The Brothers Locke, page 25
Bulk had a few months of adjustment himself to being a glorified teacher, but Losian Bearn was not just for the children. Most of the adults that stayed there had pasts that weren’t squeaky clean. He fit in just fine with the others who lived in this community; the brainchild of a man called Mr. Cole. Bulk had known him before and trusted the man. He also knew that Mr. Cole was involved in some activities that would keep his civilian life from being entirely boring.
“What do you think they want with us?” Echo asked his brothers.
The triplets were sitting in the waiting room outside of Mr. Cole’s office. Bulk Brown was already inside and having a lengthy meeting. For some reason, the triplets had been asked to come and be part of whatever was going on.
“They probably found out it was you who put those pink frogs in Trevor’s room,” Sharp signed to Mouth.
“I did no such thing!” Mouth smirked, proud in his lie. “That must have been someone else.”
“Someone else, yeah, right. I guess the whole ‘I’m going to put frogs in your room’ threat you made two hours before wouldn’t have given it away!” Echo said.
“Hey, if we get in trouble for that, I’m blaming it on that Cathy Whatsherface who is always chasing you two around.”
“You’re mad she doesn’t chase you around even though we look exactly alike,” Echo grinned.
“I’m glad she doesn’t! That girl won’t stop talking!”
“This coming from you, Mouth!”
The door to the office opened, which made the triplets go silent. It was Bulk Brown, dressed in a suit of all things, with a clipboard in his hand. He sighed as he looked down at the three boys and motioned for them to get up.
“So what’s this all about, Bulk?” Mouth asked.
“You wanted something to do that wasn’t boring. Well, you got your wish. Come on inside.”
What Bulk had given them was a job that Mr. Cole and the other adults at Losian Bearn knew the brothers were suited for. It was not to steal anything or to go on a high adventure. This job was to find someone who would be lost in the Dea, a young boy who would be from the World. A boy who, if not looked after, would go down a worse road than Dana had.
Late that afternoon, the triplets made their way south from Losian Bearn to their destination. It had no name, just a desolate field between towns where large cracks had formed in the earth.
Although it had been six months since the incident at the Spire, it didn’t feel like it had been that long. The memories were still fresh of the wonders and horrors of their first (and last) job as Master Thieves. This was something different, though. It was risky, but at the same time, it wasn’t for personal glory or someone else’s greed. It was to protect someone. The brothers felt as if it was almost their duty to do so. They might not have been able to help Dana the way they wished they could, but this job could honor her memory.
“Well, they said he’d be here,” Mouth told his brothers as they stopped their journey at the edge of a large crack in the ground.
“How do they know this kid is coming here?” Echo asked.
“I don’t know, Echo. Since we’ve been at Losian Bearn, it seems that Bulk and that Mr. Cole have known a lot of things that they shouldn’t. And if no one shows up, we at least got to go on a trip.”
“No, there will be someone,” Sharp signed.
“Well, whoever it is, I just hope they have a sense of humor, or it's going to be a long walk back to Losian Bearn,” Mouth said.
“I think I hear … something. A lot of something,” Echo interrupted his brother, his head cocked towards the crack in the ground.
The three of them looked down and saw the slightest bit of movement in the darkness below. Without warning, a hand reached out into the air from the darkness.
Mouth, Echo, and Sharp shared the same uncertainty as they looked at one another and then back at the hand. For a moment, they each wondered if they were really ready to go down this road again.
“I know she’s watching. Do it for her,” Sharp signed.
And with a deep breath, Sharp reached down and grabbed hold of the desperate hand coming from out of the ground, looking for anyone to pull him from the darkness.
WHO IS DORIAN DELMONTEZ?
This journey into the world of the Dea, and beyond into other series, is only fun if I experience it with other people. I will on occasion send newsletters with information on upcoming and new releases, special offers, free weekends, custom videos made for you out there who enjoy this series, and other news about my Young Adult Fiction series.
The Brothers Locke is our first introduction into the Dea, and moreso, the epic Young Adult series Dorian Delmontez — a five book series that expands greatly into this universe as we follow Dorian from age ten until age eighteen and his fantastic adventures in this strange new world.
By signing up for our mailing list you will get exclusive first chapter releases of the first book in that series — Dorian Delmontez’ 13th Birthday — for free before it is released to stores. You will also get exclusive artwork from the series as painted and illustrated by the author KC Hunter.
This offer is specifically for those who have read The Brothers Locke series so we invite you to sign up for free at www.AOEStudios.com
ENJOYED THIS STORY? YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT
Getting reviews for any work of fiction greatly help stories that you enjoy reach more people. While many could overwhelm people with giant billboards and full page ads in magazines and newspapers telling others “This is the next big thing”, I find that people who actually like the stories telling other people about them has much more impact.
As I continue to grow my community of readers, and the collaboration with you guys is what I look forward to the most as we go on these adventures together, I want you to know that YOU are the most important part of my writing career. Without you obviously there is no community.
Honest reviews help other people feel comfortable with reading series they aren’t familiar with. Seeing people share their genuine likes and even dislikes lets them know that people are actually engaged in the story and not trying to sell them something, which is the last thing I want to do (follow me online and you’ll know my disdain for “salesmanship”).
If you enjoyed The Brothers Locke and look to continue to read this series I would appreciate you taking a minute or so to let your opinions be known by leaving a review online.
Thank you very much and I hope to hear from you soon!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KC Hunter has been a storyteller since he was twelve-years-old, and through various media during his life, been telling them ever since. He won a National Young Writers Award in 1994 and had several poems published in his teen years.
You can find him online and on social media through your favorite platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekchunter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheKCHunter
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+KCHunter
Email: thekchunter@gmail.com
LEGAL
Reproducing this book without permission from the author or the publisher is an infringement of its copyright. This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to any actual events or persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2016 AOE Studios
All rights reserved.
Edited by Mallory Greene
Cover Design KC Hunter
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
AOE Studios publication: December 2016
www.AOEStudios.com
CONTINUE THE JOURNEY ONLINE
The Brothers Locke is not only an eBook but an interactive online experience as well. Dive deeper into the world of the Dea, learn more about characters and locations, and so much more as we continue to build out the digital side of storytelling over the next year.
thebrotherslocke.aoestudios.com
K C Hunter, The Brothers Locke
