Unfamiliar Blood

By L. T. Reed

Mika Chambers is a typical college student living with her two roommates. Classes are hectic, but she is maintaining. Mika is normally more conservative with her choices, but one night's decision has now put her life in survival mode and on a mission of mystery. Mika must now make a choice that will alter her future all while investigating. During this time, family is who you call, but Mika quickly learns that there is trouble on the family horizon. The fate of her undergrad experience hangs in the balance of her sanity and determination.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9798889608295

Book preview

cover.jpg

Unfamiliar Blood

L. T. Reed

Copyright © 2024 L.T. Reed

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2024

ISBN 979-8-88960-789-2 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88960-829-5 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

About the Author

This book is dedicated to my kids, family and friends. Most of all my husband for whom without his motivation I would not have stepped out of my comfort zone.

Chapter 1

The mirror fogged up as the water got steamy from the shower, and Mika tried to find her math book.

I'm gonna be so late, Mika screamed. Well, I'll just look for it after I take my shower. A birdbath it is, she said, then laughed.

Mika jumped into the shower and splashed water on the most important parts of her body just where any odors would not be detected: under her arms and her lady pouch.

Okay, scrubbing down complete. Well, you know I need my smell goods, Mika said.

She doused herself with her favorite perfume and lotion from Bath & Body Works (strawberry and champagne). If her whole paycheck could be spent on any item, it would probably be lotions and perfumes. It's essential to a woman's way of living if you would let her explain. Then she threw on some black jogger pants, a beige pullover shirt, and black tennis shoes.

Now onto bigger problems, Mika screamed, Where is my math book!

Oh goodness, really! Mika, her roommate Dana screamed as she jumped up from her bed in anger. Some of us are still trying to sleep around here.

Mika had two roommates. Sylvia was the smart, charming one who embraced her inner Mother Earth personality. Her skin was smooth and reminded you of mahogany, just like a statue that was carved by the greatest craftsman. Then there was Dana who took charge and was a bit stubborn but ambitious. Dana's complexion would be compared to suntanned brown. She struggled with pimples, but for some reason, all the guys didn't mind because her rambunctious attitude was somewhat appealing.

Has anyone seen my math book? Mika yelled. I'm gonna be late for class.

Yes, Dana replied. It's under my blouse on the floor.

Mika came into Dana's room and looked. With a disgusted look on her face, Mika said, Which blouse? Dana's room was a disaster, a miniature hoarder in the making. Geez, Dana, yes, we are college students, but do you really have to live this way? This room is disgusting.

You keep your room how you like it, and I keep my room how I like it, replied Dana.

Okay, whatever. Which blouse! said Mika.

All this talking has my head hurting. I have class in an hour, and I need some sleep. Can you just look on the floor for it? Dana replied.

Oh my goodness! You're the one who used my math book and now wants to sleep. I have class now, said Mika. So she started tossing up the clothes on the floor. Thanks, Dana, you have just wasted ten minutes of my time.

Dana pulled the blanket over her head.

Mika saw a glimpse of what she assumed was her algebra math book under a bra and a pink with black stripe pencil skirt. Yep, here it is, Mika called out. She grabbed the book and ran back to her room. She threw it into her backpack. Sylvia was standing at her room door, shaking her head. Mika looked at Sylvia; they had like a silent wording when it came to their disdaining actions for Dana. Mika looked at Sylvia with a disdainful look on her face, but she knew she didn't have time to gossip about Dana's antics right now. I'll catch up with you later, Mika said as she whisked past Sylvia and her floral dress out the door.

Plop, clack, ding were the noises you hear when Mika sat down in her algebra math class. She shuffled to catch up with the professor's lesson, but searching for her math book and running across campus to get to class were not helpful.

It was Thursday, and she had four classes: math, English lit, accounting, and effective speaking, which she didn't even understand why she was taking when her major was accounting. Well, I guess I have to take an elective, she thought in her head. Well, let me just make it through this math class right now. I really hope there is no homework today because I already know Mrs. Ryan will surely pile on the assignments for English lit. I can't wait until this semester for this class is over. Math is not my strongest subject. Too many numbers make my mind begin to jumble, and then it just becomes too much in my head. It's like a beating drum, and too much of it will make your mind explode. Oh my goodness! What am I doing? Drifting instead of focusing on the lesson.

Okay, stay focused, Mika told herself.

As she glanced over her right shoulder, she noticed some piercing eyes staring at her. Not that she wasn't flattered to have a young man looking at her but the way he was looking at her felt a little too strange for her liking. She gave a smirk his way and turned back to the professor, hoping his stare would cease.

Moments passed, and Mika felt this uneasiness coming across her once more, but she didn't want to make any sudden glances toward the creepy guy's way. She had to be slick, the ole drop the pen on the floor routine or scratch the back. Which one should I use? she thought.

Mika began to twist her neck from left to right as if to indicate an aching muscle in her neck but, in the meanwhile, took quick glances to see if her admirer was still doing his creepy stare, and to her dismay, he was.

Was he even listening to the lesson or was his attention been fixed on me the whole time? Was he new to the class or was I just noticing him? These questions were starting to ponder through her head. Now she couldn't focus on the lesson because she was too fixated on this creepy stalker guy. Should I just confront him after class or not say anything? Mika was really worried. I've seen too many TV shows on things like this. I don't want it to get out of hand. I'll nip it in the bud. Yes, she thought about confronting him. I only have a few more minutes until this class is over, then I will confront him and put my nerves at ease.

Okay, class, remember, all homework are due on Monday, said the professor.

Homework, Mika squeaked. Oh my goodness, I was so focused on the creepy guy and didn't pay attention in class. I hope the professor adds it to the syllabus, she thought. Okay, let me gather up my stuff so I can find the creepy guy and give him a piece of my mind.

As Mika looked up, the creepy guy was headed her way. Mika took a deep breath. Her blood was pumping fast, and she was anxious, but the creepy guy walked past her. What! Mika was surprised as he proceeded two seats over to Jacqueline's desk. Well, of course, Mika, you really didn't see that one coming. She chuckled to herself and grabbed her backpack. Oh, great! I'm late for my next class. She gathered up her things and dashed out to her English lit class.

As she got closer to the door, she noticed the door was closed. That's strange. There was a sign on the door: Due to unforeseen circumstances, there will be no class today for Mrs. Ryan's class. Please go online for assignments.

Really! Mika screamed out, All that running I was doing for this. She hit her forehead with her hand and stomped off.

Okay, I can go back home until my next class or the library, she contemplated.

Well, library it is. There is no way I feel like dealing with Dana this morning, she thought.

So she headed to the campus library. Best I do it now instead of trying to do it after dark. I hate trying to leave this library after dark.

Mika entered the library and tried to find a table to do some studying. Oh, wow! Sylvia is here. Mika walked up and asked if she already had a table. Sylvia showed her where she was sitting, and they both sat down in the back of the library so they had some privacy because they wanted to talk about Dana. They didn't have that gossip time this morning. Mika asked Sylvia if she wanted a green drink from Paradise Drink, the juice cafe attached to the library. Sylvia didn't want anything, so Mika just grabbed herself one and returned to their table.

So, Sylvia, what did you think about the whole situation with Dana this morning? Mika asked.

"Well, I think it was very disrespectful for her to