Project 13

By Timothy Hatfield

Ethan Young may seem just like any other ordinary young man; but unfortunately, his newly discovered abilities say otherwise. When a threatening series of murders hits Ethans home town of Crayvell; he finds himself getting drug right in the middle of it. Through a series of mysterious dreams; he encounters that the murders are somehow related to him. Shockingly enough, he is able to see them happen before they do.

As he digs deeper to find answers, he finds strange new people and a new group of enemies along the way. A company called the SNP, has shown up and is trying to capture him. What could they be after? Maybe he is the one responsible, for the murders and all the craziness happening to him? As he struggles to figure out this horrific mystery, and try to find himself along the way; we may find that not everything is as it seems to be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499063950

Book preview

Chapter 1

A brisk chill hit the air, as Ethan Young awoke in fear; as he has been for the past few weeks. He looked at his body; he was completely drenched in sweat. Trembling and painfully numb from the unusual dreams he has been having.

Sitting up quietly, as to not wake his girlfriend; he slid over to the edge of his bed, threw his legs over the side, and hunched himself over.

Dragging his fingers through his long brown hair, he took in a long deep breath, and sighed. His heart pounding fiercely, inside of his chest; it felt as if, it wanted desperately to escape from within him. His hands trembling; he reached to his forehead to wipe the beads of sweat off, with a brisk wave.

Another one about…her, he said, swallowing the knot in his throat and inhaling deeply.

God… it seems so real. I think I may know her, he said.

You don’t even know it was her… said a mysterious voice in his head.

Why are you here? he said, trying to ignore its presence.

Well….you sure as hell not going to anything about it. You big ass coward; you always have been; ever since you were a kid.

He stood up angrily, and walked around his bedroom, snorting and huffing in disgust.

Yeah… and you don’t even exist! You are a stupid scar, which has etched in my head that I cannot get rid of. How can you know anything about me? You know what… go to hell! Go mess up somebody else’s life, okay! he spat, trying to contain his voice level.

The voice calmly sighed, and reasserted its point; You can’t get rid of me Ethan, I am you.

No matter how hard you try; I know all about you, how you feel, what you want. I live from within you, so obviously there is a connection somewhere. Am I right? How else do you think we have these lovely chats every day?

Shut up! he shouted, quickly getting more annoyed by this point.

He had tried desperately not to wake his girlfriend up, who was sleeping just a few feet from him. However, he just could not hold in his anger any longer. He picked up his alarm clock, and threw it across the room at the invisible voice in head. Smashing against his closet mirror, it shattered it instantly.

Ethan could feel his blood boiling inside him, as he clenched his fists, and stumbled forward. The voice had left, and Ethan remained to wander about his room. He walked over towards his mirror, trying to maintain his balance.

Waving his arm in front of him to catch himself, he hit the floor with a loud thud. He felt the room go quiet, as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He felt his eyes open wide involuntarily, as he suddenly had one of his reoccurring flashbacks. He woke to see a memory of his childhood, back when he lived with his biological parents.

He got up, and brushed the fresh snow, that lay ever so innocently, from his clothes with a swipe of his hand. Peering into the distance, he saw his old house up the hill, and decided he would go look around.

As he approached the building, his head started to fill with assortments, and brush byes of pictures from his past. His head started burning all of a sudden, and he grasped the front of his forehead in agony. He heard a small dripping sound, and opened his eyes to see a small array of blood droplets on the ground near his feet.

His nose had suddenly started bleeding; and in a reaction to it, he ripped off a piece of his shirt and plugged it. Feeling very woozy, he tried his best to compose himself as he pressed onward.

His front door was in sight, only fifty feet from him. Gaining a small amount of momentum, he hurried over to it. To his surprise, however, with every step he took, he could feel a large heaviness on his heart. Not only that, but his vision had also started fading away.

What the hell is going on!? he asked himself.

Ignoring the obvious signs of wary, he pressed forward and reached for the handle. With a small twist of the handle, it burst open with such force; it threw him immediately from his dream.

Gasping for breath, he woke with a start to find himself on the ground, staring at his panic-stricken girlfriend Alyssa Rumezanski.

Oh my God, babe; are you alright!? I was so worried, she said concerned.

Raising himself up from his bedroom floor he quickly responded, I’m fine babe, just got a little dizzy is all.

She helped pick him up, and sat with him on their bed. Stroking her fingers through his hair, trying to bring him back to reality; she gently lay back with him and placed her head on his chest.

What happened to you? she asked.

Gazing back at her, he thought, I can’t tell her the truth.

Oh, please. You can barely talk to her as it is, said the voice sinisterly.

Speaking directly in thought, he answered the voice, What is it now? Come to bother me some more?

The voice seemed concerned; Ethan felt as if he could feel exactly what the voice was feeling.

No Ethan… I came to warn you, that you are going to experience an influx of emotions; and things you won’t fully understand, said the voice, sounding actually concerned.

Oh, yeah; and these ‘emotions’ are supposed to be dangerous? he said making fun of the voice.

You’re even more of an idiot then I thought; go away, I don’t need any more of this psychological bull-crap.

With a heavy sigh, the voice responded, Alright Ethan, I’ll go, but I’m only forewarning you, you’ll need me in the future. Don’t push me away fully.

Ethan just shrugged him off; sighing in a very boorish way at him.

It was almost as if he cared about nothing at that time; and without a word, the voice faded back into his thoughts. Left alone, this put Ethan into a state of more anguish.

I think I just passed out sweetheart, I’ll be alright, he lied.

You’re a horrible liar you know, she said.

I mean you threw your alarm clock at our mirror, and nearly gave me heart-attack; only to see you pass out, and not answer me when I called to you. That doesn’t seem like someone who is ‘ok’ to me.

It’s nothing babe, really; but if it will make you feel better, I will go see a doctor and find out if I have something going on with me, he said reassuring her.

Smiling, she said with a wink, Um… yeah crazy one.

Alright then, I will go first thing in the morning. First things first, you should probably go back to sleep. You look like you’ve been awake for hours and it’s late, he responded.

Knowing that there was no changing his mind; she nodded in acknowledgement, kissed him on his cheek, and went back to bed. Ethan felt seemingly uncomfortable. As if, someone had socked him in his abdomen, and then straight to his face. He suddenly had a random picture of his half brother’s name…Markus.

Desperate for answers, he shuffled himself over to his dresser and picked up a blood tattered envelope. Pulling the unsealed flap out of the envelope sheath, he unfolded the paper within to reveal a note written to him a couple of years back. Holding the letter in his hands, he could not help but cry at it before he read it.

Ethan’s half brother, Markus Thomson, was his idol. He wanted to do everything and be just like him. After awhile, Markus decided he could not harbor any more of their parents fighting and bickering and left. He could see the words of the letter inside of his mind, as he read them; as if they played in slow motion.

One after the other, the words blew by him, etching their selves permanently into his mind. As he read, his thoughts kept going back to the time, when he last saw his brother that horrible, snowy night before he left.

All this is still a blur…

Of course it is…it’s been two years and you don’t even remember what happened, said the voice.

How could I remember? I don’t remember anything at all because you won’t let me! he responded.

Not true Ethan…You just choose to forget.

Lies! spat Ethan under his breath.

Just read the letter. Maybe it can give a clue or something, said the voice.

You think that will save you? he asked.

Just…read it!

Fine, he said snidely; Rude, ass son of a bitch, quietly murmuring under his breath while unfolding the paper.

His eyes widened, as he peered at the tarnished form of the letter. It spit from opening so many times earlier. His brother’s squiggly handwriting stood out boldly, facing him back as he read the words. He slowly murmured them in a sort of melodic tone, trying to hold back a crawling tear from his eye. Avoiding the fact that Alyssa was still behind him fast asleep, he continued to read his brother’s letter with the utmost of care and concentration.

"Dear Ethan,

As you may have guessed, I am leaving Crayvell. I cannot deal with the pain and disappointment of seeing mom and dad together. All I hope for now is that they can find a way to work things out for your bettering. I have found a place where I am accepted, and where people respect me.

Please do not take this as me abandoning you, because I am not. I am just providing a chance for me to fix my life that I ruined by trying to help them. I do ask one favor of you, however; please, watch over Tiffany for me. She is one of the most precious things in my life, and if I lose her, I will not know what to do.

Do not let that bastard of a person you used to call father get to her either. If I had it my way, I would have already taken care of that. In your life, you are going to experience many things. Things that will help, and guide you and things that will seek you out and try to hurt you.

In return, I will let you know how I am, and where I am going. You must not be afraid…I will always be with you, no matter how hard things seem…just believe in yourself and your strength; and you can do anything.

The challenge of your life is before you; you must play it out as you see fit. You just have to find your path, and walk it proudly or face the consequences of your actions. I believe in you.

Take care little brother; I will talk to you again soon.

Yours truly,

Markus"

The fact that Markus trusted him, to watch over Tiffany made him feel even more amazing about him-self. This put him in a better setting, a sort of change in his mood. Tiffany Thomson, Ethan’s foster sister, a beauty if there ever was one, had long flowing blonde hair, and emerald green eyes.

She was only two years younger than he was where Markus was only 1 year apart from him.

There was not much of a bond, between them as kids, especially since he did not truly belong.

Incidentally, growing up together seemed to help change things though, so she grew quite fond of him. Feeling a little better after thinking about her, he managed to graze a smile, ending up muddling a small hum as he thought; but despite his flowing thoughts about Tiffany, he could not shake help but keep remembering his dream.

Man…what a bizarre dream…, he said to himself.

So realistic…

As he remembered the dream, he grew a strange light-headedness.

He stood up slowly, and decided to go splash some water on his face.

Sheepishly walking over to the sink, he looked up at his mirror staring at his reflection.

Breathing rather rapid and heavily, he said aloud, It’s only a dream. You will be fine. No one knows about this, it’s still a secret.

I do, said the voice.

Yea well you don’t count. Leave me alone, I’m exhausted, cried Ethan.

He laughed at himself on how stupid he looked, yelling at his reflection. He brushed his hair out of his face; he reached for the faucet handle, turned it on, and cupped his hands under it. Letting the cool water run over his hands, he splashed the water over his face, and drug his hands down slowly. Gazing back up at the mirror, his face was blurry, looking at it; it seemed to rise up towards him.

Abruptly closing his eyes in an averting attempt to hide, he turned away immediately. Feeling that it might be all right to look, he turned his body around slowly and froze. With a gradual inhale, he opened his eyes, and looked back at the mirror again… nothing. Filled with relief, he started to head back to his room; when out of the blue, he heard a small noise.

Looking around, he began to become very scared. Panicking, he threw more water on his face only to have his nose start to bleed again, this time more profusely. Pinching it closed, he stuffed as much toilet paper as he could inside it, and waited.

Pushing his hair back again, rather abruptly this time, he snarled at his reflection. Spitting some of the drained blood and saliva out of his mouth, he cringed in repugnance at the site of his own fluids.

What the hell is wrong with me…? he thought.

He decided to go to his porch, and smoke again. Strutting over towards his porch door, he swung it open with a violent whoosh. As he stepped onto his balcony, he felt a crisp wind hit him immediately. Followed, by a mass of leaves on the ground, that had whipped about the night prior.

…Ethan…

A small echo of a voice pierced his ears. To unrecognizable to him, that he played no mind of it. He turned about, and shoved the door closed briskly. Pulling up his favorite chair, he sat upon it, and grabbed his cigarettes out of his pocket.

Brushing his windswept hair out of his face, he reached for his lighter. He felt unusually cold. Scoffing at the peculiar draft, he picked out a cigarette, and lit it up in a hurry.

Inhaling rather vigorously, he exhaled with a great sense of reprieve from the events of the evening.

What a stupid dream… he said; rubbing his painfully aching temples in an outward circular motion.

I can’t even remember what happens… but it seems so real, almost as if I have already been there, he said.

Maybe you were there…. said the voice.

That’s insane! How in the hell, can you be in two places at once; even more so through a dream of all things? said Ethan in a forceful comeback.

He began pondering, into his mind to see if he could remember… nothing. Frustrated, he sighed deeply, his breath fogging up the air as he continued his smoke.

Why can’t I remember? he thought.

I was there wasn’t I?

Aww… trying to remember your nightmare are you? Well you cannot; and do you know why… because it is a dream.The only way to remember it fully is to have it again, said the voice teasing him.

Ugh…must you taunt me like this? What do you want now? he responded.

I’m only trying to help you Ethan; but by avoiding the truth, you’re making yourself more vulnerable, said the voice.

Huh? What do you mean ‘more vulnerable’, he said.

And what truth do you mean?

The voice grew into a soft rumble of laughter.

Why is that funny to you? asked Ethan curiously.

It’s funny, because, you have no idea about who you really are. About what it is, you carry inside of you.

Ethan sucked his teeth through his lips at the voice, and stated, You’re out of your damn mind! You know that right?

The voice laughed even louder this time.

With a more prominent approach, the voice simply stated, You just don’t get it do you. I am you, your…yin, out of a yin and yang circle if you will. Whether or not you see it, is your proagitive.

What the hell are you talking about? Yin and yang means opposing but similar entities… are you saying that you and I are… No…you know what…screw it, I’m going to just try to see it for myself, he said.

Thank but no thanks buddy.

Give it time. You’ll see what I mean, replied the voice.

Shut up! I’m going to bed.

That’s more like it. Go; go ahead and follow your dream Ethan. Maybe you’ll finally be able to see this mystery girl you keep thinking of, replied the voice.

Flipping the bird to him as if he were real, he simply stalked off after finishing off his smoke, and walked back inside. Blocking the voice out of his mind, he simply tried to go back and face his dream, once again.

He could not help, but feel a huge feeling of uneasiness befall him as he entered his room. His body shivered slightly; at the sudden onset of cold, that pierced his skin.