Scrub Kids: Molding Destiny

By Zachery Lee

This book is the beginning of a series where 3 boys, James, John and Zac, find themselves on an epic adventure through and between space and time. After finding and unlocking a mysterious object when their friend AJ disappears, they meet a divine being known across the universe as, The Death Smiley. The Death Smiley (Death, or DS for short) beco

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.O.B. Enterprize/Scrub Kids Productions™
• Release date: Mar 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798218173968

Zachery Lee

Zachery (Zac) Lee comes across most as a stubborn and distant human being, having grown up a bit differently than a majority of people, spending most of his time in the hospital for both mental illnesses and having been diagnosed with Epilepsy at only 8 years old. He loves his family and friends, though not always sure how to express these things. A strange young man, who's seen more than his fair share of darkness in this world, I suppose you could say this series is meant to be just a peek inside of his head. Enjoy!

Book preview

Scrub Kids

Scrub Kids

Scrub Kids

Molding Destiny

Z.B.Lee

C.O.B. Enterprize/Scrub Kids Productions™

Contents

notes

notes

1 Discovery

2 The Journey Begins

3 Contact

4 Surviving Extinction

5 Fast Times at Regal High

6 The Plot Thickens

7 Recruiting Destiny

8 Stranded

9 Greetings

10 Catching up

11 Training Days

12 Training VS Torture?

13 Survival of The Quickest

14 Reunion

15 Planning The Reckoning

16 War Informant

17 Getting Battle Ready

18 Dog Days of Tranzaneizia

19 Picking Up The Pieces

20 A Long Farewell

About The Author

Call To Action

Scrub Kids

Written by: Zachery Lee

Book 1

Molding Destiny

A Product of C.O.B. Enterprize, LLC

And

Scrub Kids Productions™

Written by: Zachery Lee

Book 1 in a series

I reformatted this book from a bunch of scribble on a notepad for an animation series, turning it into what I hope to be as captivating of a story as I’ve thought it to be. I’ve worked very hard on trying to bring this story to life and, I do sincerely hope you enjoy the read, it’s been a long time coming to make this happen.

Dedicated to the late, Austin Cazier and his loving family.

My best friend for years, they took you too soon.

Rest In Peace my friend.

I’m sorry I was so late.

1

Discovery

We’ll begin this tale in a small city of Ballard. Where the city is buzzing, the people are friendly (for the most part), and the gangs of children run wild in the nights. Our story won’t be taking place in the city though. No, it all begins in a treehouse in the woods behind a powerline field that runs across the back of a quaint middle-class subdivision. A tall treehouse, with a desk by the back window where our friend James sits. Posters lining the walls near shelves full of different knick-knacks. An old mattress on the floor, where Zac lay back in relaxation and, an old rigged up computer system where James is playing music. As the bass wobbles the treehouse, AJ, A scraggly haired boy with a colorful attitude, holding a tidbit of chunk to him approaches the desk. Throwing up his hands very dramatically and saying I’m bored! Can we do something else?!.

James, a very skinny, pale boy with shoulder length winged out hair, turns to AJ in the desk chair slowly. Throwing his hands to the sky and shouting back WHAT?! You don’t like my music?!.

As AJ ducked back and walked toward the window of the treehouse, he continues to say It’s not that, we’ve just been doing the same thing for DAYS! Where’s the excitement? The adventure? I feel like a caged bird let me FLYYYYY-AHHHHHHHH!.

AJ had fallen out of the window of the treehouse, plummeting down to the ground. James rushed over to the window as Zac, a short, skinny, kind of stocky boy with lengthy straight hair, got up and wandered over behind him, muttering Well so much for that idea…, then shouting down to AJ You alright down there?! Anything broken?!.

AJ let out a loud groan as he responded to the boys I’m fine, it’s just my pride..

Zac continues GOOD! Get yourself together then, we’re gonna go see what’s up at Nicks place!.

James turned to Zac questionably with an eyebrow raised. As they both walked toward and climbed down the ladder, he says I think Nicks grounded..

Zac snapped with haste as they both froze momentarily on the ladder WHAT?! AGAIN?!.

With a slight stutter, James looked down to Zac as they continued to climb down I-I-I think John is free though, we could see how he’s up to?.

The two climbed the rest of the way down the ladder and picked up AJ off the ground, dragging him off to the side of the tree and leaning him upright for a moment. Zac approached AJ snapping his fingers and waiving his hands in front of his face, trying to get him out of the daze, Zac says AJ, dude, HEY!.

AJ snapped himself up and nearly head-butted Zac on the way WHAT?! I’m up, I’m up..

James looked down to AJ as he and Zac lean in to pick him up off the ground, calmly saying Good dude, good, well we’re gonna head over to John’s house to see what’s up with those guys. You coming?.

As they prop AJ up on his feet, he responds with a slight slur Sure man, I could use a walk..

The boys all ran out of the woods and through the powerline field, headed back into the subdivision where everyone but AJ lived. Full of lower middle class suburban living, the neighborhood was decently kept up. The boys walked down the street laughing as they crack bad jokes at each other. Just doing what kids do on a bright sunny day. When they approached John’s house, they settled down. Walking up to the porch, they see Grandad sitting in his chair with a beer in one hand, and a cigar in the other. He turned quick to the boys and yelled out with an ornery tone NICKS GROUNDED! GO AWAY!.

The boys froze in their tracks about halfway up the driveway. Zac looked up to Grandad and spoke in a very subtle but firm tone We know, is John around?.

Grandad turned hastily to the door and screamed out JOHN! GET OUT HERE! YOU GOT COMPANY!.

John was a stocky, dark haired string bean of a boy. Once he heard that shout, he raced to the door, throwing it open as he wiped his eyes with a cringed look on his face. Looking like he’d been inside for days, cooped up in his room dying from lack of sunlight. Looking to the boys, John clears his throat and says Hey guys, what’s up?.

The boys looked to their feet and one by one spoke out with answers like Not much. Bored., and What you up to man?.

John’s face brightened like a kid walking into a candy store as he exclaimed Oh you know, just playing that new ALIEN SLAYER on the system. You guys wanna come check it out?!.

Just then, his mom approached the door. She’s a small woman but, crazy, like a stereotyped pit bull. Beautiful, but can be mean as all get out. She stood in the doorway and spoke in an aggressive tone when the boys started walking through Nicks Grounded! No company! Why don’t you boys go find something else to do while you still got this nice weather?.

John whimpered to his mom while the group stood off to the side AWE MOM!.. FINE!. When his mom turned away, he looked sadly back to the group and softly spoke Well, what now?.

James excitedly jumped up and shouted brightly MUSIC?!.

AJ shouted back NOO!.

Zac looked around the group suggestively Why don’t we just start walking, I’m sure we’ll figure something out along the way..

So, the group nods and begins walking through the subdivision. Just another suburban land, filled with ranch style houses, plain front porches and homes with tacky paintjobs. Kicking cans and dancing away their issues while the afternoon fades to evening. They decided to walk up to the party store and hangout for a while, grab some drinks while they wind down this eventful day. So, they headed to the back of the subdivision and started on down this old path through the woods. AJ perked up, complaining Soo, when we get there, is there going to be a place to sit down? Preettyyy sore in the feet area if you know what I mean.. The group was silent as AJ continued Guys? Hey guys? GUYS!.

All then snapping back DUDE!.

Then James continued while the rest of the group turned back around Just calm down man, we’re almost there, ok?.

So, the group kept walking, leaving AJ to hang back on the woodsy trail. Spotting something at the base of a tree, AJ held himself up for a moment. Ooh shiny. He says, continuing Hey guys, there’s a thing over here and, it’s um, well, glowing?.

Just then, a loud thundering crash arose, and the group froze in their tracks. Turning back slowly, Zac speaks first AJ? Buddy? Where you at?.

Hearing no response, James steps forward and slightly snaps out Come on man! AJ, where you at?.

With still no response, John steps forward, snapping off Alright dude, enough is enough! Where are you?.

They still heard nothing back, scanning through this cloudy fog that appeared out of nowhere. After the thundering echo faded, the smoke began to clear. Zac then called out to the group, pondering their situation So, did anyone see what AJ was talking about?.

James, shrugging his shoulders as he looked to Zac saying No, you see anything John?

Nah... John said, looking to the ground in disbelief. Suddenly, a sparkle appeared at the base of a tree in the distance. Sweeping up his arm, John shouted as they all rushed over. Wait! What’s that?!.

When the group got to the base of the tree, they found this small chromium sphere with these strange designs on it. The designs somewhat resembled what the Illuminati triangle would look if it were a sphere in shape. Zac picks up the ball, questionably handing it off. It’s uh, James?.

Timidly taking the sphere, James examines it closely, spurting out It’s not natural is what it is, where do you think it came from?.

Tossing it back to Zac, who fumbles and catches it. Then looking to the group saying I don’t know but, whatever it is, it might be the reason AJ’s gone. Let’s bring it back to the treehouse and see if we can’t find anything on it..

When the boys get back to the treehouse, they set up shop in a circle. Keeping the orb in the middle of the group while they take out their phones trying to find anything that would resemble the object they found. After a while of the investigation going nowhere, John perks up and speaks with frustration to the group Well, I got nothing, any ideas?.

James throws his hands up, dropping his phone in his lap Not a clue man. Not. A. Clue..

As James turns to Zac, who still has his eyes glued to the phone screen, Zac brings the conflict to a halt saying You can’t just give up THAT easy, either of you guys want to try and explain this to his PARENTS?!. James and John are silent as Zac slowly peeks up from his phone Thought not..

Pondering on the other side of the room, James looks up to say Well, what if we tell them he’s staying at my house?.

John looks up to James with a high raised brow But, I thought AJ’s parents hated him hanging out with us?.

James pondering for a moment, then with a eureka face palm says Oh yeah, I guess that kind of slipped the mind..

Zac looks up to the group snapping with a subtle agitation Well, my place is out of the question. Pops thinks we’re all WAY too loud and says we all probably have more than a few mental issues...

James darting his eyes to Zac, EXTREMELY offended in tone shouting WHAT?!.

John leading up from behind speaking softly I mean, I guess I can understand WHY he would think that. We already established that his parents don’t like us either but, you guys remember that sleep over we had at your dads? You know, when I brought the game system down to the basement?…

Flashing back to Zac’s Dad’s basement, where the boys had a game system set up. The floor and couches, flooded with chip bags and candy wrappers, with two liters of soda trolling on the floor. James is at the computer desk on the back wall blaring music, while Zac and John are glued to the TV with game controllers in hand. The loudest, wobbliest bass that you’d ever heard comes to a screeching halt as James begins to scream at the others over the game system What do you guys want to hear next?.

Zac then shouting back I don’t care! Too involved with this game to worry about it!.

John then props up, with a mouth full of chips Nobody cares dude, just make it bump, HARD!.

Just then, among from all of the candy and soda piled up on the couch, AJ emerges, muffling out with a mouth full of chips YEAH! HARD!. Then preceding to gulp down a two liter as James looks to him with accomplishment. Raising his voice as he turns back to the computer, James says Alright. Works for me!. The boys continue to rage on through the night just like that. No remorse, no regret, just gaming it out and having a blast of a time.

When they come out of this flashback, they all have reminiscent looks about them. James perks up, laughing out Ha! Yeah, but you gotta admit though, DJ was on POINT that night!.

Zac is looking out the window while John and James are in the background hamming it up. With a big sigh, he turns to the group saying Totally worth the screaming..

John propped himself next to the window looking to Zac as he says Definitely..

There was a long pause as the boys sat and thought about things, then suddenly James popped up out of nowhere wondering Hey, do you guys remember that night that we all got caught walking around at three in the morning and, the cops made Zac call his dad to come pick us up?.

There was a silence that overcame the group as James wanders into his own little flashback. It was a pretty bad night for everyone but, as sneaky as James was with his parents, they were the worst. Sitting in the middle of the back seat of Zac’s dads’ big black truck, he’s extremely panicked, going back and forth with himself through the whole ride to his house. This is what it sounded like as James was thinking Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no no nO NO NO! What do I do? My parents are going to kill me if they find out. Wait. I think I got it! I got it! Yes, it’s not going to…. wait, no that won’t work…yeah wait no, yeah no no oh no yeah no STOP! Listen dude, you need to relax.. James muttered to himself, Just sneak around back and climb through the window, and if anything happens, pretend you’d been home the entire time. Deal?. Freaking out, James continues back and forth with himself, But, what about my parents? If he wakes them up, we’re dead! No friends, no video games, no computer?! I don’t think I can do that again! It’s my life! If we lose that, then what?...YOU FIX THIS!......Well?!. With a suspenseful pause, the secondary voice continues No. Chill out. We’re here..

The truck then pulls into the driveway of this ranch style home. Upon getting out, the driveway s transforms into a cracked abyss, flooded with fire and lined with spikes. As James is guided by Zac’s dad up the drive and onto the walkway, it stretches out like an extremely long corridor. Putting his hand on James’s shoulder, Zac’s dad guides him up to the front door of what now looks to be a large, decrepit hell house with claw marks all over, fire burning through the windows, a hole in the roof with a troll peeking out of it, and a shackled-up skeleton hanging next to the doorway. As they walked up James’s initial thoughts are, Winging it!.

Then, as Zac’s dad goes to bang on the front door, two creatures appear, morphing into large scale demonic creatures as Zac’s dad looks to them, with his hand on James’s shoulder saying, I believe THIS belongs to you.. The demon parents of James look down to him, screeching out as they tipped their heads back and DEVOURED his head! The flashback comes to an abrupt stop, leaving James sitting there in a blank stare.

John and Zac shaking him out of this zone he was trapped in, yelling out James... James... JAMES!.

Snapping back, James shrieks, and Zac continues You good dude? Thought we lost you there..

With a deep breath, James lets out a massive sigh of relief, exhaustedly saying, WHOA! Yeah, we’re NEVER doing that again..

John peeks into the group with a very lowly tone Agreed. So, what’s next?.

The boys huddle together and come up with a plan to meet back at the treehouse with proper supplies so they might spend the night researching this THING they found in the woods where AJ disappeared. When they get back up to the treehouse, they’ve all got backpacks with them. Holding flashlights and book bags, Zac is wheeling a generator behind the group with extension cords hooked onto the sides. Approaching the bottom of the ladder to the treehouse, James stands back, questionably rubbing his chin while John says, So Zac, what’s the plan again?.

Zac responding with firm determination, Well, first off, does everyone have what they were supposed to bring?. Emptying out their bags in the middle of them and naming off the things they brought.

James pulls out a case of soda and begins, Soda, chips, and best of all... MUSIC!.

John chimes in, pulling a blanket out of his bag. I got blankets, pillows and phone chargers... And of course, you know I had to snag the game system JUST IN CASE....

Zac shines the flashlight on the generator that he wheels behind them And I snagged the generator and some extension cords from pops garage. You guys ready to party?.

Climbing up to the treehouse, the group struggles to get the generator up but, when they did things went smoothly. With phone chargers and lights stretched out around the room, the boys had set up shop in the corner by the one mattress they had already placed up there. James is sitting in the computer chair, John is laying up on the mattress, and Zac is huddled up in the corner by the window. All of them are faced in their phones, searching desperately for answers. Suddenly, James stumbles on a match for the Sphere they had found earlier and group huddles around as he explains Well, it says this THING is called the Omniplex. Apparently, it holds the Realm of Simultaneous Chaos and Understanding. Apparently it was designed by ‘Devine Beings’ and channeled through ‘Chicken McGreen’ in times of anguish, pleasure, confusion, isolation, and excitement. Whatever that means… Oh, and it’s supposed to bring peace and understanding through forgiveness and ascension..

The group stares to each other, all with brows raised high. Confused, Zac speaks up. Uhhhh…. What?.

James rebuttals firmly, Yeah I don’t know dude. This doesn’t really tell me anything about WHY it would have taken AJ..

Zac continues What the hell is Chicken McGreen?.

Oh, says James, continuing I dunno, all of this sounds kind of nuts to me... I guess I’ll just keep looking..

John walks off into the background and picks up the sphere. Fiddling with it while James and Zac continue staring at their phone screens, trying to piece things together. He presses the eye, and it starts to open up. With a ‘Click-ZZZT-clack clack clack-SHHH’ sound, John freezes up and exclaims to the group, Uh, Guys. I think I just opened it..

Just then, a red and purple flash of light shoots to the ceiling, spreading around the orb as it floats up off the ground. Now face level with Zac, the strange object blasts a beam of light straight into his forehead. James and John panic as they watch Zac drop down to the floor. Screaming as they catch him before hitting the ground. Zac?!. James continues, Ahh shit! Don’t be dead, PLEASE don’t be dead..

Dazed and confused, Zac slowly starts to come too as James and John hover over top of him. Amid the chaos that transpired, none of the boys had realized this cloud of smoke that surrounds the sphere. Out of the smoke, rose a ghostly figure in a tattered cloak, wearing bright white theatre style gloves. When his head lifted it revealed to the boys as a smiley face but, instead of eyes, there were two X’s carved into his face. One was bigger than the other and, in the middle of his forehead there was a split. Filling the massive split in his head looked to be a cluster of stars and darkness. Zac speaks up to let the boys know he’s alright. It’s alright guys, NO idea WHAT just happened but, I think I’m ok..

John, noticing the smoke, turns to see the new floating figure in the room. Panicked WHAT THE FU-. I am the Keeper of the Omniplex!, quickly interrupted by the floating creature A guide if you will. From this world, to the next, and every other in between. You have a GREAT journey ahead of you, come. We have much to speak on..

The boys and their newfound friend had an extensive talk, revealing to them that their ‘Guide ’ was from a not-so-distant plane of existence. Also, that he was referred to as, ‘The Death Smiley ’. It was an intense run, but they decided that they needed to get some more things straightened out.