by Carlos King
“That’s enough, Trent!”
Barely able to articulate his words over the steady flow of saliva pulsating out of his mouth, Trent replies, “Just having a little fun, brother. You do remember what fun is, don’t you?”
“I’m always up for fun, and once we take care of business we’ll have the rest of eternity to do just that. But until then, I need you to stay focused on the task at hand.”
“I’m totally focused. These humans are nothing more than pests. Wretched creatures that must be killed every now and then when their numbers become too great.”
“I agree,” said Zavior, eyeing Trent from the backseat of the Lexus. “But these insects aren’t our priority right now. Our mission is to capture the girl. We’ll have plenty of time to kill the humans after we’ve concluded our task. I promise you that.”
Trent turns to Zavior, a horrifying grin on his grotesque face. “I’m going to hold you to that, Zavior.”
Zavior responds with a nod and grin. “But in order for me to keep that promise, Trent, you have to follow my lead. We can’t have this type of setback occurring every time we stop. I need you to control yourself. Can you do that for your big brother?”
A sense of calm falls upon Trent. His skin rehydrates, the purplish veins subside and his hands and fingernails return to their regular size. His teeth file back down and his eyes return to their normal shade. In short, he’s gone from being a hideous creature to resuming the human disguise he donned prior to the uproar.
“Sure, Zavior,” Trent replied. “Anything you say. You’re the one in charge, right?”
“That’s all I ask of you, Trent.”
Trent walks over to the Lexus and stands at Zavior’s door, bending down to view his brother through the lowered window. “But once our mission’s complete, we start doing the type of stuff we were made to do.”
“Absolutely,” Zavior confirmed, smiling. “But first we need pay a visit to Jade Harris.”
CHAPTER 3
On an unseasonably warm day in Terre Haute, IN, Jade Harris is power walking through the jammed-packed parking lot of Indiana State University. Once she clears the parking lot and makes her way to the freshly-cut campus grass, she maintains a steady pace toward her first class, but when she glances at her watch she’s suddenly motivated to increase her rate of speed from power-walking to a full-out run, her ponytail bouncing with each step.
Beads of sweat trickle down her brow as she rushes across the sleepy college campus. It would’ve probably seemed odd on any other day to see a university parking lot filled to capacity with student vehicles but not see a single student anywhere in sight. But it is the very reason why there aren’t any students in sight that has Jade in a hurry to reach her first class.
Today is the first day for final exams.
It takes her only a minute and forty-four seconds to make it from the far end of the parking lot to the door of her U.S. History class—a pretty impressive feat given that the two locations are on opposite sides of the campus.
Regardless of her valiant effort, Jade is still fifteen minutes late for class and the door has already been closed. Jade knows that when the door is closed it usually means anyone caught on the outside of it isn’t allowed to enter the class during that particular session. She takes a moment to weigh her options before deciding it’d be best for her to at least try and take the biggest test of the semester and risk probable embarrassment as opposed to not trying at all.
She steadies her breathing and proceeds to delicately push the door open and close it just as cautiously. She figured that by showing regard for her classmates’ concentration, the teacher would possibly show her some leniency and allow her to stay. At least that’s what she’s hoping for anyway.
She heads straight to the nearest vacant desk and takes a seat before the teacher has a chance to tell her to leave.
A gradual calm falls over her as she comes to rest at a desk, but sadly, it’s a feeling that dissipates quicker than it came. Jade realizes that all of the test papers are sitting on the teacher’s desk. Jade takes a deep breath and heads up to the teacher’s desk.
Her teacher is a short, frail man named Dr. Ian Martin. Dr. Martin is a cranky old man who should’ve retired from teaching years ago, but his love for dishing out as much homework as possible and giving more tests than any other teacher on campus has kept him an active professor on the faculty.
Jade’s nervousness about obtaining the crabby old teacher’s sympathy isn’t without merit. It’s no secret that over the years the only thing that has diminished as much as Dr. Martin’s patience was his hair. Nonetheless, Jade takes a stab at trying to reach Dr. Martin’s charitable side and politely asks him for a test copy.
“I’m sorry I’m late, Dr. Martin,” she stated softly. “I was up studying for this test all night. I was so caught up in reading my history book that I dozed off before I could set my alarm. May I please have an exam?”
The old man gives Jade a sour look before reaching across his desk and pulling a single test form from a large stack. “You’re lucky this is the only time I can recall you ever coming to my classroom late,” said Dr. Martin as he handed Jade the exam.
Relieved she’ll be able to take the test, Jade makes her way back to her seat and begins answering away. After starting the exam close to twenty minutes behind everyone else Jade still manages to finish her test first.
Jade slips her arms through her backpack straps and pulls them up over her shoulders. She proudly marches her exam sheet up to Dr. Martin’s desk and sets it face down. The grumpy instructor is shocked to see that of all the people in his class she was the one to complete his infamous test first.
Jade walks out of the hardest class she’s had all semester with brimming confidence. She knows she passed her test and she’s glad she’ll never have to see Dr. Martin’s crabby face or hear his boring lectures ever again.
Following a few other exams from her remaining classes, the end of the school day has finally arrived. Jade’s now heading back to her car with her hopes highly set on enjoying the rest of this beautiful day.
By this time the campus is no longer barren. The number of students visible in and around the school grounds has greatly increased and is buzzing with life. Accompanying Jade on her walk to the parking lot is her closet friend, Marie Owens. The two had originally met at the beginning of the school year at freshman orientation and have been inseparable ever since.
Marie’s energetic and outgoing personality is a perfect fit with Jade’s more focused and goal-oriented way of thinking. And while Marie’s attractiveness borderlines the stereotypical, blonde-haired, glamorous type, Jade’s beauty is a lot less flamboyant. But there’s no denying the fact that Jade is still a very attractive young woman. With dark, flowing hair, a soft glowing complexion and charcoal-gray eyes, Jade definitely was a beauty to behold.
“So how do you think you did this semester?” Marie asked.
“If I can avoid getting anything lower than a C on any of my finals, I’ll finish the semester with a B.”
“Again? This’ll be the second semester in a row you finished with a B average.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. For some reason I can’t reach a 4.0 to save my life. It’s always an inch out of my reach.”
“Oh, shut up, Jade.” Marie played. “Do you know what I had to resort to this semester just to keep my GPA from slipping even further down the drain? I had to kiss some serious ass to avoid failing most of my classes. I even had to flirt with my biology teacher. Do you know how hard it is to flirt with someone who eats sardines for breakfast and lunch every day and still keep a straight face every time you talk to them?”
“Afraid not.”
“It’s not easy,” Marie asserted. “Now I had to do all of that crap just to keep a C average so my parents won’t cut me off. So if you think I’m about to stand here and listen to you complain about having a B, you’ve got another thing coming.”
“Al
right, alright, calm down,” Jade laughed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to throw it in your face. I know you worked hard for that C.”
“You damn right I did.”
The chatty friends continue to joke and laugh as they make their final approach to the student parking area. Marie wraps an arm around her best friend’s shoulders. “God, I can’t believe next year we’re going to be sophomores. We’re getting old, Jade. Can you believe we’re going to be turning twenty in a few months?”
“I know…but technically you’ll be hitting your twentieth birthday months before I hit mine.”
Before Marie has a chance to respond to Jade’s comedic observation, her concentration is broken by the powerful roar of an approaching vehicle’s engine.
A cherry-colored Corvette recklessly swerves into the student parking lot, recklessly speeding through the crammed lot until it comes to a screeching halt after passing an empty space. The rear tires spin rapidly as the sleek sports car reverses into the open slot.
Marie removes her arm from around Jade shoulders. “You know, Jade, I’m reminded how much I dislike you every time we hang,” Marie joked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You have everything. You have the good grades. You have the ability to eat whatever you want and still stay a size two. And to top it all off, you have him,” Marie set her eyes on the cherry-red Corvette.
Jade also set her sights on the convertible, trying hard to hold back a smile.
The Chevy’s engine revs once last time before the car shuts off. The driver’s door swings open. Marie and Jade already know who the car belongs to, yet they continue to stare in anticipation.
Out of the vehicle exits a tall, dark and exceptionally good-looking young guy known by nearly all the students at ISU as Drake Anderson. Drake was the campus rock star and everybody knew it.
Drake stood near his car, glancing around the crowded lot, the sun reflecting off his designer sunglasses and glaring brilliantly off his diamond-stud earrings. As he proceeded across the parking lot practically every female eye within range had become fixated on him. During his time at ISU, Drake’s built an impressive persona for himself as a rich kid, bad boy, which really leaves little question as to why he’s the object of affection for nearly every woman on campus.
Despite all the flirtatious attention, Drake ignores the gawking women and maintains his focus and continues to make his way toward Jade and Marie. A faint breeze picks up, pressing his white tee-shirt up against his torso, revealing his firm, muscular undertone.
Marie cleared her throat. “I better get going,” she said, forcing herself to look away from Drake. “I have to be at my hair appointment in half an hour.”
“Call me when you get home from your date so I’ll know you got in safe.”
“Will do. Talk to you later, girly.”
Jade and Marie hug each other goodbye before Marie walks off en route to her car. Seconds after Marie’s departure, Drake walks up behind Jade and wraps one of his ripped arms around her shoulders and the other around her waist.
“Guess who?”
Jade spun around and cuddled him affectionately. Drake attempts to kiss her, but she turns her head away, prevent their lips from meeting. She promptly loosens up on her once tight embrace.
Drake picks up on the snub and with a puzzled expression, he releases her from his grasp and asks, “Did I do something wrong, babe?”
“No. I’m just a little tired. I was up all night getting ready for today.”
“Oh, okay.” Switching to another topic, Drake asks, “So what’d you think of my parking job? I should be using my skills for NASCAR, huh?”
Jade smiles and shakes her head. She’s well aware of how Drake likes to walk the fine line that separates arrogance and self-confidence.
“Whatever you say, Drake,” she replied. “Aren’t you late for English?”
“Only by a few minutes.” Drake wraps an arm around Jade’s waist and leads her back towards the school. “You know I have to make a grand entrance.”
After taking several steps alongside her confident boyfriend, Jade stops and pulls his arm from around her. “I don’t see how you pass any of your classes. I can count on one hand how many times you’ve actually gone to class on time.”
“You know exactly how I pass. I pass because all of my teachers love me. The men teachers envy me and the women teachers are wooed by my charisma and charm,” he declared with a boastful grin.
Fed up with his cockiness, Jade ends the discussion by turning her back on Drake and heading for her car. “That’s it for me,” she joked, throwing her hands in the air. “Goodbye, Drake. Talk to you later.”
Laughing at Jade’s reaction, Drake yells out to her as she crosses the lot. “Jade, I was just playing! You know how I like to joke around! We still on for tonight?!”
Jade turns to face Drake, backpedaling. She answers his question with a nod and a smirk. Drake smiles upon receipt of Jade’s answer and presses on to his class. Jade spins back around and keeps moving until she’s arrives at her car.
She tosses her backpack in the backseat of her ‘06 Ford Taurus and sets herself down in the driver’s seat. She starts the engine and rolls down the windows, allowing the buildup of accumulated heat to be released. Jade takes a second to enjoy the cool breeze of incoming air before shifting into gear and driving off.
What Jade fails to realize is that she’s being closely watched.
She accelerates down the street, unknowingly driving pass someone who’s been monitoring her every movement for the last two days. The unusual stranger is wearing a hood over their head that extends out far enough to hide their face, keeping their identity a mystery. Worn over the hooded-sweatshirt is a filthy black trench coat, long and thick, and extremely out of place due to the eight-degree temperature. Judging by the broadness of the shoulders the suspicious person is more than likely male.
And while it’s unclear who this person is or what they want, one thing’s certain for sure…Whoever they are, they’re definitely interested in Jade.
CHAPTER 4
Jade arrives at the local shopping mall where she works. She walks by several stores, catching the eyes of numerous gawking men, some of whom are mall employees, while the majority of the others are customers. Jade ignores her admires and stays constant on her course.
She reaches the store where she works, goes inside and is immediately greeted by her co-worker and friend, Shana Smith. Older than Jade by only a couple years, the two are the youngest employees of the shop and it’s because of this bond that they’ve bonded with each other more so than with the other older women they work with.
Folding clothes and neatly placing them in a bargain bin, Shana greets Jade with a curious glimpse. “What’re you doing here? I thought you were off today.”
“I am. I’m only up here to buy this cute shirt I saw yesterday. I figured I’d get it while I have the extra money.”
Shana raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me you’re not buying a shirt from up in here.”
“Now you know better than that.” Jade replied. “The shirt I saw was a few stores down. I knew you’d be in here alone so I just came in to see how you were holding up.”
“I’m cool. It’s been a pretty slow day…As usual. There were a few people that came in, but they weren’t looking for clothes…They were looking for you.” She finished slyly, giving Jade a suspicious gaze.
“Me?”
“Yeah, you,” said Shana. “I see someone’s becoming a social butterfly in their first year away from home.”
Jade’s interest was on the rise. “Who were they? What did they want?”
“I don’t really know,” said Shana, folding the remaining clothes. “They wanted to know if you were working today. When I told them you were off for the next couple days, they started asking if I knew the exact time and day you were scheduled to come back.
“You’ve been holding out on me, girl. The guys that came in
here asking about you were some of the finest men I’ve ever seen. Even the girls that were in here asking about you were pretty as hell.”
“Wait a minute,” Jade paused, “exactly how many people asked about me?”
“Let’s see,” Shana said, glancing up at the ceiling as she recalled the visitors. “First, there were the two guys dressed in business suits. The one that asked about you was really charismatic and sweet; the other guy with him seemed like he could be a jerk…A sexy jerk, but a jerk all the same.”
Baffled by Shana’s information, Jade tries to figure out more about her mysterious visitors. “Did they leave names, phone numbers, business cards or anything I could use to contact them?”
“They didn’t leave anything. I asked for their names and if they wanted me to relay any messages, but they said no. They said that they’d be getting in contact with you soon enough.”
“I guess.” Jade responded, contemplating the strange occurrence.
“That’s not all. There were four more people who stopped by after the two guys in suits. I only mentioned them first because they were the finest. An hour or so after those two had left, two women came in and then after them, two more guys stopped by. They all came in individually, though. The two women were gorgeous. I’d kill to have features like there’s. The third guy to come in was youngster. He was probably a year or two younger than you, but he was a sexy young thing, too,” Shana added.
Jade then asked Shana, “And they all were asking for me? Did any of them look familiar?”
“I’ve never seen any of them before,” Shana said, placing the last folded shirt in the bin. “Trust, I’d remember if I did. You don’t forget people who look like that. Maybe now that you’re here you can tell me what’s going on. Are you networking exclusively with models now or what? I knew I should’ve let you make that Facebook page for me when you asked to.”
