Exiled - 01 by M. R. Merrick Page A

the door, dented from my back’s impact, and I wasn’t sure it would work.
    Relief washed over me as the handle turned, but I struggled to hold on to the near-scalding brass. I pushed through the pain and pulled the door open, using it as support to stand up. I pulled the door shut behind me and fell to the ground as the latch slid into place.
    My eyes opened and drops of sweat ran down my face. My pulse spiked and panic set in until the smell of coffee and bacon washed over me. I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized it had been a dream. The scene had felt so real and I remembered it like it was yesterday. I took deep breaths to calm myself and let the scent of breakfast bring me back to reality.
    It was strange to have a clean white ceiling above me. There were no cracks, no plaster crumbling on me, but most noticeably, no sounds of yelling coming through the wall. I could hear distant faint chatter laced with a bit of laughter, and it helped calm my nerves.
    I opened the door and the smell of coffee and bacon grew stronger as I headed downstairs. Mom and Rayna were at the kitchen table and Rayna’s laughter filled the room.
    “Morning, sleepy head,” Mom said.
    “Morning. What time is it?”
    “Almost eleven,” Rayna answered in a chipper voice.
    Marcus was in the kitchen moving frying pans around on the stove, cracking eggs, and creating delicious smells. I went to the coffee pot, grabbed an empty mug and filled it to the rim.
    “Sleep well?” Mom asked.
    I nodded, taking a sip of my coffee. “What have you two been talking about?”
    The ladies looked at each other before Rayna answered. “Your mom was telling me what you were like growing up.”
    I choked on a mouthful of coffee and had to force it down to keep from spitting it across the table.
    “Oh gods help me.”
    “They can’t help you with this one,” Rayna said. “I’m told you were quite the handful: arrogant, rude, and, well, very much like you are now.”
    My mom laughed. I really didn’t like the way they were ganging up on me.
    “I’ll have you know I was a perfect child. And I’m not sure I’m pleased you two are even discussing this.”
    “Well, you don’t have a choice. All you’re doing now is interrupting,” Rayna said.
    “Marcus, a little help here?”
    He didn’t take his eyes off the cookware. “If there is one thing I’ve learned in all my years, it’s that women will talk and you just have to live with it.”
    “Ha!” Rayna said.
    “Great, good for us guys to stick together,” I said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be living with this in the other room.”
    I was still taken with the incredible view from the condo. It overlooked most of the city and I could see the edge of the forest on the other side. The main thing I loved about living in Stonewall was that once out of the city itself, there were forests full of life all around it.
    I took in the scene for a few minutes before I turned on the TV, watching as it flickered to life on the news channel. The anchors talked about the weather, calling for more heavy rain and storms. They moved through a few other light topics before one caught my attention.
    “Reports of kidnappings have been coming in from throughout the city. Although no names have been released, multiple calls to authorities have been reported.
    There have been no missing persons reports filed as of yet, but the police are urging the public to take caution. Reports from witnesses say an unmarked van has been seen pulling up to people on the street, where a group of masked men then pull the unsuspecting citizens into the vehicle.
    Again, there have been no missing persons reports filed, but the sheer number of calls placed last night and early this morning have the police on high alert.”
    “Breakfast is served!” Marcus announced.
    I stared at the TV, wondering if the story had any correlation to the hunters. I shook the thought away and went to the table.
    Plates of pancakes, sausages,