The Horizons Series - Prologue

New-Man

I felt just like N-man when he unveiled his secret lair to C-boy in issue #34 of CrimeJackers.

When David asked me to do this, I knew this was my chance. And now that all of them were looking at me with admiration in their eyes, it was worth it.

Of course, if Brianna were looking at me, it would be even better.

Click.

Creeeaak.

The large metal gates, when closed, formed a butterfly in the centre. And as they slowly turned on their hinges, the way to the garden became available.

"This is so fun! It feels like we're about to commit a crime," said Howin.

David sneered. "I don't even want to know what type of crime you would commit."

[The first rule of talking to women: be funny.]

"Shut up, guys." I joked, "The girls might get scared."

But my joke didn't cause quite the ruckus I reckoned it would. They just looked at me like half the joke was missing or something.

"Scared of what?" Brianna finally asked.

[The first rule of talking to women: be mysterious.]

"Hehe." I laughed coolly and led the way down the path to the grove.

Seeing as how she didn't ask me to elaborate, she probably thought it was too deep to get into. Exactly as planned.

Howin's words echoed in my mind. Was trespassing on my father's property a crime?

My father travelled a lot, so I didn't get the chance to ask for the keys: he didn't like his kids calling when he was overseas.

We were technically trespassing on private property.

If we were out in the public area, that was fine, but ever since mom died, the grove had been reserved for my dad's fancy friends.

What were the chances Ms Palmer wouldn't rat me out? As my caretaker, it was her job to keep an eye on me and report to my dad.

As his children, we were all expected to live by his word, but unlike my half-siblings, I can't be swayed by an allowance increase.

Throwing money at me doesn't change the way I look at him and definitely not the way he looks at me.

If he had it his way, I wouldn't even be allowed outside. And that's exactly what he'd enforce if he knew I was with "les pauvres."

If only my grandparents were still here. If they were, I wouldn't have to sneak out. They were the only ones brave enough to stand up to my father.

My grandfather liked to say: "Look at the way he walks, Wynn, That ain't natural. He made up that fancy strut to hide the giant stick up his ass."

How did a guy like that come from a guy like grandpa?

I sighed.

'Hopefully, Brianna won't notice my nervousness.'

I glanced behind me, only to be frightened by a pair of eyes meeting mine.

I wanted to look away, but nothing could escape their gravitational pull.

Those big, beautiful, black eyes portrayed her every emotion, and right now, she was in awe.

That was the purpose of the grove-to impress.

Once a month, my father paid the best gardener in the country to trim the rows of trees into an archway expanding into the centre, right above the seating area.