The Foundlings: Book One of the Urban Fantasy Paranormal Vampire Series, The Foundlings

by R. M. Garcia

  “Get what?” Abbie said, understanding his meaning.

  “Good girl, now off with you.”

  Abbie exited the class, waving around a piece of paper violently in front of her cohorts, “got it!”

  “Yes!” Kelly said.

  “All right,” Trista said and nodded.

  “Aw, man!” Rebecca said. The other girls looked at her with both confusion and irritation.

  “I have to stay here,” Rebecca said, pouting. “The JV game is starting in a bit.”

  “Sorry, Becca, but I’ll fill you in when we come back for the varsity game,” Kelly assured. “Go cheer the team to a win!”

  “Not likely. They stink.” Rebecca walked away, sulking a bit. “I always miss the good stuff.” The older girls headed to Kelly’s car and plotted their course to the address written on the paper given to them.

  “I put the address in my phone’s GPS,” Trista said and turned on the speaker function. “It’ll navigate.”

  “Let’s go!” Abbie said.

  “Hmm,” Kelly said. “Getting excited, Abbs?”

  “Just drive!” she snapped. Trista and Kelly burst into laughter. Abbie simply made an angry face at both of them. The drive took twenty minutes as Donnie’s house was on the outskirts of town. As they arrived, everyone noticed the For-Sale sign.

  “Is he moving?” Trista asked.

  “Is this the right house?” Kelly asked.

  Abbie looked around nervously. “I don’t see his car, do you?”

  “Let’s go up to the door.” Kelly said as she parked the car in the driveway. The three young ladies walked up to the front porch. Abbie was getting more and more nervous as to what she would say to him. They reached the door, and Abbie froze in place. She couldn’t move. Trista rang the doorbell. It was an offensively loud buzzing noise, and it startled everyone as it blared. After a few minutes, Kelly buzzed their presence once again. There was no response at the door. “I don’t think he is home.”

  “Yeah, the deaf could hear that atrocity of a doorbell, sheesh,” Trista added. The two girls looked at Abbie when she didn’t reply. She was staring at the floor underneath them.

  “Guys, is that . . . blood?” Abbie said pointing to their feet. Trista and Kelly looked down and at their feet, and it did look like there was a trail of blood.

  “Ewww, that’s so gross!” Kelly moved away from the reddish brown stains. Trista bent over and scratched at it with a key she pulled from her jeans.

  “Looks like dried blood, all right.” Trista stood up and looked inside the house through the door window. “There is more inside, lots more.”

  Abbie ran up and pounded on the door. “Donnie!” There was still no response from within. Kelly and Trista were surprised by her sudden explosion of emotion.

  “You think he might be hurt?” Kelly asked.

  “I don’t know. I just don’t know.” Abbie had gone from scared to worried.

  “I’m sure he’s OK.” Trista didn’t want to alarm her, but there was a lot of blood.

  “You think?” Abbie whirled and looked for support from her friends. This was almost unbearable. What had happened to him? Was he hurt inside, lying in a pool of his own blood?

  “Sure, his car is not here, so he must have driven it away.”

  “Whatever happened, he is obviously not here now,” Kelly said.

  “Let’s head back to school and after the basketball game, we can swing back again,” Trista said.

  “I’m such a blonde.” Kelly slapped her forehead.

  “Why?” Abbie asked.

  “He’s on the basketball team, and they’re playing tonight,” she said. “He’s at school.”

  “Nice of you to remember that now,” Abbie said, “back to school then.” The girls got back into Kelly’s car, and they began the drive back to school.

  Rebecca was cheering the junior varsity team to their fifth straight loss. They were truly awful. She didn’t care; she liked cheerleading and sought to one day replace her sister as captain after Kelly graduated. The game had entered its last quarter when she spotted a familiar face talking to the coach. Donnie was talking to Coach Rob, and he seemed upset. He handed the coach a note and walked up to the top of the bleachers and took a seat. He seemed to be favoring his left side. She was about to call her sister to let her know he was in the gymnasium when she spotted a girl walk up to Donnie. He stood up, and they embraced.

  “Donnie, is that you?” Cecilia asked as she approached him.

  Donnie stood up and hugged her warmly, “CeeCee!”

  “Hi, Dodo,” she replied, taking a seat next to him.

  “How long has it been?”

  “About three years since we moved away, I was really sorry to hear about your parents. I didn’t find out until earlier today. I swear if I had known, I would have come to you.”

  “Thank you, CeeCee. I really appreciate that. I know you would’ve come to my rescue once again. So what are you doing here? Are we playing your school?”

  “I came to find you and Meemee. I found out you two were on the varsity team and were playing today.”

  “Misha will be thrilled to see you again.” Donnie had forgotten that CeeCee had given him and Misha pet names when they were small children; she never stopped using them. “He wasn’t happy when your parents moved a few towns over.”

  “I’m sure with all the girls fawning over him, he barely noticed I was gone,” Cecilia said jokingly.

  “No way, we both missed you a lot, but he took it especially hard. We’ve all been friends since what, first grade?”

  “Seems like it, right?” Cecilia leaned over and bumped her shoulder to Donnie’s.

  “So you came all the way out here just to find us? Is everything OK?”

  “My life is shit right now.” Cecilia felt bad telling him her troubles. He had suffered so much more. “I got played real hard by a boy at my old school. He was . . . cruel . . .”

  Donnie’s happy demeanor turned sour in an instant, “so what would you like written on his tombstone?”

  “Stop it! That’s not why I’m here, though I did entertain the idea I will admit.” Cecilia fantasized for a moment, thinking how Donnie and Misha would have kicked Jeff’s ass. “I missed you guys, and that’s why I matriculated here now. I wanted to reconnect.”

  “What . . . ? You are going here now? That is so cool!” Donnie could barely contain his excitement, “the Three Musketeers together again!”

  “I am glad you guys are still here. I needed friends, and I found out recently that I really didn’t have any at my last school.”

  “Best friends,” he said as he placed his arm around his childhood friend.

  “You’re going make me cry if you keep this mushy shit up.”

  “As I learned recently, a good cry works wonders for the soul,” he admitted.

  “Yeah, it does, but I’m done being depressed.” Cecilia dried her eyes; she knew that if anyone would stand up for her no matter, it would have been Donnie and Misha. “I just want to have a great last few months before going to NYU.”

  “So you’ll be in New York?”

  “Yeah, I got my acceptance letter a week ago.”

  “That’s awesome. Did you know Misha got into Julliard?”

  “You’re shitting me?” Cecilia was amazed. “It’s like a 10 percent acceptance rate to get in there.”

  “Try less than seven,” he informed. “He’s really excited, his backup was Georgetown.”

  “What about you, Mr. Brains?” she asked. “Where are you going?”

  “I never applied to any colleges.”

  “Seriously, why aren’t you going to college?” Cecilia was confused. He was a math whiz since like forever; she was expecting MIT, Stanford, or Princeton.

  “Don’t get me wrong. I got tons of offers, full academic and athletic rides,” he explained. “I just don’t need to go to college. I have just as many job offers pending.”

  “Well, look at you, Mr.
Important. You have the pick of the litter then.” Now that’s more like it, Cecilia thought.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure what I want to do. I have a few months to decide, and I can always start a semester late.”

  “I feel you, so what about girls, is there anyone special?” Cecilia asked lowering and raising her eyebrows.

  “Well . . . there are so many these days. It’s hard to keep count,” he said as he leaned back placing an arm behind his neck.

  Cecilia jabbed Donnie in the ribs. “Liar!” He immediately doubled him over in pain. “Oh shit!” She didn’t think it was that hard of a blow.

  “Ribs . . . bruised . . . again . . .” Donnie was in tears and was trying to catch his breath.

  “Oh shit! I’m sorry, Dodo,” she said apologetically.

  “You didn’t know.” Donnie found it funny and that caused him to laugh, and each laugh caused him more pain than the last.

  “How did you get hurt?” she asked.

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Donnie went over the events of last night in his head again: Why did that guy chase him? What did he say? It was his intention to hurt him. They guy must have been on drugs.

  “Does it hurt a lot?” she asked.

  “Doctors said it’s just a bruise, should be fine in a week or so.” Donnie couldn’t resist and said, “It looks awful. Let me show you.” He raised his shirt, exposing his midriff to Cecilia.

  “Ow, that looks terrible. Are you sure it’s only a bruise?” Cecilia agreed as she inspected the bruise. The two friends continued to talk and laugh exuberantly as the blowout below on the court came to an end. They had failed to notice the fiery redheaded cheerleader stomping up the bleachers with purpose and determination.

  “Donnie Guerrero, you are a jerk!” Rebecca yelled at Donnie. She placed her fists on her hips and leaned forward toward Donnie, her pom-poms still it her hands.

  “Excuse me . . . ?” Donnie asked.

  “Is this your girlfriend, Donnie?” Cecilia asked.

  “Shut up, slut!” Rebecca yelled at Cecilia. “I am not his girlfriend, nor would I ever be!”

  “Who are you!? And why are you talking to my friend that way?” Donnie looked over to Cecilia and shrugged. He noticed that her smile was replaced with her game face.

  “Is this why you’re not answering Abbs’s phone calls?” she asked, “Groping her and showing off your tight abs, two-timing her with this?” Rebecca flicked her pom-pom in Cecilia’s face.

  “Little girl, you are about to enter a whole new level of unconsciousness,” Cecilia threatened Rebecca whilst standing up. Donnie realized very quickly where this was going. Cecilia had a short fuse and an explosive temper; it was not a good mix, and it had gotten her into trouble in the past. He had to take control, or violence would inevitably follow.

  “I got this, CeeCee,” Donnie said to Cecilia, forcefully pulling her back onto the bench. “I don’t know who the fuck you are or how you know so much about me and Abbie, but you got it all wrong. She kicked me to the curb. She’s the one who said I wasn’t part of her priorities and that she didn’t want to see me.”

  “My name is Rebecca, and you’re the one that’s got it all wrong,” she said.

  “This is getting interesting,” Cecilia said with a smirk.

  “Be quiet, heifer!” Rebecca chastised Cecilia. “You need to call her back and let her explain.”

  “Strike two,” Cecilia said aloud, and Donnie was getting worried.

  “Well, please pass on a message to her for me,” Donnie said after giving Cecilia a look urging her to calm down. “She broke my heart. I got the message. I’ll go my own way. Tell her to just leave me alone. There’s nothing more to say.”

  “But she needs to explain,” Rebecca repeated. “You’re not getting the whole story.”

  “I poured out my heart to her, and I feel like she flushed it,” he said. “I will never talk to her again.”

  “What did she do, Donnie?” Cecilia could see Donnie was hurting just talking about this.

  “She made it very clear early on that we could only be friends and then kissed me out of the blue,” he explained. “Next day, she sends me a horrible text message telling me I’m not worth her time. She didn’t even have the decency to talk to me face-to-face. So I don’t care to give her any more of my time. So get lost, Rebecca.”

  “That sounds really cold, Dodo,” Cecilia replied.

  “I thought she was a completely different person too,” he said.

  “That’s what you are not getting,” Rebecca urged. “She’s not cold, and she wants a chance to explain. I can’t believe you won’t talk to her. You seemed so sweet in your card.”

  “You read my note to her!?” Donnie got visibly upset. “How many people read the card? Is she just handing it off for everyone to read and laugh at?”

  “No, it’s not like that. I read it, my sister Kelly read it, and Trista read it,” Rebecca said.

  “Wait, Trista Rogers?” he asked.

  “Yeah, that Trista and Kelly Monroe,” she informed.

  “Oh, this is just great!” Donnie said irritated. “Trista is the biggest gossip at this school, and Kelly is the head cheerleader. I am sure they’ve told half the senior class by now.”

  “No, they haven’t. They wouldn’t. They’re Abbie’s best friends,” she continued to argue.

  “Now on top of everything else, she’s taking something private and showing it to everyone.” Donnie crossed his arms and looked away. “Please go away now.”

  “Listen, it’s not like that. Damn it! I wish I could explain better,” she uttered.

  Cecilia had enough of this little chatterbox. She could tell Donnie was upset, and she never liked seeing him like this. “No, you listen, pom-pom Barbie. He is done listening, and you need to leave, now,” Cecilia ordered.

  “Be quiet, you cunt!” Rebecca screamed at Cecilia. “Listen, it was me that sent you that . . .” Rebecca’s words were suddenly cut short. Donnie tried to stop Cecilia, but in his injured condition, he was unable to react in time. She was after all a big girl. Cecilia stood up and in one fluid motion delivered a vicious uppercut to the lower portion of Rebecca’s jaw.

  “Strike three . . .” Cecilia said as she delivered the bone breaking blow. This was the second time in a twenty-four-hour period that Donnie had heard bone and teeth break. Rebecca was visibly lifted off her feet and flung backward down the bleachers. Her pom-poms were flung outward as her arms flailed wildly. She landed with a loud thump on her back. Donnie was sure Rebecca didn’t feel the fall. She was out cold before she left the ground.

  “Oh, jeez, why’d you go and do that?” he asked Cecilia.

  “Trust me! She had it coming!”

  “Coach, we need an ambulance!” Donnie yelled out. “You know you’re going to get suspended for this. Half the gym saw you knock her ass out.”

  “It won’t be the first time,” she replied. Donnie simply shook his head and helped the coach and the nurse get Rebecca on the gurney. Despite everything, he was really glad his old friend was back in his life.

  Abbie, Kelly, and Trista had almost reached the school when Kelly got a phone call. “Hi, Mom, what’s up?” After a few minutes, Kelly responded hurriedly, “OK, I’ll be right there.”

  “What happened?” Abbie asked.

  “Rebecca is in the hospital,” she replied.

  “Oh my god, what happened!?!” Abbie’s eyes went wide with concern.

  “She mouthed off to a girl twice her size, and the girl hit her,” she replied angrily.

  “Is she going to be OK?” she asked.

  “Yeah, she has a concussion,” she replied and added, “and she’s in a lot of pain.”

  “Well, let’s head over there right away,” Abbie urged. “That’s your baby sister.”

  “I intend to . . .” Kelly was furious. Trista simply sat in the backseat with a strange little smile and a complete feeling of satisfaction that was hard to match. Kelly dro
ve as fast as she could to the hospital.

  Back at the Houghton mill, a pair of men were holding a conversation. “You are an imbecile!” Hulderich accused.

  “It was not my fault. He simply got lucky. I will kill him tonight.”

  “No, it’s too late. We need to leave New Jersey tonight.”

  “I can complete the mission.”

  “You have failed the mission. I will punish you accordingly when we return home.”

  “I can complete it! Hulderich, let me try again,” he pleaded.

  “Enough! You have placed us at risk. If the boy reported the attack to the police, then the Order will surely know and come looking.”

  “I will take that risk.”

  “Don’t forget your place!” Hulderich stared intently at the man before him. “It is I who give you orders. You are under my command until which time I feel you can be allowed to strike out on your own.”

  “I am ready. Let me prove it!”

  Hulderich struck the man to the ground with the back of his hand and placed his boot firmly on his neck. “You are ready? How can you even speak those words to me? You let a mere boy escape you. Your entire plan was flawed. If you had done any research before setting that pathetic excuse for an ambush, you would have known.” The man could only gurgle at this point. Hulderich continued to apply more and more pressure to his neck. “You were ready, bah! A quick search revealed to me that this boy was active in basketball and soccer. He obviously would be able to run. He has built up the stamina required to run for long periods of time.” Hulderich lifted his boot off him. “Of course, the acrobatics were a surprise.”

  “You were watching? Why didn’t you stop him then?”

  “It was your mission to complete.”

  “He would have gotten away from you too,” he said, looking up from the floor.

  Hulderich kicked the man in the stomach, breaking all of his ribs. “No, I would have sealed all the exits after he was inside. So no matter how many tumbles, flips, or somersaults he performed, he would have still been trapped inside. Never use a net with holes in it. Now go pack my effects. When we arrive home, you are to confine yourself in the pit for a week.”

  “Yes, Hulderich, as you command.”