Anna Rising: Creator Gene Trilogy - Book One Read online

  ANNA RISING

  CREATOR GENE TRILOGY – BOOK ONE

  BY JACKIE LOGGINS

  Copyright

  Copyright 2016 - Jackie Loggins

  This ebook is licensed for you personal entertainment only. It is not to be resold or given away for free unless it's signed up for some type of promotion. Otherwise, please play fair and pay for my work. I've studied and worked very hard to learn to write these stories to entertain you. If yourself or anyone else is reading this ebook without paying or passing it around for free, please return it and purchase your copy. Lets respect the shared creativity and hard work of all the authors. Enjoy!

  About the Author

  Jackie Loggins is a paranormal and fantasy author who hopes to hit the big time. She grew up in rural Mississippi where the old folks told ghost stories and tales about their life. Needless to say, her love for writing was cultivated at a young age. She now resides on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and son.

  Email: [email protected]

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  Table of Contents

  - ONE -6

  - TWO -8

  - THREE -11

  - FOUR -13

  - FIVE -15

  - SIX -18

  - SEVEN -20

  - EIGHT -22

  - NINE -25

  - TEN -27

  - ELEVEN -30

  - TWELVE -32

  - THIRTEEN -34

  - FOURTEEN -37

  -END-39

  Check out other titles by the Author40

  - ONE -

  It's the third she's called my name. So much for watching Empire, I thought clicking the power button on the remote. The potent stench of whiskey seeped from my mother's bedroom, invading the living room as well. The scent I'd grown so accustomed to over the years began to make my stomach turn. A couple more whiffs and the last two pieces of Papa John's pepperoni are going to end be on this beige carpet. I definitely don't want a repeat from two Fridays ago.

  My mother came staggering through the door, followed closely by an equally drunk acquaintance. He was short, stocky and middle-aged, his head littered with salt and pepper hair. Before she and her temporary companion could make it across the carpet she painted it red with remnants of what I could only guess was one strawberry daiquiri and another. Cheap bastard! He could have mixed it up, maybe threw in a long island ice tea or two. But why pay eight dollars when daiquiris only go for three? However, his momentary revulsion of mom's accident didn't discourage him from screwing her loudly all of five minutes after they staggered their way to her cold, dark bedroom. Shit, it took forever to get those stains out.

  My mother was a functional alcoholic until a few weeks ago. Her “drunk” days were Friday and Saturday, but since the her job added her to the list of employees to lay-off any day was up for grabs now. I remember when she was happy, before my step dad died of prostrate cancer seven years ago. Joseph was the only father I knew.

  We were both happy when he was with us. I could blame her drinking on Joseph's death, but it would be a lie. My mother took a turn for the worse when she lost the twins. She was six months pregnant when the doctor told her they were not picking up a heart beat from either of the babies. Joseph and I did all we could to make things easier for her, but it was a loss she never came back from.

  I never knew my real dad. And to be honest, my mother didn't really know him either. Most people knew him as Lundi. I'm not even sure if that was his real name. The only thing mom got from him was me, no last name, address, family history... Nothing! Oh yeah, she said he tall, slim and handsome. I guess that piece of information was more important than a phone number or social security number. They dated a few weeks and one day without warning, he was gone. Nineteen years later and no one has seen or been able to contact him since. Poor mom. She's been ditched twice, once by the real father and then Joseph.

  “Anna!” Her hoarse voice struggled. I knew she needed me, but I didn't want to go back there. The unrelenting stench of sex mingled with alcohol was too much. And the sight of her naked, although another one of her “guests” left hours ago, was something I definitely couldn't stomach right now. I had to get outside, fast. I grabbed my phone and headed toward the back porch.

  The evening sun was setting over the horizon, leaving only it's burnt orange remnants that spilled onto the trees in our back yard. I could still hear my mother calling, but out here her voice was faint enough for me to tune it out. Not tonight mom, not tonight. A bright, clear day slowly transformed into a bright, clear night. The stars were out to parade in all their glory. Yes, this would be a good night for gazing and thinking. I went back inside to grab my pen and journal, turning the porch light off so it would not compete with the natural light illuminating from the night sky. As a kid my mother always fussed at me about doing my homework in the dark. She said it would ruin my eyes, but if anything I see more clearly. For some reason, I write better in the dark.

  Tonight, once the writing started, it was constant. All my hopes, frustrations and worries seeped out of the pen and onto the paper. My hand wouldn't stop moving, couldn't stop. Between starting my first year at community college, work and taking care of mom, it's been weeks since I've been able to spill my frustrations into my journal. The pink canvas that protected its contents were now faded and tattered, but this little book was more sacred to me than the bible. It was about me and all the things I loved, hated and experienced. The chilly Fall breeze softly caressed my skin as the thoughts flowed through me.

  Before I knew it hours had passed. Mom was now up and in the kitchen getting her own water and cigarettes. It was a relief when she flicked the light off and made her way back to her room letting me be. Even with her strong sense of entitlement and dependency, she still knew when I've had enough and needed time to myself. I took briefs breaks to gaze up at the sky, admiring it's tapestry of light.

  - TWO -

  “Boo!” It was the neighbor's kid, Sammie. His small head peeked around the tall steps.

  “You scared me you little bastard!”

  Sammie broke into a laugh. His pristine white teeth peeked from behind his lips, his grinning coffee-colored face almost concealed by the night.

  “Gotcha!” He pointed now holding his belly laughing.

  “No, what you got is almost stabbed by this pen.” I informed. “Sammie, what are doing out past dark anyway? And on a school night at that!”

  “I snuck out.” He beamed proudly, his hands folded over his chest partially covering the chalky, peeling Nike symbol on his chest. However, my attention was on tiny red box peeking out from the pocket of his jeans.

  “Gimme some Red Hots or I'm telling!” I held my hands out. “And don't skimp either.”

  “Here.” Sammie rolled his eyes and poured a pyramid of candy in my hands. “Greedy self!”

  “Thank you.” I smiled picking several disks from my new stash.

  Sammie plopped down on the step beside me attempting to take a peek at the fresh writing in my journal.

  “Quit being nosy.” I covered the page with my hand.

  “It's private?” He mockingly drew out the work “private”.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact it is. It's nothing a kid would understand anyway.” I pushed his head back from the page, blocking his second attempt.

  “Is it about your mother drinking and going to jail?” He asked.

  Silence fell over me. Yes, my mother was arrested a few weeks ago, but I didn't know it was public information. And it
was especially a surprise that the news had gotten to a little kid like Sammie. His mom is the nosiest person in the neighborhood. Sherrell is always in everybody's business. If only she would worry about herself and her own five, no six kids, then maybe Sammie wouldn't be able to sneak out of the house so often.

  “Some of it.” I replied.

  “Mama, saw it in the paper.” He said.

  “Is that right?”

  “Yeah.” He said. “Don't feel bad. My dad goes to jail sometime too.” He relaxed and leaned back on the steps.

  The entire neighborhood knew about his dad, probably more than Sammie did himself. David Davis had been in and out of jail since long before Sammie was born. He and Sherrell were married for several years until he was locked up for molesting Sammie's oldest sister LaKia. We were in the same grade. Poor girl had to report the molesting to our elementary school principle because Sherrell didn't believe her. The cops swooped in and hauled David off to prison and Lakia was packed up and living with her father's family within a couple days. I remember playing with her as a kid. We would've been best friends if she wasn't so quiet. Sammie reminded me of her. They both have coffee skin and bright smiles. I wonder if he misses having an older sister around. As often as he comes over, I'm beginning to believe I'm her replacement.

  “What's that?” Sammie asked.

  “What's what?”

  He jumped to his feet and pointed. “You see it? It's right over the trees.”

  I squinted to get a cleared view. The multicolor lights were soft but as seconds passed, they gradually grew more hard and vivid. The light cut through the forest and divided into shades of red, cyan, magenta and yellow. “It's probably someone messing around with a drone.” I said. But by then Sammie had stepped off the porch and moved closer to the trees. “I'm gonna check it out.” He said before jogging in the direction of the light. “Sammie, don't go out there!” I shouted. “It could be dangerous.” I added.

  “Danger, is my middle name!” He announced as his trot gravitated to a full sprint before disappearing into the woods. “Sammie!” I called. Oh shit, I knew I had to go in there after him. There were many days that Sammie and his knucklehead friends played out in the woods, but it's close to midnight now and it's not hard for an adult to get lost in the woods, much less someone Sammie's age.

  Besides, I wasn't so sure about the source of that light or whether or not it could be dangerous. The last time a child went missing in these woods was in the 1970s and we weren't about to have a repeat tonight, not on my watch. I placed my journal beneath the steps in case anyone tried to be nosy and read its contents, grabbed my old baseball bat that was laying in the yard and set off to find Sammie.

  - THREE -

  Besides the low humming sounds that seemed to be coming from deeper in the woods, the forest was completely silent. No sign of Sammie, or anything else for that matter. Sammie, where the hell are you and why you got me out here in these woods at night? I breathe an impatient sigh and trailed along trying not to trip on a fallen branch. When I get him out these woods I'm gonna kick his ass if whatever is responsible for that light don't get him first.

  Time seeped by and there was still no sign of Sammie. I paced myself as exhaustion set in, only stopping occasionally to catch my breath. Where could he be? Maybe I should go back and get help. Poor Shenelle is going to lose it when she finds out. The light started to move to the East of me. If Sammie was headed in any direction it would be towards the light, so I headed East as well following it's movements.

  “Anna! Anna! Over here!” Sammie called.

  Oh shit! Thank God! My feet sped up in the direction of his voice. When Sammie came into view he was standing motionless staring into the clearing to the East of us. There was someone else as well. A man was to his knees holding his stomach. He attempted to cough, but could produce nothing more than a hack. His tall slender frame was covered in a black material that I could guess was latex. Latex? What the hell? Did he and others have some type of freaky, orgy shit going on out here? He stood and attempted to regain balance only to stagger and lean against a tree. Sammie's eyes was still trained on the stranger. I didn't know if we should run or help. I decided to do the later.

  “Hello? Are you okay?” I stepped into the clearing to get a closer look at him. He was now coughing and still bracing himself on the tree, his tall slender frame bent over in a fetal position. “Sir? Do you need us to get you some help?” Still no answered. I turned to Sammie. “Sammie, go home and tell your mom to call 911.”

  “No!” His voice broke through. “Don't... Don't do that. I'm well.”

  “You don't look well.” Sammie protested.

  “I assure you, it's just a temporary pain. It'll only take a few moments pass.” He finally looked up at us. His hazel eyes met mine in desperation, pleading for us not to call police. His elongated face was slender and handsome, revealing the sepia skin tone under the latex suit.

  “What were you doing out here?” I inquired.

  “Nothing of your concern, Miss.”

  “Okay, Sammie, go get...”

  “Alright!” He held up his hand. “I was doing, research... Just research, alright?”

  “Research? What type of research?”

  “On the... Trees! Yes, I was studying the trees!”

  “At night?” Sammie cut in.

  “Yes! At night! Now, will you stop with all the questions! I need to find water. Do you know where I can find a water source around here?” He panted as he walked closer to us.

  “There's a water faucet behind Anna's house. You can drink it right from the hose.” Sammie announced.

  “Sammie!” I shot him a look.

  “Well, it's true. Me and my friends drink from it all the time, best water I ever tasted.”

  - FOUR -

  There was no way I was taking this weird person to my house. He followed closely as we trekked our way back toward the neighborhood. There had to be a pond somewhere out here among these sticks. He tripped and falter every other step, acting as if he's never walked before. What type of scientist does research in the forest late at night if he can't even walk through it?

  “So you are Anna.” He said rather than asked.

  “Yes, I'm Anna. This is Sammie, but we never got your name.”

  “I'm Trundi.”

  I nearly stopped in my tracks. “Trundi? Wha... what kind of name is Trundi.”

  “It's a name from my home. It's probably not a name you would be familiar with here, but for some reason I believe you've heard it before?”

  “Not exactly.” I spat. “My father was named Lundi...”

  “Lundi?!” His eyes widen.

  “But, I've never met him. He ditched me and my mom before I was born.”

  Walking out of the forest seemed to take longer than walking in. My breath grew heavy in the cool Autumn air, but the faint sight of one of the lights on my street gave me a sliver of relief. Sammie walked along side Trundi, fascinated by his suit occasionally trying to touch it. But Trundi eyes were on me. He watched intently as I guided our party out of the woods. “This way!” I shouted picking up the pace. The sooner I could get Trundi to water and away from here and especially Sammie, the better.

  The light from the street lamp illuminated our street. Trundi looked around in awe at the houses and yards. “These are living spaces?” he asked. “Call it what you want. We called it the hood.” Sammie replied. I rolled my eyes and headed for my backyard. My mom would be in a deep sleep by now, so there was little risk of waking her up. “Sammie, bring him around the back.” I ordered. “I'll turn on the back light and you show him where the water hose is.”

  After drinking from the water hose for what seemed like ten minutes, Trundi had a look of satisfaction on his face. He smiled and looked around him.

  “So, Anna, this is your home?” He asked.

  “Yes, it is. I smiled dryly. “Now, here's a jug for you to take some with you on your way back, be safe!”

>   “But wait! You can't let him go back alone.” Sammie protested. “He'll get lost.”

  “Oh, I'm sure a scientist can find his way back just fine. He found his way into those woods and he can find his way out. Isn't that right Trundi?”

  “Well, yes and no.” Trundi said thoughtfully.

  “See!” Sammie shouted. “He still needs our help getting back.”

  “No, what you need to do is go home, before your mother wakes up and find you gone. And what I need right now is to get some sleep because I have school and work tomorrow. Now go, before I wake Shenelle myself.”

  I fold my arms and waited for Sammie to cross the fence back into his own yard and watched until he climbed back into the window he slipped out of. Once Sammie was safely out of sight I turned to Trundi who was staring at me curiously. Closer to civilization, the handsome features of his face was more illuminated. It forced me to notice his onyx eyes. I'd never seen eyes so dark before. His hair was a mesh of o-shaped ringlets that formed a mini-fro perfectly framing his face. If this had been any other setting or if he was a boy I meet at school or work instead of a stranger in the woods, I probably would've been tempted to flirt with him.