The Chronicles of a Titan, Briana: Transformation

By S. A. Rahmaan

Sixteen year old Briana Thompson lives a luxurious New York City girl life. She lives in an awesome condo with her mother, Haley Davies, and she shops for the latest in fashion: clothes, shoes, and accessories. This is the life. Unfortunately, that is all about to change. When her mother gets a job offer on the other side of the United States, Briana is plucked out of her big city comfort zone. She is forced to make a decision, live with her aunt or take up residency in California. She opts to stay in the small city of Papers, New York, rather than no New York at all, with her mother's sister, Jamie Davies, until she graduates high school. But there is an upside to her relocation, her best friend, Yasmeen Jones, lives in Papers. So, maybe things can't get any better.. Or worst? Briana can't decide. Upon meeting a mysterious stranger, her world gets a little more dangerous, possibly even life threatening, as she ventures out with this smart, handsome, sweet, strong, and sexy young man, who has a secret that will change her life forever. Join Briana as she and Yasmeen enter the electrifying world of The Titans. A place where precariousness, excitement, and romance are waiting for her, all wrapped up in an enigmatic, gorgeous, tall, dark, and handsome package.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463424923

S. A. Rahmaan

S. A. Rahmaan studied History at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She has nine brothers and sisters. And when she is not enjoying her day by reading a book, watching a movie, or hanging out with the coolest children in the world (her nieces and nephews), she is joking around, laughing, and making up stories with her family about one another or their friends. S. A. Rahmaan currently resides in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she is embracing life and living it to the fullest.

Book preview

THE CHRONICLES OF A TITAN,

BRIANA: TRANSFORMATION

S. A. Rahmaan

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AuthorHouse™

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2011 by S. A. Rahmaan. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 09/27/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4634-2495-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-2494-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4634-2492-3 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011912536

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

CHAPTER 1

New Year’s Eve in an Airport

CHAPTER 2

Danger

CHAPTER 3

Eli

CHAPTER 4

Interested

CHAPTER 5

Mortalia

CHAPTER 6

Paradox

CHAPTER 7

Stake-Out

CHAPTER 8

Tristan

CHAPTER 9

Gifted

CHAPTER 10

Best Friends Never Keep Secrets

CHAPTER 11

Basic Training

CHAPTER 12

Origins of the Royal Family

CHAPTER 13

A Week of First

CHAPTER 14

Birthdays

CHAPTER 15

Flight

CHAPTER 16

The Rejuvenating Fountain

CHAPTER 17

Marks and Engravings

CHAPTER 18

Mekkah

CHAPTER 19

Revelations

CHAPTER 20

Causes and Effects

CHAPTER 21

Transformation

CHAPTER 22

Compromised

CHAPTER 23

Sisters

This book is dedicated to all of my supportive family and friends. I would like to give a special thanks to my sisters: Khaadimah, Raushanah, and Shanna. Thanks for believing in me. Thanks to everyone who helped make this dream possible. To all of my future supporters, to anyone who ever looks at my book and decide that it is something that is worth reading, cheers to you.

I would like to give a special thanks to God, my mom, and my dad. I wouldn’t be here without these three.

CHAPTER 1

New Year’s Eve in an Airport

Briana, do not advance too closely on any of the titans because they are stronger than regular humans and more powerful than you. I do not want you to sustain any injuries, but if you must fight, remember what I taught you, said the stranger. Keep your distance, even though, they probably are not skilled fighters. I love you.

And before the stranger could seal the deal, with what I could only hope was a kiss, my eardrums were filled with the annoying sound of someone beating on my bedroom door. As I slowly crept into consciousness, I heard the sound of my mother’s voice. Briana, please wake up. I want to spend as much time as I can with you before you leave for Papers. I have been calling your name for the last ten minutes.

I waited for a few seconds, because whenever my mother started pleading for me to wake up and I didn’t respond right away, she’d make me an offer. And more often than not, it was one I couldn’t refuse.

Okay, Bri, I thought we were going to max out my credit cards as a going away present to you, but I guess not.

Like I was hit with a bolt of electricity, I was upright and yelling to my mom, I’m up! Just give me a few minutes to get ready!

She replied, I thought so. Hurry up; I want to take you to breakfast. Is the Park Avenue Café okay?

Yes, ma’am. I yelled back at her.

I sat there for a second staring. I was going to miss my room. I decorated and designed it myself. My bed sat in the center of my room. It was queen-sized. I put my bed in the center of the room, so that I could view every aspect of my area.

My bed was comfortable. It had no head board; it just sat on rails. I had an orthopedic mattress that was covered in baby blue Egyptian cotton sheets. My comforter was midnight blue and also cotton. And I had about ten pillows all around my bed that were a rainbow of different color blues.

My walls were midnight blue. On the wall opposite the one that housed my baby blue door with the wooden door knob was the only wall on which a window sat. My window was generously proportioned. In fact, my window was so large, I often sat in it when I studied, thought, read, or just wanted to catch the view of a morning sunrise or an evening sunset. A small navy cotton pillow and navy throw sat in my window also. I often slept there as well.

On the wall to the left of that one was a colossal diamond-shaped mirror that stood in between the door to my fabulous walk-in closet and the door to my own private bathroom. My bathroom was going to be taken away from me when I moved to Papers, New York. My Aunt Jamie, the person I was going to stay with, had the only master bedroom. I would have to walk down the hall to get to my destination.

The wall to the right housed my bookshelf, which was red oak, same as my hardwood floors and computer desk. My computer desk was also posted on this wall. Above the computer desk hung my 32-inch plasma TV, and all around the TV were pictures of family, friends, and me. There was also a gigantic poster of Cam Gigandet, as James, in the movie Twilight.

My desk had three upper levels before you got to the actual part of the desk that held my black Apple laptop. The first level held my DVDs in alphabetical order; on the second level there was a digital clock equipped with a CD player. The clock read seven a.m. on the dot. There was an iPod dock, about three brown miniature teddy bears, and fifteen of my favorite CDs; and on the third level stood only one thing, a picture of my best friend in the entire world, Yasmeen Marie Jones, and me.

Yasee, which was what I called her, was the only reason I decided to move to Papers, New York, and also, because of the fact that my mom simply forbade me from living out here in New York City alone to finish out my senior year with my New York friends. Don’t get me wrong, I liked Papers. I’d been going there to visit my Aunt Jamie for years. She has lived in Papers since I was four. She teaches in Papers. She was offered a position at one of the elementary schools and accepted it. She said that she felt she could make more of a difference in a small city. Papers, New York was where I met Yasmeen, and we’d been best friends ever since. And, even though I was a Big City Girl, small city New York was better than no New York.

My mother drew me out of my reverie with a noisy bang on my door, Briana, I need you ready in fifteen.

I’m up, mom. I’ll be down in a few.

I eased out of bed, walked to the mirror, and examined myself.

Briana Nicole Thompson, you are cute.

I wasn’t being arrogant here. Believe it or not, I actually hated being described as cute. No one ever said I was gorgeous, beautiful or sexy, just cute and maybe the occasional pretty. I think I can be called gorgeous. I think I’ve got what it takes. I didn’t have an hourglass figure, but I was slender and had filled out quite nicely over the past few years. I had a bronze-colored complexion, although I was of Native American and African American descent. My mother was African American. I favored her and people always said she was beautiful. My mother was tall, like an Amazon. I was kind of tall, but my mother had about four inches on me. My mom had hair that reached her shoulders. She had a slender body. It was what modern-day guys would call thick. She had full lips, pretty brown eyes and had a smile that seemed to make men act crazy over her at times. I had thick dark brown hair that fell down to my waist. I had small, but a full set of lips. My eyes were dark brown, and my cheeks were a little chubby.

OMG, I have chubby cheeks. You can’t be anything else but cute with chubby cheeks.

With a sigh, I grabbed a red towel from the floor and walked into the bathroom to take a five minute shower.

My bathroom was midnight blue also, but it was encased with gray marble furnishings. My toilet was marble. My sink was marble. The diamond-shaped mirror above the sink was framed in marble, and my Jacuzzi tub, which was installed with a shower, was also that same gray marble.

I turned on the shower and went to the sink. I quickly brushed my teeth. I departed with my clothes. I threw them in the hamper next to the sink and jumped in the shower. I didn’t realize how hot my skin was until scorching water hit it. It was a double whammy of heat. At first I thought maybe I was coming down with a fever. But then I realized that I was hot because I was subconsciously thinking about the stranger in my dream. I couldn’t bring his face into focus, but I knew he was handsome. I’d been having out-of-this-world dreams lately about a stranger and other weird supernatural things. Things I didn’t care to get into right now.

I shook my head to focus on the task at hand, which was to get ready to spend the day with my mom. Yeah, I’m going to miss her. My mom was the type of person you could miss even when she was gone for a couple of hours, so how was I going to get along without her for months?

I changed the setting of my water and took my shower. I got out and wrapped the red towel around me and proceeded to my closet. In there, I dressed in some dark blue denim Apple Bottom straight-legged jeans and a purple Tinker Bell graphic tee. I wrapped a purple cashmere scarf around my neck and placed a purple hat and glove set on my head and hands to match. It was cold in New York in December. I grabbed my black trench coat and slid on my purple Manolo Blahnik boots.

After leaving the closet, I grabbed the small red duffle bag beside my desk and filled it with the last of my possessions that would be making the journey with me, which was my laptop, a few books, CDs, DVDs, the picture of Yasmeen and me, and a few more items.

I slid on my coat, grabbed my purse, and headed out of my room. I ran down the hall yelling, Mom, I’m ready!

I was brought to a halt when I saw my mom standing in the living room teary-eyed.

Are you okay, mom?

She smiled at me. Sweetie, you look so cute.

I almost stopped caring why she was crying with that remark, but I swallowed the urge to say something smart. Thank you. Are you Oookay?

I didn’t know why I held okay so long, but I guess it was because I was unsure of why she was crying. She’d been rambling on for weeks about her new position. And she was so excited about moving to Hollywood that I almost thought she didn’t care that I wasn’t going with her. My mother, Haley Davies, was a television show producer, and she was extremely talented at her job. My mother was pregnant with me at the time she divorced my father, Chetan Thompson, and after what she described as the nightmare of marriages was over, she threw herself into her career. She didn’t look back for anyone except for me, of course. And someone in Hollywood recognized her hard work.

Yes, baby. I’m fine, I’m fine. I was just reminiscing over old times. I love this place. Gosh, I’m going to miss living here.

Don’t worry, mom. After I graduate from Papers High, you know Yasmeen and I are coming back here to go to NYU. And we’re going to be living right here. So you can visit us anytime. With a worried note in my voice, I said, Unless you’re going back on your word, and you aren’t letting me have this place when I graduate.

No, not at all, the place is all yours. Looking stern she said, As long as you keep your grades up, you obey your Aunt Jamie while you’re in Papers, and you stay in college until you graduate, the place is yours. And with an even more serious look, she said, And don’t forget that the Shaheeds will be checking in on you girls for me from time to time to make sure you stay out of trouble when you come back to New York.

I frowned. I know, I know.

The Shaheeds lived across the hall. They were a good family. Mrs. Shaheed was a teacher, and Mr. Shaheed was an architect. They had children over at their condo all the time. I liked most of them. I liked the Shaheeds too, but in this instance, I felt like I was going to have babysitters. But I had to agree. That was the only way I could convince my mother not to sale the condo and to give it to me.

Well, let’s go. I know you have a to-do list, and you’re going to want to do everything on it. And I know you mom, you’d make us miss our flights if it meant not completing the list.

She grabbed a hold of my neck with her arm, burying my face in her shoulder, and said, You don’t know me that well.

I raised my hand up to show the back of it and stated, Like the back of my hand.

§

When we arrived at the Park Avenue Café, it was relatively crowded. But I didn’t mind at all because I was here with my mom. And I was going to cherish all the seconds I had with her until we parted ways at the airport.

We were seated relatively quickly; I picked up my menu and looked at it. But not really looking at it. The pressures of how it was going to be without her were finally hitting me. I always had my mom. I’d lived without my dad my entire life, so sometimes it was like I forgot I had one. I didn’t even know what he looked like. My mom told me that he hated taking pictures. So, it was just my mom and me.

These thoughts were making me sad, so I shook my head to relieve it of them. My mom saw me and thought I was doing it to her.

She asked confused, So you don’t want the Big Steak omelet, with pancakes on the side and a glass of milk?

I hadn’t even realized she was ordering, let alone there was a waiter at our table taking our orders. I quickly replied, No, mom, that’s fine. That’s what I was going to order.

My mom handed our menus to the slender man dressed in black and white. The waiter, I presumed, who took our order. I was so caught up in my own reverie that I didn’t know what had happened in the last couple of minutes. My mom looked at me curiously and asked, Are you feeling okay?

She touched my forehead as if to check and see if I had a fever.

Yes. I think that I’m just starting to feel a little like you were earlier this morning. I’m going to miss you. I can’t remember a time in my life when I’ve ever stayed away from you this long.

My mother grabbed my hand comfortingly and said, You can always come with me to Hollywood.

Mom! I yelled snatching my hand from her grip, becoming a little bit more emotional then I intended. You’re supposed to give me some words of wisdom. You’re supposed to tell me that I can do this. Or maybe tell me that everything’s going to be fine. That you love me and that you are only a phone call away.

I sat there pouting like a five year-old.

She laughed, pulled her chair closer to mine, and said, All of those things. She grabbed my hand and kissed it. Now stop it with the sadness. Remember, this is going to be a happy day.

She picked up her fork and began singing Anytime You Need a Friend by Mariah Carey. It was cheesy, but I joined in. We sang until the waiter returned with our food. This time I saw his face. He was pretty young. Most of the people I see who worked here were at least thirty years of age. He looked fresh out of high school. Maybe he could pass for twenty-one. He had dark brown curly hair and his skin was pale like he hadn’t let the sun touch it in a while. But overall, he was a nice looking young man.

I didn’t know how the food got into my belly, but I did remember that it was delicious. I spent so much time talking to my mom that that was all that seemed to matter in my mind. The food part of the morning was a blur. We laughed so hard that I almost didn’t want to leave the café, but next on my mom’s to-do list was shopping and you know I wasn’t about to miss that. Plus, I promised Yasmeen I’d bring her some fresh New York styles for the beginning of this semester.

We left the restaurant, and my mom hailed a cab. There was a little traffic, not just because it was New York, but also because it was New Year’s Eve in New York. So we got to Macy’s a bit later than my mother anticipated. This wasn’t a major setback to me because I was shopping here for Yasmeen. Yes, I did buy myself a couple of outfits, but I bought her about ten outfits.

All in all, I thought we made up for lost time because my mother and I only spent about thirty minutes in Macys. Then we were back in a cab. It was easy shopping for Yasmeen and me. We basically wore jeans and tees, but we could get cute if the situation called for it. Anyway, my primary focus was on the next luxurious label, which was Manolo Blahnik. I loved shoes. And I needed more boots.

Before the cab even stopped in front of the store, I was out of it. I had forgotten I was even carrying shopping bags, my red duffle bag, and my purse. Luckily, my mother remembered. When she finally caught up to me, I was looking at Manolo Blahnik’s black leather ankle boots. There was a zipper on the side, and the boots were folded down to the ankle. If you wanted, you could unfold them and wear them up your calves. I was in a trance, so when my mom spoke, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Cute, she said and with an added smile mentioned, I didn’t mean to scare you.

It’s okay. You know how I get sometimes when I’m satisfying my shoe fix.

She looked at me weird. Sweetheart, what did I tell you about speaking like that?

What?

You sound like you have some unnatural feelings towards shoes, and that makes me want to commit you.

Fine m-m-m-mommy, I said that in my imitation rap voice.

Eww! You just love saying things that irk my nerves, don’t you?

I kissed her cheek, smiled, and said, It’s my job.

Then I grabbed the shoes and quickly asked the worker for my size and Yasmeen’s size. I also eyed and bought a pair of red sling backs and some blue pumps. My mother got a couple of pairs of shoes, also.

Next, we hit the mall. I couldn’t even remember how many stores we went into. Of course, we didn’t buy things out of all of them. But by the end of the trip, I had gotten tennis shoes, cleats for softball, just in case I decided to try out, a Louis Vuitton handbag and two female-styled New York Knicks jerseys. I couldn’t tell you whose names were on the backs. I was not a basketball fan, but I got one in the original colors and one in pink.

We left the mall and went to the post office. We stopped there to ship our new clothes, shoes, and apparel to their new addresses. I stuffed as many of Yasmeen’s clothes as I could in my red duffle, because she’d think I forgot about them and pout until they arrived express the following Monday.

Next, we headed to Central Park, and by the time we got there, it was three o’clock. Finally, we were having lunch. Lunch wasn’t extravagant. We got hotdogs, chips, and a soda from a nearby hotdog stand, and then we proceeded down the mall in Central Park.

Mom, I swallowed. Are you sure you’re going to be fine without me?

Yeah. Why? she asked, seeming to be taken aback by my question.

I’m just making sure. I wanted to react like a five year-old and beg her, again, to stay in New York, but I didn’t.

You’ll be fine, Bri.

She said this in such a reassuring voice that almost all of my doubts went away, but then I just blurted out, Mom I have been having these dreams.

Nightmares?

No, I hesitated. It feels like something big is about to happen in my life, or maybe I’m going to meet someone important and I want you there. I mean… . I’ve just been having these feelings lately. I can’t explain them. I got quiet because it was frustrating me that I couldn’t get the words out the way I wanted to.

By this time, we had walked all the way to the Bethesda Terrace. We sat on a nearby bench.

Honey, if something big is going to happen, why are you so worried?

I don’t know if it’s good or bad. I said. This time when I spoke, I was teary-eyed.

My mother hugged me and replied, You’re just getting cold feet.

I’m not getting married, mom, I said as I wiped a tear that escaped from my eye.

She laughed, squeezed me tighter and told me, Remember, you wanted this. Besides, when you get down there with your Aunt Jamie, Yasmeen and Aunt Fee you’ll feel better. I should be the one that’s emotional. I have no one to go to.

True. I mentioned jokingly and she smiled.

We stayed in the park until five. My mother’s flight left at six thirty, and it would take all of that hour and a half to get to the airport. Traffic was getting worse as the time passed. On our way to the airport, my mind shifted back to my dream. It shifted back to parts I’d forgotten about. For instance, before we’d even gotten to our destination, it seemed like we were flying. That was our way of transporting there. He had actually flown us to this mysterious place. I quickly wanted to get my dream out of my mind. I started thinking that my dream was stupid. Flying. What person in this world could fly? That dream had to be untrue. But why was it recurring?

I was never much into comic book stuff, but I’d read a lot of fiction novels, so if someone could fly that would be cool. However, I did believe that some supernatural powers were real, like psychics, fortune tellers, or maybe even people who could see ghosts. I even thought that I had a power. People couldn’t sneak up on me that easily; I had to be really out of my element, like with the shoes earlier today. I wasn’t focused on anything but them. Really. I could always sense when people were around me. Especially people I loved and cared about. It was not the creepy guy following you type thing but just any random person. It was weird and sounded crazy, but it was true. And Yasmeen was the only one I had ever shared that information with.

§

We arrived at the JFK airport at six o’clock, and it was chaos. Everyone was trying to get home before New Year’s Day. I wanted to turn around, go home, change clothes, go down to Times Square, celebrate the New Year, and go to Papers in a couple of days. My mother and I always go to Times Square on New Year’s Eve to watch the ball drop. I really didn’t want to miss doing that this year. But before I could even suggest doing that, my mom was already searching for her flight on the board to make sure that it wasn’t cancelled or delayed. Luckily, she was in the clear. My flight, however, which was supposed to leave at seven, was delayed.

Sweetheart, your flight’s delayed until eight. Well, that’s not too bad. If you want, I could wait and fly with you and then take a flight back to Hollywood at the Madison airport. That offer’s still valid.

I’ll be fine. I’ve ridden on a plane by myself before. I’ll be okay. I can wait in the airport for a couple of hours.

Fine, but don’t call me if you get lonely, because I offered to stay.

Please, if I call you, you’ll probably try and have the pilot turn the plane around.

We both laughed at the comment, and we proceeded to security.

We approached security, and there was a line. But we managed to get out of the line at six twenty-five, and we started running toward the terminal. We made it there at six twenty-nine. There was a line to check-in here as well, so I stood there with my mother. I noticed that there were three young guys, around my age, sitting in the waiting area by the terminal. Their plane was probably delayed like my plane. I smiled at one of them. He smiled back. With that I was already planning to sit and talk to them when my mom boarded the plane. I had a few minutes to spare for them. I was grateful that I was standing behind my mom, because she wouldn’t approve of my flirting with a guy.

She finally gave me the okay to date, officially when I was sixteen, and that was February 6th of this year. And she still had to approve of the guy before we could go out. I was brought out of my thought process when all of a sudden, my mother’s lips were pressed hard against my cheek, and she was hugging me so tightly that I couldn’t breathe. She said, I’m going to miss my cupcake, as loud as she could.

The next thing that I heard was laughter in the background. I didn’t have to turn around to know that it was coming from the three young guys.

Well, my plans to talk to them are gone. I don’t care how handsome they are. I am horrified.

I looked at her and asked, Why did you do that?

Do what? she asked. Then she added, Oh, embarrass you.

Yes! I announced emotionally.

She leaned up close to me, smiled, and explained, That’s my job.

She winked at me, handed her ticket to the clerk, and boarded the plane.

After I watched my mother trickle out of sight, I walked slowly to my own destination. As I was walking away, I could still hear the faint sound of the three boys laughing. Boys are so immature. I wanted to run away, but the day had tired me out so much that my feet wouldn’t let me. I walked so slow; it took me almost an hour to get to my terminal. I finally made it to where I wanted to be, and I sat down in the waiting area. I unzipped my red duffle bag and took out one of my favorite books.

It was November by Sharon Draper.

I had probably read this book about thirty times, and today was going to be lucky number thirty-one. I had been reading for about ten minutes, and thought I would be boarding in another twenty, when I heard that my plane would be delayed for another thirty minutes. I decided then that it was time for me to go and purchase some dinner. I got up and proceeded toward the nearest open eatery. I walked a little ways down and passed a man sitting on a bench. His head was down and his hands were covering his face. He was dressed in a baby blue sweater, some dark jeans, and black combat boots. He seemed to be asleep. I really hope I don’t have to get that comfortable, I thought to myself. I hope that there are no more delays with my flight. I grabbed my iPod from my purse and started to select a song, but before I could do that, I glanced up and saw the three guys I’d encountered earlier. I was about to turn and run but I caught a look at their faces.

They were very handsome teenagers, even more so than I remembered. But that wasn’t the real attention-getter. Their faces looked angry. I quickly realized that they probably didn’t even see me there, let alone care. They were focused on something behind me. They seemed so oblivious to my standing there that I thought one of them was going to walk right into me. But he made a swift move to the left and walked right pass me as if I weren’t even standing there. The side step was as beautiful as his face. He had a low hair cut and sexy honey-brown eyes. He also had a hard jaw line that made him look extremely confident. He could do whatever he wanted, when he wanted; his jaw commanded it.

I wanted to continue on about my business, but we all know what killed the cat. I couldn’t help myself. I had to turn around. I guess I was just too curious for my own good. When I turned around, I saw that they were walking toward the sleeping man. I began to feel scared for him. The guys had approached him and one of them was about to hit him. I screamed, WATCH OUT!

It seemed like before I had even finished saying the words, the man was on his feet. He was up so quick, I barely saw it. He’d blocked the lick coming from the first guy and did a round kick across his face. He continued on to the second guy. He punched him twice in the gut with his right hand, and then he did a sort of back handed punch with his left hand across his face.

Finally, he grabbed the last guy around the throat, backed him up into a nearby wall and began muttering something to him. I was dying to know what he was saying, but they were too far away from me to hear. I knew it had to be something badass because when he released the guy, he started helping his friends to their feet, and they started walking away. The stranger turned in my direction quickly and blurred pass me. When he passed, I couldn’t make out any of his features, but it sounded like he said, Thank you.

I turned to say you’re welcome, but he was gone. I turned back around to see where those guys were, but the next thing that I remember was something small and wooden coming towards my face. It looked like a boomerang. It hit me right in the middle of my forehead, and I felt myself falling to the ground. I remember hearing familiar laughing and then I was out.

When I started to come to, I heard someone asking me if I were alright. I opened my eyes to find an elderly lady looking at me. She asked again, Are you alright?

This time I slurred something that sounded like, Yes, ma’am.

I think I should call an ambulance.

In that second, I realized where I was and what happened. I quickly jerked upright, almost head-butting the elderly woman.

No, no… . um, I just slipped. I lied.

Okay. But are you sure you’re alright?

Yes.

I got to my feet. I checked my iPod for the time. It was only seven forty-five. Cool. This meant I was only out for about a minute. That was fortunate. The last thing I needed was to be taken to a hospital or having someone mug me while I was knocked out.

Where are you headed? she asked.

Papers, New York.

Really? I’ve never been there. Is it fun?

I could see she was trying to turn this into a long conversation, so I replied, Yes, and I would love to sit and talk but my plane leaves in fifteen minutes. This was another lie because my plane had been delayed until eight thirty.

To my surprise, she knew that.

Well, I just heard on the intercom that that flight was delayed until eight thirty. You probably were knocked out on the floor when they announced it.

I had to think fast. I know. I heard the announcement before that happened, but I want to be at my terminal, so I don’t wait long. Then I added quickly, Just in case, there’s a line to board the plane.

Do you want me to walk with you to make sure you don’t slip and fall again?

This old lady was starting to get on my nerves. She didn’t have to bring that up again.

No thanks. I know I can manage on my own.

Well, she said, if you need me, my terminal is down that way. My plane doesn’t leave until ten.

I was almost tempted to ask where she was going, but I caught myself and remembered I was trying to get out of this conversation. Alright, ma’am. Thank you.

I quickly turned away and went back to the waiting area. When I sat down, I realized my head was throbbing. I touched my forehead. There was a knot forming. I reached in my purse and got out two aspirin. I swallowed them quickly without water. I thought briefly over the current events. And despite everything, I was starting to miss New York City even more. There was, literally, never a dull moment. That’s what happens when you spend New Year’s Eve in an airport.

CHAPTER 2

Danger

When I finally boarded the plane, I was ravenous. I thanked God I had first class accommodations, because a bag of peanuts wasn’t going to cut it. After I’d eaten all of my lemon-peppered chicken, French green beans, and yellow rice, I began to drift off into a light sleep. The plane ride wasn’t going to be long, but I felt a little nap just might calm this headache down.

When I awoke, passengers were exiting the plane. A nudge of excitement entered my body. I was happy that I was finally going to be off this plane, happy that I was about to see friends and family, and happy that I could finally call my mom. I got my belongings and exited the plane. Then I retrieved my cell phone from my purse and dialed my mother’s number. It went straight to voice mail.

I left a brief message. Mom, it’s me. I made it to Papers, finally. Call me when you get this message. I love you.