FLARE: Chapter 10 Chaos (Excerpt)

 

(This is an excerpt from my book FLARE, Chapter 10 Chaos)

Dolan found himself caught in a web of conflicting emotions, torn between loyalty to his comrades and the unsettling truth about Cher's motives, leaving him grappling with a moral dilemma that could change everything. He's aware that Cher witnessed something real, but in a vision. He was eager to speak with her, but something was preventing him from getting close to her house.

He suspects that religious charms hanging outside her window might be the cause.

 "Hey Dolan, you really need to have a conversation with her, or at least with her friend. She confides in her about everything," Leena urged before getting up and headed toward the door. Dolan was deep in thought.

She turned back and said, "Catch you later," with a hint of disappointment in her eyes. After she left, Dolan made his way to the bathroom for a quick shower. Later, he lay on his bed, partially dressed, staring up at the ceiling. As night fell, he closed his eyes, trying to connect with Cher in his thoughts. Suddenly a vision came to him, it showed Cher battling a group of vampires. 

Startled, he abruptly sat up. Quickly, he threw on his long black coat over a black tee shirt. His black button-up Levi’s jeans fit snugly but allowed for easy movement. He grabbed a suitcase filled with weapons from his closet, taking out a retractable sword, he took it with him.

 With a sigh, he headed out the door. Arriving at the feeding den in some undisclosed bar and grill in Long Beach, he parked his car in the back parking lot. He can sense Cher nearby. He immediately heard screams emanating from within. Fear gripped him as he stepped out of the vehicle, his eyes wide with apprehension. Scanning his surroundings, he noticed the hunters encircling the building. All humans had been safely evacuated, leaving behind only those who willingly offered their blood to the vampires. A hunter pursued a vampire fleeing from the building, both disappearing into the darkness. 

“The Hunters always strike at night, damn bastards,” he muttered. “Get back here, you fuckin’ bloodsucker!" the Hunter yelled.

A pistol gleamed in his hands; its barrel pointed straight at the vampire. With a swift pull of the trigger, rounds of Holy Water burst forth from the gun, each bullet containing the sacred liquid. The shots echoed through the night, and the vampire staggered before collapsing to the ground. 

Dolan crouched behind the towering trash bins, his heart racing as he watched the chaotic scene unfold before him. Among the fleeing vampires and some humans that were donors, Cher stood out, brandishing a sterling silver machete amid the crowd.

“No,” Dolan muttered. He was unsure how to engage with her. Helpless, he observed as the chaos seemed to play out in slow motion. She wielded the sharp machete, decapitating heads as she made her way through the vampires that tried to fight back or escape. When she faced in his direction, he saw her eyes glow passionately as she enjoyed killing the blood suckers. No energy vampire has ever killed a regular vampire, not since the war that happened between them before he was ever made into an energy vampire. In superhuman speed, he dashed towards her, scooped her up, and carried her to his car while she was distracted. 

“Put me down,” she shouted, grappling with him, nearly injuring him with the weapon she wielded, but he seized it and flung it into the rear seat as he tossed her in the passenger seat. “Cher, stop," he yelled. Her eyes gleamed with a crimson hue as she hissed at him vehemently.

 “What happened to you? Why are you doing this?" he asked, as he drove out of the parking lot and onto the street. Cher composed herself and fixed her gaze on him. "Why would you do that?" she asked, her eyes reflecting a lugubrious expression and her lips parting in disbelief. Her eyes had lost their fiery intensity and returned to their normal state.

 “You shouldn’t have done that, you should’ve left me alone,” she admonished him for his actions before turning her gaze towards the passing lights of other vehicles while Dolan hurriedly drove to his apartment. 

“Explain," he interjected, his tone firm. "I need an answer from you." Cher remained quiet. Upon reaching the apartment building, he held the door open for Cher, but she declined to leave the car. He looked at her, feeling flustered. She met his gaze with a glare before finally stepping out of the vehicle. Glancing at her weapon in the backseat, she was stopped by Dolan's stern voice, "Don't think about it, Cher."

 He firmly held her arm until they arrived at his apartment, where he immediately switched on the light. “Sit,” He commanded her to take a seat at the breakfast table, then removed his coat and settled down beside her. “I regret leaving, and if I had been aware of what you went through after I left, I would have returned earlier," he expressed apologetically.

 Cher gazed at him, feeling the urge to weep, yet refusing to grant him the satisfaction of witnessing her vulnerability. He fixed his gaze on her, anticipating a reaction. A tense silence hung in the air. He reached out and gently touched her hand, causing her lips to part and their eyes to meet with a shared desire. Standing up, he took her hand and guided her towards his bed, where they both undressed in anticipation. With a seductive smile, he whispered, "Baby, let's share our energy with each other. I don’t want to fight."

(For those who don't know, Cher's eyes are normally brown but when she is aroused or enraged, her eyes turn silver in color. In addition, I try not to share the sexual encounters between the characters on this blog, The book is rated for 18 & 0ver.)

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Chapter 11 Excerpt

Trigger warnings: sexual content

A Time Traveler's Companion: Chapter 7 Excerpt

 

(An excerpt from Chapter 7: Something Unexpected Happened)

Despite their numerous arms, the mysterious starfish also bore two shadowy spheres that eerily resembled eyes on their forms.  "What in the Hell are those?" I asked, my eyes wide with a mix of amazement and dread as I watched them leap in and out of the water. Mr. Smith calmly aimed the scanner in the direction of the enigmatic creatures. "Fascinating. It appears that these peculiar creatures are some kind of parasite,” his brow furrowed, while he pondered the situation. “It would be wise to avoid this area. “Let’s go girls," he declared, turning to lead the way.

I watched in awe as the strange creatures glimmered under the rays of sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of the forest. In an instant, Leila's piercing scream shattered the tranquility, prompting me to turn and discover one of the creatures leaping toward her, striking her arm with surprising force. Without hesitation, Mr. Smith reached into his well-worn leather messenger bag and pulled out a futuristic handheld taser and with a swift press of a button, he touched the creature, it then collapsed to the forest floor, rendered motionless by the device's powerful jolt. The underbelly of the creature was exposed, revealing rows of sharp hooks resembling teeth scattered among the numerous writhing tendrils. It was a sight that sent shivers down my spine.

“Those things are not starfish,” I commented as I gulped. He kicked it back into the pond. The creatures were all in a frenzy as though we disturbed them in some way.  “I feel that they are attracted to our body heat, we should go,” he said. 

Just as we were ready to depart, I glanced back at the pond, only to be seized by a man in armor who yanked my hair and forced my face perilously close to the water's edge. Leila's scream pierced the air, followed by Mr. Smith's frantic shout as he fired his weapon at the shadowy figure. Desperate to escape, I attempted to stand, but then one of those grotesque starfish-like creatures lunged at me, latching onto my face, and darkness enveloped me.

(Images used in this blog are for the readers entertainment.)

A Time Traveler’s Companion 

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Excerpt from Chapter 12

Excerpt from Chapter 19

Chapter 16: The Thing About the Book-Part 3

 

(This is a excerpt from Chapter 16: The Thing About the Book--Part 3 from  

A Time Traveler's Companion.)

“Remi, I didn’t notice that you came in. I thought I heard the front door earlier and assumed you had left. Did you go out?” 

“Actually, I went hiking with Leila,” I lied. The truth is I was having lunch with Mr. Smith, completely oblivious to my mom's presence at home. 

“Oh, I thought Leila was working today?” my mom asked.

“She had a schedule change,” I replied, continuing the deception.

“Sweetheart, I’m really sorry,” she said, taking a breath. “I didn’t mean to upset you, and you were right; I shouldn’t have looked at your diary.”

I gave her a soft smile. “It’s okay mom, let’s just forget about it,” I responded, and accepted her apology. She mentioned that she had the day off and asked if I wanted to join her for some shopping. I smiled and agreed. We headed out and I made a stop at that nearby thrift store, where I spotted Tracy’s granddaughter assisting a customer.

 Once she finished with the customer, I approached her. “Hi, I’m not sure if you remember me, but—” 

She cut me off, saying, “Of course, you’re the girl who bought the book!” 

I nodded in acknowledgment and asked, “Do you know where the author lives now?” 

"My grandmother passed away in the early 2000s," she disclosed, leaving me momentarily stunned.

"Oh, I'm really sorry to hear that," I replied, feeling a wave of sympathy.

 "It's alright; my mom often shared tales of my grandmother's escapades with her time traveler,” she fingered quoted and smiled, “I'm glad you enjoyed the book," she continued, and my heart sank. 

The revelation hit me hard—not only was Tracy gone, but she had travelled with Mr. Smith at some point in the past. The realization was painful, and I felt a deep sense of loss, my heart sank. I left the shop, seeking comfort in the familiar spot where I had first spoke to Melanie, where my mom was waiting for me.

"What’s wrong?" My mom sensed the sorrow etched on my face.

  "It's nothing," I lied to her, but her gaze pierced through my facade. Leaning against her, I fought back tears that threatened to spill. "Sweetheart, it can't be as terrible as it seems." I inhaled deeply and straightened up.

  "Let's head home; our soap opera will be starting soon," I suggested, hiding the ache within. As we settled in to watch our beloved soap, my thoughts drifted elsewhere, haunted by the words Tracy's granddaughter had shared with me. I headed upstairs and took a shower, feeling my face heat up. 

Once in my room, I plopped down on my bed and picked up the book, flipping through the pages. I hit a section where Tracy perfectly detailed Mr. Smith’s bedroom, and my heart sank. That’s when I noticed the monolith materializing in my room. Tears started rolling down my face as a mix of anger and pain bubbled up inside me. When Mr. Smith stepped out, he noticed how upset I was.

 “Remi, what’s wrong?” I was sprawled on my bed, face buried in my pillow. He sat beside me and gently rubbed my back, trying to soothe me. I shot him a glare before turning away and hiding my face again. He seemed puzzled, not grasping my behavior, until I reached over to my nightstand where I placed the book and tossed it at him. He glanced at the back where Tracy’s photo was, and with a simple, “Oh,” I knew he finally understood what had happened.

"Why did she go on trips with you? You slept with her, didn't you," I shouted, my anger boiling over. He sighed deeply, "I'm sorry, Remi. I did take her on a couple of trips, but I didn't sleep with her. When she joined me, she was already married and had a child."

  “How did you manage to contact her?” I asked, my voice laced with suspicion as tears streamed down my cheeks. “I provided her with a phone, much like yours,” he said. “Why would you do that?” I pressed.

 “When we first ran into her, she said she wanted to tag along on our adventures, but I could see you were a bit jealous. So, after we dropped her off and I took you home, I headed back to 1969, where I thought it’d be fun to take Tracy on a little trip, and I took her to…” 

I jumped in, “Tarislee?” I said with a hint of accusation. He looked at me with a smile and planted a kiss on my forehead. “No, my love, I took her to the Century 21 Exposition World’s Fair in Seattle back in the 1950s.”

 My brow furrowed, I shot back, laced with sarcasm, “So why haven’t you taken me to any of the world’s fairs?” He let out a soft sigh, taking my hand and planting a gentle kiss on it.

“I promise, I will—maybe next time.” 

 “Did you take her anywhere else?” I asked, wiping tears from my eyes.

“Yes, Tracy had a passion for time travel and often shared how much she wished you could accompany us. She truly loved you Remi."
“How? She barely knew me,” I thought to myself, and urged him to continue.

 "Eventually, she contacted me in her late 30s, excited about the idea of one final adventure together. I had no idea she was chronicling our experiences in a book." He paused briefly before adding, "I have strong feelings for you, but it pains me that you kept your friendship with Melanie hidden from me." I took a deep breath, though traces of anger remained. Reflecting on his words, I came to understand that we had both, in our own way, let each other down. I kept quiet about Melanie, and he never mentioned his time-traveling adventures with Tracy, so we were on equal footing.

"Alright, I guess that makes us even,” I said. He gently turned my face to look into his eyes.

 “Remi, did Melanie share anything else with you?” I took a deep breath and replied, “No,” knowing I was being dishonest. He let out a sigh, flashed a smile, and nodded, “Alright, Butterfly.” I kept to myself the fact that Melanie had revealed his true name.

“From now on, let’s promise to be completely honest with one another,” he said as I sat up straight. He wrapped his arm around me and continued, "I want to avoid repeating the mistakes I made with Melanie. I truly love you; my feelings for you have deepened, and my heart is yours, just as yours is mine." I nodded and he held me firmly in his arms.

“Tracy’s granddaughter mentioned to me that she passed away in the early 2000s. Were you aware of that?” He sighed deeply, “Yes, the AI had actually informed me well in advance that Tracy would succumb to an aneurysm and recommended that I take her on some trips to show kindness.” Hearing this made me feel a pang of sadness for Tracy.

(Images are for the readers entertainment)

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