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Chapter 20
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2024-10-29 19:42:56It began as a whispering in the air. The day had been beautiful, and the sky was like a dome of plasma blue. The clouds had looked like airy anvils drifting under the gleaming disc of the sun.
They had put a tent up just before the Reaper's autumn moon appeared over the trees. The moon seemed to turn the leaves into a flaming patchwork of colors: scorching yellows, lava-reds, and burnished browns. It added an alien glamour to a perfect scene. They heard a greedy thrush, snail a-tapping on rock; he finished his supper before fluttering into the owl light of the forest. The mournful cry of a lonely fox echoed through the vault-still silence of the trees.
A huffing wind rose then, stirring the flaps of their tent.
A tinkling sound came to the ears as the first pearls of rain dropped onto the leaves. The sound was like the glassy clinking of a champagne flute, lilting and clear. A sheet of rain passed over them, and the sound intensified. The noise in the tent was l
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Retrograde Chapter 21
“I feel like something is wrong with my sister; she has been acting strangely lately.”"What do you mean?"“I haven't heard from her for a while. She would usually check in on me, but this time she did not. It's been days since I last heard from her.”"Maybe you should call her if she doesn't call you; for all you know, she might be in danger.""My sister in danger? She can fight her way out of anything. Believe me; we have been fighting our whole life.""It's a pity I have never met your sister. She sounds like a wonderful person."“You will meet her soon, Marcus.”Since it was a holiday, the two had decided to stay indoors, watch television, and play some games. There was a sudden banging sound on the door, "dont tell me it's those same cops who had harrassed us the other day."“Well, we all know only cops knock on the door like this,” Jack stood up and opened the door. It was t
Retrograde Chapter 22
"Will I ever find this house? I've been driving for hours." It's dark and stormy. Angela is trying to keep her eyes open. She hasn't had a decent sleep in days.While driving along the narrow road, Angela notices a supermarket, and to her surprise, it's open and empty. She climbs out entering the supermarket; there is no cashier either. She walks through the supermarket and gets some soda. When she notices a dead lady wearing a blue jacket in the aisle, she seems to be in her early forties. She hides when she hears the door opening from the back of the supermarket. “Someone just entered here; lock the door. That truck was not there before. Let's split up." Says a male voice."Why must I always get myself in these situations," Angela whispers to herself. She sees the opportunity and slowly walks through the back door, locking it from the outside. The back door leads to a staircase going down.She is out by the stairs and checks the CCTV on the TV. The men r
Retrograde Chapter 23
"Why do you have a picture of Nicole?" Marcus looked at Jack, "do you know her?" He asked."Of course I do. I know Nicole, and I know you know her. Be straight with me. Why are you here, and why are you acting so strange?"Marcus looked around, "me acting strange? You are the one who is acting all weird. I don't have time for this. I have to go.""But Marcus?" Jack grabbed his arm, "why are you running?" Marcus looked at Jack and pulled away, "let me go before you get hurt."Jack opened his hand, "I am just looking for answers. Relax, man."Marcus shook his head, "you looking for answers?" Marcus's face started to turn red. "Maybe the answers you are looking for are right in the mirror."Jack frowned, "can you stop speaking in riddles and be straight up?""Straight up? Sure Jack, perhaps you should be out there looking for your sister than standing here interrogating me.”Marcus walked off as Jack stood there, " what does
Retrograde Chapter 24
He walked down the hallway, and everyone was whispering and looking at him, "Jack, are you okay?" Claire asked.Jack looked at Claire, then smiled, "Yes, I am, are you guys okay?" Claire was wearing her blue wool jersey, which matched her eyes, and light blue denim pants; she was holding her books."About what happened on Saturday, it was just crazy. Had you not been there, I dont know what would have happened."Max came walking down the hallway with two of his friends. He looked at Jack and never greeted him. He never stopped to greet Claire, either."What's up with him?""With who? Max? I am not sure, but ever since that incident, he never contacted me.""Hey guys, what happened Saturday was crazy. Jack took those thugs down. It was like watching a 3D movie right in front of me. Jack, how did you do that? I mean, you were so calm and collected you had saved Max's ass."Melanie, “enough, im sure Jack has things to do. Rig
Retrograde Chapter 25
"What was that about Melanie? You threw Jack under the bus." Melanie smiled, "my mom is here. I have to go."Claire saw Max standing there with his two friends by the car. Claire walked up to Max, "Max, can we talk?" Max brushed his hair to the back."Sure, Claire, what's up?""So we on first name bases?"Max shrugged his shoulder; "there's your friend; shouldn't you be running to him?""Max, what got into you? Are you jealous?""Me, Jealous, no way I'm not Jealous of that freak.""He saved your life, and you never even thanked him."Max laughed loudly, "that asshole never saved my life, Claire. I didn't need anyone's help.""Thats why you were pleading, Max. But never mind, what are you doing this evening? We are having a little party over at the beach?""I'm down, babe. I will see you there.""Great, see you there, or will you be picking me up?""I will be going with Joey, so is it cool if I just m
Retrograde Chapter 26
Angela pulled out her gun, pointing it at it the stranger. The man mockingly looked at her, "I don't think you can shoot anything." Without hesitation, Angela shot the guy in the leg as he dropped to the ground holding his leg."You will pay for this. This is bigger than you think. “Angela looked at him and pressed her thumb into the bullet wound. "you are a joke.""Where is the missing girl?""What missing girl?" Angela pushed her finger more profoundly into the wound as he screamed in pain."Where is the girl?""What bloody girl?" He snapped. Angela felt a breeze on the back of her neck. As she turned around, there was nothing, just darkness and wet ground with a small light.Angela had looked for a rope that's when she noticed what appeared like a barn."What is in there?" The guy stubbornly looked away, curling up his lips. Angela hit the guy in the face with the back of the revolver."Two can play the game."
Retrograde Chapter 27
"I wish my heart could stop racing around her." Jack lay on the bed that night thinking of Claire, her blue eyes and blonde hair, the smile. He found himself restless thinking of her.He then turned on his side and saw a family photo from when his mom was asleep, they looked like the happiest family, and in a matter of days, everything fell apart; he then remembered he had not heard of Angela. He reached down for his phone and dialed her number. It went through to voicemail, thats odd; her phone is always on. He tried redialing her number it went through to voicemail. He then called his dad, "Dad, how are you?""I'm doing okay, thanks, son; how is your sister doing?""Thats why I called you dad; I cannot get hold of her. Have you heard of her?""No, son, but I will be home soon; I will try calling her phone.""Dad? Hello? Are you there?" The line on the other end dropped; Jack looked at his phone; his mobile lost signal, " dammit, this network."
Retrograde Chapter 28
Jack reached home and found the house a mess. The tables were tilted, and the glass had broken on the ground, “What did they want from my dad.”As he walks to the kitchen, he questions and notices a set of beads on the table.He picked up the beads and stood against the counter, looking out the kitchen window. With everything that was happening, all he could think of was Claire as he grabbed the knife and banged it into the kitchen table. What was the connection between her and Marcus? Why was he so secretive, and who could he trust?The night went by as he tidied up. After cleaning up the downstairs, he locked the burglar bar gate and let the dogs loose in the back to the front of the yard.Exhausted and feeling alone, he sat on the bed, and thats when he remembered his phone on the counter, eighteen missed calls. Checking the call log, it was seventeen from Claire and one from an unknown number. Claire had messaged him a few times, asking wh
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Retrograde Epilogue
Angela en Rogan had a good night together, while Jessica had a terrible night.Claire returned to the safe house and asked for jack, but Jack had disappeared, and nobody knew where he had gone to. Will he come back, and why does Claire need him?What will happen in the safe house? Will there be more drama, or can they finely solve their differences?A lot is waiting to happen, but for now, it is still a mystery.-To be continued-Let us know what you think of this first book. There are more to follow.We would love to know your ideas of what might happen with them in the following books.
Retrograde Chapter 70
"You like her, don't you?""Like who, Nicole?""Do not act dumb, Jack. I saw how you looked at Jessica.”"Guys, it's one in the morning. What is going on?”Jack looked at his sister and shook his head. Nicole had been crying; Angela sat beside Nicole, squeezed her hand, then let out a gentle smile, "want to tell me what happened?"Nicole looked up at Angela, “it's Jack. He likes Jessica.”Angela was waiting for Nicole to say something."You know we love and care about you and will always be here for you, but you and my brother split up before the accident.”Jessica stood outside the door, hearing the conversation. She couldn't help but feel relieved that Angela had talked with Nicole. She looked across the passage and saw Jack's room light was on. Jessica tip-toed over to his room and looked inside. He sat with something in his hand; she couldn't make it out what it was.“He stil
Retrograde Chapter 69
“Why is everyone afraid of him?” Nicole asked."Well, sooner or later, you will know more about him. Rogan is not the type of guy you see here; he is a well-known international person, and people he deals with are in the underworld.”“The underworld?” Nicole said."Yes, where the money laundering, drugs gangs, and druglords are. He spent billions on creating that market. Have you heard of the site salt that comes from the dark web? Well, Rogan has the real thing running.”"Does that not create alot of enemies? Make people dislike you?""Of course. Why do you think I kept my identity a secret?"My brother never exposes himself, which is why I am surprised we came here. Angela looked over at Jessica, "what about you, Jessica? How do you feel about all this?""Angela, we've come a long way. You would know how I feel about it but, just like." Angela stopped her, “rather not say.”Jess
Retrograde Chapter 68
"Sorry, Angela, for bringing it up. It's better to let it out than to keep it bottled up, being uncertain."Nicole looked ahead and sunk in her seat, “it's him, "it's him, the guy who raped me."She pointed at a fifty-year-old white guy with a thirteen-year-old girl standing next to him. "Stop this car immediately,” Jessica demanded.Angela pulled over to the car, and Jessica walked up behind the older man, pulled out her gun, and shot him in the back of his head in broad daylight. Angela ducked down in the car, "what did you just do?""You saw what I did. That asshole deserved it.""He did, but come on, in broad daylight, we can't go doing shit like that in broad daylight.”Nicole sat in silence, watching the two girls talk. Jessica dared to kill the man in broad daylight for her sake. No one would do what Jessica did; she showed no emotion or remorse for what she had just done. “What if they saw the license plate An
Retrograde Chapter 67
Arriving at the hospital, Nicole and the others are waiting for the doctor."Don’t be nervous. You will be fine.""I dont feel that way. Right now, my heart is beating fast."She takes Angela's hand, placing it on her chest. "can you feel that?"Angela nods, "you will be fine try not to overthink it."Jessica is sitting on the opposite chair, is becoming impatient, then stands up and walks over to the reception. A young lady with red curly hair wearing red lipstick and a formal black skirt looks up."Can I help you, mam?""I don’t know, mam, if you are capable of doing anything else than sit there ignoring instead of lifting your ass off that chair and coming over to us to tell us what the holdup is?"The receptionist flickers her eyebrows, looking down at her file, then looks ups, "The doctor will let me know when I can let you in.""Is that not the whole reason we call in for an appointment?""Yes, b
Retrograde Chapter 66
"How do you know Rogan again?" Nicole stood with her arms folded, tapping her foot on the ground.Jack walked up to her, "Nicole, we broke up that day before you left. I am not sure if you remember that day. We went out separate ways saying no hard feelings.”Nicole eased her arms to her side and walked over to the window, staring out, "if we broke up, why am I here?""Because you have been through alot and me and my sister want to make sure you get treatment. After all, we both lost families."Nicole's eyes became teary, "so you never loved me?" She said, staring out the window and looking at the tree and the rain."I loved you, Nicole, but we both agreed we were better off as friends.""How do I know you are telling the truth and not just saying so because Jessica is here?""Jessica and I never had the connection we had. What we had was amazing. We built memories and had a great time together."Nicole folded her arms, s
Retrograde Chapter 65
"How did you find us here?""Well, you have known me since school. I've been good at sniffing out hiding places, Im like a trained dog on a leash."Thats quite a term to use, Marcus thought.Rogan had this smile when he smiled understandingly, much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance that you may come across four or five times in life.It faced –or seemed to face– the eternal world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. He was commonplace in complexion, features, manners, and voice. He was tall and of ordinary build. His eyes, of the usual blue, were perhaps remarkably cold, and he certainly could make his glance fall on one as trenchant and heavy as an axe."So, will you tell us how you found it?" Angela crossed her arms.With his long shoulder-length curly hair, Rogan walked over to the fridge. Opening it, "your broth
Retrograde Chapter 64
"What are you doing here?" Mark looked surprised, "the question is, why are you here, and where does this lead to?" "To my garage." Mark acted surprised, "fancy car in a garage?" "Yes, this belongs to a friend." Claire looked over Mark's shoulder, "why are they here?" “We came down here for some work and ended up trying to open whatever this is?" "Would you mind if we gave a peek inside?" Angela stood with her arms crossed, blocking Mark, the guys who climbed out stepped forward, "Gentleman, please give me some space?" He said, sounding annoyed. "Okay, boss." "Quite a title you have there, boss?" "Yes, they work for me on a construction site." "Construction site at this hours. I bet they get paid well over time, do you boys." She leaned her neck forward, grinning." "Of course they do. I take care of my staff." "Good to know, Mark." "Are you able to direct where you
Retrograde Chapter 63
"Marcus, I don't think your sister is fine. She is going backward." "What do you mean?" "She is saying things that make no sense, and she kept singing, hush, little baby." "Thats a song my mom sang to us when we were afraid." Marcus grew concerned, clenching his fist, “those assholes fucked her mentally." "We must take her to a doctor for an MRI." Marcus walked over to the window, staring out. Lacy white-edged clouds rolled in over the blue sky, their centers as deep as any shoreline rock. “The weather is getting worse. It looks like we are expecting a storm.” Angela hurried over to the window glancing out, "What about Jack?" "He's like a cat with nine lives." Marcus joked, regretting his words afterward when seeing how concerned Angela was, "he will be okay." Angela looked at him with her deep soulful eyes, then walked over to the other end of the window, "Do you know Jack has always been the strong one
