Finally, I have some progress! Now, you might find that I'm using a different format. That doesn't change how my story is read. So enjoy at last, Chapter 1.
Characters for Ch. 1
- Matt Millard
- Connor Smith
-Paul Gratzel
-Chonga Shizhou
-Dennis Pasillo
-Woman
-Scarlet Redman
-Nora Donavan
-Jessica Easton
-Dark Figure
It had come once again to the coastal town of Manasquan, New Jersey. A year it has been, since the great Battle of Manasquan took place. The trees were much greener. The flowers along the park and coast were much more beautiful. And once more, it was the first day of summer vacation; every student is now free to do as they please. Whether it was to ride bikes along the stone-hard streets without supervision, to hang out at the nearby beach and catch a few waves, or to simply lie in the local pools to beat the heat. Yes sir, it was basically your average first day of vacation.
At the town's pizza joint, the Trattoria, there was a large group of kids, swarming in like an immense pack of starving wolves on a lone caribou, for a noonday repast. Inside they hastily order their slices of pizza, as the employees produce pie after pie. Now, one would say that it was improper for kids to eat pizza like animals. Well, in Manasquan, their Trattoria's pizza was so good, it would make anyone come back begging on hand-and-knee for more.
Matt Millard, a well-built, rugged teen, chomped slice after slice, as a group of boys excitingly witness the event. A sophisticated ginger boy with glasses, Connor Smith, a tough African-American boy, Paul Gratzel, and a nerdy Asian boy, Chonga Shizhou, cheered on.
CONNER: Come on, you can do it!
PAUL: Three more slices, m' man, and dat record's in da bag!
CHONGA: Show the pizza who the boss!
Clearly, Matt decided to go for a personal record of eating the most pizza pies, because his mother said he had a stomach of iron and willpower of steel. The record was three pies and seven slices, or forty-seven in whole. He had devoured over 45 was determined to break that record. He had only three slices of his fourth thin-crusted, cheese pizza, left on the plate.
At first, Matt began to feel a bit queasy; his face became a tad green, and he felt woozy for a moment. It all looked hopeless, until Matt's inner warrior forced his queasiness to recede. He took all three slices and ate them as one slice.
The boys cheered for him, as they lifted Matt on their shoulders, carrying him out the Trattoria. The moment they walked out, they began to proclaim the victory at the Trattoria as a Hispanic, tall youth, Dennis Pasillo, proclaimed this in the streets.
DENNIS: Matt beat the record! Forty-eight slices! ¡Cuarenta y ocho rebanandas!
CONNOR: Let's hear it for Matt, world-champion pizza eater!
Not minding the fact that the record wasn't acknowledged by everyone, Matt savored in his success. He knew he was the greatest, and that made him satisfied enough. As he was paraded around like a Thanksgiving float, the boys heard a girl's shrill scream for help.
WOMAN: Help! Some guy in a black coat just stole my new purse! Someone help!
The attention of all in range of the scream, was turned to a woman in a white T-shirt and skirt. She pointed towards an unfamiliar, running figure in a black cloak, holding onto a lilac carry-on purse.
In another part of Manasquan, another familiar figure was hanging with her girl friends outside the Third Avenue Chocolate Shoppe, the local chocolates and candy store. A blonde girl was conversing with a long, dark-haired teen, Nora Donavan, and a curly, brown-haired girl, Jessica Easton.
NORA: You're sure that Mike wants to go steady with you?
JESSICA: Yeah. You do know that this is Mike McKeever we're talking about here; hottest boy in school, who's not all up for going steady with just one girl, and…you know what I mean?
SCARLET: Yeah, I'm sure. I mean, we've been dating since homecoming. Why wouldn't he want to go steady?
JESSICA: Well yeah, but we just don't want you to get hurt. I mean, we're like your best friends.
SCARLETI know that, Jess. But I'm sure that Mike would love me enough to go steady.
As she reassured her decision, Scarlet turns to her wristwatch with shock.
SCARLET: Oh my God, I gotta go. Mom's expecting me back home for my brother's "Welcome Home!" party. He's finally leaving college, and my mom's just so happy for it. She'd kill me if I'm late.
She waved goodbye to her friends and got on her bicycle, unaware of the running figure about to run over her. As she made the right-hand turn, the person ran right by her, causing her bike to spin out of control.
SCARLET: Hey! Watch where you're going!
As the bike came to a stop, A black curly-haired, bespectacled rode by her on his black dirt bike, chasing after the black-coated thief. At first, she was about to tell him what's what. Suddenly, something in her mind just, remembering him from a long-lost memory, a secret once forgotten that had resurfaced.
SCARLET: Hey, Matt! How are you-
MATT:…Can't…talk…chasing…bad guy…with…stolen purse!
Not wanting to see people get hurt, she followed Matt on her bike. Her search ended when Matt was staring into a dark, musty alley.
MATT: Hey, has this been here before?
As Scarlet stopped to catch her breath, she scolded at him.
SCARLET: Matt, you can't…keep putting other's problems…in your hands! (takes a final breath) That's called vigilantism, mister, and people have gotten in a lot of trouble for-
MATT: Please, I've practiced things like this at home. I'm a semi-pro at this. Besides, I watch a lot of Deadliest Warrior; I can handle this easily.
SCARLET: If you say so…
Matt and Scarlet entered the alley with uncertainty and doubt. Trash cans were tipped over with debris falling out, which created an endlessly horrid stench in that alley.
SCARLET: Well, aside from a serious problem with littering, there's no trouble here. Now, let's go! We'll get in trouble!
MATT: Ugh… all right, we can- Hey, that's him!
They both turned around to find the cloaked man holding the purse.
MATT: Sir, as a U.S. citizen, I demand that you return that purse to its owner.
DARK FIGURE: Hmmmm…with pleasure. (throws the purse aside) Besides, I was sent to retrieve you anyway.
MATT: Me? Why do you want-
DARK FIGURE: And her, as well. As my masters intended…
SCARLET: Masters? What masters?
The stranger reached into his coat pocket to bring out a topaz-crystallized heptagon.
MATT: What's that? Try something funny, and I'll…
DARK FIGURE: (throws the hexagon in the air) Song of Translocation!
Seven unearthly tones are heard as the heptagon shone a light on the two youths. Suddenly the dirt floor beneath them began to warp into quicksand. The two struggled and tried to get out, but it was no use. Before submerging completely, they could see the dark figure disapparated into thin air as darkness clouded their vision.
Now I need to inform you that I may be behind, due to my computer being down. The only way I was able to get this on, was to use my brother's computer. So it'll be a while before the next chapter comes up! Until then, I may need some reviews for ideas or criticism for future parts of the tale to continue.