The-Shattered-Dove

My love. This reminds me of something. In a book written by Franklin Rice called
Crying in the Shadows, two gangs in the town of California fighting over predicaments
that could rip the city apart. Basically, the city is littered with carnage, wounded
fighters and weapons. Red, silver and black are the new colors of what was once a
bustling city, which has now become the stage of a devastating war. The air which
would normally be vibrant with the sound of work, trade and craftsmanship is now a
hellish symphony of screams, explosions and gunfire, something no survivor will
ever forget. Cops try to stop the civil war, but it does not work. Swat teams try to
interfere and break it up but the two gangs fight till one surrenders. One member
tries to infiltrate the other’s base to find a way to terminate the other gang. In the
end he dies then the two enemies realize they were fighting for nothing.

‫ ﻯ‬Now the light illuminated the dark. The light usually is good; but not today. I hear
screaming again, this time from Autumn. She cried out to me. “Winter!” I run to her.
She is on the floor crying. The car, truck, I mean; up in flames and on top of her legs. I
quickly pray to god. I’m not religious, but God is out there for everyone and It would
be good for Him to help me out right now. Minutes later, the ambulance came; tailing
behind it was four or five police cars. Their sirens infiltrating my ears and the lights
began giving me a migraine. Before you know it, I was on my knees and cold silver
cuffs were being tightened around my wrists behind my back. I was being arrested. I
didn’t do anything wrong; but I did not want to make the matter worse. As soon as I
was carried to a cruiser, Autumn was screaming “No!” wanting me to stay with her. I
loved her and I couldn’t help but run to her. I jumped onto the officer that led me to
the cruiser and forcefully retrieved the keys, detached the handcuffs and sprinted
with all my energy to Autumn. Tears swelled in her eyes and it did for mine when I
began kissing her forehead, stroking her hair, getting that feel.

‫“ ﻯ‬Don’t die on me!” I yelled, tears nearly choking me. “Don’t leave! I need you.”
Her legs broken by the truck’s debris. She was getting cold. Her life would end any
second. She was dying. The people in the ambulance called for backup and I tried to
bring her back. “No, no, no!” I then had no other choice, I listened to her heart. It
beat slowly like a sad drum solo. Then … it stopped. Autumn Abigail Green was dead. I
dropped her hand and banged on the grass. “NO!!!!” The cops took me away after
that. They thought it was an excuse for fleeing. Why would I? I have no purpose now. I
feel Unknown. Forgotten perhaps. There was no use of me now so I just stared blankly
at these stone walls I now call a home for three and a half years.

‫ ﻯ‬As soon as I got out the stone cell, dozens of news reporters flashed their cameras
like I was some kind of celebrity. News reporters, throwing their microphones toward
the officers and me. I didn’t like this . But something did. I saw a girl dressed in
white. She looked like… Autumn. But something was wrong. She had zombie like skin
and I noticed a band around her arm. How could this be? Was I dating a Forgotten?

Chapter 27: Taken

The cuffs that had tightened me were soon released with a rushing click of metal and
a weight being lifted from my wrists.
When I got home from picking up Autumn, the door was open. I thought she'd just
leave to see the fireworks. Left the door open to let air escape, and to get some things.
I waited. For the first ten minutes, I got worried. “Stay here”. I snuck into my garage
and got an axe from my work bench. I slowly grasped my weapon. Until I heard
chewing and kissing. I took a peek into what room the sound came from. Forgotten.
The men, I saw devouring food, surrounding Lindsey around them. The women,
forcefully kissing everything. Killing them or someone with a single kiss. Raiders.
That was what Danny called them. Just then, Piper out of nowhere knocked over my
toolbox. “Hey watch it!” I yelled dimly.Not dim enough though.Then Raiders soon
jumped at us. Kissing us everywhere. I tried to escape, but their hugs, and grip,
stronger than a metal ring. Finally, a Raider kissed my lips. Slowly and softly. Then
she started licking me. Poisoning me. I didn't want to become Unknown. That is what
I thought. You see, Forgotten are miserable creatures lost in their own world.
Corrosion. That's where they live. Danny has been there. I think. I never been there.
Just as I thought that, a Forgotten grabbed me. I desperately punched the beast. Just
then, cool mint chill overthrew me; confusion attacked me. Hope, left me T soon laid
there as the Forgotten began gnawing at my legs. Vociferously. I didn't feel a bite
though. Their misshapen figure was bad enough; but letting their teeth seep into your
skin, it was like stepping on dozens of Legos or having dozens of poison filled
syringes injected into your leg one by one.
‫ ﻯ‬It was game over for me. “What will I do?” I thought. I didn't know what to
expect but when I did, I realized I was floating in the air. odd I forgot all about the
Forgotten coming up one at a time trying to grab me down for another bite but alas
they didn't. odd. I went floating up up up out of my living room to the door. The
garage door. I think. I couldn't tell what it was but at least I'm safe. I yelled for my
daughter “Piper where are you?” The last thing I knew she was crying, scared,
worried. Piper ran out of the house crying, blood all over herself “what do we do now?
” She thought I would take care of the problem. Like a bug infestation. I began to man
up. I cracked my neck a couple of times including my knuckles too. It was time to face
the monster within. “Get out of here and face me like a man!” I yelled. I didn't know
what I was coming up against, but the next thing you know hordes of Forgotten these
creatures, zombies running toward me. It was a little too late but I knew I had to end
this. I finally grabbed the axe near me and started swinging one by one. One dead
body. Two dead bodies. Three dead bodies. Four. They all fell down one by one. Piper
was behind me hiding hoping this would be over. I yelled to her get to the car now.
She did just that and next thing you know she was starting the engine of my car. I
didn't know if she knew how to drive but next thing you know she was yelling “Get in!
” When I did so, I looked back and saw dozens of monsters taking over my house I was
homeless with no wife and only a 16 year old girl. Game over.
‫ ﻯ‬Was it? I looked to the side and saw Piper driving my car. I took a deep breath and
put my arm around her. “Good job.” I said “Really brave out there. You know where
your mother is?” She started bawling “No! I don't know where she is I just want her
here again!” Just then I heard snoring I looked in the back seat so my wife. She got up

and looked around “Where are we going?” She said in a very tired and weird way.
“Home. I don't know where we are and dozens of monster infiltrated and took over
our home. Now I just need to find a way home.” I looked at my phone. “Do you
remember where my friend’s house is?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Who?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Danny?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Oh. That guy who kidnapped you.”
‫“ ﻯ‬No…” I started. “He didn’t kidnap me. Just call him.” She did. Next thing you
know, we were in front of Danny’s house. 456 Clay Street was his address. It has been
a while seeing him. I gave him a call, he took a while to pick up, but I knew he was
there when he gave a distinct “Hello?” I was glad to hear his voice again. Like a dead
soul rising and being welcomed, I was glad to hear his voice again. A little deeper but
it was still the same old Danny Brown. He was the first to talk. Before he did he took a
deep breath. Was it his first time talking to me? Or possibly his last? “How’s it
going’?” He asked. I think he was tired. “Good. I need your help.”
‫“ ﻯ‬What’s wrong?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Well…how would you explain hordes of Unknown trying to devour you limb
from limb? And what about an Forgotten bite?” I think that woke him up. “You were
bitten! Oh no. You’ve got the Missing inside you! You have seven hours to dispose of it
or you…”
‫“ ﻯ‬I’ll what??” I hurriedly said. “You will become Forgotten. By the way what is
your favorite color?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Green. Why?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Have fun being a Jumper!” I was screwed,

Chapter 28: Reunited

I heard barking from a dog. Was it Jay? His floppy tail ran to me and I bent down to
hug the Labrador Beagle. He was big now. It was another dream, the dog, barking at
me commanding to get up. I knew what it was barking for after a while. My hand was
was spewing with blood and pus. The only thing that stopped (or tried to stop) it was
my hand. It didn’t help much but something else did. Jay. He nabbed at my hand and
started biting it. Pulling it off, in a way. I knew what my clever canine companion was
up to and so I got a sharp stick. A switchblade actually. I started cutting. Blood slowly
flowing down my left hand. I had to scream, but I didn’t know what I’d do if fear took
me over as a puppet. A marionette actually. I tried to back out and leave my arm
gashing, but I had to finish what what I started. I began digging and I closed my eyes.
I fainted.
‫ ﻯ‬I could not do this. After all, I hate blood, pain or anything injure related that
involves me. You see, I wouldn’t freak out as much if I fell and scraped my knee or
letting blood spew out of my arm like a fatality in Mortal Kombat. (one of my favorite
games growing up.) I slapped myself and started digging. I didn’t know what I was
doing until I did it. It’s like those moments where you attempt something and then
you go for it without thinking twice. I felt that growing up and now. Now I know what
my parents mean by “slow down”. I pull my arm out of the socket with the sounds of
a lawn mower devouring a body trailing behind. Next thing you know, my arm
dangled on the floor with a big cut line through it. And my blood, flowing like my
tears. Slow. Nice and Slow. All that was left was my scapula. First my heart, which I
need a replacement of, now my arm? What’s next; my leg? I didn't know what to do
now. I was a little lost and I was in pain. Was it a thought? I didn't know what to do
now. I tried getting up but I knew I had to sit down. I said I was going to go up but
something forced me down. so so I did. I took a deep breath and slowly got up on one
of my knees. Blood rushing down my arm. Horrifying. That's what it felt like. Slowly
getting up after you've been shot in the leg. Isn't it nice? I feel like my legs are getting
shot by shotgun or rifle. I didn't know whatever it was but I knew I had to stay here;
dying. I knew those vultures are going to see it someday and get a chance to gnaw at
my ribs or eat vociferously like we all do in Thanksgiving but I don't care, I don't want
to die here; so I got up.
‫ ﻯ‬I then saw this hut. Like it was the remastered version of Hansel and Gretel, but I
was in no mood for candy. Although, now that you mention it, I’m kinda hungry. The
hut in which this owner lives in seems worn out, as does him when he stepped out to
sit on the bench in front of his porch. The man seemed rather Scrooge like. Slow and
steady. He had a… well what was once a t-shirt is now barely a piece of clothing at all,
the dirt stained fabric hangs onto his shoulders like a discarded old towel.
Part of the bottom has been torns of and the sleeves are worn away, leaving much of
him exposed to the elements. His name was Finley. Mark Finley.
‫ ﻯ‬Finley was a black man with ragged white curls for hair and a beautiful woman for
a wife named Bertha and a seven year old boy for a son named Eric and a cat for a pet
named Yu. Together, four people (well three and a cat) were tied up and called a
family. The Finleys. When Mark saw me stumble down his hill, he knew I needed

medical help right away. I looked at his hut. It was big for a hut. Wooden, looked like
it was made from an old pirate ship. In fact, I found out that Mark was a sailor. I came
in and automatically saw a family photo over a large flame they call “bonfire” or
“fireplace”. There was Bertha, putting her hand on Eric's shoulder while he was
stroking Yu’s fur, all smiling (besides Yu because cats can’t smile. Right?) All were
happy except a tall man I quickly recognized.
‫“ ﻯ‬Is that Wyman?” I asked Mark as I pointed to the slender man in brown.
“Wyman?” Mark replied. “That’s William. Our son.” I had to ask some more
questions. I felt like a CSI detective. “Does he possess any weapon?”
‫“ ﻯ‬He snuck in a shotgun he named Bessie.”
‫“ ﻯ‬Where is he?”
‫“ ﻯ‬Duck hunting, why? Are you a cop?”
‫“ ﻯ‬You and your family are in danger.” I quickly replied. Just then cool mint chill
possessed me and my arm healed quickly. Then Autumn's voice came. “Hello Winter.
Long time no see.” I had some power inside me now. I laid back and now a watery
force pushed me into an Atlantis like tower. A city actually. “ You did it Winter, You
Warped.”
‫“ ﻯ‬I what?” “You Warped. Your an Ancient Chief. Welcome to the Realm.” It was
pretty nice. For the dead. Hey at least the dead could finally rest in piece. I was
curious. I didn’t want to disrupt the busy Unknowns so I whispered in my head.
“Autumn? Why you bring me here?”
‫“ ﻯ‬A little family reunion, that’s all.” Autumn whistled and then, like in New York,
(but slightly faster) a taxi arrived. The driver asked us “Where to?” I spoke up. I asked
to go visit the McKnights. Next thing you know, we were at my old house and the
dining room light was on. I wanted to surprise my parents but Jay kind of ruined it.
My parents turned around and started to sob. I fell to my knees and cried. I never
cried for my parents before until the day I visited them in the Realm. Together as a
family. As one. We hugged for a short duration then looked to my left. “And this must
be Autumn” replied Ella. “You taking good care of her?” I couldn’t answer. I was too
busy drinking a glass of lemonade I helped myself to. I loved lemonade and still do.
Even for a young adult; I still have some kid in me. And that is ok. At least they know
that Winter will always be their baby boy.
‫ ﻯ‬Not anymore.
‫ ﻯ‬Next thing you know I was on the grass of North Garden Cemetery. I soon
snapped out of my unconsciousness and looked down at the tomb I was kneeling at It
was Summer’s. I soon dropped the flowers I somehow acquired and upheld the fact
that everyone was dead. I cried by Summer’s grave. Everything was gone, My family,
loves, friends, and my one companion.... I had nothing left, except for a Revolver.
With one bullet left, I know where it had to go. I pull out two pictures on of Autumn
and I and, another one of my friends from camp. I looked up at God and said sorry
while crying. I put the gun to my head and closed my eyes then suddenly saw white
and heard nothing… nothing but screaming from someone else...

Acknowledgements

First, let me thank my parents for inspiring me (in a way) for giving me those talks
and making this leap of faith a successful one. I would also like to express my
gratitude to the many people who saw me through this book; to all those who
provided support, talked things over, read, wrote, offered comments, allowed me to
quote their remarks and assisted in the editing, proofreading and design. Especially
Shannon for helping me bring Winter into new light. I would like to thank my mom
for enabling me to work through this book. Above all I want to thank my sister, who
supported and encouraged me in spite of all the time it took me away from this. (in
between some rounds of Playstation) It was a long and difficult journey for them and
me. I would like to thank my close friend Ananya for helping me in the process of
selection and editing. Thank you Ananya. Thanks to my more welcoming friends.
Without you, this book would never find its way to others and to so many people who
cannot read my new printed book. Thanks to my cousin Taylor for helping me with
ideas and being there to accept them. Last and not least: I beg forgiveness of all those
who have been with me over the course of the years and whose names I have failed to
mention. Like Nona, Katlyn, Samantha, Thelma, Tati, my other cousins, uncles, all
my schoolmates, and Bridget McNulty from Now Novel.

About the Author

Born in New York City, young Terrel Nathaniel Grier loved to write. Who am I kidding?
When I was in middle school, I had a knack for reading and writing. I go by the
nickname Rell, but Terrel is perfectly fine by me. I am fourteen years old and live in
Edison, New Jersey with a loving five year old sister, mother, and father. I loved
writing when I didn’t realize it and I loved jotting my ideas on a monitor on Microsoft
Word 2010. Mainly, my favorite subject is English because I enjoy writing. When I
write I feel calm. Just like when Benjamin Franklin said “Either write something
worth reading or do something worth writing." Franklin acknowledges the fact that
you need to make yourself heard, no matter what the cause. That is my goal in a
career of being an author, to write a famous book. I do not want my book to be
discarded on the bottom shelf. I hope this book helped. Ironically, I don’t read much
but writing is another story. I can see why this book is a stepping stone for me and I
thank you for reading.

Notes