Chapter 1 The Stadium Explosion

In the aftermath of a stadium explosion, Demetrios Green must face terrifying truths pertaining to his family, society, and his own past and future all to find his younger brother.

 

 

The events of that day have echoed throughout my mind for years. I can still hear the whipping of that morning’s wind in my ears.  Crushed candy wrappers, containers, and pop corn crinkled from on the floors as I made my way through crowds of eager parents, school faculty and students.  The aroma of freshly cooked foods permeated from the concession stands pulling my attention into their various directions.  As I viewed signs advertising hot dogs, nachos, sodas, and a variety of snacks; I couldn't help but notice the kids dressed in their newest gear and prancing around like they were center stage at a fashion show.  I could see a little of the youth I had not so long ago left in each of them.  I could hear the innocence in their shouts and the enthusiasm in their screams.  They created a vibe of normalcy that I had for so long taken for granted, but that day I appreciated the mood.  On that specific day, I stood and took it all in because there was a feeling creeping deep within me.  It was a feeling that even until this very day I cannot explain.  This feeling gave me the impression that things were about to change.  I felt that even the little things had to be appreciated because soon nothing would be the same.         

            As I made my way through the insides of the stadium, the entrance marked A109 brought back memories of my own high school years.  Those were years that seemed so long ago but in reality had not so long ago passed.  Just as my brother was at that moment, I had also been the star quarterback on our high school team.  I remember rushing through entrance A109 every game as the yells of the crowd gave me power.  I felt invincible. I was a dominating force on the field.  No wind could deter my pass and no player could withstand my rush.  Touchdowns seemed to come easy as I charged down the field with nothing but the wind and my thoughts as company.  To the others, I was untouchable and eerily inhuman during the game, but somehow my opportunity for stardom never came.  This is why I was determined that my little brother would know all of my success and none of my failures.  He would be the one to bring fame to the family name.  Where Demetrios “Metrio” Green failed, Reg “Regulator” Green would most definitely succeed.    

            “Metrio! Wud up fool?” the sound of an all too familiar voice immediately sent me from basking in the thoughts of victory to thoughts of hiding in plain sight.  DelTerio Walker, one of my brother’s friends and my biggest fan, appeared from within the crowd.  “I knew there was no way Metrio Green was going to miss the biggest championship game in Orson High history! So where are we sitting bruh?” DelTerio annoyingly invited himself to sit with me.

            “Look, Teri man, I’m only going to be here for a lil while. I just want to show my lil bro some support man.” I lied hoping to avoid a full morning of DelTerio’s annoying rambling.

            “That’s cool bruh! We can just catch up until you ready to leave.” DelTerio grinned obviously seeing through my excuse. “Yeah, man, we better hurry up and find a seat though. I don’t wanna miss this. Reg is about to go into beast-mode on these boys. They ain’t ready!”

            As we stepped out before the field, the morning wind rushed around us.  Teri stood close wanting to make it obvious to his peers that he was hanging with me. Our seats were in a perfect spot directly over the entrance where the players would be rushing onto the field.  The band blasted tunes as the cheerleaders led the crowd in belts of anticipation.  The game was about to begin and I looked around to notice my mother entering the stadium once again without my father.

            Midnight, the night before, our father Dr. Emmanuel Green was aboard a Naval jet being transported across the Atlantic ocean to a remote location in Africa.  Reg was soundly asleep when Commander Bernard Sparkes and his crew of Navy Seals showed up at our door.  Quietly I crept out of our room kneeling low atop the stairs so as to not be seen.  I remember seeing the look of surprise on my father’s face as he pulled the door open to greet Commander Sparkes. “Dr. Green, We need you to come with us now!”

            “Commander, what is going on? Do you know what time it is?” My father questioned.

            “All will be explained, Doctor; but for right now we have an executive order from the President. We need you to come with us now.” I watched as Commander Sparkes handed my father the President’s orders.

            “Demetrios! What are you doing!” my mother’s shadow hovered above me as I became lost in my father’s conversation with the Commander.  Knowing that my father was now aware I had been eavesdropping the entire time I stood into the light.  He turned to face my mother and me at the top of the stairs.

            “Honey, I have to go.” My father said to my mother with an already apologetic tone.

            “What! Go where? What about Reg’s game tomorrow? He was really excited about you being there. It’s the last one of the season.” My mother pleaded.

            “Say goodbye to your family, Doctor. We’ll be waiting in the vehicles.” Commander Sparkes, sensing a family moment, turned to leave the entrance of the doorway.

            “Metrio, let me speak to your father in private, honey.” My mother patted me gently on my shoulder without ever removing her stern stare from my father.  As I reentered my bedroom and shut the door I could hear them as they argued about the same thing I had heard them argue about so many times before.  My father was always spontaneously leaving for work.  For as long as I could remember, he was rarely around.  My mother grew more fed up with his absences throughout the years.  Having spent most of her time consoling one disappointed son, she was not happy about having to continuously do it for another.

            “Emmanuel if you walk out of that door, I can’t guarantee that we will be here when you return.” My mother strongly snapped.  I could hear it in her tone. This time she meant it and I sensed that my father knew it as well.

            “Baby I’m sorry but I have no choice. Tell Reg I’ll make it to the game on time. I promise.” My father uttered those last words to my mother before the door shut leaving the house in an ominous amount of silence.  I knew my mother was hurting but what could I say.  How could I comfort her by assuring her that he would make it when even I myself doubted his promise?  Over the years my father’s promises had lost their worth.  They had already destroyed my future; but as I looked across our bedroom at my peacefully resting younger brother, I was determined that they would not destroy his.  I made a vow to myself that the encouragement I had lacked for the same game so many years before, I would provide in abundance for Reg.

            “Get it Reg! Get it Reg! Get it Reg!” DelTerio excitedly jumped up and down adding to the commotion of the crowd as my brother ran sixty yards confusing the other school after faking a pass.  As Reg’s cleats met the grass for the season winning touchdown, the band erupted into our school’s fight song.  The crowd went crazy.  I watched as Reg’s teammates lifted him into the air.  Our entire half of the stadium was screaming his name, our name. “Green! Reg Green!”  It was an insurmountable feeling of triumph.  That was the last time I remember really smiling.

            The winds picked up speed at a dangerous pace as the large shadow of a Naval Jet consumed the stadium.  The ground beneath us trembled as if it too could feel the fear growing among us.  The announcers shouted for everyone to evacuate the stadium; but judging by the distance of the jet, they were already too late.  The jet zoomed towards the field.  The closer it flew, the more violently the stadium shook.  Everyone panicked while racing for the exits. Many were trampled as others were thrown everywhere by the wind force of the approaching jet.  The last words I remember hearing were DelTerio’s shouts almost completely silenced by the roar of the jet.  “We gotta get outta here!” the words met my mind in slow motion, but I could not move.  Everything within me was fixated upon my brother below me running across the field as a direct target for the approaching aircraft.

            After that everything went silent.  I remember darkness all around me.  A darkness that slowly illuminated into extremely blurred vision of flames.  Smoke, debris, and the smell of death were thick in the air.  Blood flowed down my face further obstructing my vision.  The pain in my body was unbearable, but I could not focus on it.  All I could think about was Reg.  My brother was on that field. Had he made it?  I struggled to move my aching body but nothing happened. Something was weighing down heavily upon me.  I felt the metal surface of the bleachers penetrating into my side.  I wanted to scream with excruciating pain but I knew I had to be strong. If I was going to find Reg, I would have to free myself of the bleacher.  With the little strength that I could find, I pushed myself free of the heavy metal.  Once my body became free of the weight, I attempted to shift my position; but before I could move something fell hitting me in my chest.  I looked down at what sent shrills of terror throughout my body.  DelTerio’s bloody decapitated head lied lifeless across my chest staring into my eyes.  I screamed losing my grip on the bleacher as it fell once again even harder onto my waist.  I continued to cough and gasp between panicking screams as the smoke and debris slowly invaded my lungs.  I could feel every bit of life draining from me as I uttered those last words, “Reg!”

            My mind fluctuated in and out of conscious as first flames and darkness dominated my vision.  Then after a long period of darkness, an overwhelming light pierced through.  My eyes fluttered fighting off the onslaught of brightness, but the beaming light continued to grow.  The faint sound of voices echoed from all around me but I could not make out what any of them were saying.  Fresh air rushed into my mouth and nose filling my smoke filled lungs to capacity.  My body feigned for air as the sound of my deep long breathes grew louder and louder. Shrill and annoying beeps finally led me to the realization that I was in a hospital.

            Slowly my eyes focused on my mother’s tired, worried eyes.  The large bags that took form beneath them told me that she had not slept in days.  But even through the wear and tear of worrying, I watched as her pupils took a round fully dilated shape as she realized my eyes were opening.  I wanted to speak.  I wanted to ask her about Reg. I wanted her to tell me that it had all been a nightmare and that Reg was somewhere in the hallway waiting to see me, but unfortunately the lines in her eyes told a different story.  It was a tragic story of momentous proportions. 

            “Metrio! Baby, can you hear me? Oh, Thank God. Metrio!” my mother’s embrace was warm as she took me into her arms.  I felt her tears dripping against my neck.

            “Ma…” the incomplete word left my mouth like a whisper.  It was a small whisper lost among her tears of joy.  I was overcome with weakness just from the simple lift of my eyelids.

            “Welcome back Mr. Green. You gave us quite a scare for a minute there.” A man walked into the hospital room carrying a folder full of paperwork. “I’m Dr. Gupta. How are you feeling?” he said standing on the opposite side of the bed from my mother.

            “Why isn’t he responding doctor?” my mother asked only releasing me from her stare for a brief second to address the doctor.

            “He’s had a pretty rough fight for his life over the past few days.  There aren’t many patients who would have even survived in his condition. Your son will be fine. The important thing is that we allow him to rest, Mrs. Green. He’s going to need as much rest as possible for the long road of recuperation ahead of him.” The doctor answered my mother.

            “Don’t worry Metrio. Mama’s here, honey. Everything is going to be fine. Mama is here.” She said still gazing into my eyes admiring the life that flowed through them.

            “Reg. Wh-wh-…” I struggled to ask her about Reg, but the little energy I had gained was now completely gone. 

            “Just rest baby. We’ll talk about everything when you get your energy back.  Just rest for now.” My mother softly commanded as my body obeyed and once again I found myself in darkness.

            While lying in the hospital that night with my mind deeply submerged into darkness, something strange occurred.  Flashes of laser like green lights started to manifest all around me.  The lights fluttered and danced in a swirling and hypnotic fashion.  Without warning the devastating blast of that morning’s explosion fiercely resounded within my head.  “Stop! No! Don’t do that…Mama-a-a!” Reg’s voice clearly immersed from the after-thought of the explosion.  Hearing my brother yell sent my heart into overdrive as I shot up from the hospital bed into a sitting position.  My body was dripping sweat as my nerves ran wild.

            Why did that feel so real? This is crazy. I have to find out what happened to R… My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the most surreal sight I have ever laid eyes on.  Even after seeing it with my own eyes, I was still having trouble believing it.

            I sat in the hospital bed fully alert facing a bright green transparent image of my brother’s face.  His eyes stared upon me with such intensity.  At a loss for words, all I could do was return his stares with complete and utter shock. The story in his eyes told one of complete terror. A tale similar to the one my mother’s eyes had told earlier.  As if he were reading my mind, his expression confirmed my thoughts.  Immediately my thoughts raced back to the dream of Reg’s yells. Something was wrong. He was somehow trying to tell me that he was in danger.

            As I fully wrapped my mind around what was going on, the image of Reg before me slowly dispersed into thin air.  Quickly I jumped from the hospital bed surprising myself with the level of ease with which I moved; so I swiftly examined my body noticing that my wounds were still there, but somehow I no longer felt the pain.  I took a quick glance outside into the hospital hallway.  The halls were eerily quiet and dark.  I grabbed my clothes from the hospital closet beside my bed and rapidly dressed myself. 

Slowly I pushed open the door careful not to make a sound and entered the long dark hallway.  Just as I found myself free of the hospital room, a large arm came out of nowhere grabbing me from behind.  The massive arm formed a tight grip around my neck.  I immediately reacted by throwing myself back against the large man from which the arm extended.  I heard him grunt fiercely as his back impacted the wall behind him.  I then took advantage of the brief second of surprise I had given him by shoving my elbow backward into his rib cage. At last free from his grip, I turned to face my attacker. He wore a ski mask completely covering his face except for bright blue eyes.  He stood facing me with a large frame that greatly exceeded my own 6 foot, 240 pound muscular figure.  I knew I would have to fight smart if I was going to beat him.  He punched sending the entire right half of his body into his assault.  I shifted to my left dodging his punch.  While his body maintained its motion from the forceful punch, I used his own force to my advantage guiding his groin into my knee as I continued to shift to the left.  Again he grunted as his deep rugged voice echoed down the long hallway.  As he fell to his knees in excruciating pain, I finished him off with a swift knee to the face. His large body spread across the empty floor like a giant dark shadow.

I raced with speed down the hallway knowing that it was only a matter of time before someone came to check on the noise from our hallway altercation.  Just as the bright red EXIT sign at the end of the hallway came into view, the hospital alarms sounded off deafeningly.  I made my way through the door down three flights of stairs to the first floor side exit of the hospital.  The night’s air rushed against my face as I left the building.  Even outside of the building, I could hear the loud stomps of feet racing down the stairs after me.  Frantically I ran out onto the street and was blindsided by the powerful glare of high beams approaching me.  My eyes grew wide as the breaks squealed from a large SUV swiftly approaching me.  The light of the high beams grew more and more intense until they met me with a swift blow knocking me to the street. As my consciousness slowly faded, I watched more masked men jump from the SUV surrounding me. They all reached down towards me as everything went black.

 

Author's Note

REG Aftermath is now available through online retailers, Amazon and Barnes & Nobles.com!!! If you like what you've read, please support and buy a copy as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!!!!

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