Lucas, Guardian of Truth

By M.R. Anglin

Eleven-year-old Lucas Phelman knows he's found trouble when middle-school bullies surround him on the way home from school. In just a few moments, he transforms from the bravest space cadet in the galaxy (at least, in his imagination) to a loser in a garbage can. Adding insult to injury, they take a video of the humiliating event and post it on the Internet for the entire school to see!

 

Hiding the truth from his mother, he accepts a gift left to him by his absent father. The strange-looking watch fits securely on his wrist. But, he discovers wearing the watch causes bizarre things to happen. His imaginary world follows him into reality, along with odd animals and the ability to destroy them!

 

Lucas must trust a mysterious creature that controls the watch - a device that can transport him to Kalaria, a place where nothing is as it seems. There, Lucas learns that he is the Guardian of Truth, destined to save Kalaria from the Mind Master, a creature bent on destroying the planet, and imagination along with it.

 

But even Lucas, with the strongest imagination of all, isn't powerful enough. He learns of a powerful tool, the Book of Truth, which he must find and master its use to defeat the Mind Master for good.

 

But how to find it? And, is he brave enough to try? If he fails, Kalaria is doomed ... and the Earth is next!

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.R. Anglin
• Release date: Feb 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215599556

Book preview

Chapter 1

Commander Lucas, the famous space explorer, faced off against three of the greenest, scaliest, ugliest aliens he had ever encountered in all his years of navigating the universe. They had ambushed him on an asteroid in the Gamma sector, a green and red wasteland where nothing but rocks and sand existed. The odds were against him, but he couldn’t let these goons prevent him from getting back to home base and completing his mission. He’d have to fight his way through the blockade.

This was not going to be easy.

I don’t care what you do to me. Lucas shook his fist at them. I’ll never give up my intelligence to you monsters.

The aliens laughed—a raspy sound, like sandpaper that grated at Lucas’ ears—and rubbed their tentacles together. Their pointed teeth gleamed with drool as they circled their quarry.

Would you listen to the freak? One alien put a tentacle on his hip . . . or what Lucas took to be his hip.

What are you pretending to be to be this time? The second alien cackled, sending his reeking breath into Lucas’ face.

He’s so pathetic. The third crossed his tentacles.

Lucas’ face heated up as the three bullies laughed. He was no space explorer, and they were not aliens . . . although they were ugly enough for it. And instead of the far reaches of space, his neighborhood—complete with white houses, green lawns, and shady trees—formed the background for this battle.

Lucas looked at each of the three in turn. Justin, the biggest of the bullies, had a gap in his teeth that made him look like an oversized beaver. But no one ever made fun of him. They wouldn’t dare. He was half an inch taller and half a size bigger than any of the other boys in their 6th grade class. Mark was known for pranking and coming up with ideas to torment the other kids. Pete wasn’t particularly mean, and Lucas guessed he hung out with Mark and Justin so they wouldn’t pick on him.

A lump grew in Lucas’ throat. He couldn’t beat these three. He had no muscles, couldn’t run fast . . . unless they were chasing him . . . and his backpack filled with books weighed him down.

Why don’t you leave me alone, Justin? Lucas backed away from them.

Aw, look. The little wimp’s begging. Mark pouted in mockery of Lucas’ situation.

Justin slapped his fist in his palm. So what should we do to him this time?

Let’s pound on him. Pete advanced.

Let’s put itching powder in his underwear and watch him squirm. Mark said, rubbing his hands together.

Lucas trembled and backed away until his back struck his neighbor’s brick retaining wall. Trapped.

Ugh! What’s that awful smell? Pete waved his hand in front of his face.

Maybe it’s Lucas, Justin said.

Lucas glanced to the left. It was trash day, and the stench of old meat and rotten vegetables drifted out of his neighbor’s garbage can.

A smile spread on Mark’s lips, and he laughed . . . a low, rolling chuckle.

Justin eyed him. What are you laughing at?

Mark whispered something in his ear, and a smile filled with evil intent crossed Justin’s lips.

Lucas broke into a run. He didn’t know what Mark was saying, but he had a pretty good idea since he knew how Mark thought. They’d known each other since kindergarten . . . in fact, they used to be friends. All that changed once Justin moved in. Now his old friend closed in on him. He had to escape.

Oh, no, you don’t. Pete dove in Lucas’ way.

Let me go. Lucas tried to side-step him.

Justin caught Lucas’ shoulders. Open that can, Pete.

Open one of the bags too. Mark took his cell phone out of his pocket.

What are we doing? Pete said, frowning.

Justin jerked his head toward the can. Just hurry and do it.

Come on, man. Just leave me alone. Lucas pulled against Justin’s grasp.

Pete took the lid off the can and opened a garbage bag. It’s ready.

Camera’s ready. Mark held up the phone.

Make it a video. Justin lifted Lucas and carried him, kicking and screaming, over to the garbage can.

Pete stood by, holding the lid. His eyebrows furrowed. Are you guys sure we should be—

Shut up or you’re next. Justin thrust Lucas into the trash. Take that, you piece of garbage.

Lucas plunged in. The contents of the open bag spilled all over his clothes. Slime from rotten fruit oozed up his pant leg, and something squirmed next to his arm. And the stench. The smell of rotten fruit and old chicken made Lucas’ stomach churn.

Justin cackled and shoved the lid on Lucas’ head with such force that Lucas head plunged under the surface of the garbage. Some of it got into his mouth. He spat the contents out of his mouth but didn’t move right away. Justin, Mark, and even Pete congratulated themselves. The confines of the can echoed and amplified their celebration. Lucas didn’t want to reemerge until they left.

The noise subsided. Lucas raised the lid and peeked out. Justin and his gang were nowhere to be seen, so he threw off the lid and climbed out of the can. As he tried to put his foot on the ground, the garbage tipped over. He collapsed onto the floor and skidded his elbow on the sidewalk. The contents of his backpack spilled all over the pavement.

Tears burned his eyes, but Lucas refused to let them fall. Wait, just wait. He would get them back someday. He didn’t know how, but he would. As sure as he was sitting in a garbage can, Justin, Mark, and Pete would regret this.

He swung his bag off of his back, got to his knees, and gathered his things. Garbage covered all his books and papers. And his Bible . . . it had landed facedown on a bunch of moldy strawberries.

Mom’s going to kill me. But that’s what Lucas got for bringing it to school. If he had gotten up on time this morning, his mom wouldn’t have made him carry it so he could read it on the bus.

Lucas picked up the blue leather Bible and brushed off the rotten fruit. The entire verse, Romans 8:37, No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us, was stained red.

He slammed it shut and stowed it in his bag. He’d never say it aloud, but sometimes the things he read in the Bible were either baloney or irrelevant. Like that verse. How was he supposed to win at anything stuck in a garbage can? And that wasn’t the only one. The verse he had to memorize for youth group this week . . . something about not even a stroke of a pen disappearing from the Bible . . . also made no sense.

After he had picked up all of his books, he crossed the street toward his house. At least he could pass the rest of the day playing video games and goofing off . . . that is, if his mom wasn’t home yet.

Chapter 2

Lucas opened the front door to his house and peered in. Mom? Silence. No one stirred or moved. He slipped his head in further, called for his mother again, and strained his ears for a sound. Nothing. Excellent.

He slipped in and headed to the stairs. He didn’t want his mom to see him like this. If she did, she would probably go over to the boys’ houses and speak to their parents. To Lucas, that would be even more humiliating than what he had been through.

But today, he didn’t have to worry about that. He only needed to get up the stairs and get rid of these clothes. Accomplishing this mission would take stealth and cunning.

He plastered himself to the wall and crept along, keeping out of sight. And as he went, Lucas’ surroundings transformed.

He was a spy. The sun shining in through the curtained windows metamorphosed into the moon gleaming off puddles in an alley. The smell of smoke—from what, Lucas, the spy, couldn’t guess—burned his nostrils. No sound filled the night. The silence made his heart pound faster. At any moment, enemy spies could be upon him. They could be hiding around any corner.

Hello? Lucas? The door swung open, shattering Lucas’ musings. His mother walked into the house.

Lucas scrambled up the stairs before she saw him and darted into the bathroom.

Lucas? His mother stood at the bottom of the stairs. Where are you?

Hi, Mom, Lucas said from the bathroom.

Hi, baby. How was school?

Fine.

Do you know if the mail is here yet?

I didn’t check. Lucas glanced at the shower. Listen. I’m going to take a bath. I got . . . messy when I was with some of the kids from school. Technically, it wasn’t a lie.

Alright. His mother walked out of the front door, probably to check if the mail had come.

Lucas released his held breath and closed the bathroom door. After a shower, he walked into his room, stuffed his garbage covered clothes into the hamper, then picked up some of the dirty clothes lying on the floor, and stuffed them on top. That should hide them until laundry day. That done he plopped on his bed.

Why am I such a loser? Lucas buried his face in his pillow as the afternoon’s events replayed in his mind. And tomorrow it would be even worse. By now, the whole school would know of his epic humiliation. Knowing Mark, that video would be all over his online profile page by now.

This was worse than the time Lucas had burst out of the bathroom at school while embroiled in a battle with robot warriors trying to take over the world. Of course no one saw the imaginary robots, and Lucas hadn’t realized what he had done until everyone started laughing. Since then, Mark wouldn’t talk to him anymore, and Justin made him his main target. And now he had this to deal with. What else could go wrong?

Lucas. His mother knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for a response. Lucas didn’t even know why she bothered knocking.

Come in, Mom, Lucas said.

Cut the smart mouth, Lucas. His mother walked into the room, holding a package in one hand. I just noticed that the sliding glass door lock is broken. Do you have any idea how that happened?

Lucas stiffened. The incident with Justin drove what had occurred yesterday out of his head.

Well? His mother crossed her arms.

Okay, Mom. Here it is. Lucas stood. I was out front practicing my hitting when I hit my baseball in the backyard. He swung like he was hitting a baseball. So I go to the back to get it.

Okay, his mother said.

When I get to the backyard, I smell something horrible, like a cow pie. I go to get my ball, and I look up and I see this . . . this . . . mutant bird. It was red and had this wild hairdo, like all spiky. He put his hands on his head, his fingers mimicking a spiked hairstyle.

His mother sighed.

The bird starts squawking like an old guy wheezing and then swoops at me. Lucas dove to the ground. I don’t want the mutant bird to get me, so I run to the sliding door. But it’s locked ‘cause I came out the front door, so I yank the door as hard as I can and broke the lock. He stood up and smiled at her. It was either a broken lock or your son being turned into a zombie by a mutant bird.

His mother put a hand on her forehead, remaining still for a few moments. I don’t believe what I’m hearing. I . . . I don’t even know what do to anymore. I’m at the end of my rope.

You don’t believe me? But, Mom, it’s true.

A mutant bird, Lucas? His mother’s voice rose. A mutant bird that smells like cow manure and sounds like a wheezing old man attacked you in our back yard?

It’s true. You never believe anything I say.

Maybe because you’re always telling me these wild stories.

Lucas crossed his arms. Dad would believe me, he muttered.

And that’s part of the problem. It doesn’t matter what you say, he always just laughs and acts it out with you. It’s like you two are in your own world. His mother paused. When she spoke again, her voice was lower. I know you want to be like him, Lucas, but even he knows when to cut it out. You have to stay grounded in the real world. I can’t tell when you’re telling the truth and when you’re pretending anymore.

Lucas rolled his eyes. She didn’t understand anything. His dad, however, would be on his side. He always was.

Why do I even bother? You’re not going to listen to anything unless your father says it. Here. His mother held out the package. That came for you in the mail today.

Thanks. Lucas took the package.

His mother walked to his door. Lucas, I’m not the bad guy here. I just want you to do well.

Okay, Lucas said, looking at the package.

His mother