Novels by chriswrites

MaliaHis text seemed to call out to me.My thumb hovered over the screen. I should have just ignored him and should’ve tossed my phone across the room and buried myself in assignments or music or literally anything else that doesn't include continuing the conversation.But my pulse began to race with anticipation, with Maverick, you could never be certain. Before I could talk myself out of it, I hit video call.The ringing barely lasted two seconds before his face filled the screen. Maverick was sprawled across his bed, shirtless just like in the photo he had sent and on his face was a lazy and satisfied grin, like he knew he’d already won.“Finally,” he drawled. “Took you long enough.”I swallowed hard and tried to mask my nerves with annoyance. “You’re ridiculous.”“Yeah? Then why’d you call?” His eyes gleamed, shifting as he angled his phone lower. He stretched and I saw his muscles ripple, he made a show of settling back into his pillow.I rolled onto my side, clutching the phone

Later that day, as per our new routine, I waited for Maverick by his car for him to take me home.The ride home was quiet and not in a peaceful way, it was undeniably heavy with the things neither of us wanted to admit out loud. Thankfully the hum of the engine filled the silence while I diligently scrolled through my phone, pretending to be invested in posts I wasn’t even seeing.From the corner of my eye, I could see him watching me intently. I could tell before he even opened his mouth that he had come up with something to say.“All day, I’ve been thinking about how funny some things are.” Maverick said in a voice edged with a familiar tease. “Rumors have a way of being right sometimes.”Heat flooded my cheeks and before I could stop it, the words were out of my mouth. “You’re insufferable.”His grin widened. “And yet…” his eyes flicked to my face, catching the way I was biting down on my lip, “…you can’t even deny it without blushing.”I groaned and sank lower into my seat, glari

Malia The smell of grease and overcooked fries from ether cafeteria amped up my discomfort, I felt like I was walking into a boxing arena ready to take hits. I could feel the looks before they landed, hear the hushed whispers before they were spoken, my skin buzzed with negative anticipation, today was going to be the same as yesterday, if not worse. As I walked into the cafeteria, tray in hand, I could feel like somehow things had quelled down. Had someone else become trending news? Some sort of relief flowed through me. I clutched my tray tighter, bracing myself as I scanned the room. It didn’t take long to figure out why things had changed. Venessa. She sat on top of one of the long tables, With her legs crossed and her glossy hair catching the fluorescent light. Around her, her group leaned in, hanging on to her every word like she was performing. Which, knowing Vanessa, she absolutely was. Her voice carried, loud enough for the entire cafeteria to hear. “Oh my God, can we

Malia The silence in my room felt heavy. Dinner was over but the weight of it hadn’t left me. I could still feel the ghost of Maverick’s hand against my knee under the table, a touch no one else had noticed. Now he leaned against my wall, arms crossed over his chest, eyes pinned on the floor instead of me. His shirt stretched tight across his shoulders, and the chain at his neck reflected the dim lamplight. He looked untouchable, like he wanted to stay that way. I sat on the edge of my bed, pretending to adjust the hem of my dress, but really I was trying to figure out how to breathe in a room that seemed too full of him. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and full of warming. “Don’t look at me like that. I don’t need pity.” My chest squeezed, what I felt for him wasn’t pity, it wasn’t not even close. What I felt for him had weight and the kind of ache that came from watching him act like nothing touched him when I knew deep down everything did. “It’s not pity,” I counte

Malia Before the dinner, I had been pacing around my room since I returned from school. My stomach tangled in knots after everything that had during the day. Ethan’s careful voice still rang in my ears, his eyes sharper than usual when he asked me about the rumor, and I had pretended like it rolled off me. Pretended like Maverick’s stare in the cafeteria hadn’t burned me through and through and like I wasn’t still restless, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I leaned over the mirror, fixing my hair for no real reason. My reflection looked flushed and uncertain. I tugged the hem of my dress straight, smoothing the fabric against my thighs as if that would settle me. I knew dinner downstairs would be nothing more than my mom talking too much, Maverick brooding in silence, and his father pretending to play the part of a man who cared but still, my pulse picked up. Maverick would be there and my body couldn’t wait. Mums voice rang out from downstairs. “Malia! Dinner!”

Maverick By the next morning, the rumor had teeth. Before I even got to my locker, I could feel the stares on me. They were staring for longer than they usually did, and then pretended not to, then leaned close to themselves to whisper. I knew exactly whose name was in their mouths, and it made my blood run hot. Then I saw Nancy walking like she was proud of herself, all sway and lip gloss, eating up the attention. I didn’t hesitate. I fell in step a few paces behind, silently and steady. She didn’t notice of course, why would she? She was too busy smiling at the mess she’d made. She pushed through the back doors, sunlight hitting her hair just right, like the world had staged it for her. Out on the field, it was quieter and we were without any audience. That was when I called her name. “Nessa.” She turned around and looked at me with her stupidly fake smile. “Maverick,” she said, like she’d been expecting me. I closed the distance, and the smile slid off her face

KAYLA POV The journey back to that old bridge house was like a movement back to my past. But I was consoled that I had a mission there. In Joe's SUV, his cigarette smoke was thick but I didn't care due to what I've seen for the past days. The journey was a silent one as neither of us said anything to each other. It felt like we've said everything that needed to be discussed. In no time, I saw the bridge house in sight once again as it looked unrecognizable. It looked like a deformed skeleton adorned with yellow caution tape all around the place. Looking at this structure before me, I couldn't call it a house anymore because everything in it has darkened to an unusual extent. Despite the fire dying out long ago, white smokes were still visibly seen moving around like ghosts. When we reached a certain meter away from the house, Joe stopped the car which I came out. I realized this was a driveway then. Detective Joe came out also but leaning on the car. "I'll give your space, Kayla bu

KAYLA POVAt first glance, I realize that the Federal Bureau of Investigation's field office was somewhere that can't explain in words. It seems like the screams from people inside can be swallowed by that massive structure. When I'm back to reality, I realize that I was in the 12th floor of that building. Sitting on a high backed chair, the office was adorned with awards but simple in nature. My attention was drawn to the television on the wall when I saw different news. BREAKING: GOVERNOR DECIDES TO STEP DOWN AMIDST SEVERAL ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION. BENTA'S & CO STOCKS PLUMMETS AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. After that headline, a footage was displayed when Sterling was led out of that warehouse in handcuffs. He was the only person out of the place. This means the explosion killed those cleaners but not him. Seeing his composure, he didn't walk like a lord anymore but like a cornered rat. But on closer view, his face was raging with fury. "He hasn't said anyt

KAYLA POV The pin drop silence in that warehouse was terrifying and my body reacted badly. It was an old taste filled with betrayal and dust. Looking at the warehouse, Sterling stood there with his cold and triumphant stance as he held his tablet. "Ninety five percent already?" Sterling said as his thumb was still on the tablet screen. "I'll said Zack was such a genius who knew the situation before it happened. He saw the future that he'll be hunted if the evidence leaked. So, this "dead man's switch" he created alerted us which led me to you for negotiation". Everything was just blurry as I tried to stay. Joe couldn't move as he was stunned by this revelation. To worsen the situation, the laser gun threat was back as those tormenting red dots were on us. Surviving these dots twice in a period of time is just insane. "What should I negotiate again with you have killed everyone I know?" I yelled back at him. "I have to stop this remaining 5% from uploading completely. This part c

KAYLA POV Looking at those incoming headlights, it has a resemblance to the twin suns who came to redeem the long night. As it drew closer, I had to prepare myself for the worst in case it's another troop of cleaners. The mudded covered SUV halted in front of me as the tires shrieked. The door opened violently but I still held my ground. "Come in quickly before the smoke will alert other cleaners to this place", I was dumbfounded as I saw the person in the car. That was Detective Joe. He was a ghost of his usual personality. The battered face filled with injuries, shirt stained with blood was clear evidence of this testament. He signalled me to come in with his hand gesture. "Joe?", I called out to him as I finally found my voice. "I thought the fire had.... Even Sterling said..." "That Mothrfucker brags a lot that he forgets reality. Actually, I had to escape through a vault in that godforsaken house. Found an SUV which i had to hop in to further my movement there. I had 10 min

KAYLA POV The laser gun dot on my forehead was like a scorching but tiny metal implant. It was heavy but it had an accumulated attack on my skull. Despite this, my hands were voluntarily and involuntarily holding on to the ledger. The body was shivering internally due to the cold but the environment was furious with heat from Sterling and his cleaners. "Kayla, I'll give you three seconds to surrender that ledger", his voice was as flat and mechanical as he looked at his wrist watch. "Three. Two. One_""Hold on", Lucas roared while facing Sterling. His voice was as commanding as how I knew him. It seems he has returned to his prime in a split second. Lucas moved forward while the red laser followed him. He walked towards me and stood between me and Sterling while the cleaners maintained their position. He reached out for his pocket in his tattered suit which made Sterling and his men alert. "Sterling, I know the board ordered you to get that ledger at all cost. But do you really ne

KAYLA POV If everything had its warm nature, the river didn't hide its cold nature as it exhibited it freely. Human corruptions or the weight of the ledger I'm holding didn't matter to this entity as it loves its free nature. The only factor it worked with was gravity. The acceleration during the current movement halted me at the base of that old mill. The drainage pipe at that old mill nearly sucked out oxygen from me. My upper body was temporarily numbed but I regained control slowly. I slowly stood as I spat out brackish water filled with rusted iron. The base here was very quiet that you can listen to the breathing of those thick stone walls. Checking myself, I realized that the ledger was still safe with me. "Wow, that was a long ride", I muttered as I tried to gain control of my voice again. I was still shaking as that cold water affected me but I couldn't adapt automatically. Looking around my immediate environment, I realized I was the kingdom where rusts was the air and ad