A Lost Soul

By A. A. Briggs

Ashlyn Ann Williams is a rebellious young lady. She is flirtatious and lavished with attention by men. She agonizes every day, but her parents ignore her pain. Her choice of poison is alcohol. Once she is forced to overcome the death of her best friend, the consummation of poison increased. After many irresponsible decisions; it compelled her to experience losing close friends, and gain enemies. Will Ashlyn defeat her demons or self-destruct?

Darnel Danny Collis is a charming man that is infatuated with control. He knows how to entice woman to fall for him. Everyone is unaware of his past. His skeletons are hidden deep inside his closet.

A Lost Soul is a suspenseful journey of pleasure, sex, violence, and many consequences. It is a tragedy that is dedicated to life experiences. It explores what the characters are impelled to overcome.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781475982381

A. A. Briggs

Aspiring writer A. A. Briggs is currently studying English in pursuit of her undergraduate degree. Writing is a form of creative relaxation for her. As a young girl, she knew that she had talent and that she needed to take advantage of it.

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Copyright © 2013 by A. A. Briggs.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-4759-8237-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-8239-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4759-8238-1 (ebk)

iUniverse rev. date: 03/19/2013

Contents

Dedication

Special Thanks

Quote

Message To All the Lost Souls

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

Through My Eyes

DEDICATION

Mo’nique T. Woods

Words cannot express how much you mean to me. I appreciate and love you. You are the one whom showed me that I can do anything. I still remember, as a child, you encouraging me to write. You always said. Writing is my therapy. Thank you for supporting and pushing me. You have always been on my side. I love you, mom.

SPECIAL THANKS

Javon’tae D. Wilson

You are my support team. By having you on my side, I am grounded. Thank you for everything that you have done. You have given me the confidence in my writing. You are my brother, my friend, and my right hand man.

Curtis Franlin

I want to take this special time to show my appreciation and love, to someone who has been there for me and my family. Curtis, you are truly a blessing. We are family for life.

Jeanette Briggs

To my grandmother, you’re the one who held our family together. You are the backbone. I love you with all of my heart. From your eldest grandchild.

Thanks to Auntie Retha J., Shelia B., Rufus Briggs III, Gregory Smith, Ram, Paradise W., Derrick W., Auntie Gina, Janice M, Kyle B., Renee and Lawrence.

All My Love

A Letter to My Hero,

Rufus Briggs, Jr.

January 29, 1935-January 10, 2013

My heart has been torn apart. I miss you. It feels like I’m living in a nightmare. Ever since you have been gone, I have been lost. I think about your sense of humor and energy every day.

God has taken your soul too soon.

I pray that you can see how much I have grown. All of my accomplishments are because of you.

All of my love,

A. A. Briggs

QUOTE

Time doesn’t change only faces.—A.A. Briggs

I am the punishment of God… If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.—Genghis Khan

MESSAGE

TO

ALL THE LOST SOULS

You’re not alone. God is always watching us. He is our shadow. Look for his guidance in your time of need. I have many of testimonies prior to my soul being saved.

CHAPTER 1

Let’s Party

We’re gonna have fun tonight! Ashlyn shouted to her best friend, Kelly. Everyone in the neighborhood was at the house party. Kelly and Ashlyn planned on having an exciting night! Turning the hallway corner, the music’s thumping bass welcomed the girls to a wild, rumpus sexcapade. Forget the scent of stale cigarette ashes and red party cups filled with swisher wrappers. Heavy hits of that Ooh Wee beckoned to all who entered. The wall-to-wall men and underage girls pretending to be women weren’t letting up anytime soon. Open season had begun and the hunter wanted its prey. The DJ entertained everyone and, in turn, was being entertained himself by a young girl performing a striptease.

A couple grinding on each other was no match for the cluster of ladies intertwined in a sea of flesh; some standing nipple-to-nipple, others at their feet clinging their wetness to the standing ladies’ ankles like dancers to a pole. The men were scrutinizing the girls’ talent.

Ashlyn, sexy and tall in stature, stumbled into the room with two drinks in her hand.

And now it’s a party, she declared, watching the ladies.

Kelly, blessed with curves in all the right places, stands shorter than Ashlyn and rivals her beauty with a creamy, chocolate complexion. No drinks or drugs for her tonight, but she was in search of her next high—a fine man.

Kelly gets intoxicated by the way men make her feel. When her high is coming down, she’s already in search of her next fix. Even though all the guys fall under the spell that is between her legs, Kelly has an evil side and exploits her own body as her weapon. When she found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her, he had sex with his older brother. Kelly doesn’t have any remorse for her actions. In fact, she loves meeting new guys to please her.

As the DJ bumps the girls’ favorite song, Kelly pulls Ashlyn to the center of the dance floor and lets her weapon slay the men one by one. Every guy in the party watched as Kelly and Ashlyn moved their bodies to the rhythm.

Girl, this is my song, she shouts over the music. Ashlyn sways to the music and does her best to keep her feet on the floor with a fresh drink in her hand. Kelly pushes all the men away as they try to cut in. She won’t be satisfied until they’re begging for her attention.

In the shadows of a corner, a masculine figure keeps his distance. Kelly finds a new target. She amps up her dancing for the mystery man. The man, tall, with a caramel complexion, leans on the wall holding a cup. Sporting a pair of jeans, a plain white T shirt, and a blue baseball cap, the details of his facial features remain hidden. He licks his lips seductively.

Kelly stares at the impenetrable man, unable to read his intentions. He in turn, smiles, tosses his cup and makes his way over to the girls. Before he could introduce himself a woman blocks his path and begins dancing with him. Kelly rolls her eyes and stares at the slender woman with revulsion.

I guess he’s off limits, she thought to herself as she grabbed someone else to dance with.

Ashlyn’s cup was empty and her only focus was on getting a refill. She pushed past the men to pull Kelly off the dance floor.

In the next room, the legal aged men with a hidden agenda passed around cups filled with trash drinks. Poured into a huge bowl, the drink was created by mixing every imaginable drop of liquor from any bottle they could find. Forget getting buzzed, trash drinks made people lose all of their common sense. Ashlyn could not refuse the sinful, liquid courage. She grabbed another cup and sipped her common sense away.

Debbie, a vision of sexiness with a blue dress clinging to her many curves, strolled in with her eye-candy and boyfriend, John. Her matching blue Baby Phat stilettos caught Ashlyn’s eyes. John’s eyes caught Kelly’s.

Hi, best friend! Kelly shouted as she approached John’s 6-foot tall frame.

Kelly wrapped her arms around John’s neck and kissed his cheek.

I miss you, she whispered in his ear. You stopped calling me.

John was hesitant to put his arms around Kelly’s body. He saw Debbie from the corner of his eye. She wasn’t feeling it. He pushed Kelly away from him.

Um… I’m sure you know the host of tonight’s party… and my girlfriend, Debbie, he said.

You’re such a hoe, Debbie hissed at Kelly.

Kelly smiled, playfully fixing her gaze on John.

I guess everyone’s a hoe, Kelly said, announcing she had slept with John on the sneak tip. Debbie was furious with her. John and Kelly have history—a long, lusty history conjoined with a close friendship. Their relationship ended when John decided he no longer wanted to be disloyal to his lady. Eager to get the attention off of Kelly, Debbie made small talk with Ashlyn.

You enjoying yourself? she asked.

"Yes, this DJ is on fiyah! Ashlyn replied. Your parents would disown you if they knew what was goin’ down in here."

Debbie always throws parties when her parents go on vacation. She likes meeting new people and especially enjoys entertaining everyone. She only hangs out with older people because she doesn’t get along with most females her age.

Debbie’s parents run a tight ship. They would never suspect that their baby girl could be living a double life. If they only knew about the poison she injects into her body to suppress her feelings, or the substances she abuses to clear her mind. Debbie’s just a young girl going through a lot of pain, but her parents can’t hear her cries for help—even when they are around.

It’s good seeing you again, Ashlyn, Debbie said. I appreciate you coming to my party.

Ashlyn let out a small hiccup.

You’re welcome, she giggled in response.

Well, we’re about to check on everyone, Debbie concluded, grabbing John’s hand and walking away.

It was good seeing you John, Kelly said. We should hang out again.

Ashlyn grabbed Kelly by her wrist, and led her to the couch. They rested while the DJ cranked out some freestyle beats. The guys went toe-to-toe.

Ashlyn noticed an inebriated girl sitting at the other end of the couch. She had her legs spread apart and appeared