THE KILLER ANGEL: Book Two "Legend" (THE KILLER ANGEL TRILOGY 2)
Read THE KILLER ANGEL: Book Two "Legend" (THE KILLER ANGEL TRILOGY 2) Online
Authors: Myles Stafford
THE
KILLER ANGEL
Book Two
“Legend”
by Myles Stafford
THE
KILLER ANGEL
Book Two
“Legend”
by Myles Stafford
© 2013, Myles P. Stafford. Portions previously published as Nicki Redstone: Book Two - Legend. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
© 2015, Myles P. Stafford. All rights reserved. Revised.
Also available in
THE
KILLER ANGEL
trilogy:
THE KILLER ANGEL:
Book One - “Hard Player”
THE KILLER ANGEL:
Book Three - “Journey”
by
Myles Stafford
“I have been to many evil places;
I have faced the worst of inhumanity.
Many dark deeds I claim without pride,
but I am not conflicted.
I did what was necessary.
When others run, I stand firmly.
I defend the undefended; the weak; the innocent.
I remain unbowed by hardship or loss.
I seek neither adulation nor riches;
a noble life and a happy family is enough.”
Nicki Redstone
Survivor in the Apocalypse
“The Redstones”
by R.J. Flemming
(Excerpted with permission)
I walk freely now, no longer disabled, a surprising and welcome side-effect of the runner virus - my younger years being largely spent locked in steel leg braces and metal crutches. It was then, in high school, that my life intersected celebrity, even thought at the time Nicki and Scottie Redstone were unknown outside of BHS. You might view my little anecdote as apocryphal, but I assure you that it is faithfully true in every detail. I am probably the only living person who knew them as students.
Senior year. High school. Between classes I was chatting with the easily recognized Redstone twins. We weren’t close, but it was cool. They were popular without being “popular”. Attractive and athletic, every clique welcomed them in, but they joined none. Even the faculty enjoyed their company.
Sometimes - to me - it seemed as though they did not really belong in high school at all; rather, they were just passing through, on their way to bigger things.
The day I want you to know of, a significant day for me, as Nicki, Scottie and I quietly conversed in
senior hall, we noticed big dudes at the far end near the south exit, their three babes in view also, tormenting a couple of small, nerdy types. I recognized the aggressors, everyone knew them - first string athletes, very popular, winners all the way.
I looked up at Nicki and Scottie, who then briefly glanced at each other. Like panthers on the hunt, and without a word they moved smoothly towards the trouble. Side by side, pacing each other with confident strides.
“What could they do?” I thought to myself, as I pushed off and edged closer. I always knew that there was something different about the Redstones, but the reality was that they were both only slightly over five feet tall and probably weighed around a hundred pounds each at that time. As they moved, I noticed Mr. Sun, the assistant principal, looking through door blinds at the commotion, but he waited, watching...
As Nicki and Scottie approached, the big guys promptly stopped their abuse and looked up, somewhat sheepishly as I recall, at my Redstone friends, whom they towered over with massive, muscular forms.
“Uh...Hi Nicki,” the largest one said, “Just having some fun; not hurtin’ anyone.”
There was a pause, then Scottie spoke, slowly shaking her head, “What happened to you, Kyle? You were so nice in middle school.”
“Sorry Scottie...” he replied, his face was actually flushed with embarrassment. Nicki immediately took hold of each of the smaller boys by their arms, “Come
on guys.”
A sassy, tall girl with the tormentors, taunted her friends with a thick Russian accent, “Who are they? What’s the big deal? You scared of those little sluts?” The twins’ heads turned, their eyes flashed; I could feel the heat.
The gang leader snapped out harshly, “Come on Sasha...now!” And it was over, just that fast.
Mr. Sun looked over at me through those cream colored blinds, winked, then disappeared.
How could you ever forget those girls?
~ Table of Contents ~
Excerpt:
“The Transformative Moment”
Chapter Nine:
“Good Things Must End”
Supplement: The Death of Nicki Redstone
THE
KILLER ANGEL
Book Two
“Legend”
by Myles Stafford
Chapter One
“New Friends”
I
T’S A TERRIBLE, soul crushing thing to lose those whom you hold dear - to see it up close - and I have lost so many. Every one was heartbreaking. I’ve watched countless good men and women die - some by my own hand.
Every loss brings sorrow, but to be present at the final moments of a hero is the most difficult loss of all to overcome. My existence has forced me to bear
witness to many; always lamented and never forgotten. I carry guilt for those deaths; a feeling that I could have done more. It is an indelible shadow on my conscience and an evil spirit in my dreams. I relive those fights, but can never change the endings.
I remember every death, as though each happened only moments ago. They all haunt me in my sleep, yet their presence in my dreams is calm when the nightmares of my own near death experiences crawl into my head. So close and deadly, the clawing and screeching, the black vomit and the gore...and the overwhelming, retching smell.
During the infrequent layovers with other travelers, they have sometimes noted disturbances in my sleep. On rare occasion, the bolder or less polite have asked, “You are so attractive, so petite, how is it possible that you could have witnessed so much and still survive? Are you really capable of it all?” These are questions I have heard, but not often. My answer? “I do what I must with what I have. I will not fail.” That is all.
