Chapter 1: Middle of Nowhere
It's practically dawn, with the sun just coming up on the horizon of the mountains. In the warm glow of the new day, is a good two-story house with a decent sized barn right next to it. There is a barbed wire fence around the property about a few yards out from the house. Almost near the gravel road.
To the naked eye, it's just any other house no one would think twice about. Which is why it was the perfect safe house. For it was used many times for lots of illegal trafficking. But right now, it's a temporary home for the current residents.
Exiting the house was a now fifty-six-year-old Travis Monroe. Now donning a grey medium trimmed beard and head hair. A green military hat covering his head, a dark colored plaid shirt all buttoned up and tucked in and a jean jacket with a fur collar matching his jeans that cover his boots. Even in his old age, his muscles are still the same.
His breath can be seen due to the slight chill in the air. As he finishes walking down the stairs of the front porch, he goes to the barn that is still locked up from last night. Once he unlocked it, there were two vehicles inside. One was a 2000 tan Toyota car that still looks new. And the old RV that they constantly travel in. It still has a few rusts, but it purrs like a kitten. After taking a brief sigh, he enters the car and drives out of the barn and onto the road leading to the nearest small town. But little did he know, he just missed some visitors.
In the small village of 'Bear Tooth'. All it had to its name was one barbershop, one dive bar, a gas station and a small general store. This is a town where everyone knew each other by name, knowing their schedules, and what people like. It is a very 'like clockwork' town. And it's because of that Travis knew the time the dive bar would open, so he can have a little peace and quiet before work.
As he parks in front of the bar named 'Tamed Cave' the small neon sign flickered on to open. As he enters the establishment we see all kinds of wall trophies like deer, ducks, and one stuffed bear to name a few. Two pool tables by the big window near the entrance on the left, jukebox to the right, booths on both walls, tables and chairs in the middle, and at the very back was the bar itself with twelve bar stools connected to it. And right behind it was the pudgy middle-aged owner of the store, donning an apron and cleaning a small shot glass in hand.
"Ah good morning Mr. Monroe." the owner greeted.
"Morning Earl. I'll have the usual please." he greeted calling him by name.
"Really? Aren't you getting tired of the same order you constantly get?"
"And aren't you, getting tired of sneaking those glazed doughnuts down your throat?" he retorted with a smile, while pointing at his belly.
"Ha! Touche my friend, touché." was all Earl said before getting his order ready.
As he returned with Travis's order, which was an omelet with cheese and steak inside, wheat toast on the side and a nice shot of brandy and coffee. As he was placing the order in front of him, he asked "Hey. Have you heard the news lately?"
"No, not really. There's nothing on but bad news these days. And I just wanted some peace and quiet." He answered while cutting up his meal. "What seems to be the hype?" He asked as he began to eat.
"There's been a few streams of murders happening lately."
"Where?" he asked with his mouth full.
"As strange as it sounds. All over the country." Earl answered.
"What else is new?" He said sarcastically. And then continued, "Everybody is constantly killing each other in various ways for various reasons. Ex lover, revenge, money, or just straight up evil or crazy." Travis replied as he continues to eat.
With his meal now only his drink, he pulls out his private cell phone to clock himself in for work. And almost immediately, he got six requests. Two were human transportation, the rest was object delivery. He yawned and stretched the last of his drowsy state out and said, "Time to go to work." He paid Earl in cash and walked out just as more customers started to come in.
"Just be careful! There are plenty of wackos out there!" Earl shouted before Travis left.
And with a small smile he snorted for a sec and answered 'Oh don't worry. I have full confidence that I'll be alright." And that was his final word before leaving.
Back at the house (While Travis was getting ready to leave)
An alarm clock started to go off and wake the two grandkids. First was sixteen-year-old Luke, wearing plain white shirt and gray gym shorts. Because he was sleeping, his glasses were off on top of the dresser that extends all the way to the other side of the room, where there was another bed. And the alarm clock was right at the center of the dresser. And upon hearing such a noise all too familiar to him and his brother, he instantly groaned and pulled the pillow over his head. And with an irritated groan he says, "Turn it off Jonah." his voice muffled from the pillow.
On the other side of the room Jonah, the fifteen- year- old brother, wearing only his pajama pants leaving the rest of his body bare. He turns his head towards his brother with a tired look of his own and replied, "You turn it off." Even he was too tired for this.
"I'm the older one. Little sibling, obey." he said tiredly. And sarcastically for the last word.
"I didn't lose the poker game last night." Jonah groggily said while turning over to face the wall and continued, "And to honor the agreement, you do it."
With a slight groan of his own he mumbles to himself 'True.' For the bet was whoever loses has to do half of the others' chores for tomorrow. Which means today. As he began to sit at the side of his bed, he rubbed his eyes and picked up his glasses while still hearing that god awful alarm. As soon as he turned it off, he pulled the covers off of Jonah, "Come on get up. You still have half of your chores to deal with." But when his brother still refused to get up, with a knowing smile he says, "Okay then. Guess I can have all the breakfast to myself, since someone doesn't..." As he was about to finish that sentence while reaching the door handle, a black shadow whip wraps around the door handle.
As Luke turns around with the smile still on his face, he sees his little brother sitting on top of his bed with his right arm extending a black tendril coming out of his fingertips. And in an overly dramatic way he says, "Don't...You...Dare."
"Ah, you're awake." Luke responded with smug and cheer all at once.
To any normal human in the world, this is where they freak out. But both Luke and their grandpa have already known about Jonah's power for years now. So, this was not shocking to either of them.
Even though he sighed Jonah had a tired smile and said, "You know I can't let you have all the food. Especially since you hogged all the muffins last time."
"Hey, give me a break. It was one time." Luke chuckled out, "Now come on, let's get dressed."
After a few minutes, the brothers were dressed and ready. Luke was wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt with the sleeves pulled up to the elbows, and the three top and only buttons were un-buttoned. He's also wearing black jeans, white sneakers and a necklace around his neck with the shadow of the crescent Moon covering part of the Son. He's 5'6 at full height with short and messy ginger hair. Jonahs's head would be right under Luke's when it comes to height. He has blond hair tied into a ponytail that goes to the middle of his neck. He's wearing a black t-shirt, outdoor khaki pants with outdoor hiking boots.
As they both got downstairs, they see their grandpa just about to leave. They both said, 'Good morning, Pops.' before they head to the kitchen. And all he said to them was, "You two be careful and be fair with the chores. Luke, you know the bet last night." Luke responded with a thumbs up, "Alright I'm off then. The house is under your care until I get back. I trust, you both with that."
"Aye, aye captain!" Luke said with a smile and mock salute.
"Nah, I decided to make a bonfire out of this house with hot dogs and smores." Jonah said sarcastically, with a grin to match. To which, Travis can only roll his eyes out of the obvious. 'They got this covered' he said in thought knowing them, "And remember."
"Never use the power, unless it's an emergency only." all three said at the same time. Then he left for work.
As soon as he left, Luke walked to the front window and saw him driving away. And then Luke yelled at the top of his lungs like a madman, causing Jonah to flinch from the random noise, "Can you please not scream like a banshee like that again please. What if someone hears us?" Jonah said.
"Jonah, come off it. We are in the middle of nowhere, and a half an hour away from the nearest town by car. What could possibly hap..." But before he can finish, Jonah instinctively tackled his brother to the ground just before a bullet hole came though the wall and out the window!
"Holy Hell! What was that!?" he yelled in absolute surprise. But Jonah covered his brothers' mouth and said, "Intruders." After realizing that they're being attacked Luke asked, "You think it's him?"
"I don't think so. My powers were giving me different vibes of danger. Something similar about it."
Back with Travis (A few hours later)
The day went by pretty quick. In fact, it's almost 10 a.m.! And he already has good amount of change from today! The only part of the day that was a real drag was a spoiled teen in the nearest high school who was running late. And it's moments like that that make him charge extra for human transportation. Other than that, the rest was just delivering items to people, which still gets good money. Currently, he's on his way for the last job for the day. Sadly though, it's human transportation. And he can only hope this one was more tolerable.
As he arrived at the designation, he was surprised that it was the bar 'Tamed Cave'. As soon as he walked into the bar, the place was packed and the music on the jukebox was playing loud. As soon as he walked in the owner called him over, "Hey!" he waved him over. Travis walked up to the bar area.
"What's up Earl?"
"Your next payload is in the bathroom. He said to wait for him right here when you arrive." Earl explained. Travis nodded his head in conformation and ordered a drink.
"Well, well, well." a familiar voice said. The owner of that voice sat next to the old man revealing himself to be a twenty-seven-year-old man about his height but slightly slender. He has complete buzz cut black hair, round glasses, clean shaving and wearing a simple black suit and red tie under his tan trench coat that goes down to his knees and gloves on both hands, "Never thought I see you here old timer."
"Cameron!" Travis said in shock.
"Why are you so surprised? You look like you've seen a ghost." The man now named Cameron said with a smug smile. But behind that smile, was a man on a mission. That is the man Travis knew well. This was man that knows what he wants and knows how to get it.
Trying to keep a calm and professional posture "Well, you asked for my services. What is your destination?"
"Well, I was thinking."
"Go on."
"How about we go on a little search you and me? For old time's sake."
"For what?"
"Oh something, or someone very important is out in this cruel and dangerous world. Now, the dangers of this world could really hurt him, so I really need to get him back home." That sentence alone pissed him off immediately, he knows what the four eyed bastard is really talking about.
"And who, pray tell, would it be?"
"Oh, I have a picture. Granted it is a few years old so it's out of date. But hey..." As Cameron was talking, he pulled the photo out of his coat pocket and slid it to the old man. And it was an old photo of him, Alice, Luke and Jonah when they were nine and eight respectively. All four of them in costumes, because they took them both trick or treating on that Halloween. And then Cameron said it, "I think you know where he is." he finished now being more serious now.
"Sorry, can't help you there. I'm afraid, you're going to have to find someone else." He takes a quick gulp of his drink and begins to leave.
Until one of the customers locked the front door. And another closed the curtain to the big and only window. And now, every customer, was staring at him. And for the first time in a good few years, he felt a shiver go down his spine, "Oh I think you can old man." Cameron said, while spinning to Travis's direction in a cool, calm, and yet menacing manner. And as he began to walk to the geezer he continued, "For when I started to put the puzzle together on THAT day in particular, only one answer came up. You were part of it." Now the two of them were face to face both calm and unwavering, "Last chance. Were. Is. He?"
Silance. No answer, no comeback, not even an insult.
"Very well then. And here I was trying to be nice." With the snap of his fingers.
WHACK!
Travis fell unconscious from one of the goons, and was dragged away, "Guess it's the hard way after all." Cameron said to himself as he and everyone walked out of the bar.
A/N: I'm sorry if I'm being slow. My work schedule is pretty hectic sometimes. Anyway, first of all, I don't know how to save new chapters without them going out to the public. Hell, I don't even know if this chapter is labeled in the title story. So, if anyone can tell me how to save my chapters without them being sent out to the public, I would really appreciate it. Same goes for how to put this chapter into the title story, I'm still new to this. Anyway, have a nice day or night! Sorry if the first two chapters are Oc centered, I just want to set the stage. Next chapter will finally bring I.M.P in the story and their side of it. Promise!
P.S. Out of curiosity, what music soundtrack can you picture playing in the background between Travis and Cameron? No right or wrong just curious. Because I would love to put the right music in.