J.E. Taylor - Highway to Hell

Highway to Hell The Death Chronicles Book Two

August 2015 William F. Houle and J.E. Taylor

Second Edition

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Highway to Hell

The Death Chronicles

Book Two

by

William F Houle

&

J.E. Taylor

HIGHWAY TO HELL

N ick Ramsay thinks theres nothing worse than starting high school in a new town, especially in the sweltering Florida heat.

But being cast as an outsider is a far cry from the danger of his pending rescue mission to Purgatory to save his father from the grip of Leviathan.

Highway to Hell Chapter 1

I never thought hell could be out matched, but my first day at Mount Dora High School set the bar pretty high. As soon as I walked into the crowded hallway, I knew it was going to be one of the worst days of my life. I swallowed the fear lacing my mouth, but it dropped into my stomach like an acid bomb. I glanced at Julia, seeing the same level of trepidation painted on her features.

Hostile eyes turned in our direction, lingering on Julia then darting to me like I was a new chew toy their momma brought home, destined to be torn apart.

I gripped Julias hand tighter and ventured farther into the chaotic mass, looking for the office as her aunt had instructed when she dropped us off. My gaze fell on the inscribed door halfway down the hall and I steered Julia in that direction. The minute I dropped her hand and reached for the doorknob a beefy shoulder rammed into me; knocking me down like a linebacker taking out the defensive line.

I stared up at the dark challenging eyes of a mammoth kid with tattoos snaking out of his shirtsleeves.

Watch where youre going punk, he snarled and his gaze flitted to Julia, appraising her in a way that made my teeth clench.

I didnt respond. Instead, I got to my feet, leveling my own glare back at him and took Julias hand in mine, silently laying claim in front of this idiot. I wasnt about to back down, even with him towering over me by at least a foot. After all, what could he really do to me in front of the main office?

Back off, I said after a moment of strained silence.

His eyebrow rose and he grabbed a fistful of my shirt, slamming me against the wall. My heart jumped into my throat and I blinked as shock filtered through my body. I no longer held Julias hand and I swallowed hard, mentally kicking myself for underestimating the safety net of being near the office.

What did you just say?

I said back off, I growled behind a clenched jaw. I knew if I showed the fear shattering my self-confidence, I was a dead man.

Motion to my right caught my attention and I glanced at a bundle-of-nerves approaching us. He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat as he stopped next to the hulk pressing me to the wall.

Hey, Joe, what you got there? he asked nodding in my direction.

Joes glare moved to this kid and I could almost see the boy shiver and the slight shuffle backwards. This punk needs to learn the rules.

Leave him alone, Julia said and stepped next to me.

I took advantage of the interruption to Joes concentration and stepped closer, yanking him off balance and executing a foot sweep that landed him on his ass. Now it was his turn to look up at me with wide eyes.

Before he could recover, I grabbed Julias hand and pulled her into the office, ignoring the murmurs filling the hallway. The door clanged shut behind us and I traded a sigh with Julia. We both knew the safe haven of the office would only be temporary.

Can I help you?

Were new, I said. We need to pick up our schedules.

Names? she asked and picked up the pile of schedules in front of her.

Dylan Ramsay and Julia Stone.

The woman nodded and filtered through the papers like a pro, pulling out the schedules and handing them to us. We tried to match your schedules as best we could, she smiled at us and I nearly groaned at the pity in her gaze.

Thanks, Julia said and I knew from the sharp tone, she had the same read on the womans smile that I did.

The prospect of getting the crap beat out of me was more appealing than the pity look and I turned away from her stare. Julia joined me and we stepped back into the hall without further instruction.