Cross

By Ashley Byland, Grace Charles and D.A. Roach

Ray Cross wasn’t a hero; he could die too easily. But some things are worth risking death...

Ray Cross was born with a genetic disorder, resulting in a fragile body; his organs and blood vessels will rupture with any hard impact, so standing up to his best friend's controlling boyfriend could kill him. Ray's life in Midland, MI gets decimated when his parents reveal they are not his real parents and his real father, a king from a secret land hidden in the far north of Canada, is dying and wishes to meet his son.

With his doctor and newly-met twin, Ray travels to the forgotten village of Yardis, where magic, myth, and corruption are abundant. But the longer Ray stays in the village learning the truth of his past and reconnecting with his father, King Vintras, the more he discovers an evil force threatening the king and his village. But there’s more than the king and a village tied to Yardis and Ray. He finds friendship and more from a band of brothers who are part witch, dragon, and healer. With new alliances and new abilities, Ray wars with himself on playing it safe or risking it all to save the ones he loves.

Can Ray rise above his fragile disorder to become the hero for once in his life?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Jan 6, 2018

Book preview

life?

Chapter 1

The bell rang, and I hurried out the doors, positioning myself in plain view where I could watch for Derek. Leo hurried over, urging me to let it go and let him handle it. Leo had always handled it, keeping the peace or laying the threats to keep me out of harm’s way. But I had had enough.

Derek, emerged from the school wearing a smug smile with Lauren by his side. "Well, if it isn’t Elmer himself! I heard you wanted to have a word with me." He said in a mocking voice.

I hated when he called me Elmer. Derek had given me the shitty nickname after I had messaged Lauren, urging her to leave him. To this day I don’t regret sending that message. The controlling jerk had no right to cut me out of her life. In retaliation, he had heard the analogy I had told others about my genetic disorder. I look normal but the glue, or collagen, that holds me together is faulty causing me to be fragile. It’s like comparing a house made with screws and nails to one held together with Elmer’s glue; they look the same but one can break and fall apart easily.

Lauren shot me a sympathetic smile as she tugged at Derek’s hand, pleading for him to leave. He pulled out of her grasp and approached.

Leo came up on my left and quietly urged. Cross, let it go. He’s not worth the risk. Let it go.

Yeah Elmer, better let it go. Like you always do. We wouldn’t want things to escalate. He mocked. You and your fake diagnosis have everyone fooled but me. I know the truth; you’re too much of a chicken shit to fight. You let your oaf fight your—

I charged past Leo and clocked Derek as hard as I could across his jaw. The skin on my knuckles split open instantly, revealing the bone beneath and unleashing a river of blood. I didn’t care; I had landed a solid hit. Derek stumbled back, losing his balance and falling to the ground with a dumbfounded look. A crowd gathered to see the melee. I began to charge at him again, but Lauren and Leo grabbed me and pulled me away.

Beep, beep, beep! The alarm clock blared next to me, pulling me from the unbelievably realistic dream. My hand shook as it reached over to quiet the alarm. 6:45AM. I studied my hand, relieved it was intact. I hated being fragile, especially when I had to take crap from Derek Mavers each day. Ignore him, reason with him, explain your disorder. Yeah, none of it worked. I needed to borrow someone’s normal body for an hour so I could kick Derek’s ass and be done with him.

Today was my birthday, but unlike most kids on this planet, I did not enjoy celebrating getting another year older. With vEDS, another year older meant a step closer to an early death. I was still struggling with the tragic news regarding the death of my online friend, Nick Mitchell. We chatted often about vEDS, as we had that in common, and often compared notes. But he was gone and here I was, turning another year older.

After a quick shower, I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs where Mom flitted about the kitchen and Dad was reading the paper and drinking his coffee.

Hey, birthday boy! Happy birthday. Mom made breakfast, Dad called to me.

Happy birthday, sweetheart, Mom called over her shoulder.

Thanks. Did you save me any bacon?

Dad pushed the plate of meat my way. You okay? You look... He narrowed his eyes.

What? I narrowed my eyes back at him.

Mom turned from the stove to look at me. Her expression dropped and she hurried over, putting her hand to my forehead to check for a temperature. Ray, you look sickly.

Geez, thanks. I love you too. No, really, I feel fine. Tired, but I just woke up.

Maybe that’s it. You look paler, and your circles look darker. I’m glad we’re seeing Dr. Jonas this afternoon. She returned to the eggs.

Oh yeah? What time’s the appointment? Dr. Jonas was a specialist that helped manage my collagen disorder.

Right after school. Just head home, and we’ll leave once you’re here. Mom said without turning around. Are you having trouble sleeping?

No. But I’ve been dreaming a lot, and they’re pretty action-packed. Maybe if I dreamt of taking a nap I’d look more rested, I joked.

Dad laughed, but Mom didn’t. Here, eggs are done. She brought the eggs over right as I reached for the orange juice. The back of my right hand connected with the hot pan for just a moment, but it hurt like hell. Oh, Ray! Are you okay? Mom returned the pan to the stove and returned with a wet wash rag. Here, put this on there. She helped me drape it over my hand. Leave that there for a bit while you eat, then well put some Silvadene on it.

I peeked at the blistered skin and replaced the cloth. Bad timing huh?

Mom fixed the plate of food and poured my drink. It was not the best way to start the day.

After breakfast, my mom took off the rag and dried the wound with a paper towel. Then she dressed it with Silvadene and bandaged it. Better hurry or you’ll be late for school. She leaned forward to kiss my forehead.

I waved goodbye and started off toward school.

Midland High was in walking distance from my house, and in the two and three quarters years I had attended it, I could count the times I had to be driven on one hand. But on days like today, when the sun shone bright in the sky and the temperature was in the mid-seventies, I was glad we lived so close. I turned onto Swede Avenue and walked on the sidewalk that led to the school. A few cars passed by, but our high school started an hour before most places of employment. The houses here were simple brick and siding homes. Their architecture reminded me of the house I saw on the Brady Bunch show when I was a kid. Some neighbors cared for their yards; their perfectly painted fences framed manicured lawns and flower beds. Others seemed to do nothing more than mow their grass which consisted of mismatched weeds and bare patches.

A large and fast moving shadow crossed the ground beneath me. I looked up expecting to see a stealth bomber or at least a huge cloud. But the sky was clear and cloudless.

Oof! I collided with a kid that looked a couple of years younger than me. Sorry. Where the hell had he come from? He shot an annoyed look my way before continuing away from the school. He didn’t look like anyone I’d seen around Midland. He wore grey cargo pants, a tattered red tee, and had a shaggy haircut. I shrugged it off and continued on my way.

With a couple of days before spring break, the teachers went easy on us and filled the class time with movies or busy work enforcing the most recent lesson.

Mrs. Burke turned off the ancient VHS recorder, ending today’s Romeo and Juliet lesson. Tomorrow we will finish the movie and discuss how it compares to the text.

At some point in the movie, I had tuned out and focused on Lauren Crosby who sat a few chairs ahead of me. Lauren and I had become close friends in middle school when she transferred in and struggled with adjusting. Her locker had been assigned near mine, but she never managed to open it. We’d joke that an evil witch had cursed her to forever be locked out of her locker, but I didn’t mind helping. And as time had passed, I had become closer friends and more attracted to her.

A crumpled piece of paper flew onto my desk.

Score. Derek chuckled from behind me.

I shouldn’t care what the paper said, but curiosity got the better of me.

Keep your eyes off my girl Elmer!

It was a warning from Derek Mavers, school jerk and Lauren’s boyfriend since Freshman year. I hated him.

The guidance counselor had encouraged my parents and I to be forthcoming about my condition, insisting it would make the other students sympathetic instead of cruel. Most were compassionate and respected my limitations, sometimes even offering to help make something physically easier for me, like carrying my heavy backpack. But there were a few, like Derek Mavers, who had no care for anything besides themselves. They took pride in dominating others and letting others’ misery feed their egos. Derek and his crew acted like a bunch of noisy alpha male baboons who owned Midland High.

I drew a hand giving the middle finger on the paper and lobbed it back at Derek. He opened it, and judging by the sour look on his face, I had pushed a button. He pointed his finger at me and drew his finger across his neck, threatening my end. I smiled to show I wasn’t afraid, though this was the farthest I had ever challenged Derek. I wondered how far to push it.

I turned back around in my seat and locked eyes with Lauren. She had stolen my heart in sixth grade, and to this day, a simple smile from her would drop me to my knees, even the sympathetic one she wore now. I couldn’t help but smile back at her as I thought, Yeah, your boyfriend is a dick, especially to me, but I’m not the one who has to kiss his ugly mug.

When the bell rang, Derek knocked my books off my desk as he walked past. My bad. He muttered as he kicked my biology book to the front of the room with feigned innocence.

Jerk. I knelt to pick up my scattered books and flipped Derek off. He turned in time to see it.

Good.

His mouth quirked up in a half smile, amused at my passive aggressive return.

Mrs. Burke came over with my biology book. Don’t let Mr. Mavers rattle you. He enjoys causing trouble.

I wasn’t in the mood for adult advice. Thanks, I answered while putting the book in my stack. See ya tomorrow, Mrs. Burke. I walked out of her class to join the current of students flowing through the halls during passing period.

Lauren found me at my locker. Hey, happy birthday. Listen, I’m sorry about Derek. He can be awful sometimes.

Sometimes? I chuckled to myself as I shoved my books into my locker. You don’t have to apologize for him. I’ll never like the guy, and he’ll probably always be a dick to me.

She reached out and gently touched my bandaged hand. What happened?

Burned myself at breakfast. I pulled my hand away and shut my locker. I wished we could have more moments like this where we could chat and be together as we had in the past. You deserve better than him. My teeth raked over my bottom lip as I debated holding my tongue or saying what I really wanted to.

Lauren looked at me, as if she anticipated what I said next.

I should have asked you out in eighth grade when I had the chance. I would have made you happy. But I had felt so unsure of myself at the time and hadn’t thought I’d make good boyfriend material. I had also been terrified at losing her friendship; any attempt to change the relationship risked losing it.

I am happy. She sounded like she was trying to convince herself.

Are you? I knew the real answer. She and Derek had started off happy, but he’d became more controlling, especially when it came to our friendship. It had become a sore spot for them.

Derek came up from behind and punched the locker next to mine, startling both of us. Looks like this conversation is over. Remember what I told you, Elmer? He poked his finger into my shoulder hard enough that I knew I would have a bruise. Stay away from my girl. He grabbed Lauren by her elbow and hurried her down the hall, scolding her for disappearing on him.

Lauren looked back at me, the sadness in her eyes left me regretting my confession. I didn’t want her pity; I wanted her to dump him and find someone better than Derek—anyone but Derek.

Looks like someone’s been poking the hornet’s nest again, Leo said from behind me.

Leo and I had met sophomore year at lunch. He was bigger and more muscular than most sophomores at our school, making him and I an unmatched pair. My disorder kept me from building muscles. I had suspected the other students kept a wide girth from Leo because of his intimidating size and looks, but that didn’t scare me.

What did ya do this time? He nodded toward Derek.

Nothing. Derek’s being a possessive jerk like usual and pissing all over his territory to mark it. My remark made Leo laugh.

Come on, or we’ll be late for bio.

* * *

Leo’s friendship had come at a time when Lauren and Derek had grown closer and the distance between Lauren and I had become greater. The two had started dating our freshman year, but midyear Derek started isolating her from me and controlling her social media. She stopped taking my calls and replying to my texts besides occasionally sending, Beat it, loser!, which obviously, Derek had sent.

I had acquaintances at school, but Lauren had been the sun in my rainy day. Her carefree way and sweet smile made me forget I had a life-threatening disorder. But as Derek pulled her farther away, my depression and anxieties about my disorder grew. My parents worried for me, more so than usual. I assured them it was temporary and I just needed time to get over not having Lauren in my life. But it was easier said than done. Every emotion I felt seemed amplified in her absence.

My parents let me be for a while, but eventually my mom had had enough.