Thrills: Vol.2 Read online

  Thrills vol.2 1st Edition

  Published by Jason A. Joseph Copyright © 2015

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity (including, but not restricted to, Google, Amazon or similar organizations), in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, scanning or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the Publisher.

  Find out more about the author and his other books at:

  www.amazon.com/author/jasonajoseph

  goo.gl/zT8mMe

  @AuthorJAJoseph

  To my dearest friend in all dimensions who has given me unmeasured love and support

  CONTENTS

  TitlePage

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Author’s Note

  Subject Matter Warning

  More by Jason A. Joseph

  Shift

  Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  The Shack

  The Revenant

  Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6

  Lawless Men

  Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

  The Piano King And His Girls

  Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  Faded Trust

  Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

  These stories are merely a work of fiction created by the author. No one actually existed and participated in any of the events. Any similarities are purely coincidental.

  Subject Matter warning

  Please note that these stories contain heavy subject material

  And detailed portrayals of violence

  Sarah looked in the mirror a lot, and all she saw was an ordinary girl that didn’t seem to know anything about the world. Going on 18 soon, it seemed that knowing what to do as an adult was a dream that was just too good to come true. She could hear her older sister telling her it would all be alright every time she stared into the hazel green eyes that stared back at her from the mirror. The flecks of gold were a family trademark in the desired green, and her and her sister both got it. Lucky them, but Sarah didn’t feel lucky when everyone stared at her. her brown hair was long and to her waist, but it wasn’t exactly what she’d call beautiful. It looked so much better on her sister’s face and thin frame. They both had high cheekbones, but Sarah’s was plumped out slightly more, with a rounder face and kind smile. For a moment Sarah just sighed before she began to brush her hair. A noise sounded downstairs, but she ignored it. To the side? Up? Down? Sarah played with her hair, trying to figure out what way was best to go to the mall with her friends. Another sound downstairs, and Sarah just glanced at the bathroom door, but she saw nothing, and wrote it off.

  She decided on leaving her hair down, curling just the bangs. One. Two. Three. As she uncurled her last strand she fluffed up her hair, just a light brown. Applying lip gloss of a deep red, a little eyeliner and mascara and she hopped downstairs, only to run head first into someone coming up the stairs.

  Looking up she was met with a strong jawline and ruffled hair that was almost as black as night.

  “Whoa. Sars, what are you doing?” Drake asked her. Sarah smiled at her older brother.

  “Going out. Some of us have a life after all.” She teased him, but his eyes were completely serious.

  “At this hour? Does mom know?” He asked her, eyeing her up and down. Don’t say anything about the miniskirt. Don’t say anything about the miniskirt. Sarah thought as she shrugged and hopped past him down the stairs.

  She could hear her name being called out as she ran out the door. Just as the door opened she was on her bike and off to the mall. She could hear her brother groan as he probably covered his eyes to not see her in such a compromising position, and Sarah laughed.

  “Really going to come after me?” She shouted out to him, and he yelled her name. She knew that if she took her bike Drake wouldn’t follow because of the miniskirt. At first Sarah didn’t know how the other girls did it. Wearing such short things yet still riding their bikes to school. Then she learned the way. You just can’t care.

  So Sarah had stopped carrying, and she had started enjoying life a little more. Sure she got looks as she road down the street, but it was late enough that she felt safe no one was truly looking at her, either already home or finding their way there. The older boys wouldn’t start to come out for about another hour, and Sarah felt safe on the roads she grew up on. I’ll be safe until I reach the main street. She only wanted to get off right before the mall, wanting as little people to see her as possible.

  The night air was cool and crisp, and Sarah enjoyed that. She always liked the feeling of the wind through her hair, and she was thankful she choose a down hairdo so that she didn’t have to worry about it going awry before she even got there.

  A caw broke through the night like lightening through the sky, and Sarah jumped, nearly crashing her bike. Stupid, stupid. No one’s here. Just get to the mall, Sarah. But as Sarah picked up her bike someone was there. She noticed them watching her, but she couldn’t get a good look at him. It was obviously a man. Don’t make eye contact. She kept going over the rules of what should be done in the situation, but her hands still shook. She had to look away for a moment as she finally got on her bike, and when she looked back the man was gone.

  The wind picked up, but she knew that wasn’t the reason for her shivering, and Sarah continued to ride, not wanting to deal with what could be waiting around the corner. She was all nerves, but the relief that washed over her when she finally reached the turnoff to the mall was like a warm blanket being wrapped around her, and her shaking stopped.

  Sarah gazed up at the mall, still lit for another hour and a half, and she smiled to herself, knowing her friends were waiting in the food court. She could forget what just happened, and she was ready to as she locked up her bike. Yet another caw struck through the night and she jumped. Looking up she noticed it was just a raven, with wings black as night, and Sarah shook off her fear and laughed it away, going into the light and into the warmth that the mall had to offer.

  Sarah looked over at Vince, eating a slice of pizza without a care in the world. A red streak going through his hair, and she waved. The entire gang waved back, but Vince just grinned pizza still in his mouth. She made a gagging sound, but all of them just laughed. Drinks were in all of their hands as they leaned against the mall, watching people go in and out.

  Riesa was the first one to walk over to her, ebony skin covered in a light gold glitter on her cheeks and collar bone, the tell-tale Riesa signature. “Where have you been?” She asked her, and Sarah smiled.

  “Getting here and passed Drake. What do you think?” She smiled at her friend as they walked to get her a soda. When she went to pull out her wallet a hand gripped her shoulder.

  “Nuh. Uh. You look shaken, hun. Let me get it.” And Draven was right there. His chocolate eyes staring into hers, and black hair complimenting his tanned skin.

  “I’m okay.” She protested meekly as he paid for her drink. Sarah could see Vince already gagging at the little exchange, blonde hair hanging in his blue eyes. Draven looked at Sarah and smiled, placing the drink in her hands.

  “It’s done. Now c’mon. Tell us what has you so frightened?” He said as he led Sarah over to the seats where they’d all been sitting, Riesa in tow. Riesa settled in by Vince, and Vince draped his arm around her. They looked so cozy together, like nothing could stop them from just enjoying the moment. For a minute, Sarah felt a pang of longing, but then she put it away when Draven nudged her.

  “C’mon. Tell us, hun.” But Sarah just shook her head, not wanting to say a word to them about what happened. She could still feel the hairs on the back of her neck at what happened, and all she wanted to d
o was ignore that it had happened at all.

  “So where’s Nicole?” Sarah asked. Looking at them all, and Vince just shook his head.

  “Nikki got grounded, Sarah.” Riesa just put her head in her hands as Draven delivered the news. Sarah looked between her friends, feeling puzzled.

  “Grounded? Nicole? For what?” She said, obviously confused. Nicole doesn’t get grounded. She’s smarter than that.

  “She decided to get a lip piercing. There’s no hiding that. I know. I know. I thought she was smarter too.” Draven continued, and Sarah just sighed.

  “Of course she did.” She said, just finishing her drink. “Well I’m going to get a refill, are you guys going to sit here all night or are we going to shop?” Riesa grabbed her cup when Sarah finished, and they headed off. Vince and Draven behind them, all refilling their drinks before they decided that a little shopping was indeed in order.

  Draven stuck close to Sarah, but she still wouldn’t tell him what he wanted to know. No matter what was to happen, it was her burden to bear. She knew that she’d eventually have to tell someone, but she didn’t want it to be Draven, and she certainly didn’t want it to be now.

  As they hopped into one of the local gothic stores, they all picked out something new to wear. Of course, Riesa dragged them into an ethnic store not soon after, just a little ways away from the mall.

  “I’ve never seen this one before.” Sarah said, and Vince nodded his head in agreement. Riesa was too far ahead to hear them, looking at everything, and Draven was silent. They looked around as they entered the store, and Sarah shivered again. It was a mix of ethnic and Gothic, and it seemed almost as if they’d entered a different world.

  Smoke hung heavily in the air, but it smelled sweet and somewhat intoxicating. The eerie feel of the room was familiar in a way that Sarah could not place. She wandered away from the group, her hands running over the shelves that looked as if they were as old as time itself, and the oddities that sat upon them were something that she could not understand. As Sarah wandered through the store she could hear her friends laughing as they picked up one thing or another, and for a moment she prayed that they did not break anything.

  It slipped her mind that no one was able to be found. Not a single person shopping, and it didn’t look like anyone was running the store. Then Sarah came across a figure that dangled upon a leather chain. It had black markings all over its body, as if wings sprouted from its back without being unfolded and stripes adorned its body. Sarah was drawn to it, and yet the lights flickered out.

  Riesa could be heard shrieking, and the rest of them were laughing at her. For a moment, Sarah stilled, remembering the boy she saw staring at her when she was on her bike. She felt exposed, even knowing that her friends were so close by. She closed her eyes, waiting for the lights to come back on. When the red tinge of light was seen through her eyelids she opened them, but the doll was gone, and she was staring at a woman who looked older than she should. Her hair was white, and her skin was like leather. Her teeth like pearls, and yet she smiled at Sarah.

  “Hello, child.” The woman said, nearly a whisper, and Sarah could see the doll was cradled in her hands. Sarah shook herself back to reality as she glanced at her friends.

  “Do you run this store?” She asked, and that’s when the group started to take notice of the strange woman, and each of them was greeted with a nod.

  “Yes.” Was all that they got in response, and the woman started to make her way over to the counter. Their eyes following her all the way.

  “I’ve never seen it before.” Riesa piped up as she looked at the woman.

  “That’s because it is here for a while, but it does not stay. Only open when I am visiting.” The woman said softly, as if it made perfect sense.

  Vince made a look at Riesa and Draven stared at the woman as if there was something off that he just couldn’t place, but Sarah looked at the woman pondering what she was missing.

  Soon the rest of the group lost interest and went to wander in a different part of the store. Though it was small it was so packed that anyone of them could get lost for a while marveling at what lined the shelves and storage containers. Sarah stayed with the woman.

  “What’s the doll?” She asked her, the curiosity evident in her voice even though she tried to mask it. The woman just smiled and set it down for Sarah to see.

  “It’s something you need.” The woman said, fingering the doll’s leather chain, not looking up. Oh great. A cheesy sale’s pitch. Sarah thought, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes at the woman.

  “So how much is it?” Despite her believing the woman was trying to sell it to her, she did want the doll. At least a little.

  “For you? Nothing. Take it as a gift, but remember to visit Old Maria.” The woman continued to smile as she wrapped the doll and its chain in a black cloth. Just as she was putting it into a bag and handing it to Sarah her friends founds themselves giggling once again. Sarah went to leave, after a quick glance around to see if her friends were buying anything.

  They all followed her out, and Draven eyed the bag rather suspiciously. For a moment Sarah was lost in her thoughts, not even distracted by the way Vince and Riesa giggled with one another. Draven walked silently beside her, and she ran her thumb over the bag. The mall was within sight, but it was well past closing time and the entire place was dark and empty.

  Riesa and Vince got into their car, Draven his motorcycle, and Sarah was about to get onto her bike, but first she watched as the car that held her friends drove away. Draven watched her silently as she did.

  “Is something wrong, Sarah? What did you buy?” He called out to her, but she shook her head, knowing she’d have to force a smile to get him off her back.

  “Oh nothing. Just a good luck charm. That’s all.” She smiled at him, trying to make it seem genuine, but she couldn’t help but to look over at the dark roads and shiver, remembering the boy staring at her and the lights going out in the shop.

  “You sure you’re going to be okay?” Draven said, almost too soft to hear. Sarah hopped on her bike, raising her ass in the air so her panties peeked out slightly and turned her head to face him, giving him another fake smile.

  “Yeah. See ya later, Draven.” She said as she rode off. What he said next she couldn’t hear as her legs took her, pumping the pedals like her life depended on it, and she traveled down the dark roads. To Sarah it felt like someone was watching her, but she didn’t dare look back to see if it was Draven or someone else. She felt too watchful and too worried.

  It was a short time before she made it home, and for a moment she didn’t feel like truly looking around. She dumped her bike in the garage, and then made her way as quietly as she could into the living room. Thank god they’re not going to be home yet. Sarah thought, not wanting to imagine getting caught by her parents at this hour. She didn’t even tell them where she was going.

  Sarah tip-toed in, trying to be as quiet as she could, but then she tripped, and a light turned on. For a moment she was startled, noticing a figure in the corner. Her heart skipped a beat, and she wanted to faint, until she realized it was Drake.

  “Damn it. You scared me to death.” She yelled at him, not bothering to keep her voice down if he was up.

  “You shouldn’t have been out so late, Sarah.” Drake looked positively worried, and Sarah couldn’t figure out why.

  “It’s not like this is the first time I went out and stayed out late. And in outfits like this too. What’s wrong with you, Drake? There’s something you’re not telling me.” She could see the lines around his eyes now. The tension.

  “It’s not that, Sarah. It’s just not safe. You have to be careful. Okay?” He ran his hands through hair, ruffling it. Your feathers are ruffled enough.

  “She’s coming home.” It was all he said, and for a moment Sarah was confused.

  “Who?” She asked, curious.

  “Our sister.” Sarah made a face at his response. Great. Mrs. Perfect. Drak
e didn’t stop there though and he scanned over. “What’s in the bag?” He asked her.

  “Nothing. It’s just something I bought from the mall.” She lied, and Drake shook his head.

  “Don’t lie to me! What is it? That’s not a mall bag.” Drake continued.

  “It’s just something from around the corner.” Sarah started up the stairs, but Drake was too quick for her, snatching the bag out of her hands. He unwrapped the bag and Sarah tried to grab it back from him.

  “Give it back. You’re not my dad. Just give it back.” She exclaimed, but Drake just ignored her as he unwrapped it. For a moment he just stared at the cloth, and Sarah could have sworn that she saw his hands shake just a little, but in an instance it was gone. He pulled the cloth away to see the doll inside, and then he dropped it, stepping back.

  “Where did you get that?” His voice was little more than a whisper, and Sarah felt very puzzled.

  “Just a store. I told you that. See. It’s not drugs or something.” She went to snatch it off the ground but Drake kicked it across the room first.

  “It’s bad news, Sarah. You have no idea what that is. Just burn it.” His voice was strained, as if he was trying not to yell. Sarah would have been puzzled, but Drake had no right to do what he did, and she felt nothing but angry that he was giving her orders.

  “You can’t tell me what to do. It’s my choice, Drake.” She ran and snatched it out of the corner, heading up stairs.

  “Burn it!” The order echoed upstairs, but it came with a shake in his voice that Sarah just didn’t understand. She slammed the door behind her when she got up there, and then put the doll in her dresser drawer, locking the drawer so Drake couldn’t get in. It’s my damn stuff.

  Angrily she stormed over to her window, where the curtains were drawn. She always left them open during the day to allow sunlight to stream in. Then she paused, squinting. Her blood ran cold, and she thought about telling Drake what she saw for a moment, but she didn’t. The boy was there, but it seemed as if he was walking off of her property.