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“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man tries to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, the unreasonable man is the source of all progress in the world.” – George Bernard Shaw |
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“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” – James 1:23-24 |
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“To be Christian is far from quiet
conformity. On the contrary, it is
Christ’s example as the unreasonable man which shows us how we are
undertaking the daunting task of changing the world, one soul at a time.” – |
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Okay, here’s the idea: CyberStalker, a notorious and incredibly apt hacker, is asked to track down and investigate a young man who others claim to be a real live angel. Danger surrounds this mysterious youth and soon Cyberstalker and two tragic, blessed, and cursed siblings are thrown into that danger as a fight against a growing darkness looms ahead. Readers, I present to you my first two chapters: |
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Mark – A short story put on hold until inspiration hits. Poetry (coming soon) About the Writer (coming soon) |
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*ding dong* “Hello?” “Hey Pam! Take a look at this!” “What is it this time, “It’s a video of a fight” “A fight? Sounds interesting” “It’s not the fight that’s interesting. Here, take
a look.” *click* The monitor flickered and static skittered across the screen and finally cleared to reveal a young man, no older than twenty walking brightly down a dirt and gravel path in what appeared to be a park – perhaps a hiking trail. He carried himself with gentle confidence and simple happiness as his red ponytail bounced up and down with the rhythm of his steps. He was singing a cheerful gospel song but was interrupted as he watched the dramatic emptying of a flock of sparrows from a tree. He turned to watch the cloud of feathers glide away and revealed a bright face with a smile that rode up his high cheek bones, and a sharp nose between two dark brown orbs. Those eyes showed little more than overflowing joy…and then surprise as he saw that he was being taped. “Simon! You’re insane with that camera! Do you have to play with every new toy you get 24/7?” “No, I don’t have to…but I like to. Heh heh heh. Hey Mathias! Say something for posterity. Besides, you know these videos will probably be put into the church slide-show!” “Aren’t slide-shows supposed to have slides not video clips?” “Uh…Matthias…” “What?” “Behind you.” Matthias let out a small yelp as he turned around, “Um, Hello.” “Hi” replied a big gruff man. He wore torn and faded once-blue jeans now turned brown with grime. A checkered button up shirt loosely covered his upper body and thin black chest hair showed at the open collar. Yellow cigarette stained teeth peered through his chapped lips which gave hint of a smile turned sinister by his dark brown eyes which seemed to crouch behind tangled black locks of hair like a tiger from the bushes – or a mugger from an alley. The latter was what Matthias feared…and knew was true. “Nice camera.” Said the man as he stepped forward, his left hand tucked behind his hip. Knife or Gun? thought Matthias. “Simon…” “Yeah Mathias?” “RUN!” The camera fell to the ground, landing tilted up and sideways on a rock as a flash of light reflected off of a dreadful dagger. How ironic, thought Matthias even as terror burned through his brain, the only thing clean on this guy is his knife! “AAACCK!!!
WHAT’S HAPPENING?” screamed Pamela, moving around the screen as if she
could somehow change her view point. *click* “PAM! Relax okay?” said “Is he going to be alright?” “Just watch. There’s something you have to see.” “What?” “Just watch or you’ll never believe me.” “Fine then, now un-pause that stupid machine. I
want to see what happens!” *click* Matthias felt like his brain was on fire and his heart thumped with his fear. Why can’t I run? Why can’t I move? Move you imbecile! Move! But he couldn’t. He just stood there and this towering man saw his helpless prey. His eyes told of his delight and surprise at finding more than just stolen property but a deliciously terrified victim for his thirsty blade. He inhaled the scent of terror as his body grew with his lungs, making him seem to double in size as he raised the steel fang in his left hand into the air. His right hand thrust forward to grab Matthias’ forearm firmly. At that moment the fire left Mathias’ mind and his own right hand clamped down upon the beast’s -- pulling with his hand and forearm -- twisting and rotating so that the monster’s own arm twisted and stretched out – pinned by a painful pressure on his hand and wrist that seemed to shoot flames up his arm as his entire body was forced to turn away with his other arm flying backwards. Mathias stepped forward increasing the pain of the arm lock that looked insanely simple yet painful and kicked the knife out of the man’s hand directly upwards into the air. As his leg came down he shifted his weight, let go of the man’s arm kicked him away in the ribs sending him tumbling forward. Mathias landed softly as a glint of light shined in his peripheral vision. Instinctively he turned and caught the blade which still hung in the air. The demon’s rage hid his pains and with a guttural growl he charged forward despite facing his own steel. Rather than use the knife, however, Matthias threw the blade, spearing it into a tree where it remained on the edge of the camera’s view. “What the—” “Shh! Just keep watching. He won’t need the little
knife! That’s thing’s a toy for a guy like this.” Matthias swung his arms around and brought his hands together -- as if in prayer, he thought. That thought had to be quick for there came this charging monstrosity of human nature coming head long directly toward this young man. Only a foot away from the tackling force of this troll Matthias’ right hand shot out and smacked the man across his poorly shaven face completely stunning him, yet his momentum would not stop as easily as his wits and he flew forward past Matthias’ left shoulder. As he did so, Matthias right hand rejoined his praying left hand and they both shot palms down into the already falling man who thudded all the more loudly into the dirt. Matthias gracefully chenayed away from the man and readjusted his stance, now facing away from the camera. “What is this guy? A Dancer or a Kung Fu master?” *click* “Actually – he’s a dancer.” “What?!?” *grin* “You’re insane with your emotes. Yet you won’t
even use emoticons – then again I can always tell when you’re grinning even
when you don’t type it out.” “Ah shut up. (*grin*) Just watch. The part I want you to see is coming up.” “Okay okay!
Now unpause it again or do I have to hack the controls from you?” *click* It didn’t take long for the mugger to return to his feet, again with rage that blurred out his pain. Once more he charged forward toward Matthias, seeming to loom over him even from a distance. A barbaric cry gurgled from the madman’s throat as his fists balled into bricks and his eyes seemed to burn with fire. Mathias’ left foot slid out and around – a precise roun du jean an d’our to a perfect fourth position and he pivoted on both feet bringing in his knees and spiraling downward to a curled sitting position as his right fist rode the momentum and shot forward with a twisting blow to the charging man’s groin. As he crouched in pain, Matthias’ left fist hammered the top of his skull throwing him back. Stay back! “Ouch!” “Keep watching, here it is.” The man paused to breathe as he clutched his groin and shook his head to stop the world from spinning. Despite all his pain, his rage once more enveloped him and he arched his back and let out an unearthly howl and began to charge forward once more, yet as his gaze returned to the spot where he had left the young “victim” he instead saw a flying foot which soon filled his entire vision followed by blackness. *click* “What on earth? Did I just see that right?” “You certainly did. Here, let me rewind it for you and play it
in slow motion” *click*….*click* *click*
*click* The screen
showed Matthias kneeling and his hands had returned to the prayer
position. Dust had flown up from his
moves and the mugger was in pain. Then
that pain dissolved as that unholy scream played out in terrifying slow
motion, but simultaneously the dust was flying around Matthias and…yes…can I believe my eyes? “ “Yes” There, quite clearly on the tape, the dust had formed wings on Matthias’ back and he leaped into the air with an amazing flying kick that knocked the would-be murderer unconscious. He landed with utmost grace with arms spread out. The dust faded in the breeze as he whispered a kneeling prayer of forgiveness. Forgive me, Father, for I have acted in violence. Father, please forgive me and forgive this man for whatever in his life that has possessed him to do this. Thank you, my God, for guiding me. Thank you. It is in your son’s name I humbly pray. Amen.
Matthias stood – breathing heavily and with tears in his eyes walked over to the camera. It recorded the whole thing? I’d better get the police. *click* “Is there more?” “Nope. I think that there is enough!” “Where did you get this?” “It sort of fell from an old police case
box.” “…What do you mean by ‘sort of fell?’ ” “Well, let’s just say this hacker uses
more than software to get information.” “So what are you going to do with this?” “Well that’s where you come in, Pam. Or
should I call you ‘CyberStalk?’ ” “What?!?” “Hey, you think I didn’t know? You pretend to be AngelPam, but I found out
a long time ago that you’re the (in)famous web tracker/hacker.” “I knew I shouldn’t have made friends
with you.” “But the idea of having a new hacker
webfriend who just so happens to be at the heart of a company that develops the
best experimental computer products in the world was just too tempting eh?” “Yeah. Sure” “Or was it my good looks?” “…” <eg> “O_O” “J/K” “Phew…” “:)” “Wait a second. You do
know how I look don’t you?” “They don’t call me CyberStalk for
nothing you know. I know how everyone
I meet looks, where he lives, what friends he has, where he works, what’s on
his police record…FBI record… and I’d even know when all of the stuff out
there has been tampered with and the person I’m talking to who calls himself
“Tyler” is actually Emily Martha Saranson. Who isn’t just at the heart of
Omega Trin Cyber Co. but is the
heart of the best experimental computer product design in the world.” “And yet isn’t smart enough to fool a
web tracker.” “You had me for a while, E. You have the most complex network of false
identity files I’ve ever seen. It took a while, but I cracked your façade.” “And so you’ve proven yourself worthy of
tracking down our Angel.” “ooOOooh. So that’s what you want from me.” “As if you didn’t know already.” *shrug* “Does it matter?” “I suppose not. Anyway, are you up to
it?” “Sure….” “hmmm?” “Well… you know I don’t do these things
for free – despite how interesting it is.” “:) I know. That’s why I’m giving you access to all of
our current and ongoing comp designs plus one of each product you desire.” “There’s something you’re not telling me
about this Dancing Kung Fu Angel. From
what I see in this video, he may be worth a lot but he doesn’t seem worth that much.” “You’re the expert on finding things
out. I’m sure you’ll figure it out on
your own.” “Very well then.” *click* Connection Closed. Emily sat in her chair staring at her computer monitor and the blinking cursor waiting for input. She twirled a lock of her red and blue dyed hair in her slender fingers with nails painted a deep scarlet red. A medic bracelet adorned her wrist to display her allergy to fish. She was dressed in a black tank top and blue jeans. She bounced her sandal right about her toes as she pondered – staring into that black blinking line with her green eyes that had dilated in the dim light of the massive room. A red diode flashed to her right and she looked over to find a dead goldfish floating among the plastic plants. “Oh no! Not again!” she whined as she tapped on the glass. “You’ve died so many times I could…I could…GRRRR!!! No. I’m not going to hack this stupid Equarium. It’s a matter of principle that a teen genius should be able to take care of one stupid virtual fish!” She pounded the reset button on the machine and watched the cartoonish hatching of a tiny fish from what looked more like a chicken’s egg than a fish’s. “Mama!” said the fish with ridiculous throbbing hearts appearing in its eyes. “Yeah yeah yeah, now stay alive this time or I’ll chop you up into digi-sushi and feed you to my guests! Here’s some food.” She swiveled away from the Equarium in her throne-like office chair and faced a holo-display of the video fight. Where are you, Matthias? We’re running out of time and you still don’t know what you are do you? Why are you running away? How dare you?! I made a promise! I said that I would find you and I’m going to! You and your kind are the only ones who can stop those—those—whatever they are. Your predecessor didn’t have enough time to explain to me everything. She turned once more in her chair and stood up to walk down the room now cluttered with screens and half-finished computer parts. At the end of the room she had what appeared to be a large photo of a burning factory building with fire-fighters trying to put it out. You could see the edge of the crowd which had formed…pressing against barricades and officers trying to keep them back. The frame of this photo was sleek black with a small silver oval in the bottom. Emily sighed and pressed the oval and the picture sprung to life revealing a newscast. *click* “God help
me,” whispered “Somebody’s got to get in there!” Shouted Gavin “That’s suicide,” returned Pierce. “We can’t go in there now! Even with our equipment we’d never be able to withstand that blaze! We’re fire-fighters not miracle-workers! Don’t be stupid!” “That kid is still in there. We’ve got to get him out!” “I said NO.” “I don’t care. I’m going in.” “Gavin! No!” but it was too late. Pierce for an instant thought of running in after him, but was distracted by the sight of a white blur of motion flying from the roof of an adjacent building into the blazing factory. “I’m going in too.” Said another firefighter. “Oh no you’re not!” said pierce, grabbing the second “hero” by the coat and pulling him back with so much force they both tumbled backward into the street. “I’m not going to let two idiots die over someone who’s not worth saving.” “Not worth saving? Are you insane?” “That kid in there is Tyler Banks. He starts these fires for fun! He’s the cause for the nine massive fires down south of here. Now get back to work before this fire spreads.” “Yes Sir.” As the young firefighter ran off, Pierce looked back to where that white blur had been. That’s where the kid should be. Could—his thought was cut short by a sudden high pitched ringing which buzzed through the air. The entire crowd flinched and cringed and the men holding the fire-hose lost their grip and it soon became a writhing and powerful snake which knocked over two men standing at the front of the crowd. “GET DOWN!” yelled Pierce and a split second later the factory exploded – sending metal shards flying through the air. A charred metal box skidded down into the street stopping next to Pierce. “Is everyone alright?” called out Pierce. Everyone appeared to be okay and the hose was turned off. He turned to see what had happened with the debris and heard a sudden Thump!. He looked around and saw once more the charred metal box. Thump! He stared at it. Thump! Thump! Thump! and the box jolted slightly. Pierce’s eyes widened as it dawned on him what this meant. “Someone, get a crowbar or sledgehammer – Anything! Just help me tip this thing over and open it!” “What about the—” “Forget the building! Get this thing open!” “But--” “Do it!” Just hold on, okay? The box was too hot to touch so the firefighters found a rock and used their axes as levers to roll the box over. Once they did, a metal door was revealed and another Thump! was heard. One last Thump! and the door flew open. A figure emerged from the door. “Gavin, you lucky bastard! Get out here and…” but Gavin was acting too strange for Pierce to continue. He was too…quiet. Gavin got out of the box and turned around and pulled out an unconscious boy. “Oh God” whispered Pierce. “Yes” whispered Gavin and then blacked out. *click* “I thought that newscast always depressed you, Emily,” said a voice over her left shoulder. “It should depress you more than me, Tyler.” “It doesn’t, and you know why. You were there too. You were revealed far more than that newscast shows. You know even more than I do, sis.” “Oh “But a part of you still wishes he hadn’t.” “Tyler I…” “I understand. Your mind is tortured by the gift he gave you. And now you’re tortured even more by the charge he gave you. Five years is a long time to wait while balancing on the line between genius and insanity. But we have to, E. We have to because if we don’t then those monsters will win and that must not happen. Ten devastating fires was only the beginning. You’ve already seen what else is going on in the world. Oh, Emily I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” The two of them collapsed in each others arms as their tears mingled. “I’m sorry…” they both kept saying to each other, “I’m sorry…” Finally, their tears ended and Emily could speak again. “I think I’ve found someone who can help us.” “The stalker?” “CyberStalker” “Do you really think a hacker could help us find him? Where would he even begin to find someone like Matthias?” “She’s the best there is.” “She? I should’ve known.” “What? You think hackers have to be guys?” “Well
you’re evidence they’re not.” “No.” |
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