Chapter 1

The wild boys are calling 
On their way back from the fire 
In august moon’s surrender to 
A dust cloud on the rise 
Wild boys fallen far from glory 
Reckless and so hungered 
On the razors edge you trail 
Because there’s murder by the roadside 
In a sore afraid new world


They tried to break us looks like they’ll try again

Wild boys never lose it 
Wild boys never chose this way 
Wild boys never close your eyes 
Wild boys always shine


You got sirens for a welcome 
There’s a bloodstain for your pain 
And your telephones been ringing while 
You’re dancing in the rain 
Wild boys wonder where is glory 
Where is all you angels 
Now the figureheads have fell 
And lovers war with arrows over 
Secrets they could tell


They tried to tame you looks like they’ll try again


~Wild Boys by Duran Duran

It was the tenth hour on the West side. Cold winter winds blew through the alleys filled with dark corners and darker strangers. The night was eerie with the moon retiring from view leaving the streets dark and dangerous.

Yet a man in his early twenties, about six feet tall, and clothed in black leather walked calmly through them. He had well-tanned skin, the faint sign of a beard, and noticeable, shoulder length brown hair. He seemed to have an unwavering gaze in his emerald eyes that hinted of subtle awareness.

The man’s name was Marcus Xavier Raneri.

Xavier turned past an old junkyard toward a large manufactory building. It was surrounded by a tall hurricane fence with barbed wire at its apex. He reached behind his neck in order to unclasp a silver chain. Attached to it were four keys, one of which he used to unlock the main gate.

As he entered, two Dobermans raised their heads but did nothing else. They had seen him several times before. Using the second key to open a side door, Xavier arrived inside. He shoved the keys in his pocket, shut the door, and after lighting a cigarette from the box inside his coat, he flipped on the lights.

Surrounding him was a narrow rectangular room. On top of a long desk was a complex computer system with an attached telephone. This enclosure resembled a waiting room as there were a couple of seats in one corner with several magazines on them. On the right wall was a one way mirror in which a spectator on the other side could see a visitor clearly, however the visitor could not see him.

Passing the mirror Xavier walked over to the computer system. He punched a series of codes and numbers, then watched for a reply. At the heart of the building a master computer searched its data program for his file. An electronic voice from a voice module commanded, “Please place right hand on detection identifier.”

Xavier put his hand on a flat square device that resembled a computer monitor in color and touch. A green light inside it blinked, transporting his handprint into its memory banks.

“Print matches file. Proceed.” The voice stated.

A section in the front wall opened to reveal a short hallway. He walked inside and the doorway shut behind him. It led into a very large room with a low ceiling. It was illuminated by bright gold lights which hung from ceiling fans that were arranged into three rows.

Xavier walked to the other end where a small screened computer was stationed into the wall. Near the computer were two massive doors that could only be opened by the computer. Xavier stood in front of the computer and waited.

“Identity, please.”

“Identity is personal, put it down as unknown.”

“What is your destiny?”

“You can put that down as unknown too.” Xavier replied.

“I need to have destination stated.”

“Check your files, I rank Priority 1. You are Priority 3, so open the doors.”

“Affirmative.”

Xavier watched as the doors opened. They were solid steel and almost totally run by computers just like the rest of the Underearth was. He walked through the screeching doors as they began to close slowly.

He entered an enormous room that was dimly lit. A very dense fog covered the large expanse of water that was in front of him. Xavier walked onto a plank stretched out to the center of the water. At the end of the plank, it widened out a little because there was a spiral stairway winding around a broad pole. This stairway led up to a hole in the ceiling. All the Underearth dwellers had eyes sensitive to light. So Xavier placed sunglasses over his eyes and started up the stairs.

“Marcus Xavier!” Someone yelled.

Xavier whirled around causing himself to fall off the stairway into the water. “Zach, damn you!” He yelled, “Help me out of here before the Semileon gets me!”

“At least I’m not a klutz.” Zachary snapped as he pulled Xavier out.

At that instant, a worm-like creature shot out of the water. Its small, slimy arms tried to grasp the edge of the pool. It failed to get a hold and slid back into the water. Xavier stood by Zachary, dripping wet.

He looked at Zachary and said, “Well, thanks.”

Zachary returned a, “it was nothing” reply just as sarcastic as Xavier’s.

Xavier shot him a look and said, “I’m going.”

“Where?”

“To the Overearth.”

“You want a guide?”

“And I suppose you’ve been out there, right?”

“Right! You are not the only Priority 1 around here. Besides, there are two girls out there you should see.”

“Girls?” Xavier’s eyes lit up.

“Yes and I’ve been monitoring them for a while. I know they are probably alone right this moment.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, I know the red-head is going to fall for a guy that’s good-looking like me. He’ll be just over six feet, with brown eyes, and wavy, dark blond shoulder length hair. A handsome face, and…”

“Okay, we’re going, we’re going.”

“And the other girl is exactly your type.”

“Ooooooooohh!”

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Kristine and Nikki could not take anymore, they ran out of the house, slamming the door behind them. They were two of the unlucky ones. Their parents spoke out against the evil mayor, Tobias. Now, Kristine’s house was marked as Nikki’s parents house had been. Unfortunately, Nikki’s parents didn’t stop protesting against him. The whole family had been murdered leaving behind only Nikki to stay with her friend’s family.

The mayor’s son, Scully, belonged to a street gang called Hell’s Angels. They wanted to rule the town, especially a little section out in the country. This place had abundant oil; enough for them to kill for. That was their key to the town and the mayor’s key to anything he wanted. However, Kristine’s parents had the evidence to put him and the Hell’s Angels away for arson and first degree murder.

“Kristine, if your parents testify, they will end up like mine, which I don’t care to discuss.”

“I know.” She nodded, “Let’s go for walk.”

“Where?”

“The park. Let’s go where all the trees are.”

Nikki nodded, then added, “Knowing you, I’ll bet you will run into every tree.”

“There’s a street light over where the gravel road is. So, I’ll be able to see just fine!” retorted Kristine.

“Oh, sure.” replied Nikki.

“C’mon.”

“Do you know where it is?” asked Nikki.

“It’s behind that old barn in back of our house.”

“Geez, why didn’t my best friend live in the city instead of the country?” moaned Nikki.