Chance: NIGHTMARE WARRIOR MC, #3

By D.S. TOSSELL

Chance: The nightmares are what keep me up at night, but it's the screams that haunt me when I'm awake that are the real problem. Years of torture, years of pain. Years of seeing their faces as the light stops shining from their eyes. She reminds me of them. Young. Innocent. Too good for this world. Too good for me.

Abby: I've been his admirer. Hidden in the shadows of his fears. He has nightmares that haunt even me. I wish to be his escape but he doesn't notice me. Doesn't see me within his light. So I'll stay in the shadows. I'll wait forever for him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.S. TOSSELL
• Release date: Mar 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781540168931

Book preview

Prologue

Abby

Age 5

I hold daddy’s hand as I walk behind the men from his club. There is a total of six men holding mom’s casket. One of them is Tom Stone, my daddy’s president. Three days ago, my mommy and I went and visited daddy at the clubhouse. I love being there, and even though Max, Austin and Shane are a lot older than me, they play with me and buy me stuff all the time. Mommy and I were getting ready to head to the kitchen so that we can get some food ready for the men, when we heard daddy yelling.

There was a loud noise after that and then a lot of people running in the clubhouse. That’s pretty normal, but that day was anything but. They grabbed mommy and I, then put a gun to my head. I was so scared. I kept crying and screaming while the guy holding mommy was getting mad at me. I couldn’t stop. There was so much noise. People yelling, daddy yelling, me screaming and mom just sitting there. I remember looking at her and seeing her smile at me. Why was she smiling? Couldn’t she see how scary it was? The man got so angry with me crying that he took the gun and shot my mommy in her face with it. That was the last thing I remember.

And so, I hope you all remember Beatrice as I do. As Cherry, as a woman who always put her family first. As someone who would do anything for their child. Tom goes on.

I barely pay attention to the funeral. I stay strong for daddy because that’s what grandma said I had to do. She said that daddy was taking it hard and that he didn’t need me to make it worse. I didn’t understand what that meant, but as we leave the funeral and I feel daddy’s hand leave mine and watch as he crumbles to the ground, I saw it. I saw what grandma meant. Daddy needs me.

I run over to him and hold him as hard as I can. When daddy is all finished crying, Tom and Matthew, Shane’s daddy, come and pick him up. Max walks over to me and picks me up and I lay my head on his chest. The next time I wake up I’m at home on the couch. Everyone is standing around eating and dad is nowhere to be found. I see Julia, Max and Austin’s mom, talking to some people in the kitchen and I head over to her. She gives me a big hug which I return and asks me if I’m hungry. I tell her yes and she fixes me a plate.

I walk over to the dining room table and am about to eat, when I see it. Mom’s face in little pieces are sitting on my plate. I scream, I cry, I run away from it all. I run all the way to the attic where the bad guys can’t get me. I don’t know how long I’m up there when someone finally comes up. It’s not daddy. I wanted it to be. It’s Tom though, and right now, I’ll take anyone.

Red’s going to be a hard color to take in for now darlin’. He says to me. Julia says sorry, she thought givin’ you some French fries and ketchup would be a comfort food.

Why? I ask him with a sniffle. I don’t know if I’m asking him why red is hard for me. I don’t know if I’m asking him why my mom died. I don’t know if I’m asking him why my dad isn’t here.

Things are going to be hard for a while Abby. Your daddy, he needs you to be strong, but that don’t mean you ain’t allowed to have someone there for you.

I nod my head at him, not knowing what he wants me to say, and stare down at my pretty black dress. Mommy bought it for me.

I’m sorry Abby. I’m sorry I wasn’t there, and that my club did this to you. Things won’t ever be the same, but I promise, I promise that I will always be there if you need guidance. Always. He leans in to hug me and this is the first time since mom died, that I cry.

I cry for daddy, I cry for mommy, I cry because something tells me, I won’t be doing it much later on.

Prologue

Chance

10 years ago

Look Mr. Malone, I understand where you are coming from, but the truth is, I just don’t have enough in the school’s funds to get you what you want.

"It’s not something I want, it’s something the students need. Your students. The same students that walk the halls, same as the other thousand."

And here at Silver Creek High School, we try to make all accommodations for all the students and faculty as we can, but the truth is, we just don’t have the kind of funding for your project. Mr. Malley, the school principal crosses his fingers, elbows pointed upright on his enormous desk.

Please don’t give me the typical political answer on why the school needs more money. It’s simple. This program helps students that are failing, catch back up again. If you don’t have any failing students, you get more money.

Look, Ryan I’m trying to level with you, but those punks don’t care if they graduate or not. Mr. Mallery stands and walks over to his office door, placing one hand on the door knob and the other on his hip, pulling it slightly open, just enough to indicate the conversation is concluding. This program of yours is incredible and for the few students it may help, it’s great, but the ones that you have down there in that building, will most likely end up in either jail, or in a gang.

They are not some kind of thugs. They’re a bunch of kids who are tired of people like you giving up on them. What we need is simple. The air conditioner is down, and I have twelve students in a small unit in the back of the school with one single window and no cool air blowing─

And I understand that Mr. Malone, but my decision remains. Perhaps this is the time to admit the program you dreamt of, does not work. Now if you will excuse me, I have some important matters to attend to. He waves his large arm out the door and I storm past him without a second glance.

My frustration with the man has heightened to a new level and his ideology of how my students should be treated compared to the ones with wealthy parents is unfathomable.

My mind wonders as I make my way across the campus to the back portables of where we were forced to work. Since the moment I got my teaching degree, I knew I wanted to do something that would make a difference. Teaching tenth grade history just wasn’t enough for me. My wife, Laurie and I came up with the workload relief program, that would help students who were struggling to graduate high school, not only get them tutors, but financial support to their family for food, school supplies and the occasional check for rent to keep them from doing something troublesome like sell drugs to help out.

Too many students are going through their first eighteen years battling things that even some adults never have to. If I could help in anyway, I was going to do so.

This year has proven to be difficult. Principal Malley hasn’t been supportive of this program, saying the money should go elsewhere, and unfortunately has created some riffs between our sponsors. Last year I had sixteen students that were a part of the program and all of them were then able to graduate. This year, I may not be so lucky.

Yo, mister Malone wait up. I turn in time to nearly collide with Carlos, one of my students from the program.

Carlos is one of the special ones. Extremely smart and intelligent. If he could just make it to school most days, he would be graduating with flying colors and most likely getting a scholarship. The problem he has is dangerous. His family doesn’t want him in high school. Calls it a waste of time. Why get a job and make minimum wage, when it’s too easy to sell dope on the side and make ten times that amount.

Shouldn’t you be in the classroom? I smirk when I see his eyes go big under his blue New York Yankee’s ball cap. I’m originally from Boston, so whenever I get the chance, I love causing his shit to stir about his team.

You mean the sauna?

It’s not that bad. I think it’s a little nice. Been a little chilly these last few days.

You didn’t get the funding for the air conditioner unit, did you? He states and I stop in my tracks causing him to do the same and look up at me.

No. Rubbing my eyes with the pads of my thumbs, I look up at the sun, wondering how many more days we have until it becomes too unbearable in the small shed.

Sure you don’t want me to take a crack at it? I’m good with my hands man, just ask all the ladies. Carlos smirks and I roll my eyes.

It’s fine. I’ll get the money some other way. Besides, I’ve seen your game with the ladies, and if it’s anything like your ability to fix something, you might just blow this school up. Carlos shoves me and I laugh.

Well, we’re all ready when you are. We almost got a full house too, just missing Sean. My head turns to him quickly, but Carlos continues to look down with his hands in his pocket.

Sean isn’t here again? I ask but get silence in response. I wait for Carlos to answer my question but when our continued footsteps are the only noise coming from the long walk back to the portable, I realize he doesn’t want to tell me what he obviously knows. Carlos and Sean’s gangs used to run together, so when they both wound up in my program, I learned quite a bit about their families and duties to each of them. Carlos?

Look man, Sean ain’t here and that’s all you need to know. You can’t do what you did last time, his crew ain’t about to let you punk them all out again.

I didn’t punk them out. I stop once again in my tracks, causing Carlos to stop and turn towards me.

No? You kicked them off school grounds and told them never to come back. You told them, in front of everyone, that you were going to try and get Sean away from them. What do you think they would have done if there weren’t so many witnesses? His arms flail as he explains the dynamics to me, but he can save his breath, I heard enough of it from Sean the next day, along with most of the staff and Principal Malley.

Carlos, I don’t want you, Sean, or any other student of mine mixed up with groups that think it’s cool to end lives simply because of the fact that they can. You all have so much more going for you than having no choice but to join some gang that couldn’t care less for you.

Carlos’s demeanor doesn’t change, his solid features don’t shift. He simply shrugs and walks past me with his head down and hands in his pockets. Just as he passes me, he slows down enough to say something to me.

It’s not as easy as you think Mr. Malone. I blow out a deep breath when I see him turn the corner to the next set of buildings that will eventually lead to the small shed, we are forced to work in.

I pull out my phone and decide to call Sean myself. Carlos is right, they don’t have much of a choice and thanks to people like principal Malley, they will always be looked at as lower than scum because of their background.

Sean answers on the first ring. Mr. Malone, I can’t really talk right now. I can hear background noises, sounding like he is in some kind of party.

Look Sean, I know this isn’t the easiest thing to do, to ignore your family and think about your own future, but I can help you. I can help you graduate and get out of here and start a real life. But I need you here. I emphasize, but he simply ignores me and talks over me.

No, Malone, I can’t. I don’t think I can go to that school anymore. Some things came up and− He starts but gets interrupted by a voice in the back demanding to know who he is speaking to. Look I have to go okay?

No, Sean, it isn’t okay. Let me help you. Don’t let those guys dictate who you are. A dead line meets my voice on the other end, and I rub my hand through my hair. Frustrations bubbles but Laurie’s words calm me.

Ryan, we can’t save them all. We ca try and save as many as we can, this program will do that, but not all of them will be able to be saved. We have to come to terms with that.

I look up at the small shed we are all cramped in and continue my walk. Laure is right, I have to move my focus over to those willing to find the help they deserve. Eleven other students need my help, and I intend on helping them as best I can.

Half an hour later we are all sweating profusely. The sun has begun to set but it’s doing nothing in the cramped shed.

Mr. Malone, can we take a break and maybe get some fresh air or something? April asks and I smile at her continuing to brush her long blonde hair into submission. The prom queen is what Carlos calls her and as much as the others thinks she shouldn’t be here; she and I know the truth. April is fostered, and her foster family hardly remembers she lives there. This is her escape and I couldn’t be prouder of her for taking that leap and finding the help she needed.

That’s a good idea April. Guys, let’s take a five-minute break and get out of this dog house. A few laughs follow my request while other’s murmur their irritation with the heat and our circumstances.

I’m the first to walk out of the shed as the others grab the small lunches the cafeteria packs for them at the end of the day. Part of the Second Chance program is the fact that the student’s families don’t have enough money to give them everything they need. We cover the school finances, including the meal prep for staying after school two hours a day.

It’s peaceful out, quiet and calm. The sun is out, and the small breeze makes for a perfect day. I briefly wonder if we should stay out here for the rest of the lesson.

I turn as I hear Jasmine, one of my students walking out asking me a question. Mr. Malone, I had a question about─

Before she could finish her question, the sound of tires squealing followed by gun shots surround us. A piercing sharp pain ignites in my abdomen and I immediately fall down to my knees. Blood pours from under me as I watch and hear my students. Screaming reaches my ears as I try to tell everyone behind me to get down, but my voice is muted over more shots and watch as one by one my students fall to the ground in front of me. I can't fathom what is happening as I try to stay conscious.

N-no.... I whisper as tears flow down my cheeks, I hear the sound of tires squealing once more and wait as darkness takes me away from the quiet of the dead.

The next time I wake, I am in a hospital bed. My eyes blur and it takes me several seconds to open them clearly. Laurie is the first thing I see. Her clothes are wrinkled as if she had been sleeping in them. Her head is drooped over my bed as her hand is reached out connecting itself with mine. It's dark out, that much I can tell and judging by how quiet everything is, it's sometime in the middle of the night.

The door creaks open somewhere in the room, but I don’t have the heart to turn and look. My body hurts. My head feels like someone went to town on me in the boxing ring, my eyes feels swollen and heavy and I feel heavy everywhere below my stomach. I wiggle my toes and blow out a breath of air when I feel them.

Mr. Malone? Someone whispers and my eyes connect with an elderly woman somewhere in her sixties. Her whiteish grey hair is curled in a tight bun and her thick glasses make it almost impossible to tell if she is looking at me. I'm Nurse Marla, are you in any pain right now?

W-water.  I don't recognize my own voice. It sounds like a I swallowed large shards of glass. Nurse Marla walks over and grabs the small container of water with a long straw sticking out of it. Leaning forwards she lets me drink a few sips slowly at her instruction.

W-what happened? Nurse Marla looks at me, then over to Laurie. I follow her glance and see that my wife is now awake and has tears in her eyes as she stares at me. I have never seen her look so sad in her life. Laurie?

I'm going to go and get the doctor. He will explain everything. In the meantime, please try and rest. You have a long journey ahead of you. I blink a few times at her words, but my gaze does not leave my wife.

This is serious. Why can't I remember anything?

Laurie.... w-what happened? She wipes her tears with her sleeve and looks out towards the window.

There was a shooting Ryan. She starts. You were the only survivor. Her voice grows soft as she tells me the rest of the details. My mind shuts down as I close my eyes and let the tears fall.

They're gone....

They are all gone...

Chapter 1

Chance

The roar of the bike rumbles under me as I ride hard and fast down the long narrow street. What would normally take me a good forty-five minutes, is now going on fifteen. The roads are slippery and still damp from the small snow we got this morning, but I let nothing stop me as I rush to my target.

My bike speeds down the suburban neighborhood, car alarms go off as I pass them, but my focus is on one thing and one thing only.

Abby.

Normally the road keeps my mind free of conflict and aggression, but not tonight. Tonight, my anxious form is hunting, and my bike is merely a means to an end.

I can still remember the day I met Abby. Austin was giving me a tour of what would be my new home within the Nightmare Warriors compound. I was done with life, ready for it to take me away. I had hit rock bottom and wanted nothing, but something in her called to me. Some kind of deep darkness that she tried hiding behind the depths of her blue eyes, but I saw right through it. Only certain people who have experienced a kind of loss could. She was despondent. No life shined within her eyes, but that doesn't mean she was ready to give in. Her long blonde hair and bright blue eyes were still full of resolve, just not for herself. She survived for others.

They have her.... They have Abby.

Bone's words come rushing to me as I slow my bike to a stop at the familiar house. They have Abby, and