Rituals pt. 10

I couldn’t really explain how things had snapped into place in my brain.  When I had seen that flashback, or memory… whatever it was, I suddenly knew that whatever was controlling the creatures in this town was part of the force that was working to weaken the barrier around New Eden. 

I convinced Doug and Alana to wait until morning for us to begin our search for the nest.  I was only guessing, but from what I could tell, these things didn’t seem to like light too much, and during the daytime we would have the greatest advantage.

As we walked through the abandoned streets, Alana came up beside me.

“What happened to you back there?” She didn’t look at me as she spoke. “Did it have something to do with Rita? Did she do something to you?”

I shook my head. “I… I don’t think so.  I think, maybe, she may have helped unlock something in my mind, but I couldn’t say for sure.  All I know is that I saw something.  I connected with that creature, and I was able to get into her mind.”

“Her?” She finally glanced at me.

“Before she became one of those… things, she was a human.  All of them were. Except for one.”

Alana just nodded.

Nothing could surprise her anymore.  Not in the world that we lived in.

Eye See You: Infection pt. 29

The room around us started to shift, then warp.  Suddenly there was a harsh burst of energy seemed to explode from the center of the room and I felt myself lifted off my feet and slammed against the door, then through the door and out into the dingy hallway. 

I hit the far wall with a heavy crash, and my body bounced to the ground. I could feel the air get knocked out of me on landing, and as much as I wanted to scream out, I couldn’t.

Stars floated in front of my eyes, and darkness started to surround my vision.  

Where was Dina? I tried to call out to her, but my voice didn’t seem to work. There was a harsh ringing in my ears.

That darkness was growing closer.

No. I couldn’t pass out. Dina was still in that room. She could be hurt. She could be…

The thought died off as the darkness overtook me, and I passed out.

New Pom Pom Angel: First Dates pt. 6

Regina and I found a table towards the back.  We could still keep an eye on Gus and Raven, but we were hidden enough where he couldn’t spot us instantly.

“So, do we just watch?” Regina, still pouting, crossed her arms over her chest.

“No, we listen in.” I leaned forward, keeping my voice low. 

“Listen in?” The demon looked confused.

“Yes.” I tapped my ears. “One of the perks of being an angel is having hyper-hearing.  So, I can safely spy on those two without having to be within ear shot.”

Regina’s eyes narrowed. “That’s a little creepy.”

“It’s necessary, Regina.” It was my turn to pout. “Gus, while a nice guy, has the social skills of a brick wall.  I’m looking out for his best interests here.  If that means I have to do a little spying, then so be it.”

Regina let out one single laugh. “You sound like a politician.”

That comment sent a shiver down my spine.  “You have a better idea?”

“Nope.” She held up her hands in defeat.

“That’s what I thought.” I sat back, and tried to focus. 

I could hear everything in the café around me, and it took a second for me to hone in on the sound of Gus’s voice.  He sounded nervous, which I expected, but he didn’t exactly sound unhappy.  So, that was a plus. 

“You know,” Regina started speaking, leaning forward and resting her forearms on the table. “Being on earth so long has kind of made you a bitch.”

“I’m just focused.” I tried not to let her break my concentration. 

“Sure, focused on being demanding and nasty.” She pointed at me. “If a demon is telling you that you aren’t playing nice, then that means you have a problem.”

I didn’t respond.  I did my best to block her out and stay focused on Gus’s voice.  I had a job to do, and I wanted to do it right.  If that meant being a bit of a bitch, well… so be it. 

Honestly, I just wanted Gus to be happy.  He just needed a little bit of a shove to find out what that happiness was.  What did they call it? Tough love. Yeah, I was practicing some heavy duty, tough love.

“So, I’m surprised that you asked me out again.” Raven was speaking now. 

Regina tried to say something, and I held up a hand. 

Here we go, I thought to myself.

Tentacle University 2: The Sorority pt. 3

Stephen caught up with Rachel outside of the Administration Building.  She was walking quickly, her face red with rage.  

“Rachel,” he picked up his pace, trying to get next to her. “Rachel, please wait.”

She stopped, spinning around so fast that Stephen actually yelped.  “Is everything you said up there true?”

Stephen nodded.

“Then you didn’t take those pictures?” Her eyes locked onto his.

“I didn’t take them.” Stephen held up his hands.  “I know what you think of me, and I know what you think of my house, but I would never have done anything like that, especially not to someone like Bethany.”  

“Like Bethany?”

“She was a good person.  I… I really liked her. When everything had started up, I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn’t listen.  I know how it looked, and I don’t blame her for shutting me out, but everything I showed the Dean, and everything I said up there is true.  Someone has been spying on us.” He took a deep breath.  “I just thought…”

“You thought the Dean would do something about it?” She laughed. “Do you know how many meetings I’ve had with him about this stuff?  Not just the photos.  I’ve been in there over sexual assaults, abusive boyfriends and girlfriends.  Every time I bring up something that needs to be dealt with he shuts me down. I know you aren’t use to it, Stephen, but that asshole does not give a shit about this school.”

“So what do we do about it?” He was in awe of her rage.

“I… I don’t know.” She looked away, strands of her long, black hair blowing onto her face. He could see the frustration in her green eyes, and the way she clenched her jaw.  “I’ll think of something.”

“Then let me help.” Stephen reached out, stopping short of putting his hand on her shoulder. “Please.”

She glanced at him, and then turned, leaving him in the Quad without an answer, and without any idea how to move forward.

For the first time in his life, he felt useless.  He had tried to make things right.  He had tried to give the school the tools they needed to bring the Greek Row’s digital stalker to justice, but just like Rachel had said, the school had done nothing, 

He needed a plan. 

Eye See You: Infection pt. 28

“Don’t let him die!” Janelle was looking at me, panicked.
“I don’t think I have much say in the matter.” I looked at her, no longer surprised by anything at this point. The least of all, talking to a ghost in a computer monitor.


Suddenly Dina’s phone started vibrating wildly in her pocket.


“Call an ambulance. Now. I opened up a safe link to 911.” Janelle was eye the twitching man on the floor. “If he dies, then we are all royally fucked.”


Dina didn’t wait for another prompt, and dialed 911. I listened as she repeated the address. While she was busy doing that, I knelt next to the fading man that had once been the Unknown Sender.


“I need to be… in the Void.” His eyes were unfocused. “I need to be back in the…”


I looked around the room for the cable that had connected him to his computers. I couldn’t find it anywhere.


“An ambulance is on its way,” said Dina.


I glanced back at the Unknown Sender. His eyes were still open, but they weren’t seeing anything. His chest was still, and he was already feeling cold to the touch.


“What?” Dina looked at me.


“We’re fucked.”

Rituals pt. 9

The angel sat in her cage, her legs pulled to her knees.  

How long had she been there?  How long had that beast held her captive?  

Her friends were safe.  Those she cared about the most were gone, sent the Council of Angels.  That knowledge, that peace was the only thing that kept her sane.  

She felt a tingle in her shoulder blades, where her wings once were.  Something was coming.  
No... not something.  Someone.  

Someone was coming.  

Were they the ones she was waiting for? Would they finally set her free from her prison? 

She could only hope, because hope was all she had. 

Eye See You: Infection pt. 27

The Unknown Sender did not look well. He was deathly thin, his face gaunt, and heavy circles hung under his yellowed eyes. His hair was long and greasy, strands of it sticking to his face and forehead. I would have thought he was dead if it wasn’t for the slow rise and fall of his chest.


A cable dangled from his right temple, one end pushed into his flesh, and the other plugged into one of several computers that surrounded the easy chair.


“He actually plugged his brain into the internet.” I stepped towards him.


At the sound of my voice the Unknown Sender sat up, his eyes focusing on me.


“Help me!” He reached out, his bony hands reached for me. “I made a mistake. I made a mistake!” He was grasping for me, his long, cracked fingernails clacking together with each frantic movement. “I lost control! I lost…”


He lurched forward, and attempted to stand up. Instinctively I took a step back, and Dina and I both watched in horror as the Unknown Senders legs seemed to snap under the weight of his body, sending him crashing onto the floor.


The cord that had been plugged into his temple ripped loose, send a spray of blood and pus onto the already filthy floors.


“I… I made a mistake…” He was sputtering now, his body twitching.


One of the monitors next to the easy chair flickered, and then turned on, and I found myself looking at a familiar face.