Laycrim: The Fall of Spirits

By W. L. Douglas

The personal conflict between Parker and his younger sister, Lizz, is partly due to their losing touch with each other at a young age, and partly due to the otherworldly being which has haunted them most of their lives. They get their chance to confront their stalker due to their own untimely deaths. In death they share one burning question, and seeking an answer to this question leads them to uncover plots by ruthless spirits in the afterlife, to obtain supremacy. All is not perfect in this new world. The angels, led by the arch angels, and the demons, led by the chancellors, fight each other in their seemingly endless war. Separately, the siblings team up with other spirits to navigate their way through the cities and the wilderness of the afterlife. As they travel toward their destinies, they learn all is not black and white as they run into demonic spirits who become trusted allies and angelic ones whose corruption and hidden agendas stand in their way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Oct 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781483491158

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Douglas

Copyright © 2013 W.L. Douglas.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-9116-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-9115-8 (e)

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.

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.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 10/12/2018

Special Thanks

To my mother, Carol, for motivation, writing and publishing advice as well as encouragement.

To my American Literary teacher, Rachel Weinhaus, who first introduced me to publishing books.

Prologue

I n a parallel time, North and South America have merged to become one country. The new country called the Magnus Americas is the epitome of civilized society. Many criminals from the country have been sent to Antarctica, the prison country of all countries around the world. All Antarcticans have been implanted with tracking chips behind their ears, with the base of it being attached to the temporal lobe of their brain. The base of the chip allows it to be powered by the small amount of electricity running through the brain. Removal of the chip would damage the temporal portion of the brain, effecting the speech, hearing and memory of the implanted person. The chip was designed with anti-electromagnetic pulse measures to prevent them from being shorted out. However, researchers in Antarctica have developed a device that is temporarily able to short out the device for several days without causing any harm to the person implanted. Many Antarcticans have dyed the tips of their hair silver to show their pride in being a criminal from their ice covered land of Antarctica. Unfortunately, this simple show of pride also makes them easier to spot when they are outside of their country. Antarctica has a crude system of government where the person with the strongest gang leads the country. Currently that strongest gang is the group called the Cult of Necrotalis, a group of violent radicals who worship a dark spirit whose attempt to rule may bring in an era which could result in the end of the world. Under the cult’s leadership, Antarctica has become livable. The capital is a technologically advanced city. They steal materials, money and technologies from the other countries which is why they have been able to live in Antarctica and are a constant problem for the other countries. The Cult of Necrotalis is not only fighting with the governments of the world but they are also fighting with organizations in Antarctica. A crime faction known as Neo Syndicate is a top contender with them for ruling over Antarctica. However; the cult has always been able to maintain power and keep a grip over their government of the country, claiming that the entity they worship gives them the power stay on top.

Chapter One

The Crew

S mall beads of sweat dotted her face; wisps of glossy black hair curled onto her forehead. She shivered in her white night gown and held her little light brown bear with a pink bow in its hair tightly against her chest as she walked down the dimly lit hallway. There were windows on one side and door across from the windows on the other. The little girl looked worried as she walked up to one of the windows and looked out of it. She looked and saw an old unkempt grave yard; rain pelted the graves and thunder crackled as lighting lit the skies. The howling winds whipped through the cracked moss-covered tomb stones.

She saw a faint candle light outside as a man in a hood carrying an umbrella walked into view. The hooded person was walking at an angle away from the building the little girl was in. She stared at him intently. The person stopped and raised his head, as if he could feel her watching. He turned to her, thin lips slightly visible, his nose and eyes were shaded by the hood. A smile crept onto his face. Feeling something didn’t seem right about him, she stared to where his eyes should be. Lightning crackled across the sky, lighting up the graveyard. The girl’s curious stare turned into terror as she looked back to see the oval shaped iris of his eyes which reminded her of the eyes of a cat. She jumped backward stumbling slightly; she quickly turned and ran down the hallway holding her bear close. Her mind tried to reject the thoughts of him as she ran. She senses the man outside running across the rain-soaked ground towards her. She could hear his footsteps sloshing through the mud and puddles. She quickly opened one of the doors and went inside it.

She closed it with both hands and locked it. She looked at the door wondering if he could have seen her go in this room. Would he try to break the door down? Would he just wait her out? Her mind raced with thoughts as she took a few steps back. She heard murmurs and fabric moving in the room. She turned slowly looking around the room. The room behind her was a large circular room with black windows on all sides that you couldn’t see beyond to the outside. Candles were scattered about the room giving off a dim glow. Several people dressed in red hooded robes were standing in a circle, each face covered by a black emotionless mask. One of the hooded people stepped to the middle of the circle holding a small golden cat idol in his hand and a vial of blood in the other. He kneeled gently, setting the idol down. He carefully dropped a single drop of blood on the idol’s head and casually walked back to his place in the circle. The idol began turning black, a gentle wind swirled about in the room putting out several candles. The idol melted, creating a black pool of liquid on the ground; areas along the edge of the pool began to rise up and slowly swayed back and forth in snake-like motions. Soon the swaying columns of liquid rose up until they were higher than the people in the room. In the middle of the pool, a shape began to rise from the columns and took the form of a person. The person was covered in the black thick liquid. The snake-like columns were turning about the figure making him hard to see. The figure opened his eyes, they were gray and the pupil was black and diamond shaped like a cat’s eye. The black figure spoke in a calm deep voice.

I assume you all have found the artifacts that our master is looking for, he said.

The person who had set the idol in the circle spoke nervously, My lord, we have not found it just yet.

One of the black thin liquid columns whipped around at nervous hooded figure and twisted around his neck. The hooded person in the black mask tried to loosen it from his neck. The dark figure said nothing as it stared into the hooded man’s eyes through his mask.

My lord, the hooded person fell to his knees and said through his restricted vocal cords. We have however located the traitors of our master.

The thin column released him. The hooded man coughed as he tried to get his breath back. If you have found them then I will arrive in your world in a few days. Contact the Host and be sure to have everything ready for my coming. The Master will not accept any more failures from you or any of his other followers.

The Master shall have none, my Lord.

The dark figure and the columns of dark liquid sank back into the pool on the floor. Before the head of the dark figure receded into the ground, it stopped and glanced at the young girl. The pair of cat-like eyes watched her briefly as the head sank into the black pool from which it had arisen. The cat idol re-formed; the liquid receded into the idol and the room became quiet.

One of the hooded people looked to the speaker of the group. The demon lord is coming here? she asked him.

That was no demon young one. He and our master are something far worse, he then turned and looked at the young girl hiding in the corner.

She looked back at him with fear. All the hooded figures in the room turned and looked at her. She heard the sound of cat claws softly scampering around in the room but she couldn’t tell where they were coming from. The little girl turned, quickly opened the door and ran back down the hall as a voice said. Lizz, Lizz! Wake up!

Lizz’s eyes open to see her close friend Fras standing above her and shaking her. Fras is a slim, pale guy of average height in his late twenties with grungy black hair; the tips of his hair are silver. He has gray eyes, a black loop lip ring, a black loop nose ring and another loop in his eyebrow; all of them are on the right side of his face. Are you ok? Fras asked as he took his hand off her shoulders and moved away.

Lizz wiped her eyes realizing it was only a nightmare. Lizz shakes her head of jet black straight hair with silver tips. She is tanned, her body slim with smooth sculpted muscles. She quickly sat up and looked around. She was lying on an old grungy looking couch in a small room; the floor was littered with trash from what looked like a recent party. When she was fully awoke and saw there was only the two of them in the room, she exhaled a sigh of relief.

Don’t worry, no one saw you, Fras said comforting her.

She sighed. Thank god, I’d hate to have the crew see me throw a fit like that over a nightmare. I’m getting tired of this shit, she sat up and scratched her head.

Was it the nightmare about your mother again? he asked in his calm voice.

She looked at Fras. No, this one was the one about him in the graveyard, the person who killed my parents; but there was something different. I went into a room and saw one of the leaders of the Cult and the spirit they claim exists, she looked at Fras. And it didn’t seem too happy with him.

That’s because our organization is putting the pressure on them. We’re taking them down and not even their ‘god’ can stop us.

Lizz smiled. Yeah, she said as she thought back to the dream and of the spirit that killed her parents being worshiped by the Cult.

Fras saw she was sinking deep into her thoughts; he put his hand on her shoulder not saying anything.

Don’t worry, Lizz said. Once I kill the thing that killed them, the nightmares will stop and they will be replaced by the memory of my foot on their killer’s throat and a bullet in his head.

Fras nodded in agreement.

Lizz didn’t want to keep thinking about the dream, but it was stuck in her head, what can it mean? She wondered. There was a moment of silence. Lizz shook the thought from her mind. What’s the status of the crew? she asked as she grabbed a nearly empty bottle of vodka from the floor, opened it and began to drink.

The Crew is ready to go whenever you are, he responded.

Lizz tossed the now empty bottle on the floor and stood up. She stretched and yawned, she cracked her shoulders and knuckles. She looked to the back of the couch where a black vest lay. She picked it up and put it on. She walked to the edge of the couch and reached down; she rose up with a belt that had two black pistols in holsters on it. She put it on and walked to the closet door. Opening it revealed a stock of weapons hanging from hooks and arranged on the floor. Lizz grabbed a shotgun and inspected it. Behind her she heard the clicks of a gun being loaded. She smiled as she turned to see Fras checking his high powered sniper rifle.

He looked back at her and with a slight smile and said, What?

She looked him up and down. You just look so cute with your big bad gun.

He smiled and shook his head as he went back to inspecting his gun. Lizz turned and opened the door leading out of the apartment; she walked across the hall to a door across from them. She made a fist and banged on the door and walked to the edge of the steps. The door opened and four people walked out; two people who were bland in appearance except for their silver tipped hair; they were followed by a large brown-skinned man with tribal tattoos all over his face, neck and arms; the fourth person was a pale child with completely silver hair who looked to be no older than ten; he wore a trench coat. Fras came out of the other room and walked down the steps first, everyone followed him except Lizz. The man with the tribal tattoos walked past her and the other two as well. When the kid tried to walk past her she put her hand on his head.

Where do you think you’re going? she asked him. He opened his trench coat to reveal an arsenal of pistols and ammo. Lizz smiled at him. Good boy. She patted him on the head. He smiled slightly and continued down the steps. She was just about to walk down the steps when she saw the door to the apartment she and Fras were in standing slightly ajar. She walked back and put her hand on the door closing it; just before the door closed she saw a gray cat sitting on the arm of the couch out of the corner of her eye. Her heart stopped; she pulled out her gun, cocked it and quickly opened the door again and aimed where the cat was sitting, but nothing was there. She squinted and shook her head. Lizz closed the door and made her way down stairs. The crew was loading into a blue van. The back doors closed and she walked to the passenger side and got in. Fras was sitting in the driver’s seat and started the van. Lizz looked at him thinking she might tell him what she saw but then quickly dismissed the thought. She turned to the people in the back and handed them a tube of black hair dye. They put on gloves and began smoothing the dye on the silver parts of their hair. Lizz spoke to them in a different language, known to them as Antarctican.

Ok guys we are going to the Bank of Renewed Hope, the largest bank in the southern part of Magnus Americas. On this day our organization’s power will be shown once again, we will succeed in this task in one way or another today. Do it for our country! Do it for yourselves and above all, do it for the Neo Syndicate! they hooted and stomped their feet on the floor of the van. "There will be blood today and tonight we live it up on the capital ship Patchwreck all the way home to Antarctica!" cheers and yells rose loudly inside the van.

Lizz looked at Fras. The Patchwreck you say? he asked. That’s one of the Neo Syndicate’s prized ships.

Well the syndicate wouldn’t have it if it wasn’t for my gang getting it for them. I doubt they will have much to say about me borrowing it for a week, especially after we took out an American naval substation with it and used it to transport the data disks with all the money on it back to Antarctica for our cause. Isn’t that right boys? she said to the crew in the back of the van.

They cheered in agreement with her. Fras was shaking his head as he weaved in and out of traffic.

We still have an hour until we get there, Fras said. I think you got them amped up a little early.

Na, she said. We are pretty amped up now we can stay like this forever! Fras smiled. They began driving down the highway.

Chapter Two

A Dark Night

I n another area of town a young man was just waking up. He is a well-toned young man with short black hair and a rugged beard and tan skin. He yawned as he picked up his cell phone to check the time. Seven forty-three it said. He scoffed to himself. My first day off in months and I can’t even stay asleep past eight, he sighed and stood up. He walked to the window in his bedroom stepping over the clothes that littered his floor. He pulled aside one of the blinds of his window and looked outside.

He looked outside and saw the sun partially covered by the clouds as it rose over the lower buildings in the city. He scanned his neighborhood. Kids played at a park across the street in front of his apartment building; on the roof of the three story building next door to him, an elderly man and woman planted flowers in a greenhouse. His gaze halted as he noticed a cat, silver furred with a black face. It vaguely reminded him of something. He shook his head and looked at it again. It slowly walked away into a nearby hedge. Damn cats, he said as he walked away from his window and made his way to the door leading out of his bedroom. He opened it and walked into his living room which was a little neater than his bedroom. He turned on the television and saw that the news was on. He walked to his bathroom and began brushing his teeth when a reporter on the TV spoke The Government of The Magnus Americas is increasing the number of navy patrols between us and waters leading toward the criminal-inhabited Antarctica. This decision came after the several attacks made in the past months, on the southern American islands, by the Antarcticans. Most recently a small naval research station was attacked and looted earlier this week. Reports say it was Lizz Laycrim, one of the top fifty most dangerous criminals in the world. Laycrim, the reporter continued, has been determined to be the one who led the attack, using a recently stolen high-tech Australian warship. The Government fears that she may have made her way into The Americas but criminal activity intelligence officials assure Americans that they are safe. They do ask if Laycrim or any other Antarcticans are seen, immediately call 911.

The young man spit the tooth paste out of his mouth and walked to the T.V. In other news, the historical day which marks the joining of North America and South America together to form our country of Magnus America will now be recognized as an official holiday for all the American people. This finally happened after officials… Parker turned the T.V. off, put on a shirt and walked out of his apartment. He walked down a flight of stairs to the next lower level.

He walked up to one of the doors and knocked on it and quickly heard soft footsteps approaching the door along with a chair being dragged across the wood floors of the apartment. The chair banged against the door, someone climbed up it to look out the peep hole. A young excited voice on the other side of the door said It’s Parker! The door was unlocked and quickly opened and almost instantly a young girl around six rushed out and hugged him. She had blue eyes and short brown hair. I haven’t seen you in years Park. How have you been? the girl asked him.

Parker laughed. I saw you just yesterday. He replied.

Oh yeah, the kid smiled.

Hey, you want to go to the zoo today?

Yes! she said excitedly.

Check with your mom first.

Ok! the kid was just about to run back in when her mom came to the door. She was putting her purse over her shoulder and looked to be rushing.

Oh, hey Parker, she said.

Mom, can Park take me to the zoo today? Please? she begged, dragging out the ‘e’.

Her mom smiled and said. Sure, she looked at her watch. The zoo is not open yet, what are you going to do until then? she asked.

I have a few stops to make beforehand; I’ll just pick her up afterwards.

Ok, she’s going to be down the street at day care. I’ll just tell them that it’s ok for you to pick her up.

Alright, sounds good, he knelt down to the little girl and said. I’ll see you in a couple hours ok?

You better or I’ll kick your butt, the little girl said.

Tabatha, her mom said looking at her.

Yes Mommy, the girl said in her sweetest voice with an innocent smile.

Her mom smiled. Let’s go or Mommy is going to be late for work, she opened her hand for Tabatha to grab. She held on to her hand and they began to walk down the flight of steps.

Wait! The little girl ran back and gave him a hug, he hugged her back. Bye Park! she said as she ran back to her mother.

See you soon Tabatha.

They walked away down the steps. Parker remembered something; walked back up to his apartment, went in and picked up a hazy purple ring that had a cross on it. He put it in his pocket and walked back out of his apartment, down the stairs to the parking lot. He scanned the parking lot for his car. The parking lot had many nice looking cars in it. He spotted his car, a sporty looking gray four door. He walked up to it and pressed his thumb against where the handle would be. Instantly the door opened and he got in. He sat down and began putting his seatbelt on. Start, he said. The car started and a male electronic voice said. Good morning, Parker. How may we assist you today?

Just going for a drive, he backed the car out of the parking spot, pulled out into the street and began driving away from his apartment. I will be going to the zoo in a couple of hours though.

The temperature at the zoo will be seventy-three degrees, slightly windy and cloudy.

Thank you for the information.

You’re welcome.

He turned onto a road that led to the city limits.

Not going to work today? The car asked.

Not today, I have the day off.

Enjoy your day off, Sir. As the voice faded music took its place.

After a few minutes passed he was out of the city. The scenery slowly faded over to reveal the green hilly fields that now surrounded the road. He pulled into a cemetery and drove for a few minutes on the road. He stopped and got out of his car and took a deep breath. He looked at the ground with his hands in his pockets and made his way to a grave. Looking at the grave and in a quiet voice, he said Well Dad I’m here. I’m still looking for your killer but… He took his hand out of his pocket and looked at the ring. He smiled. I remember when you gave me this ring, you said Never wear it, just keep it hidden and safe. He went silent, then said I miss you Dad." They will never find your killer, I already know. He thought as he recalled the night his father died.

It was a dark, stormy night. Parker is eleven years old and is walking up to a two story house. He slowly opens the door and hears his father down the hall talking to someone. I know honey, I am worried too, he’s my son too but you shouldn’t be out there in this weather with our daughter looking for him. I told you to wait here and when I got home I’d go looking for him. He paused listening to his wife, then replied, I know, but it’s not safe out. Come home; I’m leaving now to look for him. He hung up the phone and turned toward the hallway and saw his son, Parker, walking toward him. A fit, tall brown skinned man with a shaved head, Parker’s dad stopped when he saw Parker. There you are. Where have you been! Your mother’s been worried about you. She’s out there with your little sister in this hell of a storm looking for you! Parker looked at the ground.

Well! You better say something and it better be good, Parker was hesitant to respond. His father saw the scared look in his face. Tell me son what’s the matter, his dad said as he got down on a knee.

That man has been following me.

What? Who is he? What does this man look like?

"He has gray cats eyes and a-

What! This again? his dad said cutting him off. Just because your sister is having nightmares about this guy doesn’t mean you have to play into it! You won’t breath a word of this to your sister you hear me? She’s already frightened to death of cats. I won’t let her think there’s some real cat-man out there, got it?

You have to believe me dad! It was him; he was at my school and he followed me everywhere! That’s why I didn’t come home because I didn’t want to lead him here!

His father sighed. Look I-,

No! Parker cut him off. You don’t believe me! I know it sounds crazy but it’s true!

His father was silent for a moment; he got up and began walking away. He shook his head as if the thought he was thinking was impossible. He turned back to his son. Ok son; has this guy ever talked to you? his father asked as he looked into Parker’s eyes.

He did today.

His father narrowed his eyes and focused on Parker with a very serious look. What do you mean by ‘today’? Have you seen this guy before?

Yeah, he said nervously.

When?

Almost once every week since Lizz has been having the nightmares.

Son! Why didn’t you tell me?

Because I didn’t want Lizz to worry about there being a real cat-man, like you said.

His father closed his eyes and rubbed his hand on his forehead. How could I be so foolish, he said to himself, massaging the back of his neck. He looked back at Parker. What did he say, son?

He told me that you and mom were thieves and stole his master’s freedom and he’s coming for you two tonight, his father quickly stood up. What’s wrong dad?

Get up to your room and stay there no matter what! he commanded.

His father rushed to the phone and began dialing a number. A young girl’s voice on the other end said Hi dad.

Hey sweetheart, he said controlling the emotions in his voice. Can you put your mom on the phone?

"She’s looking for Parker