The Elect 17, part 2 of 4: Amazon Mindy

March 8, 2016March 7, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

“Maynard in a moron!” Emily griped about her professor and slammed her Earth Science book shut. She slouched down in her lounge chair and ran her hand through her hair. It was coming along nicely, but still in that awkward short but not too short stage. “I swear she just hates people, all people. I don’t take it personally.” Maria and Amina looked up from their studies, but only briefly.

Jessica returned from the vending machine with a bag of peanuts that she was trying to open. “Ugh. Why do you think I am majoring in business? Ugh.”

Emily put out her hand. Jessica handed her the bag and Emily opened it easily, except one peanut shot across the room.

“Hey!” Jessica protested. “I am perfectly capable of spilling them myself.” Maria had her hand out. Jessica gave her a few. Amina lifted her hand and got a few as well. Emily just looked at her but Jessica shook her head and pointed. “Yours is over there.”

“I don’t need them,” Emily said with a pat on her stomach.

Amina tapped Emily’s arm and smiled. “I have seen you eat. You should be very fat.”

“High metabolism,” Maria said without looking up from her book.

“No, it’s those workouts with Heinrich and the sophomore ROTC class,” Emily said. She put her book back into her backpack, which was sitting on the empty chair between her and Jessica. Maria and Amina were on the couch.

“So no word from Detective Lisa?” Maria looked up then and wanted to talk.

Emily shook her head. “They have people searching as far away as the Philadelphia shipyards, but no sign of any lab.”

“Oh, thanks for reminding me about the zombies.” Jessica threw her pencil down and stared at Emily. It did not take much to turn her from her studies. “I just hope this semester I don’t have another teacher killed.”

“You passed art history,” Maria pointed out.

“Yeah, but I spent a whole semester buttering up Missus Farmer for an A. That was all wasted.”

Amina and Emily just looked at each other and shook their respective heads before Amina spoke. “Funny. The magic involved in making them was so very strong even if it only took a small spark to make it work. But you would think such a thing would be easy to find.”

“Easy for you, maybe,” Emily said, and Amina looked away.

“I imagine it is hidden on many levels,” Maria suggested.

“Please, magic?” Jessica started up again. “I mean, I know. I’m not stupid, but I’m still trying to get used to the idea of zombies.” None of the people on campus had any memory of their time as Abby worshipers.

“More like Frankenstein type monsters,” Emily used the term her sisters used.

“That is actually a very good description.” Maria had not been there when Emily and her sisters met and described them. Maria liked the description, but she did not have time to comment further. She fell silent as someone came in the door. It was Mindy from Daughters of the Amazon fame. Mindy came up, acknowledged them all by name, and turned to Maria.

“Do you mind? I heard you say you were having some trouble with Crocker’s class.” Mindy had her book and Amina scooted over so Mindy could sit between her and Maria.

“Actually, I would not mind some help,” Maria said. “Calc,” she said to the others. “Math,” she added for Jessica who pretended offence. They no sooner got settled when the door opened again. It was Connie and she had a girl on her heels that at first glance looked more like a football player than a female.

“Mindy.” Connie got ready to scold her roommate for some offence, but Emily interrupted.

“Homework. Math. Priority.” Connie just looked at Emily for a second before she introduced the group to her friend, Lilly.

“So you’re Emily,” Lilly said through a crooked grin that creased her face. Connie stepped back a half step to stand behind the couch. She was beaming. “I hear you think you’re pretty tough.”

“Me?” Emily widened her eyes. “No, I like people, unlike certain Earth Science professors.”

“Well, I think you should move over and give me your seat.” Lilly threatened without actually saying it out loud.

“No problem.” Emily got up, moved her backpack and took the empty seat. She pointed to her former seat as if inviting Lilly to sit. The girl sat, but Amina could not contain herself. She giggled. She tried to cover up with both of her hands. Lilly turned on her like a shark.

“What are you laughing at, shithead?”

Emily had to move fast. She caught Lilly’s fist before that fist touched Amina’s face. She also squeezed a little which had to hurt poor Lilly. She grabbed Lilly with her other hand on the girl’s shoulder and tossed the girl five feet down the hall. Lilly landed on her back and continued to slide another five feet before she stopped.

“Ow!” They heard Lilly say, but when Lilly looked up, Connie was already racing for the door. Lilly decided to go out the door at the other end of the hall, and Emily reclaimed her seat, after she picked it up.

“Sorry.” Emily spoke to the group, but she said it loud enough with the hope that Lilly might hear. They all looked at Mindy, but she seemed unfazed by it all, until they noticed a tear in Mindy’s eye. Amina was the first to speak.

“We are getting a suite next year in Brown. You could be my roommate.”

Mindy let her tears out and threw her arms around Amina. “Oh, thank you, thank you.” Then she turned on Maria. “Thank you.” Jessica got up with “what the heck,” and gave the girl a hug as well. Emily counted.

“But that only makes five. The housing office will assign a stranger.”

Maria raised her hand. “Melissa.”

“Oh, right.”

“So, we are getting a suite?” Jessica looked nonchalant and sounded unruffled by the news.

“The Sybil has spoken,” Maria said. “Welcome to the club,” she added for Mindy.

Mindy smiled and picked up her math paper. She looked around, then looked seriously at her math while her mouth spoke. “So were we talking about the zombies or the witch?”

The Elect 17, Attempts: part 1 of 4

March 7, 2016March 6, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Ashish stepped up to the counter and stared at the back wall. The clerk began the transaction with two words.

“A dozen?” He already had the box open.

“I should say a half-dozen only. I’m trying to quit.”

“Oh, no, Mister Mousad. You’ll make the store go bankrupt,” the clerk joked.

Ashish frowned. “Yes, well, my dentist is buying a new boat. I don’t see any reason why I should finance it.”

The clerk waited patiently.

“Better give me two jellies. Lisa likes jellies. And two plain. They are good for dunking.” Ashish shook his head. “Give me a maple. That looks good, but you know I sugar crash at two thirty every day like clockwork.”

“So you should come back at two o’clock for a half-dozen pick-me-up box,” the clerk suggested.

“I’m trying to quit … three glazed …”

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The elect is being serialized over several months. You are welcome to click on the archives button on the blog and go back to November 1015 and read the story from the beginning, or you can just read a couple of episodes to get the idea of what is going on. Every episode or chapter is posted in a single week on Mon., Tues., Wed., and Thursday. Please read the entire episode before you tell me about not following it… thank you.

Emily, a freshman at New Jersey State University in Trenton and Detective Lisa at two elect still looking for the lab that has sent out dead people like frankenstein monsters to terrorize the university. They started in a contest to build super soldiers, and though that contest appears bust, the lab is still out there. The zombies are not yet out of business.

Enjoy the story. Events are about to turn (whatever that means),,, and Happy Reading.

The Elect 16, part 4 of 4: Succubus

March 3, 2016March 2, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Monday morning, Latasha, Keisha and Janet walked to school in the dark. There was a cold March wind and some icy spots where they still had to walk carefully. The stars were hidden behind the clouds. It was either going to snow or rain, Latasha could not tell. Maybe it would sleet and make that impossibly cold slushy stuff that was the real harbinger of spring.

“I’m cold,” Janet’s words started the conversation even as her foot broke the ice.

“I’m tired,” Keisha had only one thing on her mind.

“I’m cold and tired, but we have to do this.” Latasha had convinced herself that another ride with Ms Johnson might seriously injure some of the students.

“Maybe we should wait and see what Ms Riley comes up with,” Janet suggested.

“We can’t wait. Your friend, Jason won’t survive another ride.”

“He’s not my friend. He just lives next door,” Janet protested. She was not fooling anyone. She had feelings for the boy.

“What do you mean, won’t survive?” Keisha was beginning to wake up a little. “You mean like die?”

“Yeah, maybe,” Latasha carefully examined what she was feeling. “It’s possible.”

There was silence for a minute before Janet spoke again.

“So why are we going to face a killer?” Janet asked the question, but by then they were at the schoolyard and coming up on the bus parking lot.

There was only one gate for the drivers because they did not want just anyone around the school busses, but then there was no one guarding the gate so it would hardly keep anyone out. A few of the busses were already running to warm them up. They did have to be sneaky, but finding their bus was not hard, and since it was not yet running, they assumed Ms Johnson was not there yet. The girls went behind the bus and waited, being careful to stay hidden.

Now that they were not moving, the cold became more apparent. Janet could not help hugging herself and stamping her feet. Keisha, who was watching intently, kept telling her to be quiet, but it did no good. Latasha paced a little between the bus and the fence. She was still trying to figure out a way to stop Ms Johnson from driving. Naturally, Ms Johnson walked up behind them.

“Are you waiting for me?” Ms Johnson said with a grin. Only Janet shrieked, and it was softly.

“Yes,” Latasha spoke up after she stopped staring. “We wanted to ask you not to drive the bus today.”

“That was your great plan?” Keisha balked.

“But why, Latasha, dear? I find driving the bus so fulfilling”

Janet butted in. “You mean filling.”

“That, too,” Ms Johnson said and she placed her hand up to Janet’s cheek. Janet’s eyes went wide and she stumbled. “And you Keisha, dear.” Keisha did not move. She was already squatting, holding to the edge of the bus.

Latasha stepped up and shoved Ms Johnson away from her friends. “This is not funny,” Latasha said. Ms Johnsons was ruffled, but only for a second. “Keisha, get Janet out of here.”

“I can’t move,” Keisha said before Ms Johnson spoke again.

“You are a strong one, a very strong one. I am going to enjoy you.” Ms Johnson pulled herself together and surprised Latasha with a punch. Latasha got hurt and shaken by the strength of that punch. She stumbled to the fence. The fence helped hold her upright, and it only took a second to recover, but when she turned, she saw Ms Johnson kneeling between her friends. The woman’s hands were hovering over the girls and she was grinning, eyes closed, singing. Janet and Keisha looked like they were being drained for good.

Latasha raced over and kicked out just as hard as she could. Ms Johnson lifted off the ground and flew to the next bus where she crashed loudly into the side and with enough power to shake the whole bus. Latasha felt sure she hurt the woman and felt glad about it, but her concern was for her friends.

Ms Johnson growled for Latasha’s attention and Latasha saw something come up into Ms Johnson’s face that could not be called human. Latasha made her little fists for a fight, but Ms Johnson simply stretched her hands out and at once Latasha felt all the strength leave her. She was on her knees before she could think of what to do.

“I will be fed,” Ms Johnson said in a voice that grated on Latasha’s ears. “I will…” the woman stopped talking and Latasha saw why. An arrow stuck out of the woman’s chest. It had entered the woman’s back. “Oh my,” Ms Johnson said in her normal, pleasant voice as she looked at the arrowhead and the blood that followed. She seemed uncertain of what she was seeing. “Oh my,” she said again as a second arrow arrived, and this one burst straight through the heart. “But I…” Ms Johnson fell to the ground and Latasha heard what sounded like Ms Riley’s voice.

“Latasha, get your friends out of there.”

Latasha recovered rapidly, but she had to grab her friends by the hands and drag them several feet away. When she turned, she was not entirely sure what she saw.

Something ghost-like rose up from Ms Johnson’s body, though it was not entirely ghost-like because she could see it. It appeared to have some substance and the look on what she took to be the face was angry, and evil. But at once, there were several tremendous flashes of light all around that made Latasha blink. She could not see well, but there was nothing wrong with her ears.

“Get it.” “Don’t let it get away.” “Look out Dweezel.” “Get that tether around it.”

The thing moaned and let out a wail.

“That’s it. Now get the other tether.” “It’s bucking.” “Hold it. Hold on.”

As Latasha’s eyes cleared from the flashes of light, she saw what looked like men, at least little men. They appeared to have the ghost trapped in some way, and the light came again. This time it was a big one, but this time Latasha squinted, prepared. The little men walked into the light and took the ghost with them. The last thing she heard was singing. It sounded like the theme from Ghostbusters.

When they were gone, Latasha caught a glimpse of Ms Riley at the far end of the bus. The sun by then was preparing to top the horizon so there was some light. Ms Riley was kissing someone. He looked like an alien from some space ship kind of show. For that matter, Ms Riley had the same pointed ears, and she looked as skinny as Latasha.

Latasha glanced at her friends and saw they were moving, though neither had yet opened her eyes. When she looked back, someone was standing between her and Ms Riley. It was a woman, a white woman, tall and stately, and as beautiful as any cover girl. And she was frowning.

“Wisdom says you should use whatever help is offered. Only a child wants to do it all herself. Sometimes you need to get all the help you can.” Latasha did not argue. She messed up and almost died, and worse, she almost got her friends killed. “Sweetheart, if you want to be strong, you must first be strong up here.” The woman bent down and touched Latasha on the temple. Then she smiled, and it was such a warm and gentle smile, Latasha could not help returning the same. When the woman stood, she said one more thing. “Boston, you will have to drive the bus.” Then she vanished, but there was no light. The woman simply vanished, like a ghost herself.

Latasha was not sure what she saw, except she saw the skinny version of Ms Riley curtsey and say, “Yes, Lady,” while her skinny alien man bowed his head slightly. The man touched his lips once more to Ms Riley’s lips and then turned to look at Latasha. Ms Riley looked only at the man. The man also smiled before he vanished, but he disappeared into another light and Latasha blinked.

“What happened?” Keisha sat up slowly.

“Yeah,” Janet agreed, but she was not ready to sit up yet.

Latasha said nothing but looked up at Ms Riley who came close and looked utterly human again. Latasha was sure it must have been some trick of the light. When Ms Riley helped her up, they looked at the body of Ms Johnson. She looked like she had been dead a long time, but she was recognizable, and the expression on her face was terror. She was petrified, and with her dead, leathery skin, that was almost a literal description.

Ms Riley got the keys as several people finally ran up.

“What is going on over here?” Principal Wearing was the one out front. “Where is Jean Johnson?”

“Here,” Ms Riley said as Latasha pointed. “I’ll be driving the bus this morning and the girls will be going with me to make sure I don’t miss any stops.”

“What happened?” Principal Wearing stared. Ms Johnson’s body was still barely recognizable, but beginning to crumble. The two arrows were no longer present, having vanished with the last flash of light before the sun rose. Only the hole in the woman’s chest remained, and the stain from what was now dry and crusty blood.

“No telling. The police have been called,” Ms Riley said as she helped Janet and Latasha helped Keisha get up into the bus. Ms Riley started the bus, but left the door open, not sure if the principal or another might come up with some more questions. As it turned out, Principal Wearing turned the gathered drivers to their own busses and walked off to the gate to await the police, and Latasha felt it was safe to ask.

“What happened?” She sounded a bit like the principal.

Ms Riley looked at Janet and Keisha. They were still recovering, and Janet might have been asleep. All the same, she spoke softly.

“It was about twelve years ago certain spirits, ancient things and people were allowed to come to earth. You might say they escaped their cages. This was one, but I am telling you because there are still many out there. It is only in the last couple of years that we have begun to try and find them and return them to where they belong.”

“I don’t understand,” Latasha admitted. “What was that ghost-thing?”

Ms Riley shrugged. “A succubus, incubus, school bus. Some kind of bus. My husband would know exactly.”

“Your husband? The one with the ears?”

Ms Riley grinned and nodded. “The one with the ears. I told him I could not abandon you mid-semester. I said I had to finish the school year.” She turned in her seat to face Latasha. “We were hunting that thing for a year, ever since we discovered the bodies last March in Philadelphia. These things only feast once per year. We knew it was close, but we did not know who or what it was possessing until it showed itself.”

Latasha turned her head a little to try to get another angle on her teacher. She thought if the light was right, she might be able to see the points in her ears again. “Are you human?”

Ms Riley laughed. “I was born not too far from Boston.” She paused. “You don’t need to know when.”

“Boston Minnesota?” Keisha was finally coming around.

Ms Riley frowned. “Maybe we need to add some geography lessons in our science curriculum. Oh look, it is our turn.” She began to drive and did not answer any more questions for a time. When she did, it was, “There are some things you don’t need to know about yet,” and that was it.

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Be sure to return Monday as the story of the Elect continues…

The Elect 16, part 3 of 4: Making Plans

March 2, 2016March 1, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Latasha stood by the stop sign and waited for the school bus. It was March but still plenty cold with the wind, and the snow had not gone away. It was not exactly a smart move for Latasha to stand out in the dark and cold to wait for a bus after there was an attempt on her life. But this did not occur to her until it was too late. All she wanted to do was talk to her friends about what happened. Of course, she had called them first.

Latasha was one of the last ones picked up in the morning and normally one of the first dropped off. Fortunately, the wait was not too long, though she had to stomp her feet and flap her arms a few times.

When the bus door opened, Latasha paused. Something was not right. Jean Johnson from the guidance office was driving. “Come on, Latasha,” the guidance counselor said. “I got co-opted until they can find a permanent replacement.”

Latasha got on, but said nothing. She took her seat without acknowledging her friends. She never took her eyes off the driver until she felt a big yawn come on. Then she looked around and realized no one was talking. The other students all looked tired. Granted, the morning bus was usually full of tired students, but several were actually asleep. This was ridiculous. Keisha and Janet were staring straight ahead, saying nothing and by all appearances, thinking nothing as well.

“Snap out of it,” Latasha said and she shook Keisha.

“Oh, hi,” Keisha said with a faint smile before she faded again.

When they arrived at the school, Ms Johnson got up, whistling. “Come on, now. We don’t want to be late,” she said and exited the bus. Latasha stood at that point, and when she stood, most of the other students stood. Some did not look too steady on their feet, and a few were too out of it to even stand, but Latasha could not worry about that just then. She grabbed her friends by the hands and rushed them despite the complaints to Ms Riley’s room. Ms Riley was not there. There was a substitute. Ms Riley had taken a long weekend and would not be back until Monday.

The afternoon was almost worse. As the students climbed on the bus for the trip home, they immediately fell into a stupor. It was a very quiet ride. Latasha made Janet and Keisha get off at her early stop. Ms Johnson just smiled like a happy person as they got off. Keisha and Janet would both need several hours of a nap before they could travel the few blocks to their own houses. Latasha retained enough presence of mind to phone both of their houses. She lied and said they were working on a school project for Ms Riley and would be home after a while. Then she took a nap herself. She was not immune to whatever it was.

Friday morning was worse again. Latasha could see where some of the students were seriously suffering. Friday afternoon, she convinced her friends to walk with her and skip the bus. She only lived a half-dozen blocks away, after all. They griped, but Latasha noticed they arrived at her house, yapping away about something trivial and having a good time despite the cold. Of course, they remembered nothing about being so tired on the bus that morning. They talked about it like it was just a normal morning.

Latasha was not sure why she never mentioned all this to Lisa. At first, it was probably because she feared it might be her imagination. She called it coincidence. By the time Friday night came and she was waiting impatiently for Ms Riley to return, she still did not mention it, not even Ms Riley’s comment about Katie. Latasha thought it was time for her to start taking some responsibility for her own situations. She imagined that was the grown-up and mature thing to do. She did not know that often the most grown-up and mature thing is to seek for as much input and help as one can get.

###

Latasha sat on her bed with Janet. Keisha sat on the floor as they discussed the situation. “We should wait and see what Ms Riley finds out,” Keisha said.

“Can we wait?” Janet asked and Latasha shook her head. Janet continued. “I mean, now that you explained, I remember some, I think. I still feel weak just thinking about it.”

“You feel weak because you haven’t had a cup cake in an hour,” Keisha countered.

“You mean a brownie,” Latasha grinned.

“Cut it out,” Janet said and shifted her bulk on the bed, which set the whole bed to wiggling. “Seriously.”

“Seriously we can’t wait,” Latasha interrupted and turned to Keisha. “You didn’t see those kids. Some of them looked really bad. I’m afraid another ride and they might get sucked completely dry, and die.”

“Jason Tompkins and Kenny were not out on Jason’s driveway all weekend like usual,” Janet said. “I heard Jason’s mom say he was home sick.”

“But it’s March Madness.” Keisha was surprised. “How could they not be out shootin’ hoops?” Keisha thought about it. “No loud music from Jonathan’s Honda toolin’ up and down the streets this weekend, either.”

“Home sick too?” Janet suggested.

“Not sick,” Latasha said. “Drained.” She looked at her friends.

“I still say we should call the police,” Keisha said. Latasha knew in the back of her mind she should call Lisa, but somehow she thought she was supposed to be strong, and learn to handle things herself, so she did not listen to that inner voice.

“And tell them what?” Latasha argued in her mind as much as with Keisha. “That the lady from the guidance office is sucking out everyone’s energy during cold and flu season?”

“She does have a point,” Janet supported Latasha.

Keisha made a face and whined. “But I don’t want to have to get up that early.”

“Aha!” Janet pounced. “Truth will out!”

“It’s settled,” Latasha said. “We walk to school tomorrow morning to get there by five before Ms Johnson picks up the bus and we find some way to prevent her from driving.”

“That might not be so easy,” Janet said as they heard Latasha’s mother call up the stairs.

“Latasha. Girls. Come down here a minute.”

They looked at each other and Latasha led the way. James was standing next to Mama by the kitchen table. He had a piece of paper in his hands. Both of them were smiling and James blurted out, “It came.”

“What?”

“I got accepted. I got my orders. I’m going to be a marine.”

Latasha ran up and hugged her brother while Janet said, “Congratulations,” and Keisha said, “Wow.” Keisha looked a little shocked by the idea.

James extricated himself from his sister’s hug. “That is if you don’t break my back before I get there.”

“Oh,” Latasha took a step back.

“I’m going to come home as brave as you and just as strong.”

Latasha shook her head. “But much stronger than you are now. I’m sure of it.” She looked at her mama.

Mama just kept smiling. “I will worry, but I am so proud of my son.” She hugged him. “I am proud of you both,” she reached out and included Latasha in her hug. “Oh, come on. You are like family.” She included Janet and Keisha in the hug as well.

The Elect 16, part 2 of 4: Bus Bust

March 1, 2016February 28, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Latasha had to hold her friend Keisha to her feet and practically carry her to class.

“I feel so weak,” Keisha said.

“What Happened?” Janet found them in the hallway between classes.

“Guidance office,” Latasha answered for her friend.

“Oh, you have the new counselor,” Janet said. “Ms Johnson. I saw her last week.”

“And?” Latasha was curious.

Janet shrugged. “Nothing.” She stopped outside her history class door. “I don’t remember,” she said and a most curious expression crossed her face.

Latasha heard, but she had to get Keisha to science class. Somehow she imagined Keisha would not remember anything either. It seemed to be going around.

Latasha helped Keisha into her seat and Ms Riley came right up with questions. Ms Riley was a very slim young woman with short red hair and a regular smile. Latasha liked her. They all did.

“It’s that new guidance counselor,” Latasha said as Keisha put her head down on her desk for a nap. “Everyone who sees her comes away totally without any energy.”

“Drained,” Ms Riley said, and she looked up to stare for a minute at the back of the room. “Latasha, come by Monday after school. I hope to have some answers by then. Now, you had better get to your own class if you don’t want to be late. I’ll take care of Keisha.”

Latasha nodded. She could not think of any better hands in the whole school in which to leave her friend. She opened the door, but paused when Ms Riley spoke again.

“By the way, Katie Lockhart says hi, and it looks like she may have a boy.” Latasha’s jaw fell, but Ms Riley shooed her off and started the class. After school, Ms Riley was not to be found.

Keisha was better after school when the three friends boarded the bus, but she talked about going home and continuing her long nap. Janet was on another subject altogether, having to do with certain basketball freaks that lived in the neighborhood. Latasha stared out the bus window and still wondered about that guidance counselor when the bus went right past her stop.

“Hey!” She shouted and ambled up to the front at the next stop. “You missed my stop,” she complained to the driver.

Mister Santos apologized. “I was worried about my wife at the welfare office,” he said. “You sit down and relax and I will drop you on the way back to the school. Okay?”

What could Latasha say? She would be a little late getting home.

Janet helped Keisha stagger off at their stop, and Latasha sat alone and watched as everyone eventually got off until she was the last one on the bus. They came to a red light and she looked out the window. She saw a reflection in the window. It was Mister Santos, and he was sneaking up behind her. Latasha turned with her fists flying.

The gun in Mister Santos’ hand sent a bullet into the bus ceiling before Latasha could twist his wrist to make him let go of the weapon. The gun slid under the seats while she shoved him back into a seat. That only made him mad. He was a big man and not inclined to take any guff. He regularly intimidated the kids who rode his bus.

Latasha was not buying the message he portrayed in the scowl on his face. Before he could extract himself from the bus bench, she kicked out with her long legs and struck his shins. They both heard something go crack as the man fell back into the seat.

“I keel you!” The man yelled at her and struggled to get up again. Latasha pulled out her phone and hit the man this time with her fist in the jaw. He smashed back into the seat for the third time and this time rather hard. He did not go unconscious, but he was delirious for a bit.

“You already tried that,” Latasha said to the man as she dialed 9-1-1. A police car was arriving even as the call went out. The bus was blocking the intersection. By the time a police officer climbed aboard, Latasha had located the gun. She knew better than to get her fingerprints on it.

The officer saw it, nodded and made her sit while he pulled the bus to the side of the street. His partner was still directing traffic when officer Millsaps arrived.

“Don’t touch it!” Millsaps yelled. The fool officer was trying to reach under the seat to grab the gun. Millsaps managed to pick it up with a pencil and held it while his partner fetched a clean, plastic bag.

“She attacked me,” Mister Santos said, but the officer took one look at the big bus driver and the girl who seemed all skin and bones and put the handcuffs on the bus driver. Millsaps drove Latasha home and they found detectives Lisa and Ashish there when they arrived.

“I don’t understand.” Latasha’s mother was deeply concerned. “Who would want to hurt my baby?”

“More to the point. Who would have access to get a school bus driver to hurt your baby?” Ashish asked.

“Are you prepared to testify against this bus driver?” Lisa paced.

“Again?” Latasha was already going to have to testify against Carlos and his thugs. She was going to have to be a witness in Darren’s case. At least she could honestly say she did not see him rob that store.

“If you are interested in police work, you better get used to it,” Lisa said.

“That and spending hours at a desk doing paperwork,” Ashish added.

“Um,” Latasha looked up. “Maybe the marines?”

“No way.” Her mother shook her head.

“Paperwork,” Lisa smiled and stopped pacing long enough to face her. “Why do you think I pace? I log a couple of miles a day. It helps keep off the natural spread from sitting at a desk for so many hours.” She patted her hips, like she was trying to make them smaller. Latasha’s mother laughed. Latasha was not sure it was funny.

The Elect 16, The Best Laid Plans: part 1 of 4

February 29, 2016February 27, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Jean Johnson, high school guidance counselor, walked home on the path that skirted the edge of the university. She loved the flavor of youthful vigor and vitality that pervaded across the campus. Young people were bustling about, growing, exploring, and learning, and all with so much energy. It was like a tonic for Ms Johnson’s hunger and put a new bounce in her step.

The sun was beginning to set, it still being early in the year. Ms Johnson had just started looking forward to the spring and all that new life that would be born and explode in her senses, when she sensed something else, something in the bushes, and she stopped to have a look.

A monster stepped out of the bushes, roughly human shaped, but bigger than any linebacker or wrestler, ever. It had too many teeth, and tusks, and slightly pointed ears, and it growled deeply in a tone frightening enough to make a lion tremble.

“Ogre—no, I believe orc is the word these days,” Ms Johnson said and smiled at the thing. The orc looked at the frail looking woman and sniffed like it was tasting something in the air. It howled, a high pitched coyote-like sound and moved off, rapidly.

“Well,” Ms Johnson spoke to herself. “No matter. I much prefer them young and human.”

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The Elect episode/chapter 16 takes us on an interlude to visit Latasha at the local high school where things are not always as they seem.

This story began in November 2015 which you can access by clicking on the archives button. Like a television show or a serialized novel, is it never too late to read earlier chapters, like exciting scenes from last week… or you are welcome to follow from this point and hopefully it won’t be too hard to pick up on the storyline,,,s,,,

Emily is busy trying to pass her freshman year at the university. Detective Lisa is busy searching for the lab where they made the zombies. Where else can Latasha turn when something bad happens in her little corner of the city?

I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it. it is free… Happy reading

The Elect 15, part 4 of 4: Wicked

February 25, 2016February 21, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Emily could still move, but it was like wading through molasses. She noticed the students on either side were immobile, so that danger was at least neutralized. Then she noticed Lisa and Libby were standing still. Emily stilled, to conserve her strength as well. Latasha struggled for a bit longer, but eventually fell to her knees and could not continue.

“Well, well.” Abby came down the library steps. “And to think, I was once afraid of your power.” She walked between them and examined them, like an art patron might examine statues. Then she returned to the steps and faced them. “I knew you would come here. Appropriate, don’t you think?” She teased them, but at once it was not funny. Something like fire rose up in her eyes and the women felt the heat of it. “This is the same place where you killed my mother.”

“You were her secret ingredient that made the formula work.” Lisa spoke. Emily was not aware they could still speak.

“Yes, I was,” Abby calmed again. “And I may do it again if the price is right. Of course, this time you won’t be there to stop me.”

Emily risked a slight move to look more squarely at the girl. Abby had to be really stupid. With her power, she could make people shower her with money. Why was she worried about squeezing a few dollars out of some scientists?

“But now I think I need to decide which one of you actually killed my mother. Not that it will really matter in the end.” She came down to walk among them again and appeared to scrutinize them closely. Finally, she pointed at Emily. “I think it was you.” Emily spoke before the girl could do anything.

“So how do you like being the most popular girl in school?” Emily could tell. This girl was a dork in high school.

Abby paused. “That’s right. I am.” She had not considered that. “I can’t wait until my high school reunion. Certain rich bitches need to learn a lesson, I think.”

While she spoke, Libby pulled her knife slowly from her secret pocket. Abby was close enough. One swift thrust to the heart would do it. But Abby must have caught a glimpse of the metal in the corner of her eye. She yelled again.

“Stop!”

Libby stopped and Abby spoke with the fire again in her eyes. “Old lady. You are too old to live. You can be first.”

“No!” Lisa yelled, but it was too late. Abby opened her mouth and fire came forth like the fire of a dragon. It was like a flamethrower, and it engulfed Libby so quickly she did not even have time to scream. In a few seconds, she was no more than a stump of charcoal, and the others were in tears. Abby laughed.

“They burn witches, you know. I think turnabout is fair play.” She turned again to Emily. “Tormenting you is so much fun, I think I will save you for last.”

“No more, witch!” The call came from the path to the science building. There was a man running toward them and he had a samurai sword in his hand, raised to attack position.

“Stop! Stop! Stand still! Stop moving!” With each word, Heinrich slowed, but he never quite stopped. Either the witch was at the limits of her power, or she was drained from her fiery execution of Libby, or she was stretched too thin. In any case, Heinrich was at a walk, dragging his feet forward, but he was still coming.

Abby stepped back, afraid for a second. She rose up in the air ten feet above the ground and ordered, “Hold him!”

Emily found herself move as though she had no control over her own motions. She stepped up to Heinrich and grabbed him by the belt. Lisa stepped behind the man to take him by the shoulders. Latasha, still on her knees, stretched out to grab him by the ankle. Heinrich stopped, but even as he stood still, Emily let go. She kept her fingers in place, but she could resist to the point where she did not have to hold the man. Lisa also lifted her hands a fraction from the man’s shoulders. Latasha was the last to figure it out, but soon enough there was nothing to hold Heinrich back. He paused, only because he had to time things just right.

“That’s better,” Abby said. She smiled again and acted like this was all a big joke. “Did you know I can do anything?” Abby stayed where she was in mid air, ten feet up. “Just think of the possibilities.”

Emily could think of a lot of possibilities. She figured Abby might not think of very many. The girl really was not that bright, and with a close-up look at the girl, Emily decided that she was not very good looking either. She was rather plain and Flabby was not an inappropriate name.

“So you make mindless drones of your fellow students?” Heinrich asked. He was thinking something.

“They worship me as they should.” Abby responded. “I am worthy of all worship. I am a goddess. I am the goddess.”

“You are nothing but a spoiled brat.”

“How dare you!” A force like flame came from Abby’s eyes and struck Heinrich right in the chest. He staggered. The girls had to steady him, but he returned his eyes to glare at the girl. Once again, she had flipped her attitude in a mere second. “How interesting,” she said. Emily got the impression that the eye blast probably turned more than one person to dust.

“You are not a goddess,” Emily said. She imagined she knew what Heinrich was doing.

“I am!” Abby stomped her foot in mid air and got angry again. Power poured out from her eyes, hands and hair, but fortunately for Emily it was unfocused. “I deserve to be worshiped. The whole world should worship me, and it will as soon as I am fully-grown. You will see. I am worthy of praise.”

“Your mother would be ashamed of you,” Lisa said.

“My mother would not!” Abby just got angrier than before. “And so what? You killed my mother.” Power started streaking from her body like little bolts of lightning. “You all need to die,” she said, and it looked like she was about to bring all that power into focus when something stuck out of her chest.

It was a knife thrown from behind. It went straight through the heart. Abby looked down and suddenly had a concern other than her immediate anger. The knife slowly began to back out as the witch focused on getting rid of the weapon and healing herself at the same time. It took whatever energy she had left. Emily found she could move again, though still only slowly and she was very stiff. The students who had come up on both sides of the drama were also beginning to move slowly and stiffly, and there were sounds of them coming back to life.

Abby stayed ten feet up, but it was clear she had to focus everything else on staying alive. Heinrich waited, and just before the knife vacated the witch’s back, he took two giant steps and jumped ten feet straight up. Abby looked up at him even as his sword sliced true. The knife and her head both fell first. Then Heinrich fell back to his feet while Abby’s body just fell.

“Help me,” Heinrich yelled and it took the others a moment to realize what he needed. He stepped to the nearest tree and tore off a big branch. Then he began to strip it of its smaller branches and twigs. Latasha helped. Emily and Lisa gathered some other wood. When Heinrich had the tree branch stripped, he made a great shout and rammed the branch a good two feet deep into the frozen ground. They piled the firewood around the base while Heinrich tied Abby’s body to the impromptu stake with some twine he had in his coat pocket.

“The only way to kill a witch this powerful is to behead her. But witches must also be burnt, to be sure.” He pulled out a lighter and some lighter fluid he had in his other pocket. It made an interesting bonfire. Then he fetched the head. When he set that in the flames at the feet of the body, they all saw the eyes open and the mouth opened as well, like Abby was screaming.

“Fair enough,” Latasha said. “For what she did to Ms Libby. Ms Libby did not have a chance to scream either.” She sounded angry, but immediately turned to Lisa and cried into her shoulder.

Emily went to the library door. She was not surprised to find Pierce there. He took her hand and walked her over to pick up his knife. He cleaned it expertly and put it away. Then he kissed her. She hardly had the energy to kiss him back, but she certainly felt warm all over.

“So was this the reason you were activated?” Lisa asked. Heinrich looked at her and shrugged. He did not know for sure.

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Monday, the Elect, chapter 16, the Best Laid Plans… Don’t miss it

The Elect 15, part 3 of 4: Run for Your Life

February 24, 2016February 21, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

It got dark enough. Emily dared not wait any longer. She knew the door would give her away and might even set off the fire alarm, but that could not be helped. She also knew there were bushes nearby. She once shoved her friends into those bushes. She would have to improvise.

It turned out no alarm sounded, at least no audible alarm, but the door made plenty of noise on its own. Fortunately, it felt dark enough for her to blend into the landscape. Being a student of the right age, and being dressed like every other student, suggested she might blend in with the crowd. She imagined passing herself off as one of the hunters rather than the hunted. She was mistaken. The first student that saw her shouted, “She’s here!” Emily cursed and wondered how that student could see her and so clearly, while she could hardly make out if the student was male or female before he shouted.

She ran, straight for the front of the library. A crowd began to gather on the path to block her way, but when they bunched up, she veered at the last minute and bypassed them. They followed, of course, but they were a bit slow to react. Emily thought it might be a side effect of the spell, or at least she hoped so.

She got almost to the street when she found her way blocked by three young men who were watching the street and something across the street. They stood by the corner of the building and turned toward her as she approached. One made a grab for her, but Emily ducked so he missed. The second got the palm of her hand in his chest, which knocked him to the ground. The third took a swing at her, but again she ducked and the blow glanced off her shoulder. It was probably as hard as the young man could punch, but she shrugged it off and quickly got to the back steps that lead to the street. Lisa was not there.

A car pulled out from a lot across the street and screeched to a halt in the road. Emily recognized Lisa’s car and dashed for it while Ashish rolled down the window.

“I can’t come closer,” he yelled as Emily passed through the invisible wall. She slowed at the sensation, but then perked up. Ashish pointed. “They just headed down that side of the building.” Emily cursed. If she had veered right instead of left, she would have run right into them. Then she looked up as she began to run again. The three young men had arrived, but stayed behind the wall. Fortunately, these also reacted slowly and she got on the library path before they reached her.

There were students scattered all along the path, most getting back to their feet, at least those that could. Emily did not stay to play. She wove a pretty pattern to get through their ranks without hitting them or being hit. By the time she got to the front of the library, she saw Lisa, Libby and Latasha coming in her direction. The thirty or so that bunched up to prevent her from entering the library were on their heels. Emily prepared to turn around again. She felt a dozen already banged up students might be easier to get by than thirty fresh bodies. She waited only a second for the others to catch up to her. Then no one moved at all.

Abby was on the library steps, laughing, and she shouted. “Everyone stop and stay right where you are!” The power that emanated from her was incredible.

The Elect 15, part 2 of 4: Disturbing

February 23, 2016February 21, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Lisa looked up when she felt the disturbance in the air. She felt it in her chest, like a loud bass note booming in a car. It felt twisted and distorted, and simply wrong. Lisa did not have to wonder. She knew instinctively that the witch was active. She began to search around her desk, frantic for her phone.

“Here.” Ashish picked it up from beneath a pile of papers. It was set to vibrate and Lisa feared she may have missed something, but she could not worry about that just yet. She called Emily. Emily’s phone was off so she left a quick message and phoned home. She was not surprised when Libby answered.

“Bobby is the last one off the bus. They need to stay inside.”

“Right. We will be right there.” Ashish got ready. He swore he felt nothing. As they roared off to Lisa’s house, Lisa called Latasha before Latasha could call her.

“I didn’t know what it was.”

“You are much closer to the university. How is your family?”

“Fine,” Latasha said, before she realized what Lisa was asking and said, “Give me a minute.” She took more than a minute. “They are fine. I don’t think they even noticed anything.”

“Good. Whatever the effect of the spell, it must have had a limited range. We will be right there.” Lisa hung up and checked her missed message. She went pale. She tried Emily again, but still no answer.

“Heinrich,” Libby spoke up from the back seat as she got in the car

Lisa nodded, took a deep breath and called. He was at the airport and would be at least an hour getting back. “On his way,” Lisa reported and then she tried hard not to tell Ashish to hurry up. She looked in the back seat. Libby did not appear to be worried at all, but that only made it worse.

Ashish pulled up to the curb and Latasha jumped in the back with Libby. The university was not far, but Lisa was at a loss as to where to go. She did not know what was happening. They just sat there for several minutes until the phone finally rang.

“What is going on?” Lisa spouted.

“Hush. Just listen. I can’t talk long. Abby has cast a spell of some kind. She has the entire student body bewitched. They are hunting me. Come to the back of the library building. I will meet you there. Tell Ashish to stay away from the campus and keep the police away as well. I don’t know if the spell may still be active or have some residual effect.” She hung up.

Emily heard noises in the hallway. It was dark out, or nearly so. She hoped in a minute she could slip out that back door and slink through the shadows to the library. She did not know what else to do.

The voices got close, and Emily dared to peek. Bernie stood there, and he had an old style police revolver. Emily thought the idea of Bernie with a gun was frightening, but she did not blame him. The whole student body had gone crazy. Clearly, Bernie just wanted to defend himself. Emily got within a breath of showing herself when she heard two students come in the doors.

“The window is open in the old lab room. She may have come in and exited by the window.”

“Or it might be something to throw us off,” Bernie said. “I have others checking the basement and up the back stairs. We need to go up this way so she has no way of escape if she is here.”

Emily slammed her back to the wall and crouched down as low as she could. She heard their steps and Bernie’s shoe shuffle above her head as they climbed. Now she was worried. Apparently, Abby’s spell made no distinction between student and staff. Probably every human being within range had become her willing slave. Emily became afraid. She wondered how far the spell went and how many people that included.

When Ashish let the women out by the library, he really wanted to go but knew better. He said he could feel it a little even there on the street. He needed to back up to be safe, but he would wait for them. The women all stepped up on the library steps and they felt it much more. It was almost like walking through an invisible wall. The street was safe. The campus was Abby-land.

“I fought a witch once,” Libby said. “But never one like this.”

“Is this the back?” Latasha did not want to think about the witch too hard. She certainly did not want to hear about one. Lisa looked at the girl, and Latasha explained. “Because this is the side that faces the street. I would have called this the front.”

Lisa thought about it. “You may be right.”

Libby just sat on the steps and had to stand again. She groaned. “The flesh is willing but the bones are weak. Arthritis,” she said.

Lisa led the way. It had turned fully dark by then, but she hoped to avoid an encounter with any students who might be near. She honestly did not know what to expect until a young woman saw them sneaking along the building and shouted.

“Intruders! Intruders!” A dozen young people came up and the women were going to have to fight their way to the other side of the building.

The Elect 15, Abbyland: part 1 of 4

February 22, 2016February 18, 2016M G Kizzia Leave a comment

Pierce brought the car to a stop. He did not mind the traffic around Philadelphia, but he could understand why the people who did it every day hated it.

He thought about his brother. The last time he saw the boy, the boy was seven but looked more like fourteen or fifteen. He remembered thinking at the time that the boy was growing up too fast. Apparently, the obedience training did not work well, or take with the boy. Somehow, the boy managed to run away from the residence. Pierce never seriously considered escaping the residence, but it was an interesting thought. He did have a mind of his own, despite everything.

At the residence, he discovered he had a baby sister. She was two, and both looked and acted two, thank God, he thought. But she was already being put through rigorous testing and being manipulated without any regard for her humanity. He wished he could think of a way to save her from all that, but he could not think of anything, until he thought of Emily.

Emily was the only non-programmed thing in his life. She was the only good thing in his life. She was the only thing worth dying for. He honked at the car trying to pull into his lane, just because he could.

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As you can imagine, things are about to get very strange. Don’t miss the T, W and Thursday posts. The Elect, chapter 15, Abbyland is a doozy.

Of course, you can wait until F (Sat or Sun) and read the whole chapter (4 posts) together in one sitting. They are on the blog, on the right hand side under recent posts. If you are coming in late, you can always click on the archives button and go back to the beginning, November 2015. Do enjoy the story, and as I say, Happy Reading.