13 Kings: Echo Herodotus

By VS Nesby

The series continues . . . With Megan all alone . . .

She must find her maker and complete her journey into the unknown. In order for Megan to be free, she must complete what her enemies have started.

The force shot me backward as the kick pushed me through the door to a back room. I regained control of my stance through the splintered mess and noticed something crouched down and moving in a corner. Once I turned my head to gaze upon it, I could instantly recognize it was another girl. She was topless, tied up, sweaty, and looked like she had been crying. I looked back down the hall and saw him trying to regain his footing. I did not give a damn that she was not a part of my mission; she must had been abused. “Wipe my ass, you nasty, child-stealing bastard!” I shouted out loud. He had blood dripping from his lips, and he grunted as sweat dripped from his brow.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796028614

VS Nesby

VS Nesby has dedicated herself to her social economic platform. She has accomplished skills and expanded herself as a stable Entertainment platform executive. She is the founder, inventor and creator of 13eastentertainment and its many branches. "The challenges that I face are few compares to the long road that I must walk. VS Nesby"

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by VS Nesby.

Library of Congress Control Number:              2019904616

ISBN:                  Hardcover                     978-1-7960-2862-1

                            Softcover                       978-1-7960-2860-7

                            eBook                            978-1-7960-2861-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 04/23/2019

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2     Home Sweet Home

Chapter 3     On Guard

Chapter 4     Greetings

Chapter 5     Insider

Chapter 6     Chosen

Chapter 7     Conquering Of Elements

Chapter 8     Seeker Of The Lost

Chapter 9     Unwelcome Home

Chapter 10   Search And Rescue

Chapter 11   Full Circle

The Control Room

Thank you’s:

Delta Bessborough Hotel: 601 Spadina Cres. E. Saskatoon, Canada. I appreciate the sharpness and dedication of the head staff, especially Mr. Stefan Deprez. Thank you for allowing my thoughts to invade your world.

Mike Rice of Cash Advance on 189 N. Park Blvd. in Lake Orion, MI The support has been amazing. Thank you.

Stacy Ritzenhein, the help and knowledge that you have blessed upon me by taking the time to assist a lost but creative soul is profound. You have opened my eyes to a new world of exploration. Thank you.

William Kennedy, your quickness to comprehend my expression was astounding. I appreciate your efforts and looking forward to future collaborations. Thank you.

Very special thanks to:

Mrs. Phillips, for helping me comprehend the structure and development of words, Don’t just speak it…understand it. Mrs. Lorenz, for showing me there’s no reason to fear using the creativity portion of the mind and putting it to paper. Mr. Rich, Mr. Toth, Mr. Roller, Pontiac Central High School Teachers in Pontiac, MI.

Chimko&Assoc.; 26212 Woodward Ave. Royal Oak Mi. Without you I wouldn’t have made it this far. You have changed my outlook and allowed me to proceed with my future. Thank you.

David Domstein&Assoc.; 30150 Telegraph Rd. Bingham Farms, Mi. Without you and your ruthless law abiding actions I wouldn’t have been able to prove the powerful wrong before 2009. Thank you…& I want my money 39197.png

Bobbie Kaiser in Pontiac mich. (coach): Without your roll in the community and your efforts towards stabilizing the youth, I would have found myself in tons of trouble. Thank you.

To all other fans, friends and family. As we walked each step together, I am very appreciative of the honesty and various outlooks to life. I am grateful to have you all by my side. Thank you.

Please be advised although some locations are real in regards to this book, other names and circumstances are purely of the imagination or coincidental and hold no similarity to any event or brands previously or currently taking place.

Oh…what a little dream can dream… 39199.png

CHAPTER ONE

I’ve been on the road now for what seems like forever. I drove as far as I could for as long as I could before my mind began to play tricks on me.

It was a dark night and the hum of the road was the only thing that I had to comfort me. The calming melody seemed to have embraced me as I drifted in and out of unrested eyes. I tried to stay sharp and focused but I grew tired as the hours slowly drifted by. All I have done for these past few nights was run and fight. There wasn’t any rest or calming to reenergize me. I thought that I was handling the melody of the road well until I heard a voice from the passenger seat say, psst. I quickly looked over and saw Kara in the same bloody attire that I last saw her in. Watch out, she quickly whispered. The site of her shocked me to regain focus just as brightness appeared before me. I heard frantic honking and reacted quickly as I grasped the steering wheel and swerved back into the proper lane. I don’t know if it was the close call to death or thinking I saw Kara clear as day, either way both had shaken me. I quickly learned that driving endlessly is only for the skilled. I stayed alert enough to find a servicing gas station. It took a few miles but I was grateful to get off of the road. I pulled into the distant parking of the gas station and turned off the engine to the car. I made sure all doors were locked and removed my seat belt. I shut off the lights to the car and adjusted my seat to a long awaited rest.

All of my senses quickly linked in as I was awaken to loud knocks on the car window. My eyes had focused on a deep brown skinned man peering at me through the glass. Are you okay lady, he asked as I looked at him with surprise. The cold air steamed as his warm breath heated and fogged the window. I looked around the lot and sensed nothing unusual. The peaking of the sun caused shadows in the distance. This let me know that it was still pretty early in the morning. I turned back to the man and rolled the window down slightly. I’m fine thanks, I replied back to him. He nodded, Oh okay. I was just checking on yah. Have a good one, he replied back to me just before he walked away. Thanks. You too, I replied nicely before rolling up the window. I laid back into the seat and gathered my thoughts. I have been on the road continuously for nine hours already. I gathered some of the depleting funds I had of Toy’s and purchased gas, a half loaf of bread and I stole some peanuts and cookies. Once I pumped the gas I was back out onto the open road. I drove through states that did not obtain a whole lot of visual stimuli. It was simple land with flat planes and that’s all you could see for miles of stretched road. I grew antsy once I entered into Utah. Once I saw the sign, I knew that I was almost there. A return to a place Kara and I considered as our small space of normalcy. Excitement grew as the need to feel welcomed into the only consecutive place I knew in my life grew with each mile. I felt the weight on my shoulders lifting as I envisioned me crossing a finish line. I knew this was not the end to all of my woes, but it is an end to a chapter before my new beginning.

The closer I had gotten to the Montana state line the more I thought of Nuss. I didn’t know if it was the deprivation of oxygen or my heart, but all I could think about was him. The connection we had during that short period is a connection that I will not trade-in for anything else. His smile brought warmth to my heart and is an image that I could never erase. Before I push forward, I had to speak with him one last time. The very thought of him makes me have overwhelming sensations throughout my body and the thought of hearing his voice practically gave me chills. My hands began to sweat and my thoughts were jogged with what to say. I pulled over to the side of the road and put the car in park and checked my surroundings. All was clear as I let out an exhale and allowed myself to be rocked by the force caused by other cars speeding by. I sat there for a few minutes to calm my nerves before I placed the call. I found it a little odd that I am in the middle of running for my life and can make unwavering decisions but this boy…he makes me feel unsure of myself. I can feel nervousness and other emotions. I thought about the goofy questions he may ask me and a smile crept upon my face. I grew enough nerve to place the call, but I instantly felt my nerves unravel once the phone began to ring. It had only taken a second ring before I heard him pick up. Once I heard his voice pierce through, there was nothing but smiles and great feelings. I’m so happy that you called, he shouted. I’ve been hoping I’d hear from you again, he said affectionately. A smile magically placed itself upon my face. I had to hear your voice one last time. I hope you don’t mind? I asked him. I don’t mind at all, he replied. I always want you to call me, he uttered. His words made me feel impervious to my problems. Are you okay? I questioned him again. We made it out. I have Deuce and Stix on twenty-four hour surveillance. If anything should look funny, we would be all over it, he said with confidence. I didn’t want to unnerve him by poking holes in his command. All I could do was guide him along in the right direction and hoped for the best. I was just happy to hear his voice float through the phone. He spoke sweetly, just as he had done previously at the bus station before I left California. His voice was soft towards me and had a slight hum to it. It had a way of making me feel warm. Megan, he called out to me. Yes, I replied softly. Just know that this phone call meant a lot to me. You calling me have let me know, that despite your cool exterior I meant something special to you. I wasn’t for sure before. I mean, I assumed that you cared when I found myself alive due to your adamant warnings. Shit, I’m glad that I listened to you. I never had an outsider look out for me before… he spoke with strength in his words before giving a short pause. His words had touched me deeply and calmed the fears arising within myself. I enjoyed the serenity of the moment as I heard him clear his throat before he continue on with his words. It’s funny how now not only are you taking the time to establish contact but you’re testing me in strategic planning, he said with a small laugh. Make no mistake when I say in such a short time you mean as much, if not more to me than anyone I had ever been close too. You allowed me to feel again little momma…oh and I definitely enjoyed it, he said whimsically. I giggled as I felt the butterflies in my stomach, the warmth throughout my veins as well as sadness in my heart. He had captured me in a way I wasn’t capable of explaining. If things were different, I know I would have never met him. I had an established childhood before it was taken away. Even after my original parents were slaughtered, Kara and I moved around but only to middle class neighborhoods. He would have been and still is on a totally different wave length in life than me. His words were beginning to get lost as my mind began sinking into deep thought. I shook it off and just tried to focus on the lighter side of our conversation. I heard him finish his thoughts before I started with my words. I do sincerely care for you very much. And I am glad that we have met, despite all of the unfortunate circumstances. I replied to him. I heard him giggle on the other end of the phone just before he started talking again. Just like I said, cool exterior, he uttered before he continued on. Have you reached your destination yet? He asked. No, I’m on my way there. I can’t call you where I am going, I replied back to him. Oh, ok, he replied dryly. I heard the disappointment in his voice before another small silence had fallen upon us. I didn’t know what else I could do besides break the stillness with another question. Nuss, I called out to him. I heard his voice come through the phone with a Hmm, in response. What happened to the traitors? I asked. I heard him as he inhaled a deep breath of air before answering. They all were tortured. Paco did a real number on those three. I guess since Melio likes to run, he tied a rope around his neck and had him keep pace with a car. He eventually fell tired and the car dragged him until all that was left was a leg and a torso. Geist was bound by chains. Each arm and each leg were tied to the front end of four of the Reapers car bumpers. They applied a little pressure to the gas pedals and watched him scream as he was being pulled in all directions. The stretching eventually pulled his muscles off of his bones, the bones had then dislocated and that man was pulled apart. They said you could hear his screams outside of the park and into the neighborhoods. Rumor has it, Marco didn’t last very long. They assumed that they had beatin’ him to death. They wasn’t sure so they tied him to a cement block, dug a deep hole and buried him in it. So if he wasn’t dead, the crushing dirt, poor oxygen and no way to escape would have finished the job, Nuss explained. The news of the brutality was utterly shocking. Whoa, were the words that had escaped from my lips. I listened as he continued on with how the media grabbed the story and the many arrests that had followed. He went on to say how the police had no witnesses or evidence, just rumors. Nuss seemed assured that the Reaper members were all going to be released. I enjoyed listening to his structure of words. I enjoyed the way his voice brought out a melodic undertone. I know that he will live in my thoughts for many years to come. I didn’t want to end our cherished conversation, but there is no way of telling who may be on the verge of tracing the signal. Again, I reminded him of what to expect from the Agents if they should appear. He listened and even made me promise to stay safe. We had exchanged a few more words before we sadly issued our goodbyes.

After hanging up the phone, I sat there for a few more minutes and soaked it all in. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply as I refocused my duties. I opened my eyes, cleared the cellphone, separated some of its components and crushed it before I pulled off towards my journey.

I continued on for many hours before I drove past a sign that said I had forty miles before the Montana State border. Along the road I saw a sign suggesting the location of a nearby grocery store. I considered Kara’s teachings and figured that now would be the perfect time to wonder off of the main highway and do some grocery shopping. I took an exit off of the main ramp and followed the markers to a small grocery mart. Kara had always said that it would be safer to do most of the shopping anywhere outside of town. That way, it’ll be harder for people to point us out. In the beginning, we would only visit the cabin once every second or third year. As the years went on, it became more difficult to relocate as fast. We would frequent the cabin more often in order to regroup our plans. No one had ever taken notice of us in our little cabin shrouded by trees. I guess it was a good thing when others didn’t acknowledge us, for their sake as well as our own. When we would go to the