Fragmentary Reference E-Book

Angel Rupert

• Herausgeber: Bentockiz
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

I don’t know. Maybe the fact that I was nearly shot by a couple of gang members who claimed you owed them money. I could have been front page news today with a bullet to the head in some ditch. I deserve a better explanation, please, at least to explain what happened to my family and my lover.

Leseprobe

Title Page

Fragmentary Reference

Genuine Soul

Angel Rupert

Fragmentary Reference / 1st of series: Genuine Soul / By Angel Rupert

Published 2023 by Bentockiz

e-book Imprint: Uniochlors

e-book Registration: Stockholm, Sweden

e-book ISBN: 9789198846904

e-book editing: Athens, Greece

Cover Images created via AI art generators

Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Introduction

Through books we come into contact with everything important that has happened in the past, analyzing also current events and putting our thoughts together to predict the future. The book is a window to the world, acquiring valuable knowledge and sparking our vivid imagination. It is a means of entertainment and is generally seen as a best friend, or as a slave that carries together all valuable information for us. The book is a friend who stays together without demands, a friend you call upon at every moment and abandon when you want.

It accompanies us in the hours of boredom and loneliness, while at the same time it entertains us. In general, a book does not ask anything from us, while it waits patiently on a dusty shelf to give us its information, to get us out of dead ends and to travel us to magical worlds.

This may be the travel mission of our books. Abstract narration, weird or unconscious thoughts difficult to be understood, but always genuine and full of life experiences, these are stories of life that can’t be overlooked easily.

This may be the start of something amazing.

Chapter One

I’m holding a dove, and I watch as it struggles to breathe. Its chest rises and falls slower and slower, then after a few moments the bird becomes still. Each time, I feel disappointed as if I was upset that I didn’t do more to save it. And then, like clockwork, the bird comes back to life and flies away.

As I watch the bird, I tear my eyes from the sky and the scene changes. Clouds suddenly surround me. Everything speeds up, and I can barely see what’s going on. I see snippets of different actions, flashes of bright light and the clanging of metal against metal, then beautiful music. I can hear someone calling me by a name I don’t recognize. Then I get the sensation that I’m falling. I see the clouds rushing past me, faster and faster until finally, I slam into the ground.

I was jolted out of my hazy dream by the sound of Steven Tyler doing his signature wail in Dream On. It reminded me that I was due for a new wake-up song since it always caused me to go into shock.

His scream wasn’t the only one that had echoed in my apartment. Selena, the woman who had come home with me the previous night, had screamed too. I fumbled for my phone and turning it off before I sat up in my bed.

“Morning, Lucas,” Selena said as she tugged her clothes on. “Last night was . . . very interesting.”

I ran my fingers through my hair. The details of last night were not exactly clear. We went to the same college, and I’d asked her out on a whim. The date had gone well. I was a little nervous and ended up drinking more than I usually did. I hadn’t expected to wake up with her in my bed.

“Um . . .” I looked around. “Last night . . . did we . . .?”

“No, we didn’t. We made it to your room, but you said you weren’t feeling it. By then it was two in the morning, and you said I could crash here. Something about a serial killer and it not being safe. Anyway, I couldn’t say no. I wouldn’t want to be a vampire’s dinner.”

I tried not to look so relieved. I barely knew Selena and having a one-night stand wasn’t exactly something I wanted to happen. She was beautiful with long dark hair, dark eyes, and an amazing body. But she was right. I wasn’t feeling it.

“Lucas, don’t get me wrong. You’re hot, and you’re a real gentleman, but I’ll be honest—I don’t think this is going anywhere.”

“Oh?” I frowned. “Because I wouldn’t sleep with you?”

“Well, yeah. I’m not looking for anything long term, and you seem like a marriage, children, and white picket fence kind of guy. Sorry, but that’s not me.”

I would have been hurt if I hadn’t cared that much. Selena was right—I was the marriage, children, and white fence kind of guy, but I would never get that. Living in the moment had sounded great, but once the opportunity came to hook up with a stranger, I’d backed out. I wasn’t sure if that made me weird or if I was seriously trying to make myself more miserable.

“See you,” Selena said. “Don’t worry—I won’t tell everyone you won’t put out. Your reputation will be safe.” She started to leave but then turned around. “One more thing.”

She came back over to me and pressed her lips to mine. I hadn’t expected that, but instead of sitting there all stiff, I kissed her back. A low moan rumbled in her throat then she ended it.

“I’ll give you one thing—you’re an amazing kisser.”

When she left, I fell back on the bed and let out a humorless laugh. It looked like I truly was going to die a virgin. That wasn’t a big concern for me, though. I was more worried about when my time would finally be up.

Feeling more awake, I remembered there was something very crucial about this day. It was my twenty-second birthday. My mom wanted me to come over and make me breakfast before I headed to my classes. I was eager to eat her cooking again.

As I got dressed, I opened the big manila envelope she’d sent with me since my mail would sometimes show up at my parents’ house. Inside, I found a smaller envelope and a ring. I picked up the ring first and examined it. It appeared to be made of titanium and wood, both which looked authentic. I slipped it on to my left middle finger and then opened the envelope, reading the letter aloud.

“Dear Lucas Wright, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Yale Master’s Program of Law for the two thousand thirty-eight fall quarter.”

Any normal person in my position should have been dancing for joy about getting an opportunity like this. I would have if my situation were different. Instead my stomach turned with dread. Dread for when I would have to tell my parents that I wasn’t going to law school. Most importantly, why.

I quickly got dressed then left my apartment. At all possible, I was going to avoid the subject of Yale to keep everyone in a good mood. Plus, I was more than eager to get something in my stomach. My taste buds looked forward to whatever my mom decided to make.

When I walked to the door, I happened to notice the siding was slightly darker than I remembered. It used to be off-white, and now it was more of a cream color. The maroon shutters and white trim had been patched up. The stones that supported the pillars on the porch appeared glossier as well. My brother Henry must have taken some time off to earn brownie points.

Before I reached for the doorknob, the door swung open and my youngest brother greeted me. His big, blue eyes brightened when he saw me.

“Lucas!” he shouted.

He reached for me, and I lifted him into my arms, ruffling his silky black hair.

“How are you doing, buddy?” I asked.

“Good! It’s my birfday!”

I laughed. Colton was only four years old and didn’t understand the concept of birthdays yet. We’d adopted him when he was a month old, and we all loved him like crazy.

“Is that so? Are you sure it isn’t my birthday?”

He furrowed his brow. “I don’t know. Mom always makes pancakes on my birfday, so that’s why I think it’s my birfday.”

I chuckled but then noticed something on his arm. He had a bruise on the crook of his elbow. That hadn’t been there before.

“What happened to your arm, bud?” I asked.

His eyes grew wide with excitement. “I got shots! It was so cool! They took blood too, and I got a Band-Aid with aliens on it!”

Well, that wouldn’t do. The bruise looked gnarly. Colton didn’t seem to have any distress, but I wanted to do something about it.

I carried him over to the couch and sat down, closing my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I put all my concentration into him. My body began to tingle all over, the prickles spreading through all my fingers, limbs, and toes. I gently massaged his bruise with my thumb, rubbing it back and forth.