• The Darkside of the Cross
    Chapter 1 Back to The Beginning.
    I said softly “ The story began when I sat outside watching the sky turn from white to blue, and heard the birds suddenly stop singing, waiting for the guys to show up because we were supposed to hang out that day then I looked around and saw that it was nearly noon by the position of the sun. I told myself I’d assume they weren’t coming if they didn’t get there by two o’ clock.” the man nodded and said softly “Continue, this is before we met remember?”
    I nodded and said “I know but let’s camp for the night then I’ll continue.” The man nodded and we continued walking through the barren desert that was one a lush forest that lead to a mountain range, I wasn’t tired and neither was he, although both of us were ready to kill anything that was willing to work for the darkness and would do what we needed to, as long as it kept both of us alive.
    The man looked at the black sky and said softly “We need to turn left if we’re going to catch them in four days.” I nodded and said softly “We will catch them in three days if we continue going north.”
    He nodded in acceptance of my leadership and we kept going until sundown then he said “We should stop now, I nodded and said softly “Once I start telling my story we go no farther than this spot until it’s done.” The man nodded and said softly “I agree with that, but why don’t you want to go further until it’s done once you start?” I said “Because one I begin I’m not stopping again, I barely started when we began when we left our last camp now we’re not moving until I’m done, understood?” He nodded and said “Fine with me now please continue.”
    I said softly “I waited one more hour then Cody, a black haired young man about 6 ft tall, with tanned skin, glasses, with buckteeth and wearing boots appeared and said “Hey bud.” I smiled and said “Hey Cody, you seen Aaron?” Cody shook his head and said “No but I thought we weren’t supposed to be here until two o’ clock.” I yawned and said “Yeah that’s almost completely right, I said ‘Be here by two o’ clock at the latest’ and you guys said ‘Ok’.” and Cody said “Oh yeah, whoops , I guess we didn’t catch all of what you said. “ I nodded and said “You think so?” Cody said “Jake sarcasm doesn’t suite you.” then Aaron, a teenager about 6ft 2inches tall, long brown hair. walked up at about a quarter to two by Cody’s watch and said “Well it seems I’m later than either of you by a while, or have you both only been here five minutes?” I said “I’ve been here since noon dumb-a**.” and Cody said “I’ve been here since one.” Aaron said “You shut up stupid.” then looked at me and said “So why are we here?” I said “That’s a good question but I’ll get to that when we get inside.” Cody said “Inside where?” Aaron said “I think I know but I’m not saying anything until I’m sure.” I smiled and said “Let’s go and I‘ll show both of you.”
    Cody looked around the forest clearing I had lead him and Aaron to and said softly “It’s beautiful, I can’t believe you found this place without being led here by some sort of magical creature, or some other strange coincidence.” while Aaron just laughed and said “He just lead us to a regular clearing that has the right lighting from the sun and the trees being aligned.” I laughed and said “You don’t believe in anything outside of your own understanding of life unless there’s proof that it exists.” Aaron said softly “You’re wrong about that, all three of us know of the existence of demons.” making Cody reply “I know what we saw in that building staring at us but I still don’t believe it was a demon.” making me say softly “I don’t know what it was but I really think that whatever it was it isn’t dead, we all know that for sure.” then walked over to one of the trees and cut down a branch that was about three inches thick and three feet long, then ran my pocket knife over the branch cutting off each and every twig, knot, or bump on the bark then I cut off the tip and started peeling off the bark in strips. Aaron just shook his head and said “What is with you and trying to turn sticks or tree limbs into weapons?” I laughed and said “why do you care, after all it doesn’t really effect you in anyway.” Cody laughed at that then got serious and said “You guys hear about the new kid who moved in by Louise Derm Elementary School?”
    Aaron nodded and said “Yeah although I’ve never met him I here he’ll be going to Mena high school as a soft-more like us next year.” I looked at him and said “Are you serious, he’s going to our school next year?” Aaron nodded and said “Yeah but I guess you wouldn’t know that being that you spend all of your time in the woods and never want to hang out anymore.” I sighed and said “I’m sorry that I don’t feel like being inside all the time anymore, but unlike you I’m actually like to be outside instead of just always being on the computer like I was last year, anyway I needed to get out of my house before I did something really stupid.” Cody looked at me like I was crazy and said “What stupid thing could you have done?”
    Which in turn made me reply “I could have ended up shooting my parents or committing suicide or worse yet going on a killing spree because I thought everyone was out to get me.” then hopped into a tree and rested my back against the trunk while sitting on a large branch about halfway up. Aaron looked up at me and said “What the hell are you doing up there you idiot?” I just shrugged and closed my eyes thinking about whatever the hell we’d seen in that burning building’s window and why it had watched us so closely and why the flames hadn’t effected it then let my mind wander to our other friends and the fact that a few of them were coming into town in a few days, although I wondered why they’d chosen this summer of all possible times to come to Arkansas especially just to hang out with us. Cody just shook his head laughing and said “Aaron haven’t you learned that Jake does things just because he wants to do them?” Aaron looked at him and said “Yes, I know you stupid idiot so back the hell off, you seem to be the one who has to piss Jake and me off.” Then the three of us each headed home wondering what would happen tomorrow.
    Chapter 2: New Arrivals in Mena Arkansas
    ‘The next day I got up and headed down to the stream near my house and dunked my head in then pulled it out and shook dry like a wet dog, then got up and walked laid down in the grass waiting for the others too show up because we all agreed today was the day we’d head into town, then we’d probably come back to my place or head down to the lake to relax and go swimming. Afterwards we’d probably head to the clearing or go back into town to grab a bite to eat, but what I was really thinking about was that a few of our other friends flights would be arriving today and I could finally talk to them.
    I stood up and walked to my house then grabbed my car keys got into my car then drove to the airport and pulled out a sign that said “Missi, Jared, James, and Danna.” then stood by the exit of the terminal holding it, and waited for the others to come out and talk to me. Miss was the first one I noticed because five minutes after I pulled out the sign she tackled me and said “Where the hell have you been, I’ve been waiting for over an hour!!”
    Which made me reply “You said your flight would be arriving at noon not at eleven in the morning.” and she said “It’s one in the afternoon .”
    I looked at my watch and said “Oh, I guess I was out cold longer than expected.”
    The other three walked up and looked at us then said “Well, it seems you made a few new friends while we were gone dude.” Danna smiled and said “So how’s everything been my idiot little brother?” Jared shook his head and said “Danna just because he’s your adopted little brother in your opinion doesn’t mean you should call him that in public.” James sighed and looked at me then said “Can we all just head to your place Danna?”
    I sighed and said “Everything was fine up until the moment you called me an idiot.” Then looked at the sky and said “Well we better get to my place or Danna’s soon because I have a meeting with a few friends and I know you guys want to ask me a lot of questions.”
    James looked at me and said “Wow you’ve grown up a lot in the few days we’ve been gone.” Then he turned away and looked at Danna holding up a finger to stop her from saying anything just before saying “Don’t worry about anything Danna, I doubt he’s any different than he was before.” Then he ruffled my hair and said “So when you’re done with your meeting we going to go somewhere to eat, or are you going to be gone all day?”
    I looked at James and said “I planned on paying for all of us to go out.” Making everyone smile and then give me questioning looks. Which made me say “You guys can decide while I’m gone, just nowhere to expensive.” Then I turned away and got into the drivers seat of my car and turned the key in the ignition starting it.
    James shook his head and said “Guys I guess we better get in the car before he leaves without us.” then climbed into the passenger side door and waited for everyone else to get in.
    I drove everyone to Danna’s then got out of the car and started for the forest saying over my shoulder “I have to go guys, I’ll be back as soon as the meeting’s over.” Then ran deep into the forest and sat down on a stump and waited for Cody and Aaron. Cody was the first one to show up and he just sat down, with a dark look on his face, not saying anything or even looking at me.
    Aaron showed up next with another guy I’d never seen before and said “Jake, Stupid, this is Dustin he wants to join our group.” Then he turned around and said to Dustin “The guy on the log is Jake, the one sitting down with the stupid look on his face is Cody.”
    I shook my head sighing then smiled at Dustin and said “How’s it going”? Then turned to Cody and said “Cody if something’s bothering you then tell the rest of us or else I’m going to beat your head in with an old two by four.” Making Aaron laugh and Dustin grin.
    Cody looked at me and said “What’s bothering me is I saw another one of those creatures, but it was different from the one in the burning building.” Which killed Aaron’s laughter and made me get a serious look on my face. Cody continued by saying “It was a lot bigger and it actually spoke to me, but I couldn’t understand what it said.”
    Dustin looked at us and said “What the heck is he talking about?” Making the three of us look at him like we just remembered he was there.
    I looked at Dustin then at Cody and Aaron then back to him and said “Dustin. Cody, Aaron, and I saw a strange creature a few weeks ago.” I looked at Cody and said “Was it three weeks ago or four weeks ago”?
    Cody looked at Aaron then at me and said “I think it was three weeks ago, I’m not sure though.” Then looked at Dustin and said “Dustin, I hope you don’t think we’re nuts because of what we say today.” then turned to me and said “You said you know what these things are, so what are they.”
    I got a serious look on my face and said softly “I think they’re Demons, they may just be robots made to look like demons but personally I don’t believe that for a second.” I let the seriousness look leave my face then smiled slightly and said “No matter what they are I’m not going to let them ruin our summer vacation, or dissuade me from what I plan on doing this week.”
    Aaron looked at me and shook his head then said “I can’t believe you think they’re demons.” I just waved for him to give his thoughts on the matter if he didn’t like my idea. Which of course made him say “I think you’ve just been coming up with stuff like this because you are looking for something to do.” Then looked at Cody and said “Hey stupid, what do you think about all of this”?
    Cody said “I think that you’re wrong Aaron.” Then looked at me and said “I think the two of you are just pissed off because Crystal left, so you’re taking it out on each other.” Then got a serious look on his face and said “I do however think that you’re right about these things being demons.”
    Dustin looked at the three of us then shook his head and said “So what exactly are you guys talking about?” Which made Aaron and Cody turn to me as if asking if we should tell him what was up. Making Dustin say “I know there’s some really big plot here that you guys are hiding and I want to know what it is.”
    I looked at him and said “Well about three weeks ago we saw a weird beast in a burning building.” Then closed my eyes thinking and continued “The beast wasn’t effected by the fire and it grinned at the three of us when we watched it.” I turned away from the others and said “Then a few days after that I was walking in the woods and I saw another creature like the one in the window, but this one was in a pond in the woods.” Which made Aaron and Cody glare at my back as I continued by saying “It was different from the one in other ways, like the fact that it was smaller and seemed to be more human looking than the other one.”
    Dustin said “You guys are weird.” Then walked over to the stump I’d been sitting on and said “But I guess I could get to like you guys.” Which made Aaron smile slightly, made me grin and made Cody laugh. Dustin got a knowing smile on his face and said “So how often do you guys meet here anyway?”
    I smiled and said “We meet every two weeks unless one of us calls the others and says they saw something.” Then I got up and started for the edge of the clearing saying over my shoulder “Hey Aaron, Cody, the others are back in town at Danna’s house so when you get the chance stop by.”
    When I said that both of them instantly said “WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US THAT BEFORE!!???!!!!???” Making me laugh without saying anything until they asked “How long have they been in town anyway?”
    I smiled and said “They’ve been in town about twenty minutes and the reason I didn’t say so before is you didn’t ask and I knew you’d want to run to Danna’s place instead of talking.” Then ran off ahead of them before they could ask me anything else that would distract me.
    When I got to Danna’s house, she and Missi were waiting for me on her porch. Which scared me more than anything else that day could have. Danna smiled and said “So how’s everything been while I was on vacation and why didn’t you tell me you had a few friends in Wisconsin and other states”?
    I smiled sheepishly and said “Well I didn’t have a chance to tell you before you left and you told me not to call you unless it was an emergency.” Then tried to walk around her and get in the house.
    Which just made her get in my way again and say “You could have mentioned it while we driving here.” I smiled keeping my mouth shut so I didn’t dig myself into more trouble with her. Danna smiled and said “You’re a smart boy, little brother although I can’t call you little for to much longer can I?”
    I smiled and said “I guess not, I mean I’m almost as tall as you.” She smiled and ruffled my hair then grabbed me and Missi by the shoulder and dragged us inside.

    Chapter 3 The demons appear and the demon hunters come to town.

    I walked out of Danna’s house a few hours after dark and started for my own place. I told the others I’d be back in the morning so no one complained when I left. I decided to walk to my place instead of driving home. After about ten minutes of walking I came to the pond where I’d seen the demon that looked like a human. The first thing I noticed was the demon seemed to have become more human looking. The second thing I noticed was that the demon looked like a teenage girl.
    After a few seconds I noticed that she was being followed by a beast-like demon with glowing red eyes. The beast resembled an alligator crossed with a large anteater. I watched the thing and the girl then noticed that as it got closer to her it started to open it’s jaws. I looked around for something to hit the thing with and saw a broken tree branch hanging down. I broke the branch the rest of the way and cut the bark off it with my pocket knife. Then charged out at the beast and hit it in the back of the head with the branch. Which broke, of course, and made the beast turn around and slash at me with it’s claws.
    I jumped back and looked at the broken branch then said “God damn piece of s**t stick!” Then kicked the beast in the head and yelled “THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO RUN!!!” at the girl. I followed my own instructions and ran for a nearby cave thinking the beast wouldn’t be able to follow me in the darkness. I was dead wrong…It followed me into cave where I punched it in the face. Afterward I climbed out of a large opening in the middle of the roof where moonlight was coming through.
    The beast tried to follow me but it could only get it’s nose through the hole so it snapped at my feet and got the bottom of my shoes. Which really pissed me off and made me pick up a large rock and drop it down the opening into the beast’s waiting mouth. I listened for the sound of the beast chasing me but I only heard the sound of it trying to cough up the stone. I walked back to the pond and the girl was sitting there so I said “Are you alright”?
    She looked at me and said “Thank you for helping get that demon away from me.” I just shrugged and waved it off then started to walk away until she said “Why is a creature like you fighting demons instead of helping them though?”
    I turned around and looked at her then said softly “1 I’m not a creature, 2 I have my own reasons for distrusting your ‘demons’, and 3 I don’t help anyone who tries to hurt the innocent for no reason.” After a few minutes I started to walk away again, but before I got five steps the girl splashed me. I cursed under my breath and turned around just to get splashed in the face. I spit water out of my mouth and said “You are one evil girl.”
    She laughed and said “I’m not evil, I’m mischievous and I’m not human I’m a nymph.”
    I looked at her and said “What’s the difference between a human and a nymph?” She just smiled and walked into the forest then vanished from site. I shook my head cursing myself for not getting her name and convincing her to answer my question then walked home.
    The next morning when I woke up I noticed that their was someone sitting on my bead looking at me. I didn’t react at first other than to rub my eyes, yawn and blink a few times. I figured it was just one of my friends seeing as how they all had keys to my place so I said “Ok which one of you came in while I was asleep?” I waited a few minutes for a response then flipped on the lights and noticed it was the girl from last night, which of course made me jump about five feet in the air knocking her off my bed. I yelled “HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET IN MY HOUSE????!!!!!!!”
    She laughed and said “I climbed in through your window, I’ve been here for about three hours but I didn’t want to wake you.” She noticed I was glaring at her and just laughed then she said “Is something wrong?”
    I nodded and said “Three things are wrong, 1. Your in my house in my room, 2. My girlfriend is coming over, and 3. Your sitting on my stomach so I can’t get up.”
    She smiled and said “I guess I can let you up as long as you don’t try to attack me.” I growled in ascent. She got up and sat down on a chair bye my bed. I sat up and pulled my hat on after picking it up from my bedside table.
    I said “You are very annoying, and also you are going to cause me more
    problems just by being here than that demon did nearly killing me.” After a few seconds I got up and pulled on a shirt then walked downstairs to my kitchen and ate a bowl of cereal. The girl followed me not saying a word for once.
    When she finally spoke the only thing she said was “So what are your plans today?”
    I got up and put my bowl in the sink then said “I plan on spending the day with my girlfriend then relaxing at the lake.” After a few seconds I walked out the door and got onto my motorcycle mumbling “My damn car didn’t want to run after I got it home so I need to go get new parts for it.” Then I drove about ten miles to the local parts store. I walked in and saw Cody who nodded to me and continued talking to the store clerk.
    After a few minutes Cody turned to me and said “So why are you here?”
    I yawned and said “My carbonator and battery died.” Then walked up to the clerk and asked “Do you have a carbonator and a battery for a 2008 dodge viper?” He nodded and went to the back leaving me and Cody unwatched. I looked at the different parts, wrenches, and jumper cables they had in stock.
    After five minutes the clerk came back and said “Here’s your carbonator and your battery, that’ll be 200 dollars.” I nodded and paid him then went outside and got on my bike after putting the carbonator and battery in a Wal-Mart bag and took them home.
    When I got home I put the bag in my garage and then drove back to town and parked my motorcycle in front of Wal-Mart. After fifteen minutes a car with Texas license plates and three people in it pulled up and parked next to me. Before I could get a look inside the car the doors open and all three people got out. I ignored them and walked into Wal-Mart yawning. I turned around once while I was walking and noticed that the three who’d gotten out of the car were following me, but I thought nothing of it seeing as how Wal-Mart was the biggest grocery store in town.
    After I went in and got everything I needed I walked back out to my bike and drove home. When I looked in my rearview mirror I noticed the car from Wal-Mart was following me home. I shook my head mumbling “Well there goes the idea they were just going into Wal-Mart and not following me.” Then I laughed to myself and drove into the forest figuring there car couldn’t weave through trees as easily as my motorcycle. I wasn’t to far off but the three in the car just got out and two of them followed me on their own motorcycles while the other one kept driving parallel to the woods. I didn’t notice that till I was almost home and by then it was to late.
    As soon as I pulled into my drive I rushed inside and grabbed one of the swords hanging on my wall then turned and faced the door ready for a fight. The two who’d followed me on motorcycles took off their helmets and said “We don’t want to fight you but we will if we must.” Which made me almost drop the sword and distracted me from the fact their partner was pulling up.
    The two of them started walking toward me, so I said “Stop or I will kill you.” I knew that if they didn’t believe me they’d keep coming or they’d be smart and listen to me. What I didn’t expect was for the third member of their little group to hold up his hand and make a ‘come here’ gesture toward the other two with his hand. I didn’t think they’d listen to him but they did.
    Then he smiled at me and said “You realize that we aren’t your enemies, kid?” I raised an eyebrow at him as if asking “Why the hell should I trust you?” Which just made him laugh and say “You are pretty smart, kid but you’re being really stupid by not listening to me.” Which just made me laugh and shake my head like he was the one being stupid. He laughed and said softly “Kid if you think this is a game then you better realize I win and you lose.”
    After a few seconds I heard a clinking noise and everything started to go black. I mumbled “You son of a b***h you shot me.” Then everything went completely black, when I woke up I was tied to a table by leather straps on my arms, legs, and stomach. I glanced around and yelled “HEY LET ME OUT OF HERE YOU BASTARDS!!!!” When that didn’t work I started trying to break the straps, which didn’t even crack.
    After a few minutes the leader of the three who’d followed me came in and said “ I never thought I’d have to use a person’s own basement to stop them from trying to kill me and/ or my men.” Then he laughed and said “Who thought my biggest threat when I came to this town would be a kid.” Then looked and me and said “Oh by the way, I’m Jaren commander of a band of demon hunters.”
    Chapter 4 the truth about the demons is revealed
    I looked at Jaren and said softly “Let me go, you son of a b***h, so I can kick your a**!!.” Then I growled at him and started fighting against the straps holding me down. After a few minutes I gave and said “So how did you make this thing anyway?”
    Jaren looked at me and said “The straps were made from some belts we found, the table is from your dining room, and this is your basement.” Then he walked around checking the straps. After a few minutes of checking the straps he said “I’m not letting you go until you calm down and think logically.”
    I didn’t react at first then I said “Fine, I’ll calm down just let me go.” I realize he didn’t trust me enough to let me out right away. So I sighed and said “What do you want me to do to prove I won’t do anything?” Which just made him laugh. I mumbled “I thought as much when you were checking the straps.”
    Jaren laughed and said “Kid you are smart, but I think you’re not smart enough to get out of this and if you are then maybe it will at least take you a while.” He started for the door then stopped and said “I hope you don’t make me leave you down here.” Then started for the door again but said over his shoulder “If you do get out then I guess I’ll owe you an explanation. Oh yeah, I’ll be taking some of your weapons for me and my comrades because ours are out of ammunition.”
    When I was sure Jaren was gone I slipped my pocket knife out of my sleeve and cut the strap holding my right arm down. Then reached over and cut the strap holding my left arm down. After a few seconds I cut my right and left leg’s free. When I was sure no one was going to check on me, I walked to the door and slowly opened it. After a few seconds I stuck my head and slowly looked around then opened the door and walk up the stair case that lead from the basement to the kitchen.
    It took me about five minutes to climb the stairs slowly and soundlessly then I opened the door a crack and heard Jaren say “Well how are preparations going?”
    I waited a few seconds and heard a woman’s voice say “We still have quite a bit of preparing to do Jaren.” I waited a few more seconds and the woman continued “ The vehicles all need gas, the boys weapons need ammunition, and we still haven’t found anything that tells us the boy knows about our enemy.” Which made another person in the room laugh and say something I didn’t understand.
    Jaren said “Most of those problems can be solved quite easily.” Then I heard him walking around and the sound of something opening then closing. After a few seconds Jaren continued “The boy has enough ammunition upstairs to fill up all of his weapons and most of our own, and while I was driving through town I saw an ammunition shop so if we need more we can stock up there.”
    I waited about five minutes then I picked up a few of the baseballs I kept in my pantry and kicked the door open saying “Hey jackasses remember me?”
    Jaren looked at me and said “Kid you don’t know when to stop do you?” Then pulled out a weird gun, pointed it at me, and pulled the trigger. However I was expecting that so I threw one of the baseballs at the same time. Which deflected the missile and made Jaren say “Damn kid you’ve gotten smarter since I put you in that basement.” I ignored his comment and threw a baseball at one of his companions hitting him in the face and making his chair fall over. Then I threw another baseball at him and dived into the hallway.
    I looked around in my hallway searching for one of the many hidden spots along my wall where I kept my hand guns and ammunition. I realized after a few seconds that the only gun I kept nearby was my stun gun. I just mentally shrugged and pulled it out then dove behind an overturned coffee table and prepared to fight. After a few seconds of silence coming from the kitchen I got worried that the three who’d taken my house were coming around behind me. I turned around and ran upstairs muttering “I know this house better than anyone else so I shouldn’t have to worry about you finding a way to sneak up on me up here.”
    I set up traps all along the upstairs hallway then locked myself in my room and looked for anymore weapons I could use. After a few seconds I realized the best weapon I was going to get was the stun gun so, I made a mental note to get more guns and keep them hidden when this was done. After a few minutes I heard someone coming up the stairs then the sound of my first few traps going off. After a few seconds I heard Jaren’s male counterpart yell “THE BRAT LAYED A BUNCH OF TRAPS!!!” Then the sound of something falling down the stairs. I smiled to myself then turned around and was face to face with Jaren.
    After a few seconds I said “You’ve got to be kidding me!?!” and kicked him out the window. Then I looked down at him and yelled “ b*****d IF YOU WANT A FIGHT THEN COME UP THE STAIRS, INSTEAD OF USING MY WINDOW!!!” Then I slammed it shut and faced the door ready for just about anything. After a few seconds I looked around and saw something moving in my closet. So I walked over and pulled the door open. I looked around and saw the nymph from earlier and said “What the hell are you doing in my closet?”
    She smiled and said “Well you see I’m a little worried about that man who was in here earlier.” Then looked around and said “Also you are the only one who can defeat him in a fight so I want you to protect me.” After a few seconds she looked around my room and made a tsking sound. She looked at the door and said “That’s not going to hold him or his allies out, but he won’t come in your window since you challenged his honor.”
    I said “How did I challenge his honor and why do you think I’m the only one who can defeat him?” After a few seconds I just shook my head muttering “Why doesn’t it surprise me that demon hunters would scare a nymph, and said nymph would tell me a bunch of bullshit.” Then I yawned and said “Ok so how long we have before they come up?”
    The nymph got a dark look on her face and said “We have ten minutes before he gets in and in that time you have to prepare yourself for a fight.” Then she walked back toward the closet and closed herself inside it. After a few seconds she said “When he comes in don’t tell him about me or the demon from the other night until the two of you fight each other.”
    I nodded and did calming exercises then closed my eyes and focused on a place deep inside myself. After about five minutes I stood up and smiled then kicked the door open and walked out on the landing. Then I popped my neck and watched the stairs carefully ready for anyone or anything. Jaren ran up the stairs and said “Where’s all this energy coming fro…m?” Then got a strange look on his face and said “How can a human have so much energy?”
    I smiled and said “I don’t know what you’re talking about but I do know that I’m going to kick your a**.” After a few seconds I kicked him in the stomach knocking him down the stairs. As soon as I’d kicked Jaren down the stairs I jumped out my window and landed in my front yard facing the front door. I didn’t realize how odd an occurrence was that even though I’d been on the second floor I wasn’t hurt after jumping to ground level.
    Jaren ran out of my house grinning and said “ It appears I underestimated you, I figured you were just some human kid but I was wrong.” Then slammed his fist into my gut making me cough up blood and double over. He got a dark look on his face and said “Then let’s test how strong you are.” Then kicked me into a tree nearly knocking me out.
    I got up and popped my back then said “Ok now I’m pissed.” After a few seconds I ran into him and slammed my knee into his stomach. He coughed then stood up and aimed a punch at my face, but I ducked underneath it and hit him in the jaw with an upper cut. He fell over then kicked my feet out from under me and slammed his leg down onto my stomach making me cough up more blood. I got up and kicked him into a tree. He looked at me and smiled then threw a rock at my face. I moved away from it then kicked him in the face saying “Play fair you b*****d.”
    Jaren got up rubbing his jaw and said softly “Now I’m angry, and it’s my turn to get serious.” After a few seconds he ran at me and kicked me into the wall. Then charged at me and punched at my face with a dark look on his face. I moved out of the way in the knick of time, and slammed my fists into his stomach over and over.
    Jaren doubled over and I slammed my leg down on his back knocking him onto his stomach then put a knife to his neck and said “You lose.” He nodded unable to talk then coughed up blood and passed out. I fell into a sitting position with my eyes closed just as Aaron and Cody pulled up.
    I heard there voices faintly as if from a far away place then fell into unconsciousness. When I woke I up I was in my room with Cody watching the door and Aaron holding a blade to the tied up Jaren’s throat. I laughed and said “I guess I won our fight Jaren.” Which made him grimace while Cody and Aaron laughed.
    Cody got a serious look on his face and said “ You know if you were going to have a party you could have invited us!!!!” Which had me laughing and Jaren smiling. Then we both broke into coughing fits shaking our heads. When I finally caught my breath Cody said “So what really happened, and don’t tell me it was a god damn party.” I just smiled then glanced at my closet and saw the nymph watching us. Jaren followed my eyes and shook his head as if not believing what he saw.
    I smiled and said “I didn’t throw a party more like the party came to me and the guy Aaron’s holding is the one who brought it.” Then I slowly got up and stretched. After a few seconds I walked over to Jaren and said “So why the hell did you and your friends follow me?” He sighed and nodded his head in the directions of Aaron and Cody so I said “You can speak in front of them it’s not like I care.”
    He shrugged and said “Fine with me.” and tried to pop his neck. Then said “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know if you or you’re friends will untie me.” I nodded to Aaron to do as he asked then glanced at Cody. Cody nodded as if knowing what I was asking with my glance then watched Jaren closely. Jaren smiled and rubbed his wrists saying “You’re first question was why did we follow you. That’s simple me and my partners were looking for a shape shifter named Syntax, who escaped an ally of mine’s base on a motorcycle.” Then looked at me and said “I thought you were him because of how you kept watching me and my partners.”
    I smiled and said softly “I watched you because you were knew in town and my instincts were saying to be careful.” Then turned to Cody and said “You and Aaron can go down stairs if you want or you can listen to all this, I don’t really care.” After a few seconds I closed my eyes and said softly “Jaren please continue.”
    Jaren nodded and said “If that’s the case that was our mistake but you could have told us that instead of threatening to kill us.” Then looked around and said “ Syntax wasn’t the only reason I came to this town, I was also sent here by the head of the group I work for.” After a few seconds he looked back at me and said “If you want this town to stay alive you’re going to help me catch Syntax.”
    Cody looked at him and laughed then said “You really want us to help you after you broke into Jake’s house and then nearly killed each other?” After a few more seconds he said “You want us to believe that this syntax guy is going to destroy our town if you don’t catch him? I think that’s a load of bull-crap.” Then he glanced at me and said “Jake why don’t we just tie him up and put sewing needles under his fingernails until he tells us the truth?”
    I shook my head and said “No I believe him Cody, I just don’t feel like working with him unless we have to.” Then I got up, walked outside, and stretched. After a few seconds I walked back inside yawning and said “Well now that all of that is out of the way why don’t we all have some lunch.”
    Dustin walked in right when I said lunch and asked “Did someone say something about food?” Then his stomach growled and all of us laughed. After a few seconds I nodded in answer to his question and went into the kitchen.
    When I got in the kitchen the first thing I noticed was Missi and Danna were sitting at my kitchen table talking to Jaren’s female companion. While Jared talked to his male companion. So I said “Ok why are the bad guys talking to my friends and why are you guys in my kitchen?” Which had everyone turning to look at me.
    After a few seconds Missi said “Jake this is Genna, she came here with her friends Jaren and John.” Then glanced at Genna and said “Genna I think you know Jake since he’s giving you dark looks.” After a few seconds she looked at me again and said “So how did you two meet and why do you dislike her so much?”
    I sighed and muttered “It’s a long story.” Then I walked to the fridge and grabbed out some meats and cheeses for the sandwiches I’d told everyone I’d get. After a few seconds I looked at Missi and said “The first part of why I dislike her is she and her friends broke in my house.” I took a deep breath and continued “Second they also tied me up in my cellar and finally they nearly killed me.”
    Danna looked at me and then at Genna and said “Jake you make enemies way to easily, from what we can see Genna is a nice person.” Then stood up and walked outside. When she came back in she threw an apple at my head saying “So what happened to make you dislike Genna and her friends so much?” I shook my head not saying anything.
    After a few seconds I said “I’m not going to repeat myself just because you don’t pay attention when you’re spoken to.” Then I turned to Genna and said “Your friend wants my help to look for Syntax, are you going to help us look for him?” After a few seconds I said to Missi “If you want you can come along with us Missi it’s fine with me.” Then I got up made sandwiches and walked upstairs. After a few minutes I opened the door to my room set down the sandwiches and walked outside. I sat by a tree eyes closed thinking about my dreams. After a while I felt something or someone tapping on my shoulder so I opened my eyes and saw Missi looking at me. I smiled and said “Hey Missi, What’s up?”
    She smiled and said “Hey, everyone else went to Danna’s so we are finally alone together.” Making me smile and laugh softly not saying a word. After a couple of seconds she sat down next to me and said “What’s on your mind?” I shrugged then closed my eyes sighing.
    I opened my eyes and said “Life’s really weird, the bad guys turned out to be good guys this time and now there’s an even bigger bad guy in Mena probably trying to destroy it.” Then I kisses her lightly and said “But at least I’ve got you here.” She smiled and nodded, So I continued “I’m glad we’re alone I don’t need the others to know what I’m thinking.” I’m not sure who I can or can’t trust anymore was going through my mind as I sat there with Missi. After a few minutes I sighed and popped my neck.
    Missi shook her head saying “You know that sound bothers me yet you make it anyway.” I just shrugged and looked up at the tree’s top. After a while I sighed and looked back at Missi then smiled.
    I laughed softly and said “I know that sound bothers you but my neck was really killing me same as my shoulder but I’m being very careful not to pop that either.” I sighed and stood up thinking “If my life gets any better or any worse it will probably kill me.” and headed toward the house. She got up and followed me then sat next to me. I glanced at her and said “Yes?”
    She smiled and said “Why are you headed to the house when it’s just as nice outside?” I shrugged and continued walking. She just stayed alongside me and said “Mind if I come along or would you prefer to be alone?” I just smiled not saying anything.
    When we got inside I said “If you want to stay in here with me you can if not then don’t, your decision to make but I warn you that I’ll be working on my novel.” I walked upstairs not waiting for a response and went into my room then switched on my computer. After it finished booting up I went online and checked the news. When I saw nothing new was happening with the world I brought up my site. I opened up the file containing my book and started typing where I’d left off. After about five minutes I felt like someone was watching but figured I was just on edge. When it didn’t stop after ten more minutes passed I turned around and saw Missi was sitting there watching me type. I raised an eyebrow at her and said “Is there something I can help you with?” She just laughed and shook her head then walked over and put her arms on my shoulders. I glanced at her and said “What’s up?”
    Missi smiled and me and said “In answer to your question earlier I don’t mind if you work on your book but I have more productive things we could be doing.” I laughed softly not letting my thoughts show. After a few minutes she said “No questions, that’s new for you.” I nodded and turned off my computer after saving my work. Then I walked outside, pulled out my pocket knife and carved my initials into a tree thinking. When I finished I put a symbol that looked like a full moon underneath it. After a few minutes I stood up and stretched popping my neck. I walked inside and the others were all sitting at my kitchen table discussing ways to track syntax. I guess I stated the obvious when I said “Syntax is a demon right, then why don’t we just give him bait to follow.”
    Everyone turned to me and said “Where are we going to get bait?”
    I said “There’s a sprite nearby we can use.” Then turned away and led everyone outside when we got out there…….”
    I said “Well you know the rest, Dustin.”