Primal Whisper

By Laura Chatwin

"It's like a primal whisper, that comes alive inside you - you fight to survive. It will destroy everything you ever were - you will become everything it is." Maverik Braves finds himself in over his head, and is forced to fight or die. Every moment is a battle against himself - becoming the beast that grows within him, or holding tight to the human light that is flickering so dimly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Chatwin
• Release date: Feb 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311969194

Laura Chatwin

Growing up in a small town, filled my childhood with adventures. Those memories were the seeds that grew in to the ideas that became Montgomery County, and the lively characters who live there.

Book preview

108 S 200 W 40-15

Roosevelt UT 84066

Copyright ©2012 by Laura M Chatwin

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the prior written permission of the author. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN – 13: 9781311969194

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Smashwords Edition

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Primal Whisper

by Laura Chatwin

Whisk Away Books

Contents

Copyright page

Title page

Table of contents

Books by Author Laura Chatwin

It's like a primal Whisper

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

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Books by Author Laura Chatwin

Primal Whisper

Brave Enough to Shine

Awakening the Curse

It’s like a primal whisper that comes alive inside you – you fight to survive. It will destroy everything you ever were – you will become everything it is.

Chapter 1

Time dissipated into still life. The movement around Maverik Braves somehow seemed to slur into a blurry black fog. His mind blocked out everything, but the demon whispering in his ear – A voice he couldn’t seem to turn away from. The black force, which seemed to course so violently through his veins, crept into his mind demanding his obedience – Insisting on taking control of his sanity.

The popper of the bullwhip, BoDee snapped, stung as it cut through Maverik’s skin. The whip sliced sharply through the air again, before raking across Maverik’s neck, and bare chest. The weakness, which had been forced on Maverik from prior assaults dug deep into his very being. He had to fight or die. He gathered strength from all emotions that existed within him – grief, fear, anger, and hatred. There was a fury waking inside of Maverik. The pain he’d already endured from the guards seemed trivial now. He wasn’t chained – free of his restrains, he invoked a primitive power.

When BoDee brought the whip down, Maverik’s fist shot up grasping the tip. The leather snaked, and coiled around his forearm. A deep violent growl exploded from Maverik’s lungs, as he towed himself up the whip bringing himself face to face with BoDee. He ripped the handle free from BoDee, and jammed it under his jaw. He drove him backwards bashing him into the rail of the pen. He thrust him over it. BoDee landed on his back in the dirt. As Maverik leaped the fence, and plowed toward him. BoDee brought his feet up, catching Maverik in the chest, and catapulting him back into the fence. BoDee bound to his feet, rushing toward him. He pounded Maverik to the ground. The blood, sweat, and dirt were raw and abrasive in Maverik’s open wounds. He threw BoDee off him. He sprang to his feet with every ounce of fury he had. He thrust his fist forward bending BoDee’s strong thick body over it.

The effect of his blow caused Maverik to stagger backwards. He could feel his body surrendering to his weakness. He panted for breath. He stumbled back a few steps telling himself BoDee would be coming back hard, but the concussion BoDee received, seemed to stun him. It was almost as if the Goliath of this battle had been taken by this blow.

Although he stood doubled over Maverik kept his eyes cautiously on BoDee. Blood ran from Maverik’s nose and mouth. His eyes were nearly swollen shut. His entire body quivered from the previous few days of starvation, and abuse by the guards, who had prepared him for the unfair battle. He was going to die if he stopped now. With every heavy breath, he tried to tell his mind he was still strong, but he knew his will was wavering. Blackness crept in on him from every side, reminding him of how life deprived he was. If he failed now it would insure BoDee the kill he thirsted for.

Maverik heaved in painful burning breaths of stale air from the old barn they fought in. The crowd, which yelled, screamed, cheered, and booed, once again seemed to pierce Maverik’s hearing. His body quivered with weakness. He had been fighting this life too long. He had used every ounce of courage he had to keep himself alive in this barn, but he no longer cared. With every breath, he felt weaker. He now wished to die. He wanted to give in to death. He just wanted it to be over. He felt the weakness of his soul and passion giving into death, as his body fell faint to the floor. It was only through blurry vision, that he saw BoDee his opponent’s giant body fall, unconscious to the floor also.

No! Donovan raced to the rail fence of the fighting ring, not believing Maverik could have penetrated BoDee with such a blow. Donovan had left Maverik in such a vulnerable state before this fight. He had assured this death match would end in his favor. No! His hollow cry echoed off the rafters of the barn’s retired hayloft.

Donovan’s haunting protest ripped Maverik from his dream. He sat straight up in bed. His sculptured chest and face were dotted with beads of sweat. His breath came out in quick rapid pants. Looking at the mirror on the wall across from his bed, he caught sight of the thick scar formed on his muscular upper chest. His shaky fingers went to the scar; with a flinch, he relived the memory of the fierce wound.

The shrill cry that echoed from somewhere on the floor below, floated up the stairs, down the hall and to where Maverik still sat upright in bed.

No – No – Stop! The high-pitched scream from his fourteen-year-old sister Alyssa rang in his ears. Maverik bound out of bed, and bolted down the stairs and exploded into the kitchen.

Jace, Maverik’s nineteen-year-old brother, held Alyssa in a pin as he viciously teased her – Picking on her the way, any brother did to a younger sister.

Jace was a freshman in college and was home from college for Thanksgiving break.

Shut up! Maverik’s voice boomed with anger. Jace and Alyssa surrendered to a paralyzed state. They both stared at him fear dressed their faces.

Alyssa pulled away from Jace and coward to the adjoining laundry room, where her mom, Lanna appeared in the doorway to investigate Maverik’s sudden presence.

I’m trying to sleep! Maverik yelled, throwing a threatening finger at Jace.

Maverik, it’s almost noon. Lanna, like a mother duck with her babies trailing behind her for protection, declared. She carefully chose her words so she wouldn’t be a further irritation to him. You can’t sleep all day.

The hell I can’t. He snarled bitterly.

Come on, the whole family will be here soon. Don’t you want to see them?

He only answered with an annoyed grunt. His dark ebony-colored eyes bore into his younger two siblings threatening them. All he wanted was to be left in complete solitude to live out his days.

Are you hungry? Lanna questioned him. Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll fix you some breakfast?

After an awkward silence, that was followed by a glare. Lanna was surprised when Maverik pulled out a chair next to Jace, and sat his powerful body down. He wore only a pair of faded jeans. He let his head rest in his hands. Maverik’s fingers combed through his coffee-colored hair.

Lanna watched him closely. His body was thick with threatening muscles. His tall strong body resembled his father’s, all but his black soul.

At the age of twenty-three he wasn’t the same sweet boy, he had once been. She would never have imagined his life would take such a diabolical turn. He had been born with such great blessings. They could have led him to wonderful success. They hadn’t, instead they had led him down a path of destruction, and darkness.

A year and a half earlier he had been released from prison, after serving a two-year sentence. His time had been shortened because of a plea bargain – the rest of the time he owed would be served under the supervision of Lanna, and his father Garret. The judge had asked that they put a strong parental chain on him, and be an example of the life he should live. How could she be any sort of a role model to him? He barely tolerated her presence. She found herself watching every move she made around him. She hated that she feared her own child, but he was like an earthquake on the verge of erupting without warning, and he often did.

When he wasn’t working with Garret, or fighting with the rest of his family, he withdrew; like a recluse to his room – sleeping all the time. He rarely came out. He was like a big angry bear, being awakened from his winter nap, emerging from his cave ready to attack anything that quivered in his path.

Lanna pulled herself from the fixed look she had on him, when he lifted his head, and looked in her direction. She went to work fixing him something to eat; he rarely even did that anymore. Even though she no longer looked at him, when she had pulled her eyes from him, she had caught sight of the thick ghastly scar across his chest, and her mind focused in on it. She knew it wasn’t the only one that he wore. There were two shorter thicker ones just below his ribs, one on the left abdomen the other a few inches further along his side. His back held several long hideous scars. What had he gone through all those years she had lost him? He refused to breathe a word of it. He only sulked away, hiding in the nightmare that was his life.

She wanted so much to wrap her arms around him and protect him – to tell him it was okay. He would never allow anyone near him. All hers and Garret’s reassuring would never penetrate. Their encouragement went unheard, and was unwelcome. Yet, she found herself wanting to try.

Maverik let out a loud aggravated breath of air, when Lanna started lecturing him. He did his best to block her out of his mind. He concentrated on everything else around him, but her. The aroma of sweet apple, cherry, and pumpkin pies floated from the oven where they baked, and saturated the country kitchen with mouth-watering temptations, but the pleasant reminder of what the following day would bring, didn’t ease Maverik as he sat at the table. His eyes bore into one particular leaf of the harvest centerpiece on the table. It was made up of two teddy bears dressed in pilgrim attire, and one rather goofy looking turkey. They sat on a round straw base, which was adorned with autumn elements such as, gourds, leaves, and pumpkins. The leaf he stared at had turned brown, and had grown tarnished, and withered. The glow of its former life had wilted and died. This ghostly leaf was a reflection of Maverik’s own life. He felt even more like the shell of the person he use to be. Without realizing it, his jaw had grown hard and rigid. His eyes glared at the leaf, his anger growing due to the subject.

Maverik, this has got to stop. Unlike her son’s and the rest of her family’s tall dark features, Lanna was petite with blonde hair that bobbed around her face. Her eyes were hazel, and underlined with love for her family. She shook her head. Don’t you want to change? It was almost as if she were pleading with him.

Maverik was so tired of this subject. Why couldn’t she just drop it? Why couldn’t she just be supportive and understanding? Why couldn’t she just deal with the fact that he was who he was, and that was never going to change?

Lanna turned from where she stood at the counter. She placed her hands firmly on her hips. She studied him. She shook her head disappointingly. He had become almost a stranger to her. He was tall, just over six feet. His body had grown hard and powerful. She could hardly believe how much he had changed. She hated the fact that he was no longer the soft, cuddly, little, boy she had loved to pull into her arms and hug. Not only had his body grown to the point that he intimidatedly towered over her, so had his personality.

You need to let go of all this anger. Find something to occupy your time. It was almost as if she were ordering him. This person you’ve become is not you.

Her comment only caused Maverik to glare across the room.

Then you tell me who I am – huh – This is me. Get use to it. He shouted hostilely at her.

This is not you. You weren’t always like this. You didn’t start acting like this until, but Lanna stopped herself. She knew the mention of the subject would only cause him to grow angry and ruthless.

I’m never going to be the person I was. That person died. His temper pulsed.

Well, I don’t know Maverik – You’re just going to give up?

Yeah well, it’s my life. He growled. His eyes scanned the room for an escape. He wanted to run and hide from the topic. He wanted to retreat to his room, and lock himself away. He wanted to go where no one else could pick him apart. Being near his family only irritated him. He could no longer tolerate their never ending probing of his problems. He didn’t want to hear this lecture again. He already felt as if he were small and worthless. He was extremely defensive and felt himself growing more irritated.

Well I don’t know – Give up then. You’ve never been a quitter before – but go ahead. She felt as if she were failing. By the look on his face, none of this was getting through to him, and she found herself feeling hopeless. Lanna reluctantly dropped the subject. With a long discouraging sigh, she went back to the food she prepared. She knew deep down she hadn’t ended the conversation forever. As a parent, she knew she could never give up on him, but her heart was in sorrow over the things he had been through. Lanna sighed again desperately. Had she failed as a parent? Had she been unsuccessful in protecting her own child? He would of course, argue that he was an adult and had taken the road to perdition of his own volition, but her mind rejected that. She had given birth to this young man. She had held him in her arms so tenderly. She had known his soft gentle heart. He could never willingly have chosen this path. It had been a snare – a powerful, jagged, painful, trap. Was he right, could he ever return to the loving child he had once been? Her head dropped – her heart ached for him.

Yeah, Maverik you’re never going to change. We all know you’re the black sheep of the family. Jace leaned in speaking just above a whisper. He snickered knowing just how to push his brother’s buttons. You’re the reject – The embarrassment, the scar on the face of this family. His voice was cold and harsh, as he brought out Maverik’s own insecurities about himself.

The unspoken feud between the two brothers had been deep seeded. It had started long ago – so long ago it hadn’t even started with Maverik and Jace.

When Maverik was twelve-years-old, he could hardly hold himself together, when the school bus pulled to a stop at the corner. Maverik found himself wanting to dart past everyone to take his seat on the bus.

Slow down, Twit. Nathan, Maverik’s brother four years his senior, gave his small shoulder a hard shove. He staggered and fell to his knees, skidding across the gravel road. A sharp surge of pain hit, as the jagged rocks of the road ripped holes in his new school pants, and ate into the tender flesh of his knees. The group of neighborhood kids all burst into laughter. Chanting vicious names about him being a nerd, and reject as they past. Several of Nathan’s tenth grade buddies kicked a face full of dust at him as they past.

Coughing and waving the dust away, Maverik still coward on his knees. The contents of his bag were spilt out over the ground.

The firm grip on the back of Maverik’s shirt caused him to look up. Keenan, Maverik’s oldest brother a high school junior, and already the captain of the varsity football team, pulled him to his feet.

He’s just upset ‘cause you’re smarter. Keenan beat the dust off the knees of Maverik’s pants for him. He reached down quickly scooping the contents of his school bag back into place. He threw the bag over his tall broad shoulders, and rested his free arm across Maverik’s small frail shoulders. He guided his younger brother protectively up the steps of the waiting bus.

As Maverik traveled down the aisle, without time to react, his feet were kicked out from under him. A loud eruption of laughter followed. Just before hitting the ground his fall was stopped by Keenan’s strong hands. A deep snarl escaped Keenan’s throat, as he pushed Maverik into a seat behind Nathan and his buddy, Ben. Despite the rejections, with a mighty grip he yanked Ben over Nathan’s lap and out of the seat. With a shove, he pushed Nathan against the window and took a seat. He wrapped a thick arm around Nathan’s broad shoulders, and forced him in close. He gave him a harsh and heated lecture.

What’s your problem? Keenan badgered Nathan.

He’s embarrassing. He’s a nerd, geek, and a wimp.

With both of his small hands on the back of Keenan and Nathan’s seat Maverik pulled himself up, but still only, his two large brown eyes peeked over, and watched the two brothers arguing.

He is a lot smaller than you. That’s why you should be nice to him. He has feelings too.

What about my feelings? Nathan demanded he remember them. You don’t know what it’s like to have your dorky little brother in the same grade as you. It looks bad on me. Everyone is going to think I am stupid. He growled. He was supposed to be the bigger, smarter, cooler, brother. Maverik had stepped into his spotlight. With his photographic memory, he’d stolen Nathan’s ability to shine.

Maverik had skipped three grades, and had joined Nathan in the ninth grade, the previous year. It had made Nathan look dumb compared with his little brother. Nathan would never let him get away with making him feel inferior.

I don’t want him in my grade. He should have stayed where he belonged with the rest of the little babies.

Maverik’s little heart sank, he had been so excited to be a part of Nathan’s world. He had looked up to both his older brothers wanting to be just like them.

He can’t help that he was born smart.

I wished he was never born at all. He makes me look stupid.

You are stupid.

No, I’m not. Nathan demanded. All Nathan wanted was for everyone else to know he was smart and athletic like Keenan was. Keenan had everything, what did he know about having to try to impress anyone. He didn’t see how hard it was to have to prove yourself. He never saw Nathan. He only looked right through him, and saw Maverik.

Maverik watched as Nathan trotted from the bus and into the school, and rushed off to gym class.

Chapter 2

Standing in the cold gym Maverik shivered. His thin lanky body trembled as he stood watching Nathan at the far end. Last year’s Junior Varsity football team huddled together goofing off. A crowd of other boys was doing their best to impress and fit in with Nathan.

When the bell rang and the girls emptied from their locker room, and cut through the boy’s gym on their way outside to the soccer fields, the team casually sat out to impress them. They acted as if they hadn’t noticed them enter. Nathan and Ben acted as if they were completely devoted to developing themselves. Both jumped up grabbing the pull-up bar. They tried to outdo each other. Nathan, being gifted with the Braves’ family genetics and muscular build, easily excelled.

Nathan, you’re so strong. One of the cheerleaders stopped with a group of her friends to play the part of his trophy.

It isn’t fair. Maverik thought as he watched. Nathan had everything. He was strong and popular – all the girls loved him. Both Keenan and he were considered the best athletes at Montgomery High. With their tall strong bodies, and handsome looks all the girls swarmed to them. Everyone knew the Braves boys. They were all-American, but Maverik didn’t fit into that perfect family portrait. He was small, squirmy, skinny, and twirpy. His feet were too big for the rest of his body. All he wanted was to be like his older brothers. He wanted his classmates to look at him as one of the Braves brothers, but they didn’t.

Okay class. The shrill scream of the coach’s whistle told them to bring themselves to attention.

Junior Varsity football tryouts are today after school. He announced to them. Now run laps. He started the class.

Bringing up the tail end of the class, Maverik huffed by the coach, as he headed into his last lap. The coach had been yelling out team assignments.

Skins, shirts, skins, shirts ...

As Maverik passed, he ordered.

Skins ... The coach also shouted at Nathan who was right behind Maverik lapping him once again. Skins.

Coach, you just said he was a skin. He pointed to Maverik. You meant I’m a shirt.

Skin, his voice grew stern.

Coach?

Skin.

Shirt.

What are you a girl? Are you too afraid to take off your blouse?

But my brother’s a skin.

Exactly, he growled. Ben you’re a shirt.

What’s da matter? You gotta babysit your wittle brother? Ben mocked in a child-like voice as he ran toward his team.

It seemed all the guys from football had the same thing to say as they passed, and took their positions on the court. Nathan grumbled under his breath, and took his place on the dodge ball floor. The coach had unfairly set up these teams. All the guys were on one side and Nathan on the other. There wasn’t a single player on his team who was athletic. They were all geeks and nerds. It wasn’t shirts and skins. It was winners and losers.

Nathan glared at Maverik who stood beside him, beaming with a big smile. He was exhilarated they were on the same team.

This is all his fault. Nathan snarled to himself.

Get the ball, Maverik! Nathan shouted. Maverik made another lousy fumble, letting the ball skip passed him. Nathan stomped angrily, balling his knuckles into fists. His buddies taunted and teased him.

I got it – I got it. Nathan demanded, but Maverik still barreled into him causing both of them to miss the ball. Maverik’s big brown eyes stared up asking for forgiveness. All he wanted to do was show Nathan what a good player he was.

You’re so worthless. Nathan growled.

Maverik, guard the line. Guard it! Nathan juggled the ball in his hand. The line! He ordered Maverik out in front of him. Maverik held back, with a questioning look on his face. He danced from foot to foot, debating whether he should go forward or not. He would be completely unguarded. The other team had many more balls.

Get up there, you big baby!

They’ll throw the balls at me.

Catch ‘em, stupid.

But Nathan.

Go! He growled, his face growing hot. Finally, Maverik obeyed. Ben dropped his ball and put his thumb in his mouth and a fist to his eyes pretending to cry.

Look at me; I’m a Braves – Brave ha, more like coward. Baby Braves. Lil’ Baby Braves.

Nathan’s temper was getting fierce. He stared at Maverik in front of him, knees bent, arms out wide facing the other team. Nathan’s eyes drilled holes in the back of his head.

This is all your fault. You’re so embarrassing. Nathan thought to himself. With all his power, he released the ball in his hand. With a mighty thud, it hit the back of Maverik’s head, in the spot Nathan had been concentrating so hard on. The ball had struck so hard tears wailed up in Maverik’s eyes. He turned with a bewildered and stunned look.

I hate you. Nathan spoke through gritted teeth. At that moment, Maverik lost control of his temper. He ran toward Nathan. With tears spilling out of his eyes, he rammed his head into Nathan’s chest. He wrapped both of his thin arms around his upper body, and continued to push. A loud furious growl drove him forward. It wasn’t difficult for Nathan to drop him to the ground. With a clinched fist, he nailed Maverik over and over again in the face.

You loser, his hateful names seemed to hurt worse than his fist. You think you can beat me? Well, you can’t. You’re a wimp.

Break it up! The sharp whistles from the coach warned them to stop.

Stay out of my life, Maverik. Nathan shouted as the coach sent him to the showers. Maverik sat hunched over his knees, as he watched Nathan disappear.

One day, you’ll see. Maverik thought to himself. One day, I’ll be stronger and meaner than you. Then I’ll show you. One day, I’ll be the football star. I’ll have the friends. I’ll get all the girls. I’ll show you. I’ll prove it to you.

* * *

Maverik sat on the bleachers at the football tryouts that afternoon. He was determined this would be the day he proved himself. He sat stone-faced and ready. A sudden kick in the center of his back sent him tumbling forward onto his hands and knees.

Nathan, the coach’s voice grew hard.

What? He’s clumsy. He always has been. He shrugged his shoulders as if to say he had nothing to do with the fall. It’s that big brain of his. It makes him top heavy. He snickered at his own joke.

Everyone on the field. The coach rolled his eyes when Maverik jumped to his feet, ready to hit the field. The slap of the clipboard against his chest stopped him in his path. A deep belly laugh escaped the coach’s throat.

Where do you think you are going?

I’m trying out.

Have your parents sign you up for pee-wee. This isn’t for little kids. His voice was stern.

* * *

Later on at home, a grunt came from deep within Maverik’s chest.

Woe there, little brother. What do you think you’re doing? Keenan questioned when he arrived home to find Maverik in his bedroom, trying to force a barbell off the floor. Dude, you’re going to kill yourself.

Maverik’s face had begun to turn red with the effort.

Woe – woe, Keenan persuaded one hand at a time off the weights. Two hundred pounds, that’s an awful lot of weight. You know, I can’t even dead-lift that.

Yes you can. Maverik’s bottom lip trembled.

No, I’m not that tough. You have to start out little, and work your way up. I know you’re use to having everything already there. Keenan tapped Maverik’s forehead. Some things you’ll just have to work at, like the rest of us.

But I want to be strong.

"You will be Maverik – You will. Lifting weights is like solving a problem you have in life. You work at them a little at a time, only bite off what you can chew. Eventually, you work out you problems, and then they