The Aqua Knight

By Y.Y. Mckean

Ever wonder what happens on the day you die? All religions, any religion youve
ever heard of is fake, they are a cover up of the truth behind what happens when
your time comes. Dakkori Rhodes, a no good teenager goes to a newly built
high school with his best friend Darren Gabet, finally a school without the
small time bullies that are just too pathetic to deal with! But when Darrkoris
mom takes in a sketchy old man, hell learn the connection between the old
man, himself and a new and unusual mute girl; Vakuda, the Aqua Knight. 3
letters back. L dp B.B. Pfnhda. L vhh brx kfyh ohduqhg wr xvh wkh flskhu.
Jhw xvh wr wkhp ehdfdxvh wkhb zloo eh xvhg d orw. Rq dxjxvw iliwk, wxr
wkrxvdqg vlawhhq, L zll gr zhhnob yorjv rq wkh B.B. Pfnhdq fdqqho.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503589070

Book preview

PROLOGUE

This is the story about how my life was changed forever. I won't make this cheesy but it's been impossible to explain. I mean, how you can possibly tell how you've been to the other side and back. I've gone to hell and didn't die. I was taken there. The last five years of my life was spent traveling between worlds. I helped the heavens and hell itself. Before you say it, heaven does not exist. God does not exist. The only god there is, well, her name is Mother Gona. She created everything you see. She created an afterlife to fix the wrongs in life. Why do you know Mother Gona as Jesus, Buddha, Zeus and etcetera? Well thanks to an ancient recipe to basically be a glitch in life, Mother Gona had no choice but to clear people's mind and give them a disguise to worship. As history goes on, everyone has different views of religion and enlightenment. When someone gets close to finding out more about the afterlife or another step closer to discovering the drug, she'll bring up a new religion for another disguise. That ancient recipe was used to become what is known as a morphis. They have no former self. They spawn randomly as nothing. They take shape of whatever they can see, they can mimic them exactly, they cause more trouble than you could imagine. The biggest problem is that only all of the knights can kill a morphis. Earth, Aqua, Frost, Thunder, Shadow, and Ember are required to defeat a morphis. They can take over both world and cause chaos to Mother Gona's creations. Only once before she's tried to purify the world. You know the story of Noah and his ark? The bible says that Noah was told by God to make a boat for the animals and his family.

It's wrong.

Mother Gona told him to make the ark for the animals and his family but when the time came for the animals to board the ark, she wanted Noah and his family not to be inside. They got on anyway and she made the ride as horrifying as she could.

Now what I am about to tell you, is something that no one ever believed. I lost family, and it lost friends. I did the tasks I was chosen to do my Mother Gona. Every three hundred years, an outsider, generally a mortal, will come to set order to the kingdoms. I'm really just speechless after all I went through for the love of my life, the Aqua Knight. We traveled to distant kingdoms; we collected treasures and made memories to last a lifetime. You may not believe me, and that's alright. You will be confused but bear with me here, I lived it so you can read it. The journey is the story, but what makes the journey great, was the outcome. The end of my journey, my prize. What I won... That is the story.

-Dakkori Rhodes (The boy who would survive.)

CHAPTER 1

Milk, eggs, and a bat

Dakkori sit up straight. My mom ordered, tapping my shoulder.

My stomach churned. Why do I have to be here in the first place? I groaned. My long black hair was plastered neatly to my head. My bulk of wild hair was dapper now and I wasn't proud of it.

Because it's nice to go to church every once in a while. She hissed over the loud banging of drums of strumming of guitars.

The music's too loud--- I said speaking up louder trying too desperately to prove my pity point.

She sighed. Those bands you listen to with screaming and death isn't loud? Look I let you listen to that now can't you try to like what we've learned today?

I wasn't comfortable in the church like my mom was, going on missionary trips two or three times a year, always involved with the church, it wasn't me. In fact it made me feel bad and depressed about myself coming here. I was opposite from everyone else. Please tell me someone else knows where I'm coming from, I just don't belong here. The thing I hated was that she would do on and on about the music I like to listen to which doesn't really have that much screaming in it, at least I listen to the bands that don't scream for the whole song. However the music I liked was loud with drums and guitar and had a story I could somewhat relate to other than the christan music that was being pounded into my ears every single Sunday for hours.

What can wash us pure as snow? Welcomed as a friend of God? Nothing but the blood. Nothing but the blood of Jesus! I guess you can say I didn't feel worthy to be here. It made me feel like a rogue. My friend Darren Gabet came with us once. He didn't mind coming over with me to ease the awkwardness. He wasn't religious crazy like my mom, but at least he felt comfortable enough to be in a church. I have nothing against religion, but with science and social studies and everything that christan mothers and teachers are cramming into our brains, its hard to pick a side when one is the way your family works and the other is your grade and what you will do in your future yada yada yada...

Think with me for a minute, christan parents send us to schools where teachers' cannot persuade you to join christiany. They give us facts and they wonder why we high school kids are trapped in the middle of a ridiculous debate. For me at least, they make it seem nonexistent. Like it's all made up for people to devote their lives to depend on believing on someone or some people that might not exist.

Today we've showed you only a drop of the wonder of our God. Said the priest, he really did sound like he was brainwashed. I wanted to disappear away from this, I wanted to throw up. I didn't want to be here listening to this.

He can cure the sick and protect the innocent. All you have to do is believe in Him. His voice was so cheesy and made him sound like he was abducted by aliens. Religion wasn't important for me. It wasn't my style. I prayed when I was little and believed him just because I grew up with him. In that time however, my life was much different. I moved to a much smaller house after my mom lost her job, my dad had to work overtime as a truck driver which is why he's never around; I started getting bullied at every school I go to most of the time for no reason at all. When I finally stopped, my mom got a decent job, I met Darren aka my only friend in the world, and the bullying settled down enough to where I can step out into a hallway without getting plumbed by the wrestling team. I grew strong enough to get out. I was better off not depending on a belief. For everyone out there who has their own religion, good for you and keep at it. Just don't judge me like the rest of the world.

It took forever to leave the church, my mom loved to have long chats with the priest and anyone who stepped in her path so... everyone.

You will never believe what happened the other day Mariah, an elderly woman was almost in tears. We were scheduled to go to the vet to put Mittens down, she's been in so much pain lately, but the lord answered my prayers and healed him! The doctors were in awe! I rolled my eyes and groaned. This wasn't the first encounter with her, last time she was talking about the new pills she bought for her cat. I can bet you that's what saved her cat. My mom would pray for the cat and go on and on with her before meeting up with someone else. Of course the next person she met up with was none other than Ms. Gee. The fattest, woman at the church who thought she was the wisest of anyone else and gave everyone any advice she could plagiarize. She was the most irritant thing was to sit next to her as well, always in the front row and pretending to be on the bible app.

Mariah! I was on the internet the other day and I fund this youth group in town that takes in... I saw the fat woman glance at me behind my mom before continuing. She slipped a brochure into her hand.

I stroked my sticky hair back to a comfortable spot so I could have all eyes on Ms. Gee, Takes in who? People like me? Ms. Gee's piggy eyes grew not that large. She had to squeeze past my mom and the crowd of jammed people.

Yes Dakkori, people such as you that have no interest in common sense. A ball of fire was ragging at the pit of my stomach. I stepped up to her; I knew I couldn't get physical with her in a church. Keeping these fists of glory down is torture.

At least I'm not reading the gossip column and telling people it's the bible! I must have made a small aura of surprise around me when I said that. My mom didn't say a word as she grabbed my arm and dragged me outside, away from the surprised crowd. What was that? Dakkori I don't like her either believe me, but be respectful. She let me go and we began walking to the car.

Where did she want to send me? I asked, I wouldn't be surprised if it was somewhere far away. She tried to convince her to send me off to military school once; almost shipped me off there herself. To make matters worse, I had to go to the store to pick up groceries since my mom had to work.

A youth group for the mentally unstable. She said as she crumpled it up into a ball and tossed it in the trash. There's no way I'm sending you there. I was relieved to hear that. I need to go back to work and, I need you to get groceries. I groaned loudly, grocery shopping by myself never ended well. I always grabbed the same things for when I went grocery shopping: Milk, eggs, and a baseball bat for anyone in my way. I knew it would be coming since I went back to church and my mom was intended for me to keep going.

The church was down the road from a small convenient store and my neighborhood would be a ways away from it. My mom drove me to the convenient store in her cheap Volkswagen. She began to tune the radio and I begged for her not to turn on the Christian radio. I couldn't bear to listen to 'Jesus Take the Wheel' one more time. Instead we sat in silence for only two or three minutes. The convent store wasn't too far for the church or my house.

She says I'm not natural since I'm sixteen and don't listen to music hardly ever. You can say in crazy but please don't call me cray-cray of you want to keep your head on straight. Jeeze I'm pretty weird.

I'll listen to a couple bands every so often but other than that music isn't important to me. She knows not to turn on the radio to listen to that crappy pop music playing thirty times a day. We both now that it's annoying and a huge gimmick.

After our drive of silence, she stopped at the front and handed me a twenty dollar bill. I'll be home around six tonight. You can go to Darren's place if you want after you put the groceries in the fridge.

Alright, see ya. I said stepping out of the car and shutting the door. I watched the dusty brown car drive off. I strolled inside and went straight to the baseball bats. Picked up an affordable aluminum bat and held it firmly. It was my kind of weapon, for defense for course. Then, watching everyone around me, I went straight to the back to pick up the milk and eggs. The store was just a bit larger than a gas station. I grabbed the first gallon and carton I saw. Keeping caution, I headed to the front to pay and left quickly.

I hated the fact I still had my church clothes, white dress shirt and black tie, my hair itching to be free, dress pants and polished shoes. Look at me, about to go on the streets with these clothes, I was embarrassed and wanted my hair to hide my face like it always had. I wanted my baggy but not sagging clothes on. I yearned for my two sized larger pants, a t-shirt, and my zip-up jacket that could fit two arms in one sleeve. I started the walk on the side walk; groceries in one hand, my bat in the other. I know it was coming, I knew it would happen. It was only a matter of time. I kept my eyes to the alleyways and a watch for shadows creeping on the sidewalks.

I started planning out the rest of my day: go to Darren's after I drop the milk and eggs in the fridge. Order some pizza and play PC games while blaring our music. It put a smile to my face by the taut of fresh, warm, gooey, cheese-

Eh looke' here! It's our man Dakkori! I stopped at the opening to an alleyway. It was the one leading directly to Darren's backyard with mine right across the street. It was the quickest; however the most dangerous path.

It is? Darki's got his hair all messed up. This ain't him! It was the 'gang' around our neighbor that no one really paid any attention to. They were two years older than me. Only three people and one of them, Sid, could hardly throw a punch. The leader was whom he called himself, Razor. Typical name trying to be the tough guy. He's pretty much my rival. We've had our fights in the past but laid off when he went to the juvenile home. Got out and tried to start his gang with me in it.

The 'co-leader' which is his little brother, Cal. The one who's out of the scene the moment he hears a police, fire or ambulance siren. No one's got any dirt on him. That was about a year ago though. They had grown up; seniors in high school now.

What brings you around here? Cal said casually, emerging from the shadows.

I gripped the bat tightly in my hand. He's got that bat; he's looking for a fight! I didn't recognize that voice.

We've got ourselves some new recruits since we last seen you. Razor came out of the ally. Johnny! A bulky kid his age stepped forward. Storms! Another one, very tall with a twisted blackness gleaming in his eye. And Gimmel. And a very lanky teen stepped out.

Nice... I'll see you- never. I started walking back to my house when Razor started following me.

Oh, you ain't leaving yet are you? Storms walked faster and stopped me in my tracks. I was ready to drop the groceries and start banging heads. Razor's told me quite a bit about you. Shame you won't join us.

I don't need to be in a gang. I said proudly, Unlike you, I don't need backup. stepping to the side.

Storms stepped back in my path. Lone wolf eh? I almost glad that you ain't one of us. I looked up at him surprised. Which means I get to have a bit of fun with you. He shoved me back and Razor caught me. The others were waiting eagerly in the ally for me. Razor threw me down and swiped the baseball bat from my needy hand.

From what I've seen today, my trouble would be Razor, Storms and maybe Johnny. Gimmle would be easy to take down if I had to. I knew Sid wouldn't do anything and Cal if a police officer was nearby. I dropped my groceries as I fell to the dirt. Quickly I spun around only to see a foot being forced into my face. I dodged it cleanly. Cal picked me up by my arms and dropped me to my feet.

Ring of fire! Sid and Gimmle called and I was surrounded. Storms might seem like a tough person but his position was off. I heard him coming before he could reel his shoulder back to swing for the punch. I kicked his chest but he didn't fall back as far as I predicted. He simply chuckled as I was shoved into him. Storms held my arms tightly. I craned my neck around to see their next move. Razors fists vibrated as they tore my face. I was stunned in Storms grip. Multiple feet were forced into my side. I felt a source of winning when my fists hit the chin of Cal. I sped out of the circle still stunned. I confronted Johnny and swung a heavy fist at the side of his head. He fell to the brick wall of an abandoned building and winced.

As Razor came hurling at me, Johnny ran off. You ain't getting away so easily this time Razor and Storms pinned me against the wall beating away. I tried my best to cover my face as the blows hit solidly. I felt the backs of my hands go numb and they dropped leaving my head exposed to their beatings.

Yo Storms! Sid called tossing him the bat. Storms caught it with a grin. At least I think so, my eyes were swollen and blinking away the blood from my eyes. I had no energy to struggle anymore. My fists would only splatter them with sprays of blood. I would have fallen over if they weren't there to catch me. Storms held the bat tightly and ready to swing. Razor let go and Storms swung at my side, them shoved my head into the brick wall before I fell into the dirt. My vision was dimming.

What you looking at? I hardly heard Storms through my ringing ears. I saw a flash of blond hair. A hit on the head and I was free as a bird. My stomach was throbbing horribly. My hands were numb as ice. My face was drumming fiercely. My eyes urning to close, I wanted to die where I laid. I didn't care if I let them win.

Rain was slowly tapping my face awake. I had never felt so sore. I opened my still swollen eyes. The sun was beginning to set. I tried sitting up, fighting through the pain of my side. My hair was messy sticky with hair spray and now moist milk and drying eggs yolks. With the wall supporting my shoulder, I trudged down the alley to Darren's house.

Now I normally don't come out of a fight this beaten up, after I dropped my hands is normally when the fight would end. I've won many and I've lost a few. This must have been one of the worst I've had to go through.

The gang dispersed hours ago. My mom would already be home by now and I hoped she hadn't stopped by Darren's house to see if I was there, or ask about the missing groceries. I had full support on my beaten hand when I reached the fence to his backyard. His lights were off except for a dim blue glow from his room on his one story house. I ungracefully limped to the back porch, nicest in the neighborhood with beautifully hazel painted wood and flower beds. I almost collapsed on the polished stone path but my hands caught the smooth wood rail. I trudged on to the back door and knocked; slumping in a ball on the porch. I was able to sit up as he opened the slide door.

Darki! Darren yelped, dragging in my dead body. What happened to you? He set me beside his black leather couch on the shag carpet.

Johnson bros and a few new guys. I muttered, looking up. Darren came back with an ice pack. His mopey chocolate brown hair wasn't spiked or combed back. I could tell he'd been inside all day.

Well you know better than to go down that alleyway. I don't care how close it is to our houses, you're taking the long way. I don't want to see you like this all the time. He murmured, I started to getting bit angry when he said that. Can you put the make-up on or do you want me to do it this time.

I'll do it. I grumbled. I tried standing up. He helped me up and supported me to the sink in the bathroom. and I didn't go in that alleyway, I was just passing by and they just happened to show up.

Why didn't you just walk on the other side of the street? Darren carefully let go when I was able to grasp the edge of the porcelain sink.

I don't know! I shouted, I was getting tired of this happening all the time, he always treated me like I was a helpless baby, I bought a bat, I knew I'd run into them and they took it. Looking into the mirror, I was in shock with what I saw. A black eye was forming with a few cuts and scrapes. My hair was a mess from the hair spray from earlier, the milk and the eggs. Looks worse than it feels. I muttered as I started wiping away the blood.

Darren stood behind me worriedly. What happened, tell me everything. I told him about having to go to church, my mom dropping me off at the convenient store, passing the ally, the new recruits, the fight, and the flash of blond. You mean the blond chick? The one with the blue and green hair? I was confused but told him to go on. I was playing Clash of Legends and this girl was standing by the fence I guess an hour or two past noon.

That was around the time my mom dropped me off at the continent store, but why would she have anything to do with this. She was just passing by like me. My cuts stung as I dabbed them with water.

Those Johnson brothers really need to get a life. I can't believe they actually started a fake gang. They didn't even hurt that girl, they've always been dogs. Darren sat on the closed toilet seat beside the sink. The pearly bowl was turning red as I coward end above it. My arms were worse than Jell-O, there was a war going on inside my head, my vision seemed shaky, I wasn't having a good day.

Any idea who she was? I asked, I was adding foundation make-up over the cuts and already coloring bruises. Yes it's for girls but it's a pain to get off and I've hidden quite a bit from other people. So don't judge if you see me buying make up, you'll know what it's for.

Never seen her. She looked about our age... Darren smiled his flirty smile. The kid moons over everyone and its always annoying.

Don't flirt with everyone you meet. I added a bit of blush for my pale skin tone. It was almost the end of summer so I'd be hot from the heat going into the cooling night. I made myself look like I was running around outside all day.

I'm guessing Darren was tired of the subject. Well we're starting school next week. Who knows, maybe that girl will show up. I was not in the mood for this. I was horrible when it came to school. My mom would help me study for tests and I just couldn't get it. I came to the conclusion that I was just stupid and couldn't retain what I was expected to. Unless it was history class, it seemed easier than most things. The only thing I really found interesting in there was how some guy got out of jail from covering a bar of soap with shoe shiner and cutting it to look like a gun. All those stories of how people escape jail are interesting.

I heard rumors that bullying won't be accepted. They're expelling anyone who throws a punch and suspending anyone who cusses another out. I informed.

Yeah, Johnson's weren't accepted. Darren scoffed; his smile told me we'd be free. Just because you don't see someone as much as you used to doesn't mean you're any less free than you already are.

I smirked at him. Good thing too, I don't want to have to transfer. I don't even know how I was accepted. My grades aren't the best. I mostly had D's and C's, a few B's, maybe an A if I'm lucky and F's in science and math.

Then there are your fight records. Don't start any fights and we'll work our way through high school. I chuckled knowing it wouldn't happen. Rather you not turn into a criminal.

It annoyed me so much when he worried about me. I dunno, maybe it's because I win that poetry scholarship. Remember that? I'll lose it if I don't keep my grades up. I smiled to the beautiful tile floor.

Oh yeah, but you weren't planning in college right? Darren questioned, I was starting to get feeling back in my hands.

I looked in the mirror. I should get back home. I sighed; my mom would be worrying where I was.

Can you get back home? You took a hell of a hit. Darren asked as I ran my damp fingers through my sticky hair. I needed my hair to fly freely without the chains of hair spray weighing it down to listen and obey. I laid it right above my eyes. Of course, my dark silk went on its wild exploration in the open air.

I let go of the porcelain bowl and felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I'll just tell her I'm tired and I'll go to bed before she notices.

Need a scout? He asked. Back in the day, when fights were much more common for me for some reason, Darren would help me get into my house without my mom realizing it. I could make it look like I was there for hours and somewhere else instead.

Sure, she's probably in her room watching her soap operas right now, so I won't need too much help. Our house was tiny so any step could be heard. Getting into my house without making a sound was almost impossible. We agreed to do our Dakkori's-mom-will-have-no-idea-what's-going-on plan. He grabbed his binoculars off the counter and tossed me his earbuds. What we did was, we would call each other on our phones and used the ear buds to be as quiet as we could. It was just like old times, I waited inside his beautiful home for the call. He would lurk around my petty house and look for a room brightened with lights. I felt my phone vibrate and I answered it.

Ok I'm at TB (the bush) and I see a TV on. I think your mom's in the living room. His voiced cracked form the ear buds; I heard the shaking of the bushes. You can come out; garage is your best option. You are clear for garage. I shut his door on my way out; I glanced to see Darren peeking out of the bushes, keeping a close eye at the living room window.

Garage is closed you idiot! She must have shut it on her way in. I groaned, I can't believe he missed that. I felt as if any sound we made could leave us compromised. I was on the left side of my house; Darren wasn't too far away even though I couldn't see him.

Make a diversion in the front, I'll tell you when she leaves the living room. You will have to go through the back door. He whispered doubtless.

I found a pile of rocks in the neighbors' backyard beside a soon to be built pond. I grabbed three palm-sized chunks. An open filthy trashcan stood at the driveway. With a bruised arm, I chucked one of the rocks at the can, just barely missing the inside.

She's turning around! Darren informed me, I was ready to make a run for the back. She's still watching.

I bolted another stone, this one made it inside the can. What about now?

Shh! Rebecca's going to tell Brad he's the father! Darren was silent. This is was Darren's downfall when it came to anything on a screen. I never understood the point of the drama in soap operas.

Darren! Come on she's expecting me! I hissed into the microphone. Can you even hear the rocks in the can from where you are?

Why don't you just ring the doorbell then go around? He finally threw out there.

I groaned, I was angry that we didn't come up with this earlier. You're closer, you ring the doorbell, hide in TB and I'll get right in. I explained my plan, and he seemed to enjoy it better. Of course it was, my plans always tend to work.

Alright, on my way. I quickly and silently stepped to the porch. My feet were at its edge, I waited for Darren's voice through my ears. I heard the doorbell ring. Go go! He hissed, I could hear him dashing away. Without thinking, I accidentally stomped loudly on the rickety porch. I heard the back door unlock, the door was locked, and that door was never locked. Quick thinking for some reason wanted me to crawl into the basement window. I jumped off the side