Time To Wake
Prologue
It wakes.
It stirred in the darkness.
An unnoticed event, only witnessed by those few insomniacs among the weary bats hanging above it.
It had awakened; it had come back from Centuries of sleep.
The world he left behind has long since gone.
He could feel the warmth of his hot blood coursing through him now.
His grayish, black body…his wings, began to feel warmth again.
His muscles twitched.
He slowly opened his eyes.
Bright lights, they did not feel familiar to him.
The sounds were like nothing he had ever heard.
Unidentified smells in the air filled his nostrils.
He took in a deep breath…
He was leery of this new time and place.
He stood…slowly, stretching his body and spreading his wings.
He was a magnificent specimen.
His wings span over twenty feet from tip to tip.
He took in another deep breath, threw back his head and out came such an ear-piercing screech…just for the shear pleasure of his return.
His torso resembles that of a human man, but his fingernails and toenails were clawed talons.
His face was that of a man with oddities.
For instance, his teeth were sharply pointed and he had fangs.
His lips were very thin…almost non-existent.
His nose was that of a flat rounded look with a slight point on the end.
His eyes looked human till he opens them.
They are of the deepest, darkest black, but turn to fiery orbs when the creature is agitated.
A glow…of absolute hatred.
His hair is of the purest white and in the style of a Mohawk.
The length came down to just below the back of his legs.
His small horns were visible and with hatred, the Devil could never match…
He also had a long thin tail with an arrowhead for the tip.
He stands a little over 8 feet tall and has a Hunger, ah yes, the Hunger…
His strength could never be matched in this world.
There are no Slayer’s…in this time…in this place.
For he may be the last of his kind…for now
As he looks around he notices there are more like him.
He opened his wings slightly and glided over to the roof of the building right across from were he stood, walked over to a stone statue of his kind.
“He does not look familiar to me” he spoke aloud to himself with a deep, throaty growl in his voice.
He reached out to touch the statue…it crumbled ever so slightly.
He stepped back, eyes wide.
“He is not real”, he spoke, “But how can this be. What is this world? Who could have created, this?”
The creature flexed his muscular body, stretched once again then shook off the chill that ran up his spine.
He stood as though he were mounted on a cross, to allow the cool breeze to run across his pale, grayish, black skin.
Every part of this creature was a deadly weapon.
Devastating, deadly.
He was the reason so many lives were lost all those Centuries ago.
For this demonic creature, such questions…and he holds most of the answers.
The demon creature looked over the edge of the building he was on, down onto the busy streets of the new city of Los Angeles.
He could not believe what he was seeing.
Everything has changed so.
And the noise…
Loud screeching as tires squeal to a stop.
People, yelling obscenities at each other.
The demon took in a deep breath once again…
“Yesss…I can smell it here. It is strong. I will thrive here, in this now” he spoke to himself in a low deep, throaty voice.
The demon creature perched himself upon the ledge of the building and let out another ear-piercing screech.
For Savanna Blue…it echoed in her ears.
“Oh my God”, she whispered to herself, “It’s awake”.
Destiny
Destiny (des’te ne);n;pl. 1. that which is to happen or has happened to a particular person or thing; lot or fortune. 2. the predetermined, usually inevitable or irresistible course of events. 3. the power or agency which determines course of events. 4. (cap) this power personified or represented as a Goddess. 5. THE DESTINIES, the Fates…
Chapter One
Part One
The year is 2071. Los Angeles has change drastically over the years. Many things have changed around the world over the years. Los Angeles is one of the last great cities standing. There are more and more cities still trying to rebuild and yet, more and more survivor’s making their way.
There was another small tremor…there are only small ones now.
Old buildings…shifted.
Most had slept through it, except for those few young children who haven’t experienced it long. Their cries could be heard in the quiet of the night.
Many still slept…all but one.
He has come back from Centuries of sleep.
He has awakened in a new world…
1
Savanna Blue was up before dawn.
“I know this feeling is suppose to mean something…but what?” she whispered to absolutely no one, “I believed the stories, but I really never” her train of thought was broken from the sound of her phone ringing.
“Blue here. Give it to me” she spoke into the receiver.
“Yeah Blue. Young here. The Captain wants to see both of us, a-sap.”
“Be right there Curt. Chow”.
She hung up the phone and headed to the bathroom to grab a quick shower and change for work. She grabbed one of Chubby’s Cab’s on the corner of Thunder and Lightening were her building still stood firm. As she walked through the front doors of the 9th Precinct, Curtis Young, her partner of 5 years, was anxiously waiting for her.
“Savvy. Where the hell have you been?” Curtis said as he rushed towards her.
“Put your cock back into your pants Curt. You know how hard it is to flag a cab in this city since” she paused “What’s up?” and she flashed him a flirty smile.
“Is your scanner off or what?” Curtis asked her.
“WH-a-a”, she began but Curtis cut her off.
“Somethin really fuckin weird happened last night”.
Curtis was talking as he and Savanna walked towards the locker rooms. Savanna pushed the door open and headed towards her locker. Curtis Young was hot on her heels.
“There was a fuckin murder last night Savvy,” Curtis continued.
“Curt, there is always a murder last night and hey there is a woman present, so watch the language some” she smiled and winked at him again. She had always had a soft spot for Curtis. She had realized it about a week after they had been partnered together.
“Come on Savvy, let me finish”.
Savanna closed her locker door and stood looking at Curtis with her arms crossed.
“Well?”
“Last night” Curt began again, “They found the body of a Jane Doe”.
Savanna was still looking at Curt and listening.
“Savvy” Curt looked a little pale now.
“Curt, you okay?” Savanna reached for her partner.
“Savvy, what this guy did to her…your gonna have to see for yourself”.
Just at that moment Captain Michel Murphy also known as “The Hammer” pushed open the locker room doors.
“There you both are. What the hell are you two doing in here? Shouldn’t you both be out there bustin chops and solving crimes?”
“We’re just on our way out, Captain” Savanna told him.
“Well move then people. Let’s catch this guy before he hits again”.
Savanna and Curtis made their way past the Captain. They made their way through a couple of hooker’s, a junkie, and a couple of a domestic abuse situations to the front doors of the 9th Precinct then too their cruiser.
“Well Savvy. What do ya wanna do first?” Curtis asked her as he buckled his seat belt.
“Well Curt my dear, how about a date with the Medical Examiner?”
She buckled her seat belt, stuck the key in the ignition, and turned. The cruiser started first crack. She put the cruiser in gear and headed towards the Medical Examiner’s office on the corner of Main and Fellows. They met the Medical Examiner, Nole Blackthorn, at the front door.
“What’s new and exciting Nole?” Savanna asked as she shook his hand.
Nole Blackthorn had been the main Medical Examiner the 9th Precinct used, as he was the best in his field. Nole also had Crime Lab Training and was very matriculate in everything he did. His morgue was so spotless you couldn’t get a single fingerprint no matter how hard you tried. You could spend the whole day dusting; same can be said about his Labs as well. At least that is the rumor and long-standing joke going around the 9th.
“Well I can tell you this much Detectives” he paused, “I have never in my ten years as a cop and twenty as a Medical Examiner, seen anything so horrific in my life. And let me assure you both, I have seen some pretty horrific things”.
He took off his black thinned rimmed glasses and began cleaning them with a small rag he took from his lab coat’s left side pocket.
Savanna looked at Blackthorn, “Lead the way Doc. We’re right behind ya”.
Placing his glasses back on, Blackthorn led both Detectives down a long white empty hall. The walls on either side had no windows or a single picture hanging on them. They entered the lab, which was right across from a door that said “MORGUE” on it. Once inside the lab they saw a steel gurney with a small, slender female body covered with a white sheet, staining red. To the left was a large desk with some hi tech equipment and a computer on it. There were filing cabinets and shelves along the wall beside the large desk. Chemicals filled every shelf it seemed. To the right a coat rack in the corner with several lab coats neatly hung, and a door that said WASHROOM. A table in the far corner with papers in a very neat pile, a cup of coffee and a brown paper bag, Savanna thought to herself; they’re right, he is definitely an obsessive clean freak.
Curtis, Savanna and Nole were now standing beside the corpse, of a female Jane Doe.
“Her time of death is approximately around midnight to 1 a.m. See here” Nole paused with both hands on the red stained sheet, ready to pull it back to reveal to both Detectives, the young woman’s torn body. He looked at them both carefully then continued, “I hope neither of you have eaten or have weak stomachs”.
He wasn’t smiling.
Nole pulled back the sheet. He showed both Detectives that the young Jane Doe was still quite easy to move.
There really wasn’t much of her left.
“Riga mortise has set in, but there just isn’t enough of her left to really stiffen up.
“We need to know what you know Doc. We can take it” Curtis said to him, hoping, praying he wouldn’t be the one to choke.
Savanna stood in silence…just one of many victims she had seen on that very table in her five years as a Detective. It wasn’t her first and won’t be her last.
“Everything I have gotten from the her so far is over there, bagged, tagged and ready to go”, Blackthorn said as he pointed towards the cabinet near his desk.
Savanna looked at Nole, “Thanks Doc. How long will it take to look at the evidence?”
“I have someone from my team coming to collect it. He should be here soon. I have it down as a rush order”.
“Thanks Doc” Curtis said feeling a ball beginning to rise in his throat.
“Not a problem. Well let’s take another look then, shall we”.
Blackthorn carefully removed the red stained sheet completely from the young woman’s body, but left it on the gurney at the young Jane Doe’s feet.
Curtis turned his head. In his five years on the force he had never seen anything as gruesome as this.
Savanna stood looking…still silent, still showing no emotion.
“I did the usual autopsy and other than what you see here the victim was a very healthy young woman…once” Nole began.
“Any clue what did this to her Doc? I mean is it human error or animal savagery?” Savanna finally spoke.
“Both. I think. I can’t say for sure at this point, but most of these bruises here look to be made by a human. I would say that these were made by some kind of large animal. What kind, I really can’t say right now. If I had to, I would have said it was a large dog, but see here” Nole showed the Detectives the sharp jagged teeth marks on the young Jane Doe’s rib cage, “These look to be like animal canines, but they could also be human, this guy could have file his teeth. I’ve seen that a few times, believe it or not. Or they could be his dog’s teeth” Nole was silent for a moment,” I can say this much. Jane Doe here put up a good fight. I got some skin samples and a single hair sample” Blackthorn continued, “We’ll know for sure very soon”.
The three of them stared down at Jane Doe’s lifeless torn body in complete silence.
“Okay Doc. It’s your show,” said Savanna, breaking the silence.
Nole started again, “Well, x-rays aren’t showing us anything. She was strangled per say, and-” Curtis stopped him short.
“What do you mean per say Doc. Was she or wasn’t she strangled?”
“Well” Nole started again, “He held her by the throat with his left hand, and with great strength. See here” he pointed to the bruising around her neck area, “This guy has got massive hands”, Nole said as he looked up at Savanna.
“How’s that Doc?” she asked
“Well. See here. The bruising in the front and on the sides of her neck are darker, and he must file his nails to a point” Nole pulled Jane Doe’s ragged body towards him, “See the five small puncture marks here on the back of her neck were the bruising is lighter. The thumb was here and the four fingers here, here, here and here, which show he is left, handed. I am positive the puncture marks are due to sharpened fingernails” both Detectives moved closer get a better look.
Curtis pulled out a pad of paper from the breast pocket of his leather jacket and began taking notes.
“Are you saying Jane Doe was strangled with one hand Doc?” Curtis asked still writing.
Nole looked up at Detective Young, “Yes Detective. That is what I’m saying” then he continued with the description of Jane Doe’s lifeless, savagely torn apart body.
Jane Doe’s eyes were open ever so slightly.
Nole pulled back both eyelids only to show the Detectives empty sockets.
“He took her eyes doc? But why?” Savanna asked feeling a little uneasy now.
“Maybe she saw too much. Maybe it’s part of some kind of sadistic ritual. I’m not really sure yet” Nole answered.
Nole began moving down the body.
Savanna was paying close attention to the way the flesh was ripped from the bone. She was sure if she closed her eyes she would be able to picture the attack. She could see Jane Doe’s terrified face as she fought for her very life. She could almost feel the pain she must have felt as her flesh was being ripped from her body.
Then…nothing…
Curtis was still hoping he could keep his breakfast were it was suppose to be…in his stomach. He really did not want to choke. Not now. Not in front of Savanna.
“See these deep lashes around her legs and ankles. I’m still working on it, but I think he used some kind of rope or maybe a leash. He must have taken that with him though because I didn’t see it anywhere. Sharp fingernails made these here. It looks like once she had enough open wounds he started using his bare hands to rip her skin from her bones” Nole paused for a moment as if to collect his thoughts, then began again, “There are more of these puncture wounds over seventy percent of what’s left of her shoulders and arms. He held up her left hand. See these”, he pointed out a couple of deep holes, “These are on both hands like she was trying to protect herself from some kind of pointed weapon.
There is also this hole in her chest, were her heart…use to be. It looks like it was straight in and out. Right threw her rib cage”.
“Doc. I need to know something very important”, Savanna asked looking into Nole’s eyes.
“Yes Detective, what is it?”
“Was Jane Doe alive during any part of the attack or was she dead before he started ripping her apart?”
“She was alive threw most of it Detective. I would say she remained alive until her heart was removed” Nole lowered his head.
“Doc, you said she was strangled. Didn’t you?” Curtis jumped in.
Nole stopped and looked up at Detective Young.
“She was strangled Detective. He had one hand around her throat the whole time. Cutting off her oxygen. Then he would give her a bit then cut it off again. She would never have been able to scream. You see” Nole was trying to show the both of them with an invisible victim, squeezing his hand open just a little and squeezing it tight once again.
When they both understood, Nole continued with the victim’s body, pointing out to both Detectives every rip, every tear and yes…teeth marks, from some kind of large animal or a human.
“As you both can see, flesh has been shredded and ripped from her body on both sides. It was like this guy used her like a rag-doll and when he was tired of her he let his dog use her as a chew toy. Either or, this poor young woman didn’t deserve such savagery”.
When Nole finished he gently re-covered the young woman’s body with the same blood stained sheet that covered her once before.
“There’s still a lot of blood Doc. How Come?” Curtis asked.
“It happens sometimes Detective. After I cleaned her up and she began to settle, her wounds began to bleed again”.
“The report also said there was signs she was raped” Savanna said.
“Yes. The rape kit is going out with the rest of the samples. I found there was trauma to her uterine wall which would indicates rape”, Nole answered.
“Can someone please tell me what kind of fuckin sicko does this to another human being?” Curtis asked, face now crinkled in disgust, “I mean really, Savvy, who the fuck in God’s creation could birth such a savage freak”, he paused with a puzzled look on his face then cocked his head towards Nole, “He is God’s creation, right doc. I mean it couldn’t be something else? Something man-made?”
Savanna spoke up before Nole could and answered her partner’s question.
“I don’t know Curt, God made or man-made I really believe we got to find him or it, fast. I think this shit is just the beginning”.
It was the first time Curtis ever saw any kind of fear on Savanna’s face. He replaced the pad of paper he was taking notes on to the breast pocket of his leather jacket. He took one more look at the young woman lying there under the red stained sheet on the metal gurney in the middle of the room.
Don’t worry little lady, we’ll catch the sick bastard that did this to you and put him out of his misery, Curtis thought to himself then turned to walk out of the lab.
2
Keller Mac Masters lives in what they now call the Suburban part of Los Angeles. She had grown up there pretty much her whole life. She did live in New Jersey for the first four years when her father was still with them. She lives with her Mother, Lynne Mac Masters. Keller’s Father had run out on the both of them four years after Keller was born. He is now with his cute little blonde secretary somewhere in Australia or what’s left of it doing God knows what with God knows who. Her Mother, Lynne, had made her way to Los Angeles alone, with a four-year-old, close by her side. She had to worked odd jobs till Keller was going to school full time, then she got a job as a Secretary for a small cleaning firm called “Tidy Team”, which she now owns after 12 years of scrimping and saving. After Graham, her ex-husband left she promised herself, she and Keller would have the best things in life.
She worked damn hard to do just that.
Keller Mac Masters was a beautiful baby girl. Born on August 7, 2053, on one of the hottest days recorded that summer. She had her Father’s black hair and her Mother’s green eyes. They were the greenest of greens. Keller had always been carefree, fun loving, good child.
Anyone who had ever met Keller always told Lynne, how very lucky she was to have such a well-behaved child.
Keller and her Mother were close and the best of friends.
Every night at 10 o’clock, Keller and Lynne would sit at the kitchen table, with a cup of coffee and each would tell the other about their day.
Lynne was an extraordinarily beautiful woman. She was well into her forties, but did not look old enough to have an eighteen-year-old daughter. Lynne has blond hair with platinum white streaks all through it and like Keller, the greenest eyes anyone had ever seen. Lynne had always been kind to everyone she had ever met and is a very soft-spoken and has many close and dear friends. She would always praise Keller on everything she done and backed her up on everything. Lynne Mac Masters loved her daughter more than life itself.
When Keller was accepted to the new California State College, Lynne threw her a surprise party, with a huge cake congratulating her.
Among the cake and gifts there was an envelope that said, “DO NOT OPEN TILL YOU ARE ALONE”.
Keller could see that it was her Mother’s hand-writing and with the love she felt for her Mother she would respect her wishes and wait till she was alone in her bedroom.
The party began dying down at around 2:35 am, and family and friends began to disappear.
“Hey Mom. I’ll help you clean up this mess. After all, it’s because of me there is one” Keller laughed as she walked over to where Lynne was standing.
“Its okay Sweetie. I got it. Go ahead and bring your gifts up to your bedroom” Lynne said as she smiled at her daughter.
“Are you sure, Mom? It will only take us a few minutes”.
Lynne walked over and gave Keller a hug then said, “Nope, now go on. I can do it. Take some time and look at you gifts and cards.”
Keller hugged her Mother tightly and kissed her on the cheek.
“You’re the best Mom”.
She began gathering up her gifts and cards then headed threw the back patio doors, up two flights of stairs to her bedroom loft. She laid everything out on her bed and remembered the envelope in her right rear pocket of her Levi’s, low rider jeans, with her Mother’s writing on it and pulled it out. She sat down on her bed and opened the envelope. Her beautiful green eyes began filling with tears when she read her Mother’s words.
Saturday July 4, 2071
My Dearest Keller;
I find it strange to be sitting here writing this instead of just coming right out and saying it to you at the kitchen table, with a nice hot cup of coffee, like we always do. Keller I am not a very religious person as you well know, but I do thank God every chance I get for bringing you into my life. I often worried how you would turn out not having your Father around, but I see you have turned out to be the most wonderful human being that ever walked the face of this earth.
I have had many disappointments in my life and many regrets that followed, but my dearest Keller I am so very happy and so very proud to say that you have NEVER been any of those to me.
I never told you this before, but after your Father left us, I was going to give you up for adoption and was thinking of killing myself. I was sitting writing my suicide note when I heard you cry.
I rushed over to you, worried you had hurt yourself and when I looked into your eyes, I knew I couldn’t go through with any of it. I would make it work…somehow. Keller my love, you have always been my reason for living. You are my daughter and I love you with every ounce of my being.
I would not trade any one-minute I have spent with you for anything in this world or the next. I am so very proud of the beautiful, young woman you have become. I admire you so much.
Keller stopped reading. She had to wipe the tears from her eyes and get herself composed before she was able to read on. After a couple of deep breathes her eyes began clearing and she found the spot she stopped at and continued to read:
I knew when you got accepted into California State College, you would be leaving me and after College, you would be pursuing a career in acting. I will miss you when you are gone. I know we will keep in touch, but I will miss you like there is no tomorrow. I know you will succeed in what ever you choose in life. When you put your mind to something, you always do and I know this dream of yours will come true. But if at anytime you ever feel you need to come home…my door will always be open to you…day or night. My heart is breaking so, with the thoughts of you not being in your room, but my heart will mend as I have the many memories of our time together. Maybe when you are finally settled I can take a vacation and come visit you. Well my dearest Keller, I am again so very, very proud of you, and wish you all the love, luck, and faith…and happiness life will bring to you.
A Mother’s love…hugs…and kisses…goes out to you.
Love Always and Forever
Mom xoxo
P.S. This should help out some on your adventure.
Keller turned the letter around and there, taped to the back, was a cheque for $10,000 dollars. On the bottom left hand corner were it says memo was written *Bright Lights & Big City* between two small drawn stars.
Keller laid both the letter and the cheque on her bed and with tears in her eyes she ran downstairs to her Mother.
Lynne heard Keller coming down and stopped picking up paper plates and wrapping paper.
Keller ran to her Mother and threw her arms around her and hugged and kissed her.
“Oh Mom. You’re the greatest. The greatest” she hugged her Mother tighter.
Lynne’s beautiful green eyes began filling with tears.
“Just trying to help out Pumpkin” she whisked Keller’s long black hair back off her shoulders and kissed cheek.
Keller finally let Lynne go and said,” Mom, you do realize I am going to finish College before I go anywhere” she smiled, “I plan on visiting all the time. Do you think you can handle it?” they were both smiling at each other.
With tears flowing they both broke into laughter.
“Just put the cheque in the bank and let it collect interest. I just didn’t want you to start out with nothing,” said Lynne.
“Mom. I am working you know an-d” Lynne stopped Keller short.
“I know Sweetie. I’m just trying to help out. You go to school then work and home again to study. This way you can afford some clothes and odds and ends. Fun money if you will”.
Keller hugged her Mother again” Thanks Mom” kissed her on the cheek and began helping her clean up the rest of the backyard and lower level of the house.
Then as they have done every night for the past two years, coffee was made and they sat at the kitchen table and drank, and talked about everything.
“Mom I’m doing the five to one shift tonight. I told Stacey-Raye I would cover her shift”.
“Keller, you work to hard you know. It’s the fourth of July today. You should be out with your friends enjoying the fireworks”, Lynne said as she reached out her hand to touch Keller’s.
“Mom, don’t worry. I’m gonna see the light show from work. Besides people will be lighting them all over the city tonight. See there’s one now, early as always. You should get some sleep Mom. You had a very busy day”.
There both stood from the dining room table and walked to the kitchen to place their empty cups in the dishwasher.
Keller gave her Mother another hug and left for work. Lynne walked upstairs and went to her bedroom to
