Lost and Found

By Michael J. Winters II

In the long fought unseen battle between good and evil; there have been soldiers on both sides fighting to gain the upper hand. Michael Dangelo; a unique mortal / angel hybrid and his unusual yet extraordinary group of friends fight to restore or tip the balance of good and evil back in goods favor. As anyone with half a brain can tell you; the last century has been mainly been dominated by evils influence.

Today; Michael woke up with amnesia. While baffled with the task of learning who he is and who he can trust to teach him; people from both sides show up with opposite answers to that very question. He also as to relearn his forgotten angelic abilities before his weakened state gets him killed. After realizing who his real friends are and that his memories werent lost but stolen. They set off on an exciting and strange search for who stole his memory and why. Meanwhile the underground [the side of evil] is relentlessly trying to convince him to switch sides; using any means necessary; such as persuasion, intimidation, offering a deal of a lifetime, and finally kidnapping his new love. It all leads up to an all out good verses evil battle royal while he is forced to make a decision no one should have to make.

Are you ready for a new kind of hero?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 27, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477262016

Michael J. Winters II

My name is Michael J. Winters II. I was born in Redondo Beach California; 1971. My goal for these stories is to give readers a reason to believe in heroes again. I love creating worlds and characters that excite the imagination and draw the reader in with them to experience all the emotions they do. As a book fan myself; I do not like boring storylines. I believe a good story should not just make the reader laugh or cry; but to feel the entire spectrum of emotions the same as true life itself. I hope that you, the reader enjoy my stories as much as I enjoy writing them. Let your imagination run wild and never stop chasing your dreams. [e-mail]

Book preview

LOST AND

FOUND

MICHAEL J. WINTERS II

US%26UKLogoB%26Wnew.ai

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

©

2012 by Michael J. Winters II. 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.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/22/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6202-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6200-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-6201-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012915151

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

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter4

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

DEDICATION

This first of many adventures is dedicated to the three women

Who inspired me to never give up on my dreams.

Penny Jo Luellen (my mother).

Who taught me that any dream is possible as long as it is matched by your will to achieve them.

Crystal Suzzanne Winters (my loving wife).

Who has never let me give up on my dreams no matter what obstacles life has put in my way.

Arriel Luddy / winters (my beautiful daughter).

Who’s very birth inspired a directionless young punk to change his life around and become a man she and the world could be proud of.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A special thanks to the people that inspired me and helped me to get this adventure out to the world.

AuthorHouse Publishing with special focus to Mike Collins.

Ones who inspired characters for book 1:

Crystal Winters; Cassie

Jared Bathurst; Jacob

Michael Booher; Bixby

Trial run beta readers; Marc Rivas, Nancy Small, Sara Warner, Debbie Cacace, Tony Scotto, Maria Altea, Henry and Zoe Garcia, Steve Holechek, Sean Atherton, Claudia Reyes, Steve Jackson and Dominique Jackson, Markell Batts, Eric Wilson, Julia Sliskovich, Jason Johnson, Lynda and Dennis Kruso, David Buker, Dana Campbell, Arturo Gonzoles, Japheth Howatt.

Anyone who has ever been able to fulfill their dreams the hard way; should never forget those who helped them get there. I am thankful for every experience and event in my life [good or bad]; as well as each person I have met along this road we call life. It is these people and events that mold who we are and create the inspirations that become our life’s dreams. With that in mind I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Never give up on your dreams.

* * *

My name is Michael J. Winters II. I was born in Redondo Beach California; 1971. My goal for these stories is to give readers a reason to believe in heroes again. I love creating worlds and characters that excite the imagination and draw the reader in with them to experience all the emotions they do. As a book fan myself; I do not like boring storylines. I believe a good story should not just make the reader laugh or cry; but to feel the entire spectrum of emotions the same as true life itself. I hope that you, the reader enjoy my stories as much as I enjoy writing them. Let your imagination run wild and never stop chasing your dreams.

[e-mail]

PROLOGUE

Welcome to the real world. I say real, because I am one of the few that can see it for what it really consists of. It’s 2012 and I live in Los Angeles or as some people like to call it, lost angels. For even fewer it’s known as the city of lost souls. Besides the usual day in and day out, hustle and bustle of modern city life, along with the things you normal people are used to seeing every day. A life filled with greed, crime and increasing poverty. As well as the horrific traffic that grates the nerves along with the joys, sorrows, up and downs that comes along with it. Not to mention all the self centered people who spend their lives trying to climb up the social status ladder. Or busy kicking it out from under someone who is. [If I sound bitter I am, when a city goes down the toilet as much as this one. It tends to make defending it harder.]

Anyway; getting back to what I was saying. There are layers you can’t see, hidden and blended in with the very fabric of your society. Unless you are one of the lucky or unlucky ones, (however you want to see it) that are trained, gifted, or somehow cursed with the ability to see past or thru the facade that is all around you. The layers or true reality that blends into, flow with, or are usually overlooked by most normal folk. You know who you are, the people who live with blinders or are to narrow minded to see and accept the unusual, frightening, or downright evil things that make up our world.

Sorry to tell you but all the things you call myths, legends, monsters, and gods are real. They are walking amongst us at all times. They’re not just stories your parents told you to keep you in line or for your amusement. As a matter of fact most stories or legends are rooted in some fact. Originally told or created by children and the dying even by those that society has deemed insane. That’s because they are more open to the truth of this reality. They are the one’s that can see beyond the mask, but calling them immature, delirious or insane wouldn’t be completely off. Many people who know or have seen the truth of this world, this reality have been labeled insane. For as you get older society trains you to forget such childish fantasies. Or maybe it’s our governments who after having seen the truth, they have us taught to forget. Out of fear that if their public actually knew what was out there. They would have a society of a bunch of gun totting paranoid individuals concerned more about their own survival, than being the good little sheep who work mindlessly to earn money to pay their taxes. Ok, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch. We already have enough of those people as it is. The truth is these things are not just in your head, there right behind you.

By the way, here’s a survival tip; nightmares are actually small psychic visions. Your minds way of warning you so pay attention, they could save your life. That s right, we live in one of many cities where reality in the normal sense is only for those who have the inner sight or ability to believe. Yes boys and girls, the world as you know it isn’t going to hell, it is hell in a way. Our earth or mortal plane was always supposed to be considered neutral ground to the gods and demons. Yet many eons ago, the creators and destroyers of life raged endless wars with themselves. Neither side could agree or win, so they were in a way at a stalemate. So we were created by one means or the other, or at least this is how it was explained to me. Their own sort of personal science project sort of speak. The God’s or higher power’s were to let our choices on earth, without direct influence, determine the fate of the balance between good and evil. Mortals are inherently born with the ability to go either way. The more we sway one way, that side wins its power and influence on the rest of the universe. The True demons down below along with they’re minions, have been abusing the god’s leniency, and finding ways to change or profit from the weaknesses of the mortal human race. They have been turning this place into there own private playground.

If you think about it and really open your eyes. It’s all around you; the ongoing battle for power between good and evil, using us as the deciding factor. The balance has been tipping and evil is winning. That’s where I and others like me come in. We were either sent here or were born here with a purpose or rudely had a gift or two crammed down our throats. All to help fight on the side of good. To bring the balance back to neutral or better.

My name is Michael D’Angelo, and I’ll be your guild to teach and inform you of the things we do to maintain the balance. In time you may be ready when you have evolved enough to see the world for what it really is. With a little luck, maybe you will live thru it. Whatever you choose after this journey is up to you, but remember this. To those of good nature I can be your best friend, but to those who sway to evil. I hope you have good medical insurance, your going to need it. This is my story, so sit down, listen up good and accept what I have to say or leave. There’s no time for maybes and the weak willed; I’ve got something to kill.

Chapter 1

RUDE AWAKENING

I think we all can agree there’s nothing better than a good nights rest. Accept when you have no idea how long you have been actually resting. You know those mornings you have after a good long rest when you wake up refreshed. The birds may be chirping happily outside your window. The sun might be shinning down on you through your blinds. You roll over in your soft warm sheets, hopefully next to someone you can smile at remembering the escapades you shared from the night before. You glow with the feeling that you can take on the world. Everything around you seems bright and things are as they should be. That all would be nice accept this was not one of those mornings.

At first all there was, well an empty black void or a great vast bunch of black nothingness. No dreams of heroic adventures, or picturing yourself as one of your favorite movie characters. No fantasy of unicorns and scantily clad women using you for their own needy pleasures, not even a damn nightmare. I would have preferred anything to this endless black nothingness. What in the hell is going on, I tried to scream. {Where am I; is this some kink of joke? All right very funny; you can turn the lights back on now.} Nothing is what I received as my answer. There was no response, not even a small echo. I guess that rules out someone hanging me on a line in the middle of a pitch black room. I also didn’t feel any suspension lines either, which made this a bit more disturbing. I couldn’t see or even feel anything around me. I tried to touch my arms or any of my body, but I could not find that either. I tried to listen around me but heard nothing. Think dummy, think, what could make you weightless, create a dark emptiness, and erases absolutely all sound? {Oh crap I must be dead; or maybe I’m in a coma. That’s got to be it; but which one? Damn it, what the hell happened to me}?

Ok it’s obvious that I must be in some kind of limbo, but why? I had no idea how to get out so I tried walking, swimming, even that imaginary pulling the rope routine that mimes like so much. Yes when you’re flouting in the middle of nothing your brain starts to panic and you do stupid things. I did have the odd sensation of floating as if I was in outer space. As I drifted there in this sort of outer space. I was becoming impatient and started to panic very quickly. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, I started having a slight pulling sensation. It started moving me forward, in what direction I could not say or why. As I floated onward from wherever I was in this blackness, I began to hear what seamed to be faint far off muffled tones. It was as if I was trying to listen in on the neighbors through an apartment wall, or like the way you sound when talking into a pillow. As I moved on the sounds started to become clearer. I could now make out voices though none of them sounded familiar such as friends or family. These voices were very business like, and professional. Besides that; I could now make out the distinct sounds of the beeps and pings of what might be machines. I could even make out the thumping sounds of rhythmic busy footsteps.

During my confusing flight someone decided to turn on the in flight movie. All right, I was relieved to finally be able to see light come into view though it was in the shape of an outlined door. All around me some of the darkness began to lighten. I could now see a faint form of my body and I seemed to be in what looked to be a hospital gown. Even though what I had to wear was something to be desired, I felt relief that I now know I still had a body at all. I began feeling those electric tingles you get when your legs wake up from falling asleep when sit on them for too long. I watched as my feet touched down on a smooth black and white checkered hallway floor that began to materialize underneath me. I was barefoot, yet I could not feel the cold tile. Bare walls took form creating a long dark hallway as the weightless sensation decreased. I was now able to walk down the long dark hall. I felt as if I was being guided by the tall door shaped outline light at the end of the hall. As I moved closer I could see that it was a reddish door. The sounds were louder now coming from behind it and my curiosity drove me on.

When I finally reached the door there was no knob or handle. I had the feeling that I was invited to a party, but the host was not ready to let me in yet. I was growing more impatient as a shiny golden knob appeared. I reached out for the knob, nervous and scared knowing very well I had to take a chance. Hell, this is the only way out or back depending how you look at it. I wanted this trip or nightmare to be over, yet i had no idea what I was about to face on the other side. If I was dead, than this was just a waiting point. I could possibly be entering heaven, due to the golden knob, or maybe i was going to hell. That might explain the red door. I know I couldn’t stay here and I would have to go in eventually, the funny thing is, I couldn’t remember if I had a good life or a bad one. As a matter of fact I couldn’t remember anything of my life, my name, nothing. For a while I decided to sit in this hallway and hope for a sign. I would even settle for a glimpse of a memory at this point so that I could move on at least a little prepared. I can’t stay here admiring the dingy white walls forever. I turned and looked back at the hall that stretched a good half mile into darkness, when suddenly I could feel something coming down the hall. I felt a sort of presents or unseen force hunting me. A moment later I realized it wasn’t something coming, but something going. The hall that had formed to guide me was collapsing and disappearing back into nothing. This cant is good, I told myself. I stood back up and grabbed the doorknob. I told myself that whatever was on the other side had to be better than this. As soon as I turned it, I regretted it, but it was too late to turn back now.

I was enveloped in the inner light and was also and very suddenly and violently bombarded with every sensation possible. The sounds and voices i could hear from my limbo waiting room were now amplified a thousand times. Everything was so loud that even a pin drop sounded like a small explosion. My eyes remained closed, afraid to open because the light on the other side of them was already painful enough. The hallway was gone now and I could feel that I was lying in a bed of some sort. Searing pain shot through my body feeling as if it was being stabbed, broken and burned all at once. The pain seemed to come from every part of my body at once. To make things worse I was somehow being restrained or was possibly encased in something. I couldn’t even move to curl into the ever popular fetal position that I oh so wanted to. My eyes felt like they were going to explode from their sockets, due to a blinding light creeping in through the slits in my eyelids. I couldn’t stand the pain and I hadn’t even opened them yet. I could also feel that something was clogging my throat as well as forcing my mouth open. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t allow me to yell or scream. There was something in my nose as well, though I still had a partial ability to smell. I could detect disinfectant, medication, and the weirdest body funk. The smell filled my nose and made my stomach heave. What did i walk myself into? This certainly wasn’t heaven, possibly more like a horrific torture section of hell, or so it felt. A female voice called out, Doctor I think he’s waking up. Come quickly we need to remove these tubes.

There were footsteps from another person approaching. This person removed whatever was in my nose. The source of the blockage ended up being a long plastic oxygen tube. As a result of clearing my nose simply made the mix of smells even worse. I felt a long tube being pulled out of my throat. It felt as if a boa constrictor was being removed from my throat. The same poor unsuspecting fool opened one of my eyes, and shined a blinding beam of light in it. Without thinking, like an involuntary muscle spasm, I punched the poor bastard. What, he was foolish enough to touch me first. I heard the woman’s voice gasp in horror and shock as the individual I hit came crashing down some distance away. He or she landed with a hard thud against the wall. I heard the sound of a crashing metal tray table and a toppled chair as well as a loud moan followed. There were footsteps from the woman running to help. Dr. Godfrey , are you all right. I don’t know how he broke his restraints, how could he be that strong? He has been in a coma for a week?"

An older mans voice answered, I’m ok; I’m ok. I should have been more cautious with him. It was my own fault. I should have remembered it might be kind of a shock, first waking from a coma state. I slowly opened my eyes against my bodies protest and took a moment registering everything around me. Hospital room, restrained to the bed with the exception of one broken restraint. Body wracked with pain, and a nurse with her hands to her mouth while wearing a look of sheer terror. On the floor against the far end wall, a short elderly doctor was pushing himself up off the floor, holding his jaw. He did not look pleased to say the least. This is not good, I thought.

The nurse tried to assist the doctor off the floor, only to have him hold out a hand in a stop where you are motion denying her help. He stood up, straightened his white coat and glared at me like an enraged bull. His face was red with either anger or too much blood flow. In an angry short burst tone, he shook a finger at me and said, Mr. D’Angelo I apologize for the surprise. This must be quit a shock, but this is not acceptable behavior. I will not tolerate being struck by my patients, he said as he straightened his white coat again in a huff. If I was not such a patient man, I would be pressing charges against you right now. He walked over and took the broken restraint off my wrist and instructed the nurse to do the same with the other one. The nurse stood at the door shaking her head in refusal, keeping as much distance between her and me as possible. Nurse Henderson, please do as I ask, he semi shouted in a disappointed voice. Is he safe, she asked nervously.

The doctor responded by assuring her, He will be fine Mrs. Henderson, won’t you, Mr. D’Angelo? I stared back blankly at him for a moment, Instead of responding in a normal, rational way. My head was spinning with questions. Where am I, what happened to me and why was he on the floor? The doctor approached the side of the bed a bit more cautiously. I had to cover my eyes thinking maybe I was still delusional. I couldn’t explain it but there was this intense warm radiant glow all around him. Out of all the normal responses a patient could have, I asked, What are you? The doc laughed. I think you mean who am I?

Maybe if you didn’t look radio active, I wouldn’t ask stupid questions, I said with a hint of sarcasm. He motioned Nurse Henderson to turn down the lights. When she did the glow faded, though not at the same speed as the overhead lights. (That was odd.) Is that better,he smiled. Your still in shock, your eyes will adjust, and as far as you’re other questions go. You’re at a hospital in the city of Los Angeles. I interrupted him, wait I never asked any questions. How did you know what I was thinking? He paused a moment checking something off on his clipboard. Sure you did, or maybe I’m just used to patients waking up always asking the same questions. I am pretty sure that I’m right in guessing. You would like to know what happened to you so let me explain. You have obviously had a pretty bad accident. It seems that somehow you either fell, or were possibly pushed off the roof of a five story building. It accrued somewhere in the shipping docks area down at bay harbor. Do you remember anything about the incident? I shook my head no It’s all a blank doc, which was regrettably and completely true. I couldn’t remember for the life of me what happened, where I was or what I was doing there. I could not even remember my own name, or what I do for a living.

Alright than let’s start fresh, he said. My name is Doctor Godfrey, I’m the resident doctor assigned to your case, he said as he held out a hand in greeting. As I shook his hand, the sensation of a small electrical charge ran up my arm. It made the hair on my arm stand straight up, while at the same time the feeling was friendly and reassuring. All the same I still pulled away in surprise, and then just as quickly disregarded it as static electricity. He smiled pleasantly as he released my hand. Nice to meet you, are