by A. Yber
Death
Book 1 – Soul Jumper series
By A. Yber
Fort Wayne, IN
Copyright © 2019 by A. Yber.
www.tugglepublishing.com
www.ayberauthor.com
www.facebook.com/Babes&Bots
Cover Design by Sanja Gombar
Death/A. Yber —1st ed.
All rights reserved. This book, or any portion thereof, may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This novella is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all products of the author’s imagination, and completely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people, places or events is purely coincidence.
This book is dedicated to three people:
To my mother, Sally, who has always encouraged my writing career. And from whom I inherited my love of books, and my ability to spell. To my deceased father Paul, who always corrected my poor English. And to my sister Karla, whose ongoing support and love has made this book possible. I am finally following my dream.
…and yes, Dad, there is slang in the book…
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Zach
Chapter Six
Melanie
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Zach
Appendix I
FROM THE CY-BOT INSTRUCTIONAL MANUAL:
Appendix II
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SNEAK PEAK – Book 2 - Resurrection
Chapter One
…the year is 2050
…and reality is not what is seems. Melanie is an ordinary high school student, whose life is about to change…
Tristan
How beautiful is your face
That an artist
Could not trace
The lines
So elusively
Sculpted
Molded
From the ethers
Of perfection
~Soulmate Poetry – Anmarie Uber
Chapter One
He had been acting strange all night.
Aggressive.
Something was wrong.
But there was no time to think about that. We were about to go on stage. My date, Exetor - known as simply “X” – and I were on the prom court together, and I had to admit we looked amazing. My beautiful dress, in blush pink chiffon, shimmered under the lights. With a lace-edged skirt that hit just above my knees. I wore matching strappy heels, that sparkled when I walked.
We were waiting for the principal to announce our names. I smoothed out imaginary wrinkles in my dress, the motion helping to calm me. Determined to pretend, at least in this moment, that everything was okay with X.
“Melanie Freeman and Exetor Jones.”
We were up.
One of the last to be called.
“Okay, Princess, it’s time!”
X squeezed my hand, bringing it up to the crook of his elbow. The scent from my flowery corsage, floating in the air between us. I was determined it was going to be a perfect night.
We stepped on stage under hot beaming lights, my heels clicking across the platform. X walked beside me, stunning the crowd, as usual. Wearing a black tux, and a crisp white shirt, that matched his flawless smile.
Everyone was looking at us.
I hope my hair is okay!
We approached the center, where Principal Phillips was waiting with my sash. He smiled for the crowd, and lifted it over my head. I bent forward, catching the words “Prom Court”, written in bold letters of red and gold, our school colors. One of the women on the administration staff, handed me a bouquet of roses.
It was a proud moment. X held my hand, and we turned to the sea of faces in the crowd. It felt like a dream. Classmates waved and cheered, and we did our prom court smile and wave, in return.
Then exited the stage, with the rest of the court, as the King and Queen took front and center.
Down below, we were pressed into the tight crowd of students. Jostled back and forth, as the body crush count, was at maximum.
My heartbeat sped up. Pounding hard.
Oh no.
Bad timing for an anxiety attack.
I handed my flowers to X, yelling over the noise, “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Without waiting for his answer, I pushed my way through the thick crowd, trying to breathe. I relaxed a little when I saw the bathrooms up ahead.
The girls’ room was empty, and I felt the tightening sensation in my chest, easing off.
I was the only one in here. An empty girls’ restroom. That was a first!
The King and Queen’s acceptance speeches were blaring over the loudspeakers.
I walked toward one of the stalls, when X’s voice made me jump.
“Mel, it’s time. I’m not going to wait, anymore.”
I spun around, in surprise. He had followed me.
I opened my mouth to ask what he was doing, but he was already walking in, like he owned the place. My instincts were instantly on high alert. Something was up with him. His expression was off, again.
X came at me, backing me up against the far wall.
“X, what are you doing?”
He grabbed the hem of my dress, pulling upward, and forced his legs between mine.
The action was so sudden, I didn’t even resist.
X had gotten pushy lately, but never forceful. We had only ever kissed before. Nothing beyond that.
I pushed on his hands, trying to keep my skirt down, but he grabbed my wrists, pinning them above my head. Holding them with his left hand, while his right finished yanking up my skirt.
“We are in the girls’ bathroom!” I protested.
He wasn’t answering. It was like he was deaf. And now squeezing my wrists so hard, it was going to leave marks.
My eyes widened, as I watched him unzip his pants.
I fought to wrench my arms loose, but I wasn’t strong enough.
Panic was setting in.
This couldn’t be happening!
“X, stop! You are hurting me!”
“Come on. You want this as much as I do!”
And then, like a miracle, the door opened.
In walked a girl, who I vaguely recognized as being a year behind me – a junior. I didn’t know her name. She stopped short, looking embarrassed to have stumbled across two people, ready to get it on in the bathroom. I could tell she didn’t know whether to leave, or run into the nearest stall.
“Please help me.” I mouthed to her.
X followed my line of vision.
“What do you want?” he snapped.
She dropped her gaze from me, to the floor. And said nothing.
Didn’t ask X, what he was doing in the girl’s room…but then, no one ever questioned him. He was too popular.
X let go of my arms then, an annoyed look on his face at the interruption.
Shoving my skirt down, I raced out of the bathroom, giving a brief nod of thanks to the girl. She had unwittingly saved me.
Looking for sanctuary, I rushed across the gym floor, but my sister was nowhere in sight. My friends, still on the
far side of the room, near the stage.
The mob of people on the dance floor suddenly seemed like the safest place to be. I dove into the middle of a group of students, swaying to the music. Quickly shoving my way through, but attempting to act casual, as I desperately scanned the room, again, for my sister.
I wished I could disappear. Make the last few minutes go away.
There was a commotion behind me, and I realized X was pushing through the crowd.
I turned, swallowing the lump in my throat.
His face was beet red. Obviously pissed that I had walked away from him, but I didn’t care, at this point.
Grabbing my arm, he dragged me off the dance floor, to a corner in the back of the room.
I was on the verge of tears.
I wanted to go home.
Like, right now.
“X, I’m leaving.”
“No, you are not.”
“This night is over.”
“You are not going anywhere!” He shouted, his voice booming over the pounding music. People turned to look. I didn’t want to make a scene, but I couldn’t help myself.
“X, I want to go home. Now!” My voice was at a screech level.
Its high pitch seemed to snap him out of it.
He dropped my arm, and raised his hands, as if in self-defense.
“Okay, just calm down.”
Calm down! Like I was the one acting like a freak!
“I’ll take you home.”
I stood with my arms crossed over my chest, suddenly unsure of whether I would be willing to go anywhere, with him.
“Mel, look, I am sorry. I just got carried away.”
I stayed silent.
“What do you want me to do? I’m really sorry.”
I stood, weighing my options. If only I could find my sister.
I relented.
“Okay, I just want to leave.”
I was so intent on getting home, that I didn’t ask what X had done with my roses. And now here I was, stuck in his AV - anti-gravity air vehicle – crying silently to myself.
X drove like a maniac. Still pissed, apparently.
I sat in the passenger seat, examining my reflection in the visor mirror. My hair was a mess. I furiously combed my fingers through the white blonde strands. People teased me, that I was OCD about it, but I needed my hair to be perfect.
I attempted to stop crying. My blue eyes, now swollen and bloodshot red. Eye makeup pooling into dark half-moons, making me look like death. Right now, I could totally land the lead role, in a zombie movie. Hands down. All I needed was my skin to start rotting, or an arm to fall off.
But, it didn’t matter what I looked like. There wouldn’t be anyone waiting up, to notice the zombie apocalypse was finally here. Mom would most likely be passed out, half-empty bottle of good ole’ Jim Beam, sitting next to her on the nightstand. Dad had cut out years ago, when I was twelve. We hadn’t heard from him since.
Well, at least there won’t be any “proud parent photos”, to remind me of this night!
Snapping the visor closed, I moved back to my personal section of the vehicle, namely plastered up against the passenger door. Practically hugging it. Whatever I could do, to get as far away from X, as possible.
I need to get out of this AV…
I watched the scenery fly by, struggling to come to terms, with what had just happened. My prom night had gone from amazing to terrible, in minutes.
What the hell was wrong with X?
The only thing I could think of, was someone slipped him something at the dance. Drugs? I mean, X was occasionally a jerk, but tonight he was a different person. Not even hearing me tell him to stop, or even caring about what I wanted.
It must be drugs. Although it was rare, there were still kids who used them, even in the year 2050.
He didn’t speak on the drive, which was a good thing. Getting into his vehicle, tonight, was not up there on the list, of the smartest things I had ever done. But lately, I noticed that I was having to make more and more excuses, for X. And giving in, when he would apologize.
Why didn’t I just walk, or try to hitch a ride with a friend…or someone. Anyone but X.
Nora always told me I should never agree to any man’s b.s. Well she actually said I should ball kick him. But, she had way more confidence than I did, even though I was a year older. I had never felt like the “big sister”.
Especially tonight.
X pulled up to the curb, in front of my house.
Finally.
I kept my eyes straight ahead. Maybe I was weak and shallow. That it was his looks that kept me in the relationship. His tall athletic build, sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes. He was the school “golden boy”, with a perpetual smile, and straight white teeth. But tonight, his smile had become a snarling ravenous wolf, ready to devour me whole.
X shut off the engine.
Which means he’s not planning on leaving.
His hand landed on my left knee, his fingers slowly trailing upward, toward my thigh.
I cringed.
Why in hell, had I worn this short dress?
“Melanie, you going to give me some action tonight, or what? It is prom, after all.”
As if the event required me to deliver!
And what had happened to ‘I am sorry?’ What is wrong with him?
“I told you, I wanted to wait until I was eighteen.”
His grip on my leg, instantly tightened.
Oh God, another bruise.
My mind was zinging through my options.
I could make a run for the door, but if he followed, there would be no one to stop him. Nobody to say, “Hey, Buddy, you can’t come in here.” Even Nora was at the dance, and wouldn’t be home for hours.
I was alone.
The thought struck me like a blow.
Well, I’m not technically alone. An image of Zach came into my mind…his thick chestnut hair, cut body and green glowing eyes - that literally glowed – the telltale sign he was a Cy-Bot. Z-2D2, interpreted as Zeta Automated Cyber Human – a fancy way of saying, a household robot.
And did I mention, he was inconveniently drool-worthy hot? It was just my luck, that we would end up with a 20-something male prototype, rocking a movie star face. He looked like one of the military fighters, not a household model. Not that his looks had anything to do with my present circumstances. My mind just tended to go there.
Zach had moved in about the time Dad left, and was always home. A consistent presence. But a Cy-Bot was programmed – like the manual said – “to do chores”, not interfere in human affairs.
Still, it was someone. And that someone was a tall immovable wall of metal and muscle. I hoped he would prove to be enough of a deterrent, for X to just leave.
“It looks like Zach is still up.”
Stupid comment, because Cy-Bots were always awake.
It wasn’t working. X only grunted in response. Needing to buy some time, I decided on a different tactic. Like, appearing to go along with him.
“Okay X, just slow down, a bit. You’re moving too fast. Maybe try kissing me first.”
X’s face registered victory, accepting my surrender. With a placating smirk, he said, “Okay, Melanie. We’ll try it your way. Nice and slow.”
A wave of nausea engulfed me.
Stay calm!
X lifted his hand off my leg.
Halleluiah!
As soon as he did, I hit the AV door button, and dove out. Landing on a hard patch of grass. My hands and knees catching my fall.
I sprang to my feet, and ran. Sheer panic, driving me as fast as my long legs could carry me.
I heard his vehicle door slam.
Great.
Apparently, X wasn’t going to take “no” for an answer. I guess all those grueling cheerleading practices were not a total waste of my life, after all. Nothing like wearing high heels, and trying to outrun the school’s star quarterback!
I pushed myself to move faster.
/> My front door still seemed a million miles away, as I launched myself over a bush, just about breaking an ankle. Desperate, I dove for the porch, grabbing the door knob. Fumbling with both hands to get it open, I yanked hard, and all but fell into the house.