The House of Grey Prologue - The Original Modern Fantasy Thriller

The House of Grey Chapter 1 - The Original Modern Fantasy Thriller

CHAPTER ONE

A New Place

An older-looking minivan rode smoothly up Main Street in a town in Western Washington. A young man slept under a blanket in the back while a chubby yet cute middle-aged woman with mocha brown hair drove, whistling tunelessly.

"Monson, honey, we're here."

Monson Grey awoke with a start, but immediately closed his eyes again. He had been sleeping and Molly totally woke him up. Uncool. Completely and totally uncool.

"Molly, not only was I actually sleeping, I was having the best dream ever! Curse you, you irritatingly spiteful woman, for waking me up."

 "Oh, stop your whining. We're here." Molly pointed at a huge granite sign with the words Coren University written upon it. "This is a momentous occasion. This is the time when—"

Monson interrupted. "When you finally realize how stupid an idea this is?"

"The Monson Grey wit strikes again. I remember you being more pleasant before the incident."

"I remember you being nicer."

"Har har har, you're hilarious. You don't remember anything. I could be the mistress of the devil himself and you wouldn't know any better."

"Well, the joke’s on you, Molly. I'm already well aware of your tempestuous affair with the prince of darkness, but what does that have to do with anything? I'm also well informed about my memory loss, thanks. I'm the one who woke up in the hospital not knowing who I was, remember?"

She rolled her eyes. "How could I forget? You use it as an excuse every two seconds."

Monson smiled sweetly. "Which brings me back to my point: Why do I have to go to this school again?"

Molly threw her wallet at him. "He wanted you at this school and it’s completely paid for, so stop complaining."

Monson put his head under the blanket. "Can't wait."

Molly turned the car up University Street, and Monson finally got his first real eyeful of the school that was to become his home.

Coren University had an elite, Ivy League feel to it—an ideal the grounds and buildings took to extremes. The campus sprawled wastefully, taking up the better part of the valley, which was nestled in the middle of the only temperate rain forest in the world. No expense was spared on this school for rich kids, and Monson was already tired of the place.

A brick wall several dozen feet high encased much of the grounds. The wall was layered with vines so dense that the brick was barely visible. There would be no climbing those bad boys. 

Monson annoyance grew. It was bad enough that the mountains surrounding the city of Coren permitted only one way in or out, but now he felt like he was entering a not a school but a fortress, or worse yet, a prison.  Looking at the wall, Monson half expected to see battlements with crossbow-carrying sentries overlooking the incoming class. He didn't, of course, but he did see cameras.

Surveillance. Great. 

Monson half-grinned as he thought about crossbows. Now that would be cool.

 He continued to scan the vines looking for… well, he didn't know exactly what he was looking for. Possible escape routes? Was it odd to scout the area for escape routes?  Maybe. But who was going to call him out on it? He didn't know anyone.  Besides, it was a habit of his, so he was grateful. Memory loss tended to make you grateful for odd things.

Once Monson and Molly entered the campus, the road forked, one branch continuing to run parallel to the large brick wall and the other curving out of view into the woods. After a few more minutes of driving, they reached an enormous iron gate where the road veered off in a circle, doubling back on itself. Molly pulled in behind a black Cadillac Escalade and stopped the car. Her hands were shaking in anticipation.