Morium: Book One of the Morium Trilogy

By S.J. Hermann

BOOKS GO SOCIAL RUNNER-UP FOR BEST SELF PUBLISHED BOOK 2015

"This is a fascinating study in human nature. I particularly like how the author has introduced us to TWO characters living under similar circumstances, then given them both the same supernatural "opportunity". These are beautifully flawed characters that ultimately head in very different directions...and exciting conflict ensues. I was fascinated by my own response to it - how I could relate to both characters along the way, agreeing with their actions at times, disagreeing at others."

"It's been a long time since reading a YA novel. Even as an adult, you'll enjoy it. Not only enjoy, but you'll be able to take a peek into the lives of bullied teens and feel the suffering impact it has on their lives. At times intense, this read will take you on a travel through three young people's lives as they struggle with harsh teen-aged angst. It's simply trans-formative. S. J. writes in a deep smooth style that glides along the story line with ease."

A GRIPPING YA SUPERNATURAL THRILLER - Book 1 of the MORIUM TRILOGY

If you had the powers to avenge yourself... would you?
Bullied... Years of shame... Lexi and Nathan knew pain.

MORIUM is the story of Alexandria and Nathan... and Stacy. Three teenagers who were victims of bullying all through high school. They kept their torment a secret from their family and tried to cope in their own way. They only had each other. Their friendship saw them through the seemingly endless years of suffering.

But hope was in sight… they will be graduating soon. The vision of a new life away from the bullies and the constant humiliation, gave them something to look forward to. If only that day came sooner.

One night, Lexi and Nathan saw an object fall from the sky and went to investigate. As they touched the rock, a strange power entered their bodies. Suddenly, they're not helpless anymore. They can get revenge for all the suffering and pain they had to endure.

How will they use these powers?

MORIUM discusses the moral dilemma of doing what's right against getting revenge. When your dignity has been shattered and your life has been a living hell... what is RIGHT?

Possible trigger warning. Scenes of self harm may be disturbing to sensitive readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.J. Hermann
• Release date: Jun 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393269366

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Dad,

I don’t know exactly how to start this letter, so I will just begin with I Love You. I know that might sound strange after what I’m about to tell you, because no daughter who loves her father would have ever lied to him like I have to you. I only lied because I love you. You have been under so much pressure; I couldn’t bring myself to burden you with my problems. I understand that, as a father, you believe you should know everything going on in your daughter’s life, but as you read this, I hope you understand why I concealed the truth. I have to get this off my chest for my own sanity’s sake.

Ever since the last year of junior high, I have been bullied, ridiculed, and humiliated. I won’t tell you by whom, because that is irrelevant now, but it has been a burden I have lived with every day. I didn’t only hide this from you, but from Mom too.

Besides all of that, I have to confess there was a reason I always wore long-sleeved shirts. Ever since mom died, I have cut myself in a vain attempt to escape the anguish I was feeling. The pain I felt on the outside made me forget the pain I was feeling on the inside. It was wrong. It was stupid. Never blame yourself for not knowing what I was doing. You tried desperately to pull what I was hiding out of me. It was something I had to deal with on my own. I hope you understand, for my confession is about to get a lot more complicated in a way which will be hard to believe.

Ω

The spring sun peeked its way out from the cotton clouds gracing the morning sky and down on the small community of Westview, located west of the area the local teenagers dubbed the Dead Zone Triangle. With the town of Porter sitting to the southeast and Devinsville to the northeast, the Dead Zone Triangle lay in the middle of nowhere...and at the edge of nothing.

American flags fluttered with the slight breeze from metal poles which extended from the brick buildings along Main street. Students bustled about, making their dashes across the street to Westview High. Among them, two dissimilar souls causally strolled passed the town’s bakery.

I love that smell, Alexandria said, as the aroma of freshly-baked bread penetrated the inside of her head with every breath.

For seventeen-year-old Alexandria O’Conner, or Lexi, as her friends called her, the walk towards Westview High felt like a death march. Her heart beat rapidly, her palms becoming clammy the closer she got to her psychological torture chamber.

Lexi was not your typical teenager living in an upper middle-class town. While other girls had nice, new things to wear, Lexi made do with what she had. On this day, it was a long-sleeved, blue sweater and worn jeans, even though the temperature was in the upper 70s, a record high for late February. Her black hair hung slightly past her shoulders and angled across the right side of her face, partially hiding the pain evident in her eyes. She never wore makeup, since there was no one around to impress, or even to notice—well, not in a positive way, anyhow.

She was lucky enough to be blessed with three bright spots in her life, and one of them walked along next to her.

You say that every morning, Nathan retorted.

Slender Nathan Sweeny stood much taller than Lexi. His short brown hair, backpack slung over one shoulder, and a face dotted with several blemishes were all familiar features of the person she’d known since grade school. He might be a member of the upper middle class who generally frowned upon her, but he knew firsthand what she was going through. They stuck together, because they had to. There was no one else—well, besides Stacy. 

As they waited for the light to change, Nathan sighed. Lexi shot him a glance knowing the thoughts which ran through his mind.

Don’t make eye contact with them, she said. Maybe they won’t notice you.

She was peering across the street at two students, both standing nearly the same height and wearing their navy-blue football jerseys. One donned a baseball cap, backwards, and standing out from the other students around him because of it. When the light changed, they made their way across the street. Nathan’s heart skipped several beats, as he became more nervous and uncomfortable. Staring straight ahead, he kept his eyes focused on the school.

We only have half a year to go, Lexi reminded him, trying to comfort her friend.

Nathan tried to take comfort in the words she offered, but failed. Yeah, but getting through the rest of this year...

They made their way towards the front door, walking past the pair of football players, Nathan’s heart racing into overdrive. He steeled himself for the inevitable. He didn’t know exactly what, but he knew something bad would happen. It was a fear he lived with every day. Every time he saw them, the knot in his stomach twisted tighter, and his throat dried up. Picking up his pace, he strode quickly past them. Nothing happened. They didn’t even look at him.

That was easy, he said.

Just keep going, Lexi said with a smile.

As they moved closer to the set of double doors, Nathan’s backpack was yanked harshly from his shoulder. The boy with the baseball hat made a dash for the front doors, Nathan’s backpack in hand. As he always did, Nathan stayed quiet, watching in silence as his backpack was thrown atop the white overhang by the doors.

Get your backpack now, loser! one of the boys jeered.

I found your backpack, geek. It’s up there, the other boy said as he ran by them.

Everyone was staring at him, and a few were laughing, as, once again, he’d become the target of their pranks. The day is starting just great, he thought to himself. Then again, this was simply the norm.

So much for getting by them unscathed, he mumbled to himself.

Come on, let’s just go find the custodian, Lexi said.

What are we going to tell him? I don’t want to tell him the truth, he said, nervously.

We’ll figure something out.

CHAPTER 2

The hallway was alive with voices as students made their way to their lockers in order to start the day. As Lexi made her way through the crowd, she overheard commentary pertaining to the previous weekend about how cute a certain boy was or how someone’s parents bought them the wrong materialistic bauble. Not that any of this mattered to her, she simply found it interesting how small these problems lessened compared with the ones she faced every day.

She moved forward with her head down, as she always did, to avoid making eye contact with anyone. She only looked up every once in a while to see where she was going and brush her hair out of her face. Her own personal walk of shame, though she’d never done anything to deserve the treatment she received. The hallway cortege seemed to go on forever–at least for Lexi.

From a distance, she noticed something stuck to her locker. She looked to her right and made eye contact with a tall girl sporting a fake tan and ponytail. Maddie was the girl the boys fell over themselves for and she knew it.

Standing next to her, blond, straight-haired Tiffany was giggling, peeking towards Lexi’s locker. Both girls worked in tandem against her, never attacking on their own, as if one needed to feed off the other.

Hi, Alexandria, Maddie said with a smirk. Lexi kept walking, paying no attention to her. Have a great day! she added facetiously.

As Lexi approached her locker, she raised her eyes, brushed her hair from her face, and stared at the object taped to it. It was a lone piece of paper which read:

Useless.

The smothered giggles coming from Maddie and Tiffany turned into full-fledged laughter, digging at Lexi’s consciousness. She glanced at them, and both greeted her with a seemingly innocent wave. She reached up to rip the note from her locker, staring at it as that one cruel word was burned deeply into her soul.

Lexi! A girl’s voice called out from nearby. Garnering no response from her, the girl added a friendly, What’s up?

You know, Stacy; I wonder if they are right, Lexi commented, still fixated on the note, wishing she could erase the word from its surface.

After moving to Westview over a year ago, when her dad transferred to the big city, Stacy Bishop stood out in a crowd as much as Lexi did. She stood slightly taller than her friend, her blond hair cut short. Her wrists were adorned with rubber bracelets of varying colors. At this school, any differences left you wide open for a verbal assault.

Stacy’s parents kept her on a tight leash. She always had to introduce any new friends and obtain her parent`s approval before going anywhere with them. Neither Lexi nor Nathan had come across as potential troublemakers, so both friends were granted their blessing. Still, anytime they made plans to go out, there’d be the obligatory meeting at Stacy’s home, so her mom and dad could jot down the hour-by-hour schedule of the kids’ night.

Besides Nathan, Stacy was the only other person her age Lexi felt comfortable talking to, the only one who understood the emotional lows to which she often sunk. Stacy was more outgoing, and even though she suffered a high volume of verbal abuse, she always fired back a retort.

What are you talking about? Stacy asked. This? she asked shaking the paper at Lexi. Why should you care what they think, anyway?

After a while, you can’t help but care what they think. It gets burned into your brain, so that you wonder if it might be true, Lexi said softly as she opened her locker.

Stacy crumbled the note and threw it to the ground. If I took to heart all the things I’ve been called, I would’ve undergone a sex change years ago. This is who I am, and I wouldn’t change it for anyone, and I think you need to consider the same approach.

Lexi finished shoving her books in the locker and slammed it shut. That’s easy for you to say, she muttered over the clang of the school bell.

Stacy reached over to put her arms on Lexi’s shoulders, as she did every time she became serious. I know I keep telling you this, but stay strong.

I’ll try, Lexi said, glancing back over at Maddie and Tiffany.

Hey, Stacy said, turning Lexi’s head with her hand. Forget about those bitches. You’re better than they are. You know why? Stacy raised her voice. You don’t need to spread your legs to get attention.

Screw you, lesbo, Maddie shot back.

The corner of Lexi’s mouth lifted in a vain attempt at a smile.

Sure, anytime, Stacy commented with a grin. See you in Science.

As Stacy passed by Maddie, she blew her kiss, causing Lexi to chuckle under her breath. She wished she could be as strong as Stacy, so she could stop dealing with her pain in the twisted manner in which she did...

Ω

The History classroom was large for a school of its size; yet, Tyler and Ethan always found a way to sit next to or behind Nathan. Tyler made it his life’s ambition to make Nathan’s a living nightmare.

More muscle-bound than Nathan, blessed with the typical jock’s body, Tyler never failed to push his chest out, visibly, when confronting him. Perhaps, he believed it made him appear tougher, but when one compared the pair’s physiques, it became painfully necessary. As a bonus, Tyler’s friend, Ethan, always came along for the ride. Built similarly to Tyler, these two were the biggest linemen on the team. To make things worse, the town worshipped the ground these players walked on.

When the two approached Nathan, students stopped to watch what might happen. These two didn’t need the extra attention, they craved it.

Nathan had a tendency to bounce his leg when he became nervous, and now his leg was bouncing uncontrollably. He found himself unable to concentrate on what the teacher was saying. The only words he internalized were: Germans, cold, and surrender.

They’re going to do something, he thought. It’s only a matter of time. His leg bounced even faster, and his hand shook ever so slightly. Sometimes, the anticipation was worse than the actual event. Maybe this was their way of mentally torturing him further.

Nathan felt something hit the back of his head. He was afraid to look over at Ethan, and he dared not turn towards Tyler.

He lifted his hand to the spot he’d felt the impact, and gently squeezed the hair where the sticky object had landed. To his left, Ethan giggled softly. Tyler had thrown a wad of gum into his hair, and now he’d made it worse by squashing it further in. Both his legs bounced at a rapid pace. There was nothing he could do except continue to try to pay attention to the teacher. That was all he could do.

Ω

Lexi sat at her desk in the last row in science class, rolling her pencil between her fingers. She usually stayed focused in class, but today her thoughts drifted somewhere else, or rather to someone else.

She gazed at the slim boy one seat up from her on the right. His name was Trevor, and her mind wandered every time she caught sight of him. She gazed at him as discreetly as she could with the eye uncovered by hair. In the background, she could hear the teacher mumbling some reference to atoms, but it didn’t register with her. For as long as she could remember, she’d had a crush on Trevor. But she knew she’d never be able to look at him directly, let alone talk to him.

Seated behind Trevor, Stacy looked over at Lexi with a grin on her face, aware of the subject matter of the thoughts formulating inside her friend’s mind. She tore a piece of paper from the corner of her notebook and wrote on it. Folding it up as small as she could, Stacy tossed it at Lexi’s head. Lexi took a quick glance around before picking it up, and reading it.

You want to stick your tongue down his throat, don’t you?

Lexi stared daggers at her friend while she mouthed Stacy’s name with warning. Stacy smirked and made a flipping motion with her tongue.

Excuse me, Ms. Bishop. Is there a problem? the teacher asked, startling her.

The thing Lexi hated most was happening; the entire class was looking back at her. Stacy quickly turned to face the front.

Everything’s just fine, she replied. Sorry!

Lexi glanced over at Trevor, who chose that exact moment to look her in the eye. To her, time froze. Then, just as fast, he turned away.

When everyone’s focus returned to the teacher, Lexi turned to face Stacy who waggled her tongue a few more times behind Trevor’s head. That made her smile, and for those few moments, she felt like a normal senior in high school. Her worries and anxiety faded away. But then, the bell rang.

Ω

The cafeteria was abuzz with chatter and laughter, the stench of prefab food lingering in the air. Sitting at a corner table, Stacy and Lexi were lost inside their own world.

Thank God we don’t have to eat this crap much longer, Stacy grumbled as she stared down at her plate. It boasted a lukewarm hot dog, a pile of mushy corn, and something which resembled pudding but she couldn’t be sure. It never failed to amuse Lexi when Stacy complained,