was distracted by a hand waving across her face. Lillian groans as she moves the hand from her face and looks over to see Cara. Caroline Keefe also known as Cara has been Lillian’s Best Friend since childhood. They met under different circumstances then other kids. They first met in the children’s ward of a hospital where they were being treated for cancer. They became close friends during their time there as did their parents, a friendship that lasted well into their college years obviously.

“Cara could you please not do that, I’m trying to memorize this map.” Lillian said as she tries to memorize the map again. “Oh come on Lil why do that when we can just use out womanly charm to convince some handsome college men to show us around.” Cara said as she looks at around eyeing some of the guys on campus, most of which are looking at her with a lot of sexual heat coming of them. “Listen Cara I’m not interested in tricking some guy into showing me around when I can very well do it myself.” “Yeah well you will be the only one doing things yourself if you don’t go out and mingle with the guys around here. I mean come one there are like tons of guys who always try to get a date with you, but you never take advantage of it.” “Maybe that’s cause every guy I met is always a sex obsessed muscle brain who spends more time training the muscles on his arms then the one in his head. I prefer a guy who actually thinks with the head he has on his shoulders, not in his pants.” “Good luck there Lil, I doubt there are any men like that.” “You never know Cara, there might be some out there.” Lillian and Cara head down a pathway as they speak and Lillian shakes her head as she sees some over muscled students acting like a bunch of baboons. “Although I don’t think I’ll find one here.” Lillian said as she rolls her eyes and walks away from them.

As Lillian walks by Mark Dopier also known as Titan to his friends, watches her. Mark is a mountain of a man who clearly plays football because of his large size. Mark favors football and woman over school and grades, and ever since High School he has often favored Lillian over everything. He watches her walk day dreaming of making her his girl. However unlike his dreams Lillian clearly doesn’t care too much for Mark or his buddies. Mark didn’t care as he was determined to make Lillian his, no matter how many times she rejected him, not matter how many times she ignored him, he kept on going. Mark figured with it being the start of college, meaning the start of a new life that maybe this time he would succeed. Mark got up and ran over to Lillian as she walked away. “Hey Lillian.” Lillian just ignored him not paying any attention to him what so ever. Mark runs up and stands in front of both Lillian and Cara. “Hey Lillian amazing Campus huh?” “Uh yeah I guess.” “Anyway me and some of the guys are going to his party to celebrate a new school year and to welcome all the new students. You interested in coming with me?” “No thanks Mark. I’m not interested in parties.” “Come on Lillian will be fun, bring Cara too I’m sure I can find one or two guys who would be interested to join.” “Sorry Mark, but I’m not interested in going to any party with you, or doing anything with you. So if you excuse me.” Lillian walks past Mark rolling her eyes as Cara follows. “Hey Lil wait, come on why not go to the party? You don’t have to go as his date. We could go as a couple of hot young single ladies interested in finding some hot studs to have a good time with.” Lillian pants. “No… Thanks Cara. I’m just… not interested in going to any… Parties…”

Lillian pulls out a big bottle of water and begins to drink it like someone who hasn’t had a thing to drink in days. “Whoa Lil, you okay?” asked Cara with a little worry in her tone. Lillian finishes drinking as she drank up all the water from the bottle. Cara looks at her worried. “I’m fine don’t worry, was just thirsty.” “I’d say a lot thirsty. You chugged that water like someone who just crawled out of a desert.” “I was really thirsty.” “Okay if you say so.” Cara brushes her hands through her blonde hair which reaches past her shoulders, as she looks around at the campus still checking out the boys. Cara and Lillian head down a pathway towards their first class, but Lillian makes a stop to refill her giant bottle of water which she emptied earlier. Lillian and Cara enter the classroom and both decided to take different seats. Cara clearly took one because it was close to a bunch of guys and Lillian to one as it was farther from most of the sex crazed guys. As the teacher walks in and begins the class, Lillian taps her fingers a litter on her desk as she fights the urge to chug her water again. She didn’t know what was going on, but lately she has been dealing with serious chronic thirst. She didn’t know what was going on as she has seen a doctor about it and like with me they couldn’t find any problem. Lillian took small sips of water nearly every minute until she ran out of water. Lillian eyed the clock waiting for the class to end, but each minute that passed felt like hours. Her mouth and throat seemed to be getting dry and she really needed a drink, but she didn’t want to be excused for that it wasn’t her nature. Cara noticed Lillian was acting a little weird from her seat as her finger tapping was getting frequent almost matching the clock as it ticked. Lillian’s foot began to tap as she struggles with her thirst until suddenly the room went dark and she fall out of her chair unconscious like I did a few states over no more than two hours prior. The teacher as well as Cara walked over to check on her. The Teacher called for the nurse as Lillian seemed out of it.