The Devil’s Minion
Prologue
My name is Markus, Markus Flint. I could tell you what I am and what I was, but you wouldn’t believe me. In my old home town they would have said I was an excellent kid, a straight A student, and did what I could for my community. My parents would say I was the best child, never talked back, didn’t complain, and didn’t beg. But all that changed when I turned sixteen....
Chapter 1
Murder, Year 2007
I awoke with alarm going off. I looked at it and it read six o’clock. So I dragged myself out of bed rubbed my eyes to help myself get up and I straightened my pajama bottoms as I walked out of my bedroom. Then went into the bathroom and splashed water into my sleep crusted eyes to wake myself up.
I looked into the mirror and saw a teenager with pale skin, red eyes, and snow white hair staring back. Yes, I’m an albino. I was a skinny boy, I was brain and no brawn then. Next I brushed my teeth, got into a warm bath to get rid of the stiffness in my legs, combed my untidy hair, and got dressed into a plain shirt and jeans.
“Markus!” yelled my mom from downstairs. “Come downstairs, breakfast is ready.”
“Coming Ma,” I yelled back. So I walked out of the bathroom and headed down the steps. I accidentally stubbed my toe on the on the couch on the way to the kitchen.
After cursing under my breath I entered the kitchen, and found myself in the sweetening aroma of french toast, my favorite breakfast meal for as long as I could remember. And I had to say I was mighty suspicious because my mom only made it on certain occasions, like Christmas Morning. “So what is the special occasion ma?” I inquired.
“Haven’t you looked at the calendar, silly,” replied my mom, “today is your sixteenth birthday.” I never really payed any attention to the calendar and I still don’t. “So sit down my growing little boy while I make you a plate.” My mom, always treating me like I’m five but I held my tongue and didn’t complain, so she headed off to the stove and started filling a plate with some of the french toast.
“And since it’s your sixteenth birthday you’re almost a man,”said his father from behind his paper at the head of the table. “So since this man gets his driver’s licence here soon, me and your mom thought we should get you a car. Look outside.”
And when I looked out the nearest window I saw a new car, a blue like the midnight sky. My parents, always thinking that had to get me something special for my birthday, but this was beyond what they’d normally get. And for some reason they always knew what I wanted. My eyes widened and I beamed at my parents. “Thanks, really, but you didn’t have,” I said, but I was still glad they did.
“But you do my straight A student,” she said, buttering me up, as she set down me a plate of french toast down. “Now I’ll take you to school till you get that licence and I think the first test is in two days and don’t worry we already signed you up for a private test.” Oh private lessons, I thought, did they think I was to good took take my class with the other teens. So I finished my french toast and I got into my mom’s car, and it kind of looked old compared to the new one they got me and I started to feel guilty because my parents never had a lot of money, but somehow they got me this. And then my mom took me to school.
“Bye ma,” I said when we reach my school, a small one but one of the best schools there is. And I got out of the car.
“Bye,” she said back and she pulled away.
“Hey man, over here,” yelled a familiar voice and it was Rick my best friend. He had that curly brown hair and today he decided to look like a cowboy. He always tried to look like someone he’s not, like the time he tried to look like he belonged in a rockers band but I won’t get into that. He had the jean shirt and pants, cowboy boots and hat, and he was trying to use a strong southern accent, it wasn’t working.
“Hey Rick, trying to look like those rednecks down south.” I said.
“Yeah so what. Hey, it says on the info board that today is your birthday, it true?” he asked.
“Yeah and you’ll never guess what my parents got me.”
“What?”
“A new car.”
“Man you are lucky,” he said as if surprised but he knew my parents always got me something good on my b-day. “Heck, all my parents get me is a pack of gum. So you driven it yet?”
“No, not till I get my drivers licenced. The first test for it should be in two days.”
“Oh, and before the bell rings you wanna come to my house for a party, my parents won’t be there.”
“I’‘ll have to take it up with my dad but I’ll see if I can come.”
And then the bell rang for class. “Dammit, I’m going to be late for class. See ya Rick.” I said and headed for my homeroom class.
The next two days passed without incident. You might be wondering why I’m telling you of who used to be instead of who I am now. But to understand me now you have to look back to when it all started. Sometimes I wish I never took that drivers test and sometimes I do.
The day of the drivers test had finally arrived, on Saturday at noon, and I was to some extent excited and nervous, but I knew I would pass it, haven’t failed a test yet. I studied the terms I need for the written part of the test. I also convinced my dad to let me practice the driving part of the test in the driveway, so I was confident I’d pass.
My dad took me to the high school were the testing area was at. It had a small track out to the left of the football field and the track was lined by orange traffic cones. We entered the school and went into the office to sign me in. The woman sitting behind the desk was Mrs. Rovsikava, one of the school secretaries.
“Ah, hello Markus, I guess you’re here for your driver’s test,” she said.
“Yes mam.” I replied in my most polite voice.
“Ok, so just sign right there and I’ll you to Mr. Derio,” she said as I started to sign the paper.
Then she took us down the hall and stopped outside the teachers lounge, which wasn’t at all big and it only had a refrigerator and microwave, and opened it. And there was Mr. Derio the driving instructor. “Ah, Mr. Derio,” said Mrs. Rovsikava. “We got Markus Flint here for his drivers test.
“Ah, yes, thank you Marie,” Mr. Derio said. “Sit down Markus and Mr. Flint. Now you are smart kid Markus but when driven it takes more than smarts out on the road, you know that right.”
“Yes sir.”
“Do you know that or did you read it out of a book?
“I know it sir,” I said in an impatient voice.
“Good, now let’s get this thing over with so we can get out of here. Now take this test over to the classroom across the hall. Did you bring a pencil or will you be needing one?”
“No sir, I brought one,” I replied and went across the hall to start the test.
The test was easy because I studied for it and some of the questions were just common sense. I didn’t find any hard questions, not for me at least. I only broke my pencil once and had to get up and sharpen it and then I finished the test.
I walked back across the hall and found my dad and Mr. Derio in a conversation, but as soon as I walked in they stopped and looked at me. “Done so soon?” Mr. Derio asked. “Never had a student ever finish that fast and pass, but maybe rumors about you being very smart might be right.” Some of the teachers never really believed that I was smart and always tried to give me questions that would be difficult for a normal student, but I answered them without hesitation and got them correct.
Mr. Derio took the test from me and started grading it. When he looked like he was done he looked at me with a surprised look on his face, I just smiled and stared back. “Well Markus I guess I was proven wrong, you are the brightest boy I’ve seen. You, well I hate to admit this but, you got a perfect.” I didn’t feel surprised at all, I knew I would pass.
This story might seem slow and boring but it'll get more interesting I promise.
