Love From Death Book 1

Chapter One Lock on the Seal

Chapter 1

Lock on the Seal

Nineteen Years Later…….

Light from the morning sun seeped through the darkened curtains, glistening off the reflective screen of a small, based laptop, simple words printing along the white page, prioritizing the facts over a simple subject as history. Slender fingers dancing then pause over the worn-down keyboard. The confined space of what little the room gave was covered in a sloth of color clothing thrown around it.

The walls decorated its face with adornments of posters from around the world posters, calling attention of Italy’s color and symbol pulling to the Eiffel Tower lite up on a starry night. The glow of Moscow brimming across the same dark night, covered in its first fall of winter snow. Call of the Buckingham Palace close to the one opened window blowing in the only air cooling the heat from within the tiny room. The cream of the wall barely visible to the small string of lights circling around the one poster held higher than the others.

The Colosseum in Rome

The many notes of work pinned to its sized picture of wanting dates and locations around it of what to do, to experience, and see while exploring the many columns holding the great towering giant it still is.

The bed remained a mess of sheets of crimson and black intertwined with a mesh of off-color pillows propped against the wall across the closet wanting to throw up all over it. Papers of different studies in research glossing the room as a water fall of books adorn the side as a makeshift nightstand. Bridging the clump of mess that held hair ties and ribbons of see through colors compatible to walk over a rainbow.

A singe of clothing hanging in a miniature closet ready to pop at the seams. Christening the complete turmoil that would be a room was a small wooden desk, worn to the bone. Before it sat a nineteen year old, light tan crimsoning her skin as the screen froze for a moment before completing the sentence eating away at her mind to find the right words to say before closing the screen in frustration.

Samantha slouched back on her loose wooden back that almost matched the same status of her desk, the sound of the frame belching from the legs as her body became accustom to the size and state of her surroundings, twirling her a strand of dark brown hair, twisting the lock tight around her firm finger before relenting it free to curl slightly in an unappealing way.

Her light grey and green eyes scanning the room for any signs of her dark green denim backpack, not deafened by her mother’s demanding voice come tumbling down the hall.

“Samantha! Your classes start in an hour. Are you even up yet?” Julie asked. Opening the door completely, Samantha jerked slightly in her chair, clenching down on the charging cord of her laptop before reaching for her backpack hanging lazily off her closet door frame.

“I’m getting my stuff together, mom. I’ll be out in five.” Samantha said. Placing the laptop in her bag, she walked over to her stack of books, grabbing the orange hair tie, the only one not worn out from holding her hair in place.

“You need to clean up this room.” Julie said. Samantha rolled her eyes, not wanting to hear her mom judge her on her room.

“I feel like I walk into a hurricane when I come in here, expect instead of being hit with wind, rain, and debris.” Julie moves over to Samantha’s bed, seeing the pile of clothes gathering in the corner.

“I get hit with dirty shirts, missing papers, and the unholy stench of left-over pasta boiling in the back of a car.” Julie said, placing hands on hips, wanting an answer.

Samantha pulled off her white ‘Save the Panda’s’ shirt, snatching her deodorant from the desk, splashing the sweet scent under arms in a hurry and going for an orange plaided long sleeve shirt, clear buttons adorning up and down the seams to give a breath of excitement to the design. Anything to keep her bra straps from being exposed.

Samantha remained silent, looking for a pair of jeans that were not too worn out for her to use, but enough to be presentable.

“You stayed awake again last night, didn’t you?” Julie asked. Samantha grunted to her question.

“I’m sure the neighbors are starting to like your music by now. They’ve stopped complaining about it to the landlord.” Julie stated. Seeing Samantha stop for a moment, cringed at what she said.

“It keeps my mind busy. I don’t think about my nightmares when I can listen to music like Lewis Capaldi or to anything that keeps it away.” Samantha said. Julie sighed and moved to the open window.

Brushing aside the awkward comment, Julie looked out the window, the morning sun giving them a kiss good morning, before having to hide behind a stray cloud pulling across it.

Closing it shut, Julie turned around to see Samantha pulling on a pair of faded dark blue jeans, shouldering just at her ankles. Julie smiled to herself, thinking back on the struggles it was just to find a nice pair of pants for Samantha to wear.

“We’ll need to go by the store soon. You need a new pair of jeans for the next semester.” Julie said. Samantha sighed softly.

“The jeans I have are fine. They’re okay, so I don’t need anything.” Samantha said. Scanning the room again, she spotted a black zipped up jacket, a flower and weed design crawling on its back was the final piece to her outfit.

“Even if you say they are fine, they won’t be fine in a few years. You are still growing, Samantha. Clothes get smaller.” Julie said. Samantha grabbed a hold of her backpack, zipping the sides up, before reaching for the door.

“I just want you to carry yourself better than this, Sammy. You can always present yourself better than what you feel you are.” Julie said. Samantha shook her head.

“I like how I’m dressed, mom. I don’t want to be like everyone else at school. They wear clothes that look like they are worth a piece of furniture.” Samantha stated, slinging her backpack over her left shoulder before turning to face her mother.

“I know, but maybe you can let me do your hair in the morning. I can make it look nice.” Julie offered. Samantha inhaled slightly, knowing her mother was only wanting to help her, but sometimes it stung how her help was sometime crushing to her self-esteem.

“You are always too tired from work when you come home in the morning. Besides, I like messy buns. They are nice and easy.” Samantha said. The small smile played on Julie’s face before walking over to her beautiful daughter.

“You remind me of me when I was young.” Julie said, placing a kiss on her forehead. Samantha smiled and brushed off their small tiff while walking to the kitchen.

Spotting the banana sitting in the blue porcelain bowl, she reached for the furthest hanging from its brothers and with a quick yank, it came off. Julie followed behind her, grazing by her and heading to the stove, setting the area up to cook.

“Did you finish your report? You know its due today.” Julie said. Samantha groaned slightly, hoping she would not mention it until after school.

“I got most of it done. Just need to add the finishing touches.” Samantha answered, peeling the banana in her hand, careful not to let the hairs fall to the ground.

“Mr. Taum will be furious if it’s not done. You know that? And I’m not taking the fire for you this time.” Julie said, waltzing over to the fridge, grabbing a few eggs and a stick of butter.

“I know, but I have it under control. No worries.” Samantha said.

“That’s what you told me when you brought home that stray cat. It clawed its way out the door to get away from you.” Julie said, snickering at the memory and the laughter she had cleaning Samantha wounds caused from said cat.

“I’m a dog person anyway. Damn thing was the devil with fur.” Samantha said. Taking a bite out of the banana, chewing slowly as she watched her mom grab a tiny mixing bowl and the child size fork from their dinnerware draw.

“I think the cat just wanted away from you. It looked into your soul and saw you were a dog in disguise.” Julie said, chuckling while cracking three eggs into the bowl.

“Yeah. Sure. All I’m missing is the floppy ears and fluffy tail and then I can run around the neighborhood, barking at the sirens hailing from the fire trucks.” Samantha said, waving half of the banana around as if it was a magic wand.

“Oh good! Go dig a hole out in the park and bury Mrs. Benson’s bones for me? She always said she wanted to be buried at a park.” Julie said. Samantha laughed at her joke, finishing off the banana.

“Mrs. Benson is always watching me. She would know I’m the dog and would curse at me to stop messing with her bones.” Samantha joked. Julie giggled as she whisked the eggs, before placing some butter in a hot ready pan.

“Mrs. Benson is just worried you might burn the apartment down. That’s all.” Julie said, letting the butter slowly melt, coating the pan to give the base the eggs would need.

“If I do, the dumpster is the first to be burned.” Samantha said, taking the last bite of her banana.

“The dumpster? Why? I always figured it would be the kitchen.” Julie said, placing a small plate next to the stove.

“Yeah, well. If she kept up with the Sanitation people, it wouldn't smell like five ways to burnt ass all the time.” Samantha said. Seeing the peel was empty and did not need to continue in her quest to finish what little it had to offer anymore.

Julie giggled to herself, letting the eggs cook for a moment before adding any salt or pepper to it. Taking hold of the handle, she worked the eggs to coat the rest of the pan until the rest of the yoke was no longer runny.

“I have to agree with you there. If the dumpster was taken care of at least once a week, it would smell better for a little bit. But that means we would have to be on time with our trash being thrown out. No letting it sit in the alleyway at night.” Julie stated. Samantha rolled her eyes in disdain.

“See? Therefore, the dumpster’s first to go! So, no more debate on it.” Samantha said, leaning against the small support the counter gave.

“Okay, okay. Dumpster first then the apartment.” Julie said, jokingly. Hearing Samantha chuckle behind her as placed the finishing touches on her egg omelet.

Samantha walked over to the garbage can, keeping in mind that the kitchen itself was small, but the space before it was more than enough to have either of them to walk through. Even though the kitchen was basic, counters tinged white, bordering on yellow. The cream-colored fridge placed next to the pillar breaking it away from the hall to both of their rooms.

The space before the kitchen was enough for the dining table and a few chairs. They never had a lot of guests over. Samantha could remember a few celebrations for her birthday, graduating high school, then being accepted into the City College of New York. But the parties for anything else was always somewhere else, with very little people or it would just be her and her mom.

The use of a dining table for them would just be for show or for storage space. Mainly space for her mom to put bills or important papers she would get from the hospital. A few stragglers from her old school asking for payments on her student loans were always present.

The only reason she could keep the table for was to have something to use it for some day. Maybe it was a hand me down from grandpa before he died or from her grandmother before she also died. It was always something she wanted to ask about, but she could not bring herself to do it.

Samantha shrugged her shoulders, tossing the banana in the can, making her way down the hall to the bathroom. Tapping her fingers across the grit of the wall, a sensation of grief overwhelmed her, giving way to her thoughts of being in another place altogether, but flexing out to be brought back for some reason. The pull was almost desperate enough to get her attention lead alone bring her to her knees.

They were happening more lately, and it was beginning to frighten her. Even these feelings were no longer confined to her nightmares. But while she’s awake and trying to live her life. Putting off sleep was no longer stopping whatever it was.

Telling her mom would only make things worse and even if she did know, nothing could be done. Going to the doctor was out of the question. They were on thin ice already with the bills, college needing to be paid for and payments to an account she had no idea was for kept piling up.

The pull kept going, keeping her eyes almost black before fading to the shadows as she felt the brace of the bathroom counter hold her steady. Blankly, she stared at the wall, her fingertips grazing something sharp. Jumping slightly at the sensation, she pulled her hands close to her chest.

Samantha could feel her heart jump into her throat as she had some how made it to the bathroom, facing herself in the mirror. A paler version of herself dripped to the edges as the lights dimmed and nearly broke, snapping her out of it. Standing before the mirror but, her own reflection staring back at her this time.

Shaking her head, she pushed back the feeling of falling out and hurriedly brushed her teeth and washed her face of any kind of grease or dirt she had on her. Grabbing the towel laying on the counter, the wiped the remainder of the off, pressing the bottom of her palms flat against the sink, paying no mind to the sounds of the street outside serenading her to come out and play.

Looking carefully at her reflection, she could see it was her own eyes staring back at her, glossing over from the low light provided above her. Samantha sighed, loosening her grip to the counter, the creak of the support’s underneath complaining of the sudden movement that was given.

Samantha laid the towel back on the counter, placing her toothbrush back in its place, a clear suction hook, dangling on the mirrors surface for dear life. Breathing in deeply, Samantha brushed the film off her jacket and took another look at herself in the mirror. Not seeing anything else wrong, she smiled slightly and made her way out of the bathroom.

Strolling through the hall, hearing her hum an unfamiliar tune, but her voice fluttering through the house so lightly, lifted the dark feeling she felt only moments ago. The tune was full of life and light, pressed enough to fill the whole neighborhood in a good mood if the tune could reach past their door.

Samantha made her way to the door, slipping her black boots on quickly, seeing her mother leaning against the kitchen counter, taking bites of her eggs she just got done making. Samantha smiled once again, stepping up to her mom in a few quick strides, giving a quick kiss to her cheek.

Julie smiled and kissed Samantha back on her cheek, chuckling while chewing her food up.

“Have a good day at school. Don’t be late for work after either.” Julie said. Samantha nodded and busted to the door.

“I will. No worries.” Samantha shouted as the door closed slowly, latching softly to the silence of the room now.

“I love you!” Julie shouted. Sighing as she heard a muffled ‘I love you too’ behind the closed door, placing her plate in the sink before making her way down the hall. The walls around her began to seep a dark shadow, craning towards her as if wanting to reach out, touch her soft skin.

The energy she felt only a few minutes ago was one she had not felt in a while, one that was thirsty for something she would not allow it to have. Her happy mood shifting to one of great irritation and gripped the handle of her blade tightly, the shadow pressing closer to her feet, hungry for her.

Julie snarled at it, brandishing her small black blade, pressing the tip down to the floor, a flash of tinge orange light creeped from its side, before it faded to the shape of a slithering creature coiling up before her. The creature hissed at the shadow, slowly retreating from Julie.

Squatting behind her scaly friend, Julie let her left hand lightly touch it’s almost see-through tail, flinching from the sudden pain, but breathing through it. The pain of her blood giving life to her friend, shift it over the smoke, the scales of its skin breaching the flooring, dripping off its sides before singeing it to its jaw. Breaking through the smoke, it hissed louder before lunging at the shadows, the sound of both tussling down the hall. The shadow almost screeching at the trail of blood brandished its path with the curve and edges of ancient language.

Seconds pass by before the job is done, the hall and walls surrounding Julie brightened and cleaned of any tainted marks it could leave behind. Julie looked down to see her friend slithering back to her, the blood doing its job, before she could feel it return to her pricked finger, sealing the wound behind it.

Julie smiled as the smoke covered snake slithered it way into the wall, disappearing just as its head met the hard surface, the mark of a small character left behind, striking the hall in a protective barrier almost. The shine of the barrier glistening over the sorry paint job plastered over it. Julie sighed to herself, looking over her finger, checking to see if it was still bleeding.

Nodding to herself, noticing a slight bruise on the tip, curving to the base of it. Julie expected it, not using her strength in a while was taxing not only to her body, but her mind as well. Closing off any other thoughts towards what just happened, Julie looked down at her knife and put it back in place.

Not wanting to wait another moment, Julie grabbed her plate, tossing the rest of her eggs into the garbage before placing it in the somewhat full sink. Julie chastised herself for not keeping up with the house as much as she should, granted the house was cleaned up enough, but she wanted more to be done.

The funds were enough to keep them afloat, handling the rent and helping her with any damages that could be caused by any unforeseen incidents, but she would need to find another way to give the house a better look than one that was dark and in a creepy corner. Julie leaned against the kitchen counter, feeling her sudden surge of energy slow leave her.

Work from last night and dealing with the darkness was more than she had handled in a while. Looking over at the oven, she noticed the clock blared to her that it was almost eight thirty. Julie let out a small groan, hanging her head over before pushing off and making her way to her room, not caring about the sun greeting her through Samantha’s window.

“Need better curtains for her room.” Julie said to herself. Kicking off her shoes, Julie plopped down onto her queen size bed, aching from her shoulders to her legs as she prepared herself to climb into the shower and rest for the time being. Until it was time for her to report to work in the late afternoon.

Julie was already regretting not pushing for another hour before letting the rest of her body fall to the hot water then awaiting the deep sleep to grant her relief for the next six hours.

Samantha braced herself for the cold as she stepped out of the entrance to their apartment, looking over the streets she had seen at night not change as she took her first step away, keeping her hands in her pockets.

The weather was not too bad but, any kind of cold made Samantha shiver to the bone. She hated winter, wished she could just have the sun follow her everywhere she went, let its wonderful warmth stay on her as she let everything else freeze to a crisp.

Samantha smiled at that thought. Cheerful at the smallest idea of hogging any warmth for herself was more than enough to push her to walk faster to get to school. The sounds of her neighbors clambering about on their steps, arguments about why they do not want to see the garbage on the street was nothing new to her.

Samantha ignored the talks as she always had. She looked over to the other street as she made her way down to the corner, peeking into the small store, garnishing itself with small cloths and designs of floral arrangements and collections smaller ornaments dancing around them.

Samantha smiled at a small table seated at the front of the window, the pink tulips being the center piece as a beautiful set of purple and blue danced around its pairings, creating a new look of spring to blossom. The table was positioned exactly right to let just enough in on it to let it grow while not so much buried in the water it needed.

Samantha sighed to herself, stepping back slightly, turning right on the corner, passing the rest of the shop and letting the rest of the sidewalk lead her to where she needed to go.

The brush of wind whistling through her caused her to shiver terribly, letting her body shake a bit before running into someone. The slight bump was not hurtful, but enough to make her forget her cold and apologize right away to them.

“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry!” Samantha said. Letting her arms outstretch toward them slightly.

The look of the man she had run into was setting off a few alarms. His hands were balled and to his side, his shoulders were rolled to the back and his face looked as if he were about to shoot bullets from it. Samantha took a step back at first, almost not wanting to hear what he was going to say.

A moment passed before she could see him relax and step back from her as well. Relieved in this, Samantha tried to keep herself calm as he smiled slightly at her, making her cringe a bit.

“No worries. No harm. Have a good day.” The man said, shrugging his shoulders before taking a few steps back.

His eyes were cold and blank to Samantha, crystal blue eyes almost dead to her. Samantha gave small smile and a wave before continuing her way, never minding that the man was smiling as well, watching her hurried form rush down the sidewalk, before stepping off to the side. Breaking away from sight, bring his cellphone out of his pocket, making a phone call, leaving no trail to follow.

The walk to school was quick but, the entire time, Samantha was looking over shoulder slightly, feeling as if his eyes were still on her. Walking completely past Mrs. Emerson’s, sweeping the front of the small grocery store, usually wanting to talk for a minute about school and how her mom was doing.

Today felt as if she could not even escape his gaze, standing at the cross walk like a deer out in the snow field ready to be shot. She gripped her backpack shoulder strap, whitening her knuckles before her heart began to speed up, chasing the rabbit down the hole once again.

A dark shadow clouding her eyes, spotting a figure move from behind her, touching her arm quickly, the sight of an old lady moving into the street, tapping the cane along with her. Completely ignoring the sound of a semi-truck speeding down the road, the moment of impact crippling the sight before her, jerking her back to what was around her.

The dark shadow fading as her heart started to slow down, seeing the woman was across the street, safe, yelling slightly at the teenagers walking away from her to try to be more kind to the elderly.

Samantha began to breath heavily, forcing her legs to move before anyone could notice. Making it step almost stiff and brutal before the feeling of ice drip from her bones, letting the warmth of her body return to normal. The steps leading the other side easier to take.

The moments of feeling gripped by something was becoming harder and harder to ignore. The feeling of completely fading from the world for just a few seconds, seeing something horrible coat her sight, to something tearing at her own soul before coming back and feeding the panic she tried so hard to hide. She needed answers why this was happening to her.

She needed someone to help her soon. Or she feared these shadow’s, what ever they were, would try to take her for good.