I passed Linda in the hallway as I approached Karen’s door.
“Thanks for taking the heat off,” she said hastily.
Before I could say, you’re welcome, she was gone causing me some concern. But I was not going to be intimidated. If Karen is mad, she will not be mad at me, I thought.
Entering her office, I readied myself. “Karen, whatever beef you have with Linda is not going to be taken out on me.”
“Shut up and get over here.”
“Did you not hear what I said?”
“Babe, we’ve got a problem. Robert found the answer to my question as to why some tribes were asked while others were not asked to join the outliers.”
“And?”
“All excluded tribes have chiefs with a pedigree.”
“And?”
“Pedigree chiefs know our true history. A history the outliers want to rewrite.”
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Shapeshift with me, she said. You’ll love it, she said.
Jeff was right; I was losing it. And my old life was starting to look pretty good right now.
This underground labyrinth, the killing room, worldwide tribes ready to go to war with one anoth––
“Christian!” yelled Karen over the corridor speaker. “That’s enough. There will be no war.”
“Fuck! How did you do that without touching me? You promised not to read me. Remember?”
“You’re thinking out loud over the hallway security system, idiot. Now come to my office so we can talk.”
I lifted my finger toward the camera in preparation for my response, shook it a few times, then awkwardly twisted it around in a slow swirl until it was by my side again. I had nothing.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
“She’s taken possession of the Walker Road property, But her house is still in the planning stages.”
“Where’s she living?”
“Mick Turner offered up a room in his house.”
“He did, did he,” she replied with a smile and gentle touch to my leg.
Robert smiled back. “He did.”
“Maybe we should hold off on that house for a while.
“Jeff, have we reached capacity?”
“Yes, Mame. Food, medical, weapons, comms, you name it; we’ve got it.”
“Linda, how are things on your end?”
“Weddings covered.”
“Thank you. But I was referring to The Gathering of Chiefs.”
“Every tribe agreed. The meeting will take place four weeks from today, on the 11th, under the guise of our yearly invitation-only LARP.”
“And this year’s name?”
“You’re not going to like it, but Ghost said they would not attend otherwise.”
“Did they agree to the location?”
“Yes.”
“And the name is?”
“Dark Night.”
You could have heard a pin drop as we waited for her response.
“Not all chiefs agreed.”
“Who are you referring to?”
“I’m referring to me.”
“Chief, we’ll leave the room so you and Linda can discuss this privately?”
“Sit down, Robert.
“Let me make this clear to all. If discretion is given in the future, I hope you will use that discretion to inform me of anything out of the norm.”
“They would have not come otherwise, Chief.”
“Thank you all for coming this morning. Nicky, if you will, please put together a list of all those attending this year’s Dark Night event. Along with character details.
“Linda, come with me. The rest of you are free to stay. Breakfast should be here, shortly.”
As they left the room I asked, “Jeff, what the hell is a LARP?”
“Live Action Role Play. You know, foam swords and magic spells.”
I raised my palm to forehead.
“LARP is bigger than you think, Christian. It’s played worldwide and the perfect cover for a large gathering of shifters.”
Sliding my hand down, I looked through fingers and replied, “I’m sure it is.”
“One thing you should remember, though.”
“What’s that?”
“The weapons at our LARP will not be made of foam.”
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
The truth is, I didn’t want to practice. I wanted to do whatever without learning the specifics.
When I was younger, I built an ultralight airplane, and my flight instructor told me to fly a few feet off the runway, then land. But I was having none of that and took to the skies. It was awesome and so easy; until I had to land. Turns out those specifics would have saved my landing gear.
But practice, I must according to Olivia. So there I sat, a few hours later, across from billy Jenkins playing brain games and thinking I would rather be flying.
Jenkins seemed amused with this and held out his arms like wings. Then abruptly crashed onto the floor, laughing.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Seeing Doc’s car by the front door had us scratching our heads.
“That bush has seen better days,” said Robert stepping up to the doorbell.
After a few rings with no answer, Donnie suggested we kick it in.
“Might want to try turning the knob first,” replied Jeff.
Which he did, leaving him a little red-faced.
“Doc! You in here,” yelled Robert as we let ourselves in.
“Donnie, you and Jeff check the rooms to the left. Christian, follow me.”
After an extensive room-to-room search, we finally found him in Kate’s cell, passed out among several liquor bottles.
“That’s an interesting look,” said Jeff. “And I don’t think Kate would approve of us all standing around looking at her birthday suit. Nor would my wife.”
As we lifted him into bed, I told the others of his Love for her, and they all promised to keep it to themselves.
“Linda.” radioed Robert. “Doc is sick and says he wants to be left alone.”
“Do you want me to send Nicky over?”
“No, he’s good.”
“Okay, we’ll just end the meeting early then. You guys are free to go home.”
Outside, I watched as Donnie drove Doc’s car off the bushes and thought, Love. It can make us happy or sad, yet we all long for it regardless of the outcome.
“Christian, Darrel wanted us to come by the barn after the meeting. Said something about needed some help sense we got one of his employees killed and all.”
“Alright, let’s go. We don’t want anything to happen to those cows.”
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
“Karen still in bed?” asked Olivia as she poured another cup of coffee.
“Still there,” replied Christian. “I think the last few days have been a bit much for her.”
“She’s had a lot to deal with, that’s for sure.”
“Let’s not forget she’s nine weeks pregnant,” said Nicky. “Linda, I think it would be a good idea for you to step in until the baby is born.”
“That’s not going to happen anytime soon.”
“Why? She knows the consequences of too much stress. The baby has to come first.”
“Don’t worry, I made her promise to step aside if she misses one doctor’s appointment. And Christian has promised me he will put his foot down if she refuses. Isn’t that right, Christian?”
I said yes with a bit of hesitancy, knowing Karen’s determination to defeat the Ghost tribe had consumed her.
“A little slow with your answer there, Christian,” said Robert. You want to borrow a pair of my pants when you stomp that foot.”
“Funny, says the man who says how high when she says, jump.”
Alright, boys, Linda interjected, “let’s get this meeting started. Donnie, if you will, step out of the room and call Doc again, it’s not like him to be late.”
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Picking up the radio, she responded, “I am. And please tell me you have good news.”
“Afraid not, Doc and I want to meet with you as soon as possible.”
“Can it wait until after breakfast?”
“Already have that covered. Linda is on her way with a basket full of food courtesy of the Woman’s Club. And tell Christian Olivia made something special for him.”
“I will.”
“What to you think it is?” I asked.
“Your guess is as good as mine”
On our way over, I felt like a kid consumed with thoughts of an unknown gift.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Karen stayed in her office overnight, talking with tribal leaders. All claiming to be allies, never knowing, she knew better. It had become a game of wits and primal instinct at this point, with no clear winner by morning, but one thing was made clear. While the spies, one dead, one alive, would be sent back home. The same courtesy would not be extended to others, regardless of their tribal affiliation. The meeting with Jill Hanson had also proved disappointing. Skin contact revealed nothing, and her answers were troubling.
“So you believe she is hiding memories via a hypnosis technique. How is it even possible?”
“Look at it as a redacted memory, stored within her DNA.”
“Can you do it?”
“I know of the technique via my ancestral memories but have no idea how it is done. It was only in the realm of a few who used it to their advantage, just as they are today.”
“So the Chief of Ghost has a pedigree in this realm. And actively used it against us.”
“I like the way you think, but no. Denis is not pure in any way, shape, or fashion. He is a terrible excuse for a man and a pitiful chief.”
“Then how did he ever become chief?”
“How does any weak man, or woman, for that matter, become chief?”
“They––.”
“They don’t. Denis is just a puppet. The puppet masters, I do not know. Now If you don’t mind, I would like to change the subject. After all, this should be a joyful time for us, but here we are, having to deal with outliers and a possible blackout. It’s a lot to take in, and truthfully, I can’t believe you haven’t fled. You’ve only had five weeks of sporadic training in a world that’s falling apart as we speak. And I’m afraid there is nothing I can do to stop it.”
Placing my fingers over her lips, I replied as her knight in shining armor, “I’ll stop it for you, my fair lady.”
Laughter filled the room before the last syllable left my tongue. It continued as we tried to kiss without success.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Sensing trouble, she turned back. But it was too late. A wall had already moved into place, trapping her inside. With no other options, she slowly made her way through the maze as the eerie sound of sliding walls closed from behind. Reaching the killing room, she resigned herself to the moment.
Back in the auditorium, the Wilcox family waited in a panic state for information about their son’s whereabouts. “Have they caught her yet?” asked Oliva.
“I’ll check,” replied Karen, who stood by them, along with Linda, Donnie, and myself.
“Robert, Give me an update.”
“Chief, She’s locked in.”
“Jeff, you and Oliva go with Linda to my safe room. You can observe the proceedings from there. Christain, Donnie, wait for me by exit two while I address the others.”
Karen’s words were not as commanding as before. And the crowd was not as receptive to them. The sudden realization of spies among them had everyone on edge.
This is the first draft of my manuscript Shift –Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am writing it online in sections as I go. So feel free to comment, good or bad. If you see mistakes, point them out.
Timothy French 