Wicked Road Read online

  Midnight Scars Series

  Book One:

  Wicked

  Road

  Wicked Road

  Midnight Scars Series

  Book One

  A novel.

  Written By:

  H'deel Batnij

  Wicked Road

  ©2014 H'deel Batnij

  All rights reserved.

  Second Edition.

  This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, incidents, and places are from the author's imagination.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author, except brief quotations for/in articles and reviews.

  Printed in the United States of America.

  ISBN-13: 978-1492876700

  ISBN-10: 1492876704

  Editing by Faellin Angel (aka Christina Worrell)

  Font by Chris Hansen.

  Cover made by author.

  Owner of photo/s:

  Night Road by scyther5.

  Gothic Woman by grape_vein

  Heart background by sarininka

  Editor’s Note

  I want to say thank you for taking the time to read this. Most readers skip the intro and head straight to the good stuff. I’m both an author and a reader. I usually skip to the good stuff myself, but sometimes I take a moment to cherish the book, and peek at the intro.

  This is one of my first, official books I have edited. I have not been to college and simply learned as I wrote my own books and had them edited. As a new Indie author I couldn’t afford an editor so I found ways to get around that. My first book was a mess. I took the word of an unprofessional, that she could edit it, and she failed. My own fault I guess, so instead of my friend Ms. Batnij going through the same thing with her first book, I chose to edit it for her.

  I’m not perfect and I’m sure I’ve missed some things, so please do not review this book and immediately disclaim it based on my editing failures. In my defense, it was one of the hardest I’d ever edited. Truth is, I’d never have done it if it was not for the fact that I could see through the editing errors, and knew it was a great book!

  When H’deel first sent me this book to read, it was a mess; sorry H’deel. It was, at first glance, a very rough draft and full of mistakes and nearly unreadable. Fortunately, I’m not a Grammar Nazi as they say. If you are then I apologize now and hope you overlook the mistakes.

  I read through it quickly and sent it back, not sure how to approach her without hurting her feelings. Maybe I should’ve just let her find her own way. At that time I was not able to edit it, had I wanted to. I still had a lot to learn.

  The editing errors were not the usual. Of course structure but most authors struggle there. Her ethnicity was her major drawback, when her book would be read more by English readers than any.

  Structure and language crossover was something I didn’t think I could do. I debated how well I could bridge the gap and make it work. Obviously I couldn’t let her publish as is and I couldn’t rewrite it in my own words. I struggled to decide the best course.

  Finally I decided to try. I did my best to use her own words, but just rearrange them so that the structure and language barrier was acceptable. It was not easy. Many times I wanted to just reword it, put it in my own words. I even shared those with her, explaining that I felt I understood what she meant and could explain it better.

  I’m not a better, more talented writer than H’deel Batnij. I would never claim to be better than another author. Editor, yes I was better but only because I’m English and it’s a natural language to me. I also scored a perfect score in my Language and Reading exams.

  I shared all that I’ve learned with this author. I allowed her to choose her own path, write her own book in her own words, and didn’t take over for her. In some places you may notice a distinct difference in the writing pattern but it’s only because I offered her a different way to say what she had already said. I used her words to convey what she meant.

  I urge you to read the book through and not walk away. Give it the same chance that I did and you’ll be surprised. It is no less than four stars in my own opinion.

  Again, I’m not a professional editor but taking classes and doing another author a favor. Please enjoy Ms. Batnij’s book and leave her a review. Give this new author the chance she deserves to bring you epic material that you will not regret reading!

  Happy reading everyone!!!

  For you H’deel! - Faellin Angel

  FRIEND

  “Offering from one to another,

  She gives a gift for her to ponder.

  She feels honored to call her friend,

  Feels blessed that she took her hand.

  Let her in, stayed, and gave her a moment,

  Her friend is heaven sent.

  Gave her trust and acceptance,

  Didn’t turn away at a glance.

  So, friend, I thank you beyond words

  For being my friend, sharing my world.

  You brought a light

  To my dark night.

  I offer my knowledge and time,

  You gave kindness with no reason or rhyme.

  May tomorrow bless you,

  May life favor you.”

  For my beloved husband,

  Luis.

  Without you I'm nothing,

  and without you I wouldn't be where I am today.

  The Beginning of a Past

  I welcome you to Las Vegas,” Tony said, in you-just won-a-prize tone, to his darling Mary. She was his soon-to-be newly-wed and darling wife.

  “Whoo! I've never felt so free,” Mary shouted in the air, as they were passing by in the city of sin.

  “Aha. Here we are,” Tony responded with a smile. He jumped out of the red mustang convertible in excitement. They were both hyped up and nervous for this night.

  They’d just arrived at the chapel where they were going to elope. Both their parents didn't accept them getting married at such a young age. So, they ran away together so their dream could come true. Once it got to their turn and both still wore jeans, t-shirts, and flip-flops, they said, “I do”.

  To them it didn't feel like a mistake to get married when they were so deeply in love. It felt right to them. How's it wrong to get married at eighteen? What difference does it make from getting married at an older age? They were responsible, and young, mature adults.

  As they say, sometimes age doesn't matter, but actions do. They both had good paying jobs. Tony worked at a music and merchandise store while Mary worked at a grocery store. They both got paid enough for them to live life comfortably. And this was the perfect life for them. They weren't asking for more.

  Two months later, Mary found out she was pregnant. It was something they weren't ready for.

  They’d never planned it.

  Mary went really berserk, but Tony stayed calm. She wasn't ready to be a mother just yet. She wanted to enjoy her life with the man she loved. Still, she never thought of abortion. She didn't want to waste such a precious life, nor did she want to break Tony's heart more than it already was. She took care of it in her tummy while taking care of Tony as well.

  A few months later, after getting an ultrasound, it turned out the baby was a boy. Of course Tony was head over heels, and Mary was just as ecstatic (having the baby inside her was growing on her), but they both knew that they weren't ready for it. Not with the financial and family situations they were now involved in. Plus, they weren't exactly ready for that responsibility. It was too much.

  After their son was born and they’d gotten out of the hospital, she fed their newborn son. He fell quietly to sleep in her arms.

  Later that same night, she placed him ever so gently, in a basket and wrapped a blanket around him. T
ony couldn't bear to watch his first child leave, forever. It broke his heart just from watching Mary walk out the door.

  Everything in him wanted to run out, call to her to come back, and keep their baby. He knew though it’d only make things worse than they were now. Even if he did want to find Mathew in the future, what would he tell him if they ever came face to face? That they weren't ready to take care of him, so they left him in the streets? That would break Mathew's heart just as it was breaking Tonys'.

  Mary also couldn't bear for her first son to go away. But they did what they had to do. She kept in mind that one day they’d meet again, or so she hoped with all her heart.

  “Umm, Doctor Todd?” his new secretary, Sabrina, called on him before he left his office for the day.

  He gave her a sincere smile. “Please, call me Todd.”

  “Oh, um okay Todd, tomorrow your schedule is pretty full. So I'll type it in your computer, if that's okay with you, and then I'll lock up after that for the night.”

  “Of course,” he answered, his grin grew wider.

  “Okay,” she smiled.

  Out the doors he went into the chill night.

  Another full schedule, he thought sighing. I might be a well-respected doctor and lawyer – one of the richest in the neighborhood. I’ve been called quite an eye catcher for a twenty-six year old. And I’m single without kids. How did I ever manage to get this far without the most important things in life?!

  Most days, like today, he walked to his office from his home.

  At the bottom of the stairs his foot nudged something. He looked down and found a basket, with a baby inside. Not just any baby, but a newborn!

  “Oh my God,” he whispered, shocked. What if it freezes to death?! And why is it here?

  He looked frantically around in the dark. Left and right and back. There was not one person around. He looked back at the baby. The head lamp shined on the newborn, showing him it was wrapped lovingly.

  He bent down on his knees, put down his briefcase, and looked deeper inside. There was a note. The baby boy was very much asleep.

  He sighed in...defeat? Conviction? Is this a coincidence? He thought to himself.

  It left him no other choice, but to take him to his home. Deep in his heart he knew the boy was abandoned. Just walking away, turning his back on him would break Todd's heart and the guilt would haunt him forever. He had cured so many children while being a doctor, either by healing a cut, or when he was a lawyer giving rights to a kid who’d been brutally abused by one of the parents. This wound would never heal after what happened tonight.

  He picked up the basket, and headed home. He kept staring at the baby every now and then. Luckily, he was unaware and asleep. He did not know what was going on in his world right now.

  In Todd's mind, he wondered if this was a sign to see how he was with kids, to see if he could be responsible in raising a kid. Maybe this was his chance. To prove to himself, to tell himself – and not keep questioning – that he can raise kids on his own. Right now he was so busy with work all the time he could never seem to find the time to search for the right woman.

  He assured himself that tomorrow morning he’d go to the adoption center to begin his petition to adopt him so people wouldn’t think he kidnapped the poor kid. He was so well known in the area, as Mr. Right.

  Once he reached home he placed the baby on his bed and read the note. Normally he didn't read other peoples notes. He respected a person's privacy. He just wanted to check to see if this note provided him any information about the newborn or parents.

  It turned out the letter was directed to the boy. His name was Mathew, according to his birth certificate. He decided that this was his first and last private letter he’ll ever read.

  He hid it in one of his office drawers so he could remember it for the next seventeen years. In all his life he had never felt so grateful for something he could experience from. Never in his mind did he think he'd ever come across such a thing.

  If Mathew's own parents didn't want him, then Todd was going to cherish and love him. Give him happiness, security, and the bonding of a family. He’d try his best. That was a promise. For life.

  Six years later...

  Five year old Donnie was wide awake while her parents were sound asleep. She fiddled with Teddy’s, her brown bear’s ears, not knowing how to go to sleep. She was so excited about turning six she couldn’t even lie still, much less close her eyes and fall asleep.

  She felt like jumping and running around in her room right now, but she managed to hold it all in while under her covers. She wondered what her parents had planned for her as a surprise tomorrow.

  “You think mommy and daddy will get me nice presents tomorrow?” she asked Teddy, with a smile on her small, cute baby face.

  It didn't answer her, but he stared like a stuffed animal should. She hugged her bear and positioned herself on her side in her pink, princess bed dreaming about how well tomorrow would go. She couldn't wait.

  Somehow, a few long moments later she yawned and closed her green eyes with that small smile still plastered on her face. Excited or not, her body was exhausted so she finally slept, her mind shutting down.

  Her parents loved her so much and she returned that same love. She had everything she’d ever wanted, everything she’d ever asked for, and she couldn’t be happier.

  She admitted she was a spoiled little girl but she wasn’t mean like some girls she knew. She always listened to her parents just as a good girl was supposed to. She never gave them a hard time.

  They were one happy family. They had friends and neighbors who loved them. They loved going outdoors doing things like going to the beach, camping, and picnics.

  Just across the hall, three doors down was her parents' bedroom. They’d had candles lit in their bedroom after celebrating their little beautiful marriage anniversary. They’d fallen asleep and had forgotten to blow out the candles.

  Fate is not so kind to certain people, with no rhyme or reason. Fate does not use vengeance or methods to choose its victims. Tonight was no different. Fate chose an innocent family to reap chaos and carnage on. A night one little girl would never forget.

  Donnie's mother's arm accidentally knocked down one of the soft glowing, flickering candles from the night table to the carpeted floor. It was very close to their heavy, flammable curtains. It quickly caught afire. The only problem about her parents was that they were heavy sleepers.

  After some time, Donnie felt sweaty and hot. She opened her childish eyes realizing she couldn't breathe right and started coughing lightly. She saw the smoke come in from under her closed door.

  Getting out of bed and opening her door she walked out into the smoke-filled hallway. She coughed so hard she had to cover her tiny mouth and nose. The pressure on her chest made her feel like her insides were squeezing the life out of her. And every time she breathed in the air, it made her gasp for more, and made it harder to breathe. The smoke made her eyes burn and tear up.

  She was getting scared and frightened. She saw most of the smoke coming from under her parents’ bedroom door. She heard the fire alarm blaring off in the distance.

  “Mommy? Daddy?” she whimpered. Nobody heard her.

  By some miracle they both finally woke up to the blazing red fury surrounding their canopy bed. They clutched each other for dear life.

  Deadly fire completely cut them off from escape, walls of fire instead of drywall. Their one escape, the door, was nothing but a red blistering death trap. It had been closer to the candle than their bed, saving them from an instant fiery death.

  Poor Donnie found the courage to put her hand to the door knob and instantly pulled it back from the sizzling, scorching metal knob. The painful burning was excruciating but she managed to keep the wails silent and in her throat. After a moment the pain subsided, the need to get to her parents too strong, that she chanced it once more using her shirttail to twist open the knob.

  She saw the fire surrounding her p
arents, licking at everything flammable.

  “MOMMY! DADDY!” she screamed in terror.

  Her heart suddenly clenched in her chest. It was beating too fast with adrenaline and fear. There was no way for her to get to them when she wanted to so badly.

  “Donnie, get out of here. Run. Go call for help,” her parents shouted.

  Paralyzed, she stared at them. Donnie was too terrified to look away, to quickly get help. Part of her would rather be with them, die with them.

  Seeing the ceiling fall atop her mother and father brought her to her senses, released her from the enthralling spell the fire had cast. Coughing and gasping for air, she gave up on the idea of burning to death once she realized it was too late to be with them now. She quickly ran from the room, the house, to seek help from those she had come to trust and care for.

  “Please, somebody help. Our house is on fire,” she screamed, as she ran into the streets which had already begun to fill with shocked bystanders. The horror written on their faces was a mirror image of the one on her face.

  She looked back at her flaming house from a distance. It was quickly an inferno. The whole roof fell down. More neighbors woke up and joined the others, just as the ambulance and fire truck came. They were a bit too late to save her parents and to save her house, where she once lived as a pink princess.

  The image, frozen forever in her fragile mind, would haunt her for the rest of her existence. Seeing each piece fracture and separate from another echoed her heart as it shattered into a billion tiny pieces.

  Deep inside she knew her parents were forever dead. Intense misery overwhelmed her as she started crying in the middle of the street. Her perfect life vanished from her eyes.

  She knew she was all alone now. She knew she had no comfortable home to go into, no parents, and no one who would love her as they had. Suddenly, hope vanished from her, replaced by fierce emptiness, something she’d never felt before. The only thing you'd find in her was pain, sadness, and a black four wall room that locked her within her own skull.