James Hackett

Chapter 1 The beginning of the end of the beginning

The room isn’t lit by traditional ceiling lighting. The many computer screens provide enough for the gamers to see their keyboards, and if possible, move from their chairs. Preteens, teenagers and Young Adults each there because of some need to escape whether they are beating the after work traffic, or their parents have them dumped there to kill some time before they can pick up their young ones.

This gaming cafe is a Mecca for many of these individuals and in recent times the number of places like these across the islands has grown. No one really notices what lurks in the shadows of this new pastime for youth.

“Wham dread?” The bigger of the two boys says moving towards the smaller gamer on his left.  Apparently he did not like a preteen beating him in the game they were all playing. He was about to strike the boy when someone stopped him. The boy swung around facing ‘Bellam’ and older gamer who usually hung out on afternoon’s to kill time after work.
“You a mad man or what?” Said Skull now focusing his attention on Bellam.
“ Look, lewwe just focus on playing de game nah. Relax and humble yuh..”
“Humble? What kinda scene you think this is man?” By now most of the cafe was focused on the growing tension between the two.

Skull lead a pack of gamers calling themselves Shadow Skill and they were the largest gaming group on the islands. A lot of the members were at the cafe and they all kicked back their chairs finding position behind Skull.

Bellam decided to change tactics, “Ok look. We good here, have no scene. I just want to finish meh game. See how much times you could catch me on this map.” He said jokingly, but Skull and friends were not laughing.

Instead he turned around and picked up the boy that it had all started with. Bellam got up to try and help and immediately was pushed back onto the floor with a couple keyboards and equipment following after him. The Cafe owner stepped into the room hearing the louder than usual noise. The Boys were throwing items everywhere and a few gamers cowered over in a corner as if for their lives.  When the door opened the boys looked out at the owner. To him it appeared as though a few eyes glowed from the darkness in the corners. It was the last thing he remembered before they attacked him.

With a sigh Rhonda walked up slowly to the silk cotton tree. She is not quite sure what she is doing but thinks that she must get into contact with Mama Dglo to find out about Soucouyant.  Eyes closed she begin to let her mind relax and concentrate.
“Not Bad for Intuition,” Rhonda turned to face a beautiful looking girl, with East Indian features. She had a strange glow to her skin and there was the hint of a song at the end of her words.
“Relax,” She said, realising Rhonda did not know who she was, and she introduced herself.
“ My name is Chutney, and this is Rapso and Ragga.” Two more Young people not unlike herself stepped out from behind the tree. Rapso a slim boy with neat dreads and Ragga looked like Fay-Anne Lyons and her were separated at Birth.
“Let’s say we “intercepted” your call. We also sense soucouyant coming, but we kinda want to do this without de old man knowing. “
Ragga swinging an odd set of keys on her fingers spoke out “ Basically, sistren, we looking for some action.” She grinned.
“But I think we need to get you up to speed, where your friends?”

Adrian looks over the club goers from his tinted glass skybox. The hub of his empire, in revellery, and he their malevolent ruler with little to no challengers to the crown, Mr Gahoor dropped off the radar and Soucouyant long dead.
“I won’t count on relaxing just yet with those thoughts.”
“Only one person could be so annoyingly cryptic,” Adrian turned to face Moko. A mysterious jumbie as ever he walked up next to Adrian looking down at the club.
“Things are about to get complicated again mister man, I hope yuh ready.”
Looking back down onto the dance floor Adrian thought he saw someone with very pale skin and a red dress, just like Madame. When Moko’s disappearing chuckle breaks his concentration on the crowd. Adrian is left to think on what is to come.

Musical Influences for this one:

Fedde Le Grand and Funker man, Wheels in motion.

Faye Ann Lyons Get On.

MSTRKRFT – Heart Beat

Wallpapers and Avatars just click and hover over the images to see what is what. See you next week.