The Wandering Year
Lucy Flanagan is down on her luck. An officer in the Paragon City Police Department, the promotion that should have been hers has gone to someone younger. She has never had the big break others seem to get, that is until now.
Michael Hermes Aspen is a local radio DJ who is bored with his job. What he is more interested in is the crime fighting he does as the superhero Pentangle.
A series of ritualised murders and the rumours of a new gang on the rise in Kings Row sets them both against an ancient power which could threaten the fragile stability of the city.
Chapter One
Karri Lopez pulled her coat tighter about her body. The thin fabric offered little protection against the chill wind that had sprung up that evening weather more suited to April than early May. Paragon City, situated as it was on the east coast of America did not tend to suffer from any sudden shifts in the seasons, but Karri, along with a lot of the girls who worked the evening streets of the city, had noticed the changes in the last few years. It was just like the papers said, global warming really was happening.
Strands of Karris long black hair flicked across her face and she released a hand from holding the coat together to brush them back behind her ear. Turning the corner on to Cherry Street she could see three other girls standing on the pavement. Monday nights were never that busy. As she came closer to the small group a car pulled up beside them and one of the girls leant down to talk through the open passenger window. After a brief discussion the door opened and the girl got in. The car pulled away.
Hey, Karri called to the two who remained.
Karri! a male voice said from one of the figures. How you doing?
She laughed out loud. Karl, I didnt recognise you. What the hell are you wearing tonight?
Hes gone all trani on us, K, the other girl responded. Thinks he can cut into our game a bit.
Karl threw back the flowing locks of the oversized blonde wig he was wearing making an overstated show of dignity. Now Missy, dont you go putting that down on me. Ive just as much right to the men around here as you girls do. If they happen to find my new look that bit more alluring, who can blame them? For emphasis Karl turned slightly and stuck out his butt, pushing against the skin-tight jeans.
Karri looked him up and down and gave a disapproving tut. You know what, hon, I like that hair on you. I can see the style youre going for, she turned to Missy and gave her a quick grin, and with the circus back on Talos Island, Im sure theyll hire you right away.
Both the girls fell about laughing and Karl made an effort to look crestfallen.
No appreciation, he sighed. I could do with space from your twos lack of class. He turned his back on them, flicking his hair again. Ill take my tight little butt back down to the corner where you arent castin it in shadow, he called over his shoulder as he walked away.
Still laughing, Karri called out to him, Make sure you dont trip over in those high high heels you got on. Dont want you breaking one of those so nicely painted nails.
He flicked one finger back at her as he continued to walk towards the corner.
That guy! Missy said, stifling more laughter. Love him, but he sure is crazy. You just know hell be back to his fifteen year old boy look by tomorrow.
Karri smiled and nodded agreement then started fishing in her handbag. You gotta light? I cant find mine.
Sure, Missy pulled a lighter from one of her pockets. She was about to say something more when a car stopped by the side of them. The passenger window rolled down, but the street light failed to penetrate far enough into the vehicle to allow either of the girls to see anything.
Missy made sure Karris cigarette was lit and then walked over to the edge of the curb. The slight wind stopped Karri from hearing what was said, but after a moment Missy turned back to her.
Ill catch you later. Look after yourself, she said as she opened the car door and got in.
Yeah, you too, Karri replied.
The car pulled away and the street was silent for a moment, the lights seeming to add to the areas look of a rundown industrial section that had seen better days.
Glancing down to the end of the street, Karri could not see any sign of Karl. He had probably been picked up by one of those repressed little bankers. That blonde wig and nine inch heels were the sort of thing they went for. A motorbike roared across the junction. Two kids having some evening fun. The one on the back threw a beer bottle at the stop sign. It shattered, spilling its contents across the pavement.
[censored] gang members, she said to herself. Its about time the police increased their patrols around here and clamped down on them.
As she turned back she caught sight of something in the corner of her eye and it startled her. A car had pulled up on the other side of the road. She had not heard it come down the street, but she could see fumes rolling out of the exhaust. It was an old, slightly beat-up, brown sedan. Halfway back along the rear door she could make out a large scratch in the paintwork.
The drivers window wound down and although the interior was cast in shadow Karri could just make out a pale hand resting on the door. Glancing up and down the quiet street she walked across, flicking away her cigarette as she went.
As she drew closer the face of the man behind the wheel came into view. He looked to be in his early forties, light brown hair slightly receding but left uncut. Strands of it curled down to touch the top of his glasses. Karri bent down slightly so she could see him properly.
You, he paused, his tongue flicking out to moisten his lips, you, free?
Yeah, hon, Karri replied. What you after?
The man looked surprised by her question. Err. The normal stuff?
Karri almost felt sorry for him. She had worked the streets here and in Detroit enough to know when she was presented with a loner. This guy had probably never had a serious girlfriend. He probably still lived with his mum, and now he had finally got up the courage to come looking for a woman.
Okay, she said, standing up again, you got me.
She walked around the back of the car and pulled open the passenger door, scooping up the tails of her coat as she sat down and closed the door behind her.
Where do you wanna go? Karri asked as she reached over her shoulder for the belt. I know this quiet spot round the back of some old warehouses if you wanna stay in the car.
There was a faint whirring as the man wound up the window and Karri glanced on to the back seat to check it was clean.
Heres fine, the man said, his voice muffled slightly by the gentle thud of the window fitting into its seal.
Karri turned her attention back to him. No, hon, heres not gonna work. The cops do patrols and I aint getting caught again.
The man turned to look out of the windscreen at the junction some fifty yards away. Light glinted off the rim of his glasses. What about we go back to yours then?
Karri shook her head. We can go to yours, but we aint going to mine. It was one of the few rules she stuck to.
The air in the car seemed to grow darker and cooler. Karri had no idea where it came from but she felt a fear begin to rise within her. All of a sudden she did not want to be in the car with this man. She opened her mouth to make an excuse, but nothing happened. Her hands refused to respond to the urge to open the door again and she continued to stare at the driver.
As she watched he turned to look at her. Darkness appeared to seep out of him, spreading across the windshield and hiding the pale glow of the streetlights, filling the front of the car with black tendrils. All that Karri could focus on was the mans face as his stare leered back at her.
I think well be going back to yours, he told her, his voice taking on new strength and power. I think youll be doing exactly what I want you to.
Her mind clawed at the inside of her skull in an attempt to break free. Each try growing more feeble than the last until darkness finally closed in on her.
Chapter Two
The sound of something breaking brought Karri slowly back to consciousness. One of her arms was numb. She must have been lying on it while she slept. Opening her eyes fully she stared blankly at the wall and carpet in front of her for a moment. Then she remembered the man in the car and the darkness that had enveloped her. She attempted to get up from where she lay.
Her hands were tied she realised after a moment or two of twisting, as were her feet. Struggling to her knees she looked around. Now she was upright she recognised where she was her bedroom. The cords that bound her had been attached to the foot of her bed making it impossible to stand up.
She was trying to decide if she should call out or attempt to break free before anyone knew she was awake, when the door opened. The man who walked in wore a creased black leather jacket and torn jeans. His hair was stuck up in a series of spikes about a fist high, the tip of each was painted green. In one hand he held a partly eaten apple, the other was rooting around in one of his jacket pockets.
As he approached Karri she tried to get as upright as possible.
What do you want? she asked as he came to stand in front of her. The mans expression remained impassive. Look, I dont have that much money, but youre welcome to it.
She was trying to link this guy in with the one who had been in the car. They were obviously not the same person. Maybe the other man had just been put up to it. The one now in her bedroom looked like a member of the Hellions gang, but he lacked the demon mask they often worn to hide their faces.
Is it something else you want? she tried again. Id normally charge for a bit of fun, but for you I dont mind making it free.
The thug continued to ignore her. As he pulled a key out of his pocket a second man walked into the room. He was dressed just as roughly, but did not look like he was part of the same gang. He wore clothes more suited to the black and white attire the Skulls tended to go for.
Following just behind him has a third person. He was clearly no street urchin or gang member. He had on a white robe embodied with gold stitching. Long straight black hair framed a face hidden behind a white mask which ended just above his mouth. Beneath this the dark tanned skin of a strong chin jutted out. There were slots for his eyes and Karri could see a dark red glow emanating from them. He nodded to the man holding the key who then bent down next to Karri and reached behind her.
Hey, she said, trying to twist away from him, what are you doing?
The man in white mask tilted his head down so he could look at Karri.
It is no use struggling, he said to her. You have been chosen to aid me in my accent to power.
Karri heard the clang of metal against the iron bed frame and guessed she had been released. She staggered up from her knees and managed to stand to face the three men.
Directing her gaze at the masked one she said, Youre that guy who picked me up arent you? Well if its help you want I dont mind working with you. I know a lot of the people out there on the streets.
There was a short burst of laughter from behind the mask. Good, Im glad you will do this willingly. I had hoped you wouldnt give me too much trouble. He nodded to the two thugs. Bring her through.
Karri let the two men take hold of her arms, which were still tied behind her back, and push her out of the bedroom following after the dark haired man. Rather than turning left and going into the lounge, however, he turned down the hall towards the bathroom and the front door. The sound of running water reached Karri.
Hey! What are you going to do with me? I dont need a bath.
All three ignored her and she was forced forward to follow the leader into the bathroom. The scene that greeted her made her gasp out loud the walls had been painted a deep purple. There was a smell of drying paint, which mingled with some other scent she could not identify.
Struggling slightly in the grasp of the two men she tried to face the leader who was stood to one side of the bath.
What the hell have you done to my bathroom? she demanded. Why did you go and paint it all like this?
He ignored Karri, instead nodding again to the two men who were holding her. In an instant Karri found herself being lifted by one of them as the other moved to grab her legs. She instinctively tried to struggle but their hold on her was too tight.
It should please you to know that you will be the first to help me in my rise to power, the leader said as he stepped aside to let the two carrying her approach the side of the bath. You will not be the last though, he finished as Karri was lifted higher.
She was about to offer some further plea, when she was plunged into the bath, the cold water enveloping her. The shock made her open her mouth and it was instantly filled by the water, a salty taste accompanying it. She tried desperately to fight against the hands which were holding her under, but her head never broken the surface. Within moments she could feel the burning in her lungs growing and finally she gave in and tried to take a breath.
The water in her mouth flooded into her lungs and she began to choke, the natural reflexes of her body doing all they could to expel the liquid. There was no air to replace the water though and within moments her lungs were swamped. She continued to struggle for a few seconds more before losing consciousness. Her body going limp in the water and the long coat she still wore washing around her like a gossamer shroud.
Chapter Three is now available.
Individual chapters and the story so far can be found here: The Wandering Year
For those of you who are interested. I have now done a little web badge for my novel which not only looks cool, 
but also updates to show which chapter is available.
The badge can be found at my main site [linky] (the thing that looks like the novel cover).
Another chapter should be published a bit later. 
Finally Ive gotten over the hump that was chapter four (I should have written the fight scene better the first time around), so here it is.
Sorry about the delay. Expect a chapter every few days from now on.
Link to the main site.
Chapter Five is now available.
Individual chapters and the story so far can be found here: The Wandering Year
Chapter Six is now available.
Individual chapters and the story so far can be found here: The Wandering Year
Chapter Seven is now available.
Individual chapters and the story so far can be found here: The Wandering Year
Chapter Eight is now available.
Individual chapters and the story so far can be found here: The Wandering Year
After a bit of a hiatus chapters nine through to thirteen are now available.
Share and enjoy.
Individual chapters and the story so far can be found here: The Wandering Year
Chapter Fourteen is now available.
Individual chapters and the story so far can be found here: The Wandering Year
Chapter Fifteen is now available.
Individual chapters and the story so far can be found here: The Wandering Year
Happy Christmas readers and enjoy the murders.
The story is written (there or thereabouts) and Im just getting on with the editing so I thought Id better start a thread for myself.
All the chapters, along with the cover art and notes, will be published here (a bit of my web site), but I will put a link to each chapter on this thread as they become available. Ill only show a couple of the early chapters here as no one wants a thread with 60,000 plus words in it.
Please feel free to comment in this thread or on my web site. And, er, enjoy.