Man, oh man. Have I been taking my sweet time, but I'm back everybody. I gotta tell you, since I've uploaded my last chapter, I have gotten much stronger in my walk with Christ than I ever been. My fear is slowly departing from my life and I feeling more ready every day to stare death in the face for the sake of Christ's glorious gospel and not shrink away. These are the results of the nourishment of His Word and the indwelling and filling of His Spirit. Praise Him!

"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Psalm 34:1).

And I'd like to thank those who have reviewed my stories, fellow authors like Dream'sRealm, who has been a source of encouragement and comfort to me, and a dear sister in the Lord indeed. Thank you all for reading my stories.

Now, it has taken a while but I finally got the motivation to keep on writing and it is my hope that these stories might serve as a source of inspiration and edification for the saints and the building up of His kingdom. God bless you and enjoy.

Trials, Tribulations, and Transformations

II

Jasper, Nevada – Memorial High School

"Why?"

Jack continued to run through the school hallway, checking every classroom door for any sign of his missing friend.

"Why didn't I realize that something was wrong?" he muttered to himself, ashamed of his own ignorance.

Wait!

Jack stopped almost immediately in his tracks, he reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his cellphone. He opened it and pressed down on speed dial.

This should've been my first option!

Jack put his cellphone to his ear and waited for an answer.

(((The number you're trying to reach is not available. If you need…)))

Click.

"Not good. Her phone isn't even on!"

Jack stood stock-still in the school hallway, thoughts surging through his mind like lightning.

Where could she be?! Is she ok? Is she hurt? Or…no…I can't think like this, I need to focus. Oh Lord Almighty, please help me find my friend!

Jack rubbed his temples, his eyes shut tight, as if he was trying so hard to think.

Her last class…Miko's last class was World History at Room A-108. Maybe her teacher will know where she is, if he's still there.

Jack ran quickly to Miko's last classroom and was already halfway there until he ran around a corner and…

"WHOA!"

"HEY!"

Jack collided with a heavy mass all of sudden which sent both him and the unannounced obstacle to the floor.

Slightly dazed from the crash, Jack tried to focus on what he just ran into. All he could see in front of him was a blur of forest green with a crown of red.

"What's the big idea?! Why don't you…DARBY?!" shouted the newcomer.

Uh oh.

Jack recognized the voice of the newcomer almost immediately and he had thought to himself that he should have watched where he was going.

"Uh…hey Vince," said Jack nervously.

The last person Jack wanted to run into was the school bully, especially the same one whom he almost beat in a race…twice.

"Don't hey me!" Vince nearly shouted, clearly angry.

Vince got up quickly and grabbed Jack by the collar, pulling him from the floor.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Vince, easy, I'm sorry, I…" stuttered Jack in fear.

"Darby chill, as much as I'd like to, I'm not going to pound you into pulp," said Vince, almost annoyed by Jack's rambling.

"You're…you're not?" queried Jack, calming down almost immediately.

"No," said Vince, letting go of Jack's collar. "But what I would like to know is what the big rush is about? Running in the school halls after hours? What's up with that?"

Jack shuffled his feet, unsure if he should share his current predicament with someone like Vince.

I probably shouldn't tell him, but maybe I can…maybe he can help me…would he? Guess there's only one way to find out.

"I'm looking for a friend," Jack said after a moment's silence.

"A friend?" asked Vince, lacking interest. "Who?"

"Miko."

"Miko? Miko Nakadai? The Japanese foreign exchange-student?"

"Yeah, so you know her?" asked Jack hopefully.

"I know of her," said Vince. "And that she seems to like to get herself in trouble a lot. Maybe she's in detention…again."

"No way, I've already check the room where detention is normally held. She's not there, besides I would've known," said Jack.

"Why?" enquired Vince, raising an eyebrow. "Why would you have known? Are you keeping taps on her or something?"

"What?! No! Of course not!" said Jack quickly. "We're just good friends, that's all."

"Really good friends," said Vince with a smirk.

"Yeah…uh, I mean no!" Jack said. "Miko and I may hang out a lot together but that's just about it, ok?"

"Right," said Vince. "That aside, she's missing and you're looking for her right?"

Jack slapped his forehead in frustration, realizing what he was previously doing.

"THAT'S RIGHT! And I've been wasting my time with idle chitchat when I should've…"

"DARBY!" Vince interjected loudly, stopping Jack immediately at midsentence. "Just cool it alright, we'll find her, wherever she is."

"We'll find her?" asked Jack, almost in disbelief. "You're going to help me?"

Vince gave a prideful grunt and crossed his arms.

Jack just looked at Vince in near disbelief.

"Not to sound ungrateful, but why?" asked Jack.

"Don't get me wrong Darby, I could care less about you or your lady friend," Vince said, avoiding eye contact with Jack. "But I…I suppose I can't very much just leave a girl hanging if she happens to be in trouble. Besides…"

"Besides what?" asked Jack, still slightly confused of Vince's break in character.

"Never mind, here," Vince said as he reached into his jacket.

He pulled out a silver cellphone and opened it.

"Number," said Vince nonchalantly.

"What?"

"So I can contact you if I find anything, I'll send you my name via text so you can add me to your contacts so that you contact me too, alright, sound good?" asked Vince almost impatiently.

"Oh ok," responded Jack and he proceeded with exchanging his contact info with newfound helper.

"Did you try calling her?" Vince asked.

"I did, but her phone-line isn't available," Jack said, almost sullenly. "And knowing Miko and how close she keeps her phone, that's usually not a good sign."

Vince gave a sharp whistle at that.

"Alright, cool," said Vince, closing his cellphone, having the contact info he needed and in turn send his name to his newly added contact. "You should have my contact info any second now. I'll go start looking. I'll start from the rear of the school from outside and work my way in, you should start from the very front and do the same, kay?"

"Ok," Jack said, as he pulled out his phone as he received a message.

Vince turned to leave until…

"Hey Vince," Jack called out.

"What?" said Vince, slightly annoyed.

"Thanks," Jack said, smiling.

Vince sighed in annoyance before he turned back.

"Whatever," he said.

Jack turned around and power walked in the direction of the front end of the school as he added a new contact to his contact list.

'Vince Raider.' Intense last name, suits him fine I guess.

Jack closed his cellphone and put it away, then broke back into a run as he was when he started his search.

Miko Nakadai just sat there, motionless, with her knees to her chest, eyes downward and her hands folded together. She had been sitting in-between the school dumpsters behind Memorial High School for nearly an hour, ignoring the obnoxious scent that radiated from the large trash canisters.

Miko didn't seem to notice her current condition, nor did she seem to care: her hair was disheveled, eyes red and puffy, and her face was a mess, smeared with fresh tears and makeup, due to her crying. The only thing was not out of place was her apparel, although it had lacked its usual vibrancy, as if the wearer didn't put in much effort in putting as she usually does.

Miko hiccupped once more and rubbed her eyes with her forearm, leaving it smeared with makeup and tears.

Oh God, I'm pathetic.

Miko hid her face in her forearms as more tears came to her eyes.

Here I am, crying like a baby behind a school like some bratty schoolgirl who had a bad day…huh…I guess that's not very far from where I am.

Why did it have to be him? Him…of all guys…and he happened to have fallen for someone else. Quite a catch too. A cheerleader and the captain at that.

I can't really blame him, I mean what chance did I ever have? I'm just some punky little goth who's a bad influence and listens to 'obscure screech" music.

He didn't mind giving her a ride and he was eager to do so too. I only got a ride 'cuz it was convenient…because I just had to follow him.

Miko pulled out her phone, it was turned off. She considered on turning it back on, but then she just put it back in its place.

Man, what am I doing here, I'd better get going, I'm probably keeping Bulkhead waiting.

Miko got up from where she sat and as she did so, her right upper arm rubbed up against the dumpster to her right. The solid rough surface of the canister caused discomfort and slight pain to where her self-inflicted wound was.

"Ouch!"

Miko grabbed her arm as a light but sharp pain went up her arm and into her shoulder. Miko felt something slightly wet and looked at her hand…only to find a thick, crimson stain on the palm of her hand.

Miko gasped at the sight and began to walk quickly from between the dumpsters.

"Oh man, I'm bleeding again, I'd better…"

"Hey!" exclaimed a voice right in front of Miko.

Miko stopped dead in her tracks and looked up to see Vince looking down at her.

"Whuh, you?!" said Miko.

"I've been looking for you," said Vince in a cool tone.

"Wha…what?!" said Miko dumbfounded.

"Just wait there, ok?" said Vince as he pulled out his cellphone.

But Miko didn't seem to be listening. She wanted to get away from Vince, he was one of the last people she wanted to be near right now. She turned to leave and began to walk away.

"Hang on, don't go anywhere girl. Someone else is looking for you too," Vince called out.

"Don't care!" said Miko spitefully.

Vince walked after her, which seemed to upset Miko even further.

"Don't follow me!" shouted Miko, not bothering to look back at Vince who followed close behind.

"Listen uh…Miko, is it? Whatever your problem is, I think you'd better settle it with your boy," Vince said, who was starting to get annoyed.

Miko stopped and turned to look at Vince.

"My 'boy'?" she asked.

"Darby of course, he's been looking for you," Vince said as if it was obvious.

"Ok, first off, he's not my boy!" Miko said angrily. "And what's it to you? Why should that matter to you?"

Vince's features began to harden due to Miko's impertinent behavior as he looked over Miko's appearance: she was a mess; her hair, her clothes, and her face was in disarray, as if this wasn't one of her better days.

Then Vince's eyes widened slightly when he noticed a red stain on Miko's upper arm.

"What are you looking at?!" shouted Miko as she covered her arm.

"What happened to your arm?" asked Vince.

"It's none of your business! Just leave me alone!" said Miko and she turned to leave.

But Vince grabbed her arm to stop her.

"LET GO OF ME!" Miko cried, almost screaming.

"No," said Vince firmly. "I won't, now what happened?"

"It's…it's none of your business," said Miko as she started crying again.

"If you can't tell me," said Vince as he opened his cellphone. "Then at least wait while I call…"

VROOOOOOOOMMMMM!

Vince and Miko immediately jumped back in fright at the loud sound of a revving car engine.

They both turned to the source of the sound and saw a forest-green terrain truck.

"Bulkhead?" whispered Miko.

"Hey, um isn't that your ride?" Vince said pointing his finger.

Bulkhead inwardly growled angrily at the sight of Vince, then immediately scanned over Miko. Bulkhead felt his engine drop upon seeing Miko's disheveled appearance…and then he saw the blood on her arm.

Fumes began to radiate from Bulkhead's grill as he turned his sights on Vince.

Miko gasped when she realized what Bulkhead was about to do. She turned to Vince and saw that he was starting to back away from the seemingly hostile vehicle, holding his hands up.

Bulkhead revved his engine all the more when he saw a red stain on Vince's right hand, and in a moment's pause, Vince, looking down at his hands, immediately caught on.

"Whoa, whoa, listen, whoever you are," said Vince nervously. "This isn't what it looks like!"

The green truck sped towards Vince as he quickly backed up against the school wall, having nowhere to run to.

"BULKHEAD STOP!" screamed Miko as she jumped in front of Vince with her arms stretched out.

Bulkhead put the brakes on and as he screeched to a complete halt.

Miko placed her hands on the overheating hood of her guardian, establishing an emotional connection with him.

"It…wasn't him…Bulk," Miko said, trying to catch her breath. "He was…just trying to help."

Vince placed his hand to his heart upon seeing that he was safe from danger, and then he got angry.

"What. The. HELL!" Vince shouted, as he advanced toward the truck that almost ran him down.

"Vince, hold on," Miko said, as she tried to reach out to the school bully.

"Are you out of your mind?! You could've killed me!" said Vince as he approached the driver's door and reached for the handle.

But as soon as his hand made contact with the door handle, the car door swung open and hit Vince, sending him flying to the ground.

"BULK!" shouted Miko angrily.

"Ow…ok…that's it," said Vince on his back, in considerable pain. "I swear, I'm…I'M GONNA PUNCH YOUR LIGHTS OUT!"

Vince immediately sat up and froze, looking upon the open car door, to see that there was no driver to be seen.

Miko froze in shock, glancing at Vince then back at Bulkhead.

As for Bulkhead, he didn't dare to move a cybernetic muscle, cursing himself quietly for his impulsive behavior. He might as well have blown his cover if he hadn't already by nearly running down Vince.

"Uhhhh….was there a driver?" asked Vince, clearly confused. "Or did he just up and left all of sudden?"

"Well," Miko said, twiddling her forefingers together. "You could say that."

"And the driver, what did you say his name was? It's…Bulkhead, right?"

At that, Miko froze on the spot.

Darn it! Me and my big mouth!

"That's a rather odd name, or is it just some kooky nickname?" Vince asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Uh…yeah, that's right. Just a meaningless nickname, there's no need to remember it," Miko said, almost relieved.

"Heh, I dunno," Vince said mirthlessly. "'Bulk-Head' seems to carry a lot of meaning of him, especially since he nearly ran me down without a moment's thought."

At that, Bulkhead had a half a mind to disregard protocol and transform to give Vince a shaking down of a lifetime.

"Easy Bulk," whispered Miko wearily as she continued to pat the hood of her guardian, attempting to placate his anger.

As Vince picked himself up, he stopped to hear the sound of motorcycle engine coming from behind him.

He turned quickly to see what appeared to be a woman in leather mounting on a midnight-blue Ducati 848 motorcycle with pink features.

"Hey, isn't that Darby's bike?" asked Vince, pointing at the newcomer.

Arcee stopped in her tracks, not bothering to answer Vince.

"Uh, hey lady, I'm talking to you," said Vince, trying to get the supposed woman's attention. "Isn't that Jackson Darby's motorcycle? 'Cuz having a motorcycle of the same model and paintjob in this town is almost…well…impossible."

Arcee couldn't remain silent any longer, to do so would raise further suspicion.

"I'm just watching it for Jack while he is looking for a friend," Arcee said nonchalantly.

"You mean her?" Vince asked pointing his thumb behind him.

Arcee turned her sights to what Vince was pointing at and she gasped slightly to see Miko.

"Miko!" exclaimed Arcee as she ridden over to her, narrowly missing Vince. "Where have you been?! Are you ok?!" she asked firmly.

Miko just rubbed her arm nervously, hesitant to answer.

Arcee looked over her, scanning for injuries, until she focused on a minor wound on her upper right arm. It didn't look too deep but it was still bleeding quite a bit.

If Arcee was in her bipedal form, she would have narrowed her optics in anger.

Immediately, she turned her sights to Vince, who began to back up slightly as if he could sense hostility from the motorbike.

"Vince," said Arcee coldly. "You didn't…"

"No, he didn't," said Miko sullenly.

Arcee turned back to Miko and eyed her suspiciously.

"Ok…" said Arcee. "Then who did?"

"No one!" shouted Miko. "It was…it was…an accident."

"An accident?" asked Arcee with concern in her voice. "Miko, tell me everything."

As Vince watched the two talk, he felt his cellphone vibrate.

Vince reached into his jacket, pulled out his phone and checked the caller id.

Jack Darby. About time.

"Darby?"

(((Hey Vince, have you found anything?)))

"I was just about to call you, and you can take it easy now."

(((What? Did you find Miko?)))

"Yes, and she's fine, for the most part and your 'other' lady friend is here too"

(((Thank God! Wait, 'most part'? Is she hurt? Wait…'other lady friend'? Do you mean Sierra?)))

"No, it's the girl who you left your motorcycle with. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen her around here before. Friend of yours, right?" asked Vince.

(((…)))

"Uh…Darby? You still there?" asked Vince, confused with Jack's sudden silence.

(((Oh, yeah. Um Vince, did you see anything?))) Jack asked, trying to hide his nervousness.

"What do you mean?"

(((Did you see anything strange?)))

"Strange? Well, if you could call almost getting run over a second time strange," said Vince with dissatisfaction.

(((Oh. I see. Oh man, I'm really sorry about that Vince. Um…where are you?)))

"Behind the school, that's where Miko is too."

(((Alright, I'll be right over.)))

"Yeah…um Darby, I really think I should split now, I think I had enough of this 'thing' for one day," Vince said, sounding frustrated.

(((Yes of course. Vince, thank you, thank you so much for helping me find her.)))

"Sure…sure Darby. See ya."

At that Vince hung up and placed his cellphone back in his jacket.

Vince looked back at Miko and the woman on Jack's motorcycle, they both appeared to be in a deep conversation. Vince couldn't hear what they were saying because they were keeping their voices down, but whatever they were speaking about seemed important. Miko was wringing her hands as she spoke; as for the woman on the motorbike, while any facial expression could not be seen, if the faint sound of her voice sounded solemn and serious.

She must be explaining how she got that cut on her arm and why she had hid herself.

Vince wished to listen but even he knew better than to eavesdrop on a private conversation and to do so could only make the situation worse. And since the two young ladies didn't seem interested in him, he decided to leave immediately. Vince turned around and walked away.

Man, what a day.

Once again, another chapter has been completed.

'Till next time ya'll.