Of the Blood

By Joshua Laack

Everything in Andrew's life is covered in a veil of darkness, and he doesn't know why. Then a bright spot appears in the form of a new student at school. Who is this girl and why is she so different? Can she help him to break away from the darkness that has ruled him for so long? Could the future be brighter than he had ever hoped?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joshua Laack
• Release date: Apr 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301520176

Book preview

Of The Blood

By Joshua Laack

Copyright 2013 Joshua Laack

Smashwords Edition

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Epilogue

Some things in this world cannot yet be explained by science. From these things, imagination explodes.

Introduction

The wind billowed up and ran its fingers through their hair. The two stood alone on top of the sandy hill, enjoying the silence and the great presence they felt in each other. This peace was to be short lived though. At the bottom of the hill waited death in droves. How could there be so many of them? Why did they have to come now? This new life together had just begun. It was far too soon for it to end, but there was little other choice. At least here they could choose their own way out. They would go out fighting to their last breath, sort of.

Chapter 1

Jefferson was an unexciting school of about four hundred and fifty students. At the moment, the cafeteria was buzzing with the voices of about half that number in juniors and seniors eagerly awaiting food that wasn't worth being excited about.

Andrew! Andrew Stephen Marks didn't bother to look up at the excited voice calling his name across the lunchroom. There was only one possibility, one friend who had managed to find a way through the dark wall that separated him from everyone and everything.

Andrew didn't understand why that wall was there. It just had been for as long as he could remember. As hard as he tried to overcome it, he stayed trapped within it. It was a gray and lonely world, but it was the only one he knew.

His brow furrowed as he stared down at the six chicken flavored lumps with soggy breading that sat on the faded yellow tray in front of him. Andrew imagined that the lumps were staring back up at him. For a moment, he wished that he had chosen salad bar, but thinking of the choices there didn't sound any better than what he had. There were days when the soggy lettuce and four toppings were a much better choice than the main meal. Andrew finally looked up from his food and toward his only friend in the world, who was almost to the table where they always sat.

Jason Meyer rushed up to the table with his own tray of pseudo meat. He was breathing a little harder than normal as he dropped the tray and sat on the round plastic seat across from Andrew. Dark brown eyes stared out from under bushy, jet black eyebrows. The matching hair had a little curve to it and it was long, though not quite to his shoulders. He wasn't exactly overweight, but he wasn't thin either. Jason claimed that he was just big boned. Andrew had light brown hair, hazel eyes and a wiry frame from a metabolism that devoured anything he ate without ever truly letting him achieve complete respite from hunger.

The two had been friends since seventh grade when Jason moved into town with his dad after his parents divorced. Jason's dad, Jim, got a job working for an engineering company in town. His mom was too busy with her new family to have time for him so she gave custody to his father. Andrew sometimes tried to imagine what that must have been like for his friend. The only comparison he came up with was the darkness surrounding his own life.

This wasn't far off the mark and it was this shared darkness that first brought the two together. Jason acted as if he didn't care about the past, but it bothered him more than he would admit, even to himself. It separated him from those who had the potential to abandon him like his mother did.

For Andrew, the darkness had nothing to do with his parents who were both around and much involved in his life. They tried their hardest to reach their only child, but Andrew never connected with them. It wasn't just his parents. Andrew never connected with anyone. Nothing anyone did was able to penetrate the darkness around him. Andrew knew how hard they struggled to relate to him and he struggled to reach through the darkness as well, but until Jason came along, he was not able to bridge the gap.

They both were into fantasy. Andrew's loneliness and the darkness made the fantasy worlds seem much better than anything that this life had to offer. And Jason's dark past pulled him to the fantastical for much the same reason. Needless to say, their preference for make believe had not made them popular among the students at Jefferson.

The vast majority of the students just ignored them, the rest spent their time being cruel. The school as a whole was focused on sports and other popular activities that had never been of much interest to either boy. In response to the ridicule, both Andrew and Jason pulled even more away from the world around them. The final result was two young boys surrounded by people everyday and yet still alone.

As Jason looked at Andrew across the table, he was quivering with some knowledge that he couldn't wait to share. In spite of the dark mood that accompanied Andrew, he couldn't help but produce a small smile at his friend's excitement.

This ought to be good, Andrew said, the almost real smile stretching his face, though not quite reaching his eyes. Jason chuckled.

What gave it away that I had something to share?

Just a guess... Andrew responded with a slight shrug, the smile already gone as the darkness pulled it from his face. Jason didn't seem to notice as he plowed forward with his news, voice cracking slightly as he struggled to contain his excitement.

Okay. So listen to this. I was just in the office for a minute between study hall and lunch and I overheard the principle talking to a new transfer student in his office. I waited around for a bit to see if I could catch a glimpse of her, but the secretary told me to get to lunch. Actually, this was more interesting than Andrew expected. Jason's tidbits of news often ended up being silly with a large helping of lame.

A new student? That hasn't happened since you showed up. Andrew paused, for a moment feeling a burst of elation that was larger than it should have been for the news just shared. The elation was accompanied with a view beyond the wall.

In that brief and unexpected respite from gray, the world seemed brighter than it had ever felt for Andrew. Real happiness flooded him and he felt like laughing. I wonder if she is into fantasy. Andrew and Jason looked at each other for a moment and then burst into laughter, something neither experienced often.

The feeling was short lived. Before Andrew even had time to enjoy the light, reality returned and with it crashed bleak grayness around him. It was a nice thought, but no girl ever wanted to hang out with the nerds of Jefferson High. Andrew felt the last bit of light fading from him as he had the sad thought that he would never find a girl who would like him. He was going to grow old and die alone. The wall chuckled as it closed back in around him, cutting him off once more from the world.

After the bell signaling the end of lunch, the two boys walked together to Government Studies, the only class they shared. Ms. Frankin, was taking the class through the presidential election process since this was an election year. A few students in the class would be eighteen and able to vote when the time came, but Andrew's birthday wasn't until the twentieth of February so he wouldn't be one of them. He wasn't concerned about it though. Politics seemed unimportant compared to the dragons, wizards, vampires and the other magical things that filled his free time. The mystical world was a happier place than the real one.

Andrew wished that one of his fantasy worlds and reality would trade places. He knew it was a crazy thought that would never happen. The real world and the fantastical were forever destined to be as far from each other as he was from being freed from the dark cloak that rested perpetually upon his shoulders. It was with this bleak perspective that Andrew sat down in his assigned seat for the class. What he never imagined as he did, was that a new chapter was about to begin.

Chapter 2

About five minutes into class, a knock on the door echoed into the room and the door swung open with the screeching protest of infrequently oiled hinges. In the doorway stood the principle and behind him, another figure Andrew couldn't see clearly.

Ms. Frankin, I have a new student for you. She set her book down on the table and motioned for them to enter. The principal turned and left and the girl standing behind him stepped into the room. As she stepped into the light, Andrew's heart began to pound within his chest.

He glanced around and wondered why no one said anything about it. It sounded like thunder in the midst of a summer storm as it echoed in his ears. Surely they had to be able to hear it, as loud as it was. No one was looking at Andrew though, they were all trying to get a good look at the figure in the doorway.

From where Andrew sat in the second row, across the room from the door, he could clearly see the glow of sapphire eyes set in smooth, pale skin. Her dark brown hair cascaded past her shoulders like water over a fall, shimmering like the finest silk strands despite the terrible florescent lighting. She was tiny, with delicate features, though there was strength in the way she carried her small frame. Strangest of all, she seemed to actually glow as a bright light in the midst of darkness and it dazzled him. He wanted to stay here for the rest of the day and stare into that glow.

Those sparkling blue eyes glanced at Andrew and he felt them pierce through him as if she were peering into his soul. His pounding heart beat faster and louder still. For a moment, Andrew feared it would burst. Then, while still looking into his soul, she unleashed a small smile. Andrew almost fainted.

The whole exchange lasted only an instant, but it felt like forever. Then it was over and she turned to face the teacher who was welcoming her to the class. Jason was saying something beside him and the rest of the class was all whispering as well, but Andrew heard none of it. He was lost to the real world. For that short moment, he had felt a strong connection to the girl.

Andrew frowned. That wasn't quite right. It was more than that. It felt like he knew her from somewhere, but she was a transfer student so that didn't seem likely. He didn't understand the reason for the feeling. A smile crept upon his face and Andrew felt a lightness within himself that he was unfamiliar with.

There had been brief glimpses of light all throughout his life, but they were nothing compared to the unexpected burst of clear hope that filled him upon seeing her. There had been darkness in his spirit for as long as he could remember, but for some reason, she seemed to repress that darkness.

Andrew shook his head. It was insane. Who felt so happy about someone they didn't know and had never even spoken a single word to? The girl turned to the class.

Hello, she said with a smile. My name is Josefina Sanchez. There was a scattering of hellos from the class, though they seemed somewhat unenthusiastic based on the brightness of the beauty Andrew saw before him.

Josefina glided to one of the empty desks in the room with a grace that made Andrew's still rapidly beating heart catch in his throat. Watching her move, he again felt certain that he knew her from somewhere, but that was ridiculous. He couldn't know her. He snorted to himself with a shake of his head. He had to be imagining the feeling. He wished he knew her, but what guy wouldn't?

Josefina sat down and the class attempted to resume as it had been before the interruption, though the result was far from perfect. Andrew tried to pay attention as well, but he couldn't focus. His thoughts and his beating heart continued to race out of control.

As Andrew stared at the front of the room struggling to tame his wandering mind, he felt the hairs all over his arms and neck stand up. It was like the feeling that someone was staring at him. Andrew stiffened, but forced himself to relax. If she were staring at him, he didn't want to let her know that he was aware of it.

As nonchalantly as he could, Andrew placed his head down on the desk and allowed his eyes to wander back around the room until they reached Josefina's desk. She wasn't looking in his direction, but down at the temporary book that Ms. Frankin had given her. Despite the obvious fact that she wasn't looking at him, the feeling of being watched persisted. As it did, the light and hope he felt with Josefina's presence vanished and he sank back into an even blacker black than he was accustomed to. The vengeance of its return dulled Andrew's mind and buried him into a depression far stronger than he was accustomed to. It was at this point that Andrew realized what was going on. He was losing his mind. It was the only explanation he could fathom that came close to explaining what was happening.

The rest of class dragged by at a snail's pace. It took most of that immense period of time for Andrew's heart to slow back to a normal pace, or at least close to it. As his heart calmed, the hairs on his body, which had remained at attention to this point, calmed as well. At the same time, the darkness within him faded back to normal as well, if such a word could ever be used to describe it.

The bell rang to end class and Andrew rushed to get up and away from the the craziness that he was feeling. He was still feeling lightheaded from the excessive blood and oxygen that had been pumping through his brain. He felt himself waver for an instant before he got it under control. As he did, the most intoxicating aroma he had ever inhaled in his entire life filled his nose.

It was a strange scent of wild flowers and some kind of citrus fruit. When Andrew breathed in that scent, his heart shuddered to a complete stop in his chest. It didn't just feel that way either. It literally stopped. The black upon Andrew's mind grew so strong that it faded the world in his eyes. All color vanished into shades of gray and it was difficult to make anything out. Everything seemed as if he were staring at it through water.

In a daze, Andrew turned and there she stood, right beside him. In the midst of dimming vision, she was brighter than ever, shining in a halo of light and gleaming in full glorious color. She stood out like a polished jewel resting among a pile of ordinary rocks. Her blue eyes stared up into Andrew's hazel ones and she smiled the same half smile she had when she looked through him upon first coming into the room.

Hello Andrew Marks. Her voice of silver chimes rang in his ears as he started to fade out of consciousness from the complete and sudden lack of oxygen to a brain somewhat adjusted to an excess. She reached out as if to steady him. As her cool white hand touched the skin of his arm, Andrew was jolted with an electric current that flowed from her touch into him like the paddles on a defibrillator. His heart began to beat again at its normal, steady pace. At the same time, Andrew heard the strangest growl emanating from somewhere nearby. The current he felt at her touch doubled and then the blackness screamed. The sound echoed in his ear and then a different blackness rose up and took him from the world of the conscious to a place where not even dreams interfere.

There was no awareness of time in that blackness so Andrew was not certain how long he lay there before a small circle of light appeared in that darkness. The light rapidly grew larger, like the light at the end of a train tunnel rushing closer and closer. Soon, the light took up more space than the black did, and it continued to grow until it overwhelmed the blackness leaving the space brighter than staring into the morning sun.

Andrew blinked, still seeing nothing but the brightness of that sun as she stood over him. As he looked, the circle of people standing around him faded into view. They were still not in color, but this time the color had been washed out by light in front of his eyes instead of being faded away by darkness. Josefina remained the only one in color as she knelt beside him, her hand now on his face instead of his arm. The current still flowed between them, though no longer as strong as it had been in the moments before he had passed out.

Whaa... Andrew cleared his throat to remove the large frog coiled up there. What happened?

Josefina removed her hand and with it the current. She stood and stepped back into the circle of people that included Jason and Ms. Frankin. Colors returned as the sun vanished from his eyes and Andrew sat up.

Careful Andrew. Don't try to get up yet. The nurse is on her way. You just fainted. Ms. Frankin sounded quite concerned which surprised Andrew. He never expected anyone to care about him, and when they did, it always took him back a little. He turned his head, searching for the sun and caught a glimpse of her face in the background. She smiled at him, winked and walked out of the room, leaving Andrew staring after her lithe figure in wonder.

What had just happened? Andrew tried to put the pieces together in his mind. The last thing he remembered was his heart stopping. Had she started his heart again with her touch? What had caused the current flowing between them? Whatever it was, his heartbeat was now steady and as strong as it had been before. Another thought hit him as well. As far as Andrew knew, he didn't recall saying his name to her, or anyone else mentioning it either. How in the world had she known it?

Whoa man! That was crazy! Jason's voice was on Andrew's other side. Andrew turned and looked up at him.

What was crazy, Andrew asked? Jason snorted and stared at him.

What do you think I mean? The new girl said hi to you and she knew your name. Then you fainted. That seems crazy to me. Andrew nodded and then stood up despite the protests of Ms. Frankin.

Yes, I would agree. Completely crazy! He turned and walked from the room.

Wait, Jason called after him! How did she know it? Hey! Where are you going? Andrew kept walking, pretending that he didn't hear his friend as he had no idea what the answers to either of the questions were.

Andrew met the nurse walking in the hall toward the class and walked with her back to the nurse's office behind the main offices. After a moment of examination, Andrew told her that he had stood up too fast and the blood had rushed to his head. The nurse pronounced him fine and sent him on his way. By this point, the bell for next hour rang and Andrew headed to his locker and then to class. He avoided thinking about the events of the previous class as he walked toward Trigonometry. An hour with Mr. Anderson, as dull as it would be, might be a nice break from the craziness in Andrew's mind.

That thought was dashed. Somehow, Josefina was in both his Trigonometry class and after that, health class with Mr. Roberts. Andrew learned nothing in either class. His eyes kept wandering to the figure who still seemed to glow in his vision. Andrew knew she must not glow in reality since no one else was remarking upon it. So it was just him that saw it. He wondered if this whole day was just in his head. He did have some strange dreams sometimes. Maybe this was just one of those dreams. He knew it was not.

Chapter 3

That night Andrew had one of those strange dreams that frequented his nights. It was a recurring dream he first had starting when he was about thirteen. It was the only one he had that repeated itself. In the dream he stood in his room at night looking out the window into the backyard. Everything in the dream was exactly as it was in real life.

Andrew's room was on the second floor and in the back of the two story home where he lived with his parents. Behind the house there was a small yard with an old swing set that was rarely used when Andrew was a child. Butting up with the backyard were several acres of undeveloped land covered in trees. The real estate agent who sold them the house said at the time that it would be developed, but after nearly eleven years, it remained untouched.

In the dream, it was mid summer and Andrew stared through the screen of his open window into the trees. Often, night was the worst time dealing with the darkness within himself. When it was at its worst, Andrew found himself unable to sleep. That was the case this night. Many times he would end up staring out of his window as though he was expecting something or someone. Nothing ever came and eventually, he would go back to bed.

Once again on this night, there was nothing but trees beyond the yard. Then, in the space of a single blink, she appeared in the shadows on the back edge of the lot, between the trees and the house. The moon was not bright enough to illuminate her features, but her eyes stood out, shining with an inner glow, like the eyes of a wild animal.

As Andrew looked at her shape standing there, he felt no fear, though some small part of him felt that he should be terrified by the strangeness of this encounter. He continued to watch and the lithe figure stepped forward into the glow of the moonlight. As she did, Andrew's heart began to race and his breath caught in his throat.

Andrew sat up gasping in bed, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs of sleep from it. Sweat poured down his face and the sheets wrapped around him were drenched like never before. In all the times that he had experienced this dream, Andrew had never seen the face of the girl. The dream always ended right before the moonlight revealed her features. That had not been the case in the dream this night. The face in his dream tonight had been that of Josefina Sanchez.

He shook his head once more, this time to deny the impossibilities of that idea. It didn't mean anything. It couldn't since the Josefina in the dream looked identical to the one who had walked through that classroom door despite Andrew's dream being of a time several years ago. His mind had just added her in after meeting her at the school. That made sense considering the strange events that had occurred during their meeting. Despite knowing that this was what his mind was doing, it was still hard to shake the strange feeling that the dream felt more real this time with her in it than it ever had before.

After a minute, Andrew climbed out of his bed and pulled the wet sheets off. He placed his comforter over the top of his fitted sheet and then lay down on top of that. He pulled half of it over himself and rolled onto his side. It was just after four in the morning, he was exhausted and knew that he would be even more so the next day. In spite of that knowledge, or maybe because of it, sleep was a long time in returning. The sleep he did return to was devoid of dreams, at least any that he recalled.

All too soon, the alarm was buzzing on the night stand beside his bed. Andrew came awake with sand in his eyes and struggling with the exhaustion he had feared would greet him. He lay in his bed, staring at the blank ceiling above him, wanting to close his eyes and forget the day ahead. He shook his head to dislodge the feeling. He refused to let himself fall into that pattern again.

There had been several years when he had allowed the darkness to prevent him from doing anything with his life. His parents had to drag him from bed in the morning for school and he lay around all the time, doing nothing. The longer he lived like that, the worse everything became.

One day, he realized that living this way was not doing himself any favors. He made a life resolution right then and there. He promised himself that he was going to do the best he could with what he had. He refused to allow this thing to control him. It was his life and he was going to do something with it, darkness be damned.

It was this decision that motivated him. It allowed him to get up. It got him to school. It pushed him to do things with his parents and only friend. It carried him to his job and put a smile on his face even when indifference or sadness threatened to take over. When he took control this way, the darkness didn't seem to hang over him as strongly. There were even moments when the smiles he forced upon his face became real. Those moments never lasted, but they were another thing that helped him to continue on his quest to do the best he