Judy Meryfair is a normal student in her senior year in university and on the best way to get her Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminology.
But when she suddenly finds herself tangled up in a crime, she would have never thought that fate would lead her to work for a secret Government Department.
Suddenly seeing the world from a whole new perspective, she tries to find her way, while her three mysterious Colleagues seem to hide a few secrets of their own. Not to mention her friends at university seem to have their very own take on the situation.
The first book in a series of three The Department – Revelations, takes the reader onto a rollercoaster ride of emotions, surprises, and mysteries.
Targeted Age Group:: 14-30
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I´ve been writing on and off since I was young. I loved those online sites where you could create your choose your own adventure stories or quizzes. A few months ago I stumbled , while cleaning, over an old draft/book idea I had and after reading it trough I wanted to share the story.And that is how I came to write my first book.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
Usually, when I get an idea for a storyline I keep playing it trough in my mind (My very own mind TV).
And step by step develop the characters. Then I start a drawing in photoshop. I usually work with a raw 3d draft for the poses and then continue perfecting it in photoshop. When I like the result I start giving the character a personality. The naming is usually the hardest to come up with. I choose the names by character traits.
Book Sample
CHAPTER 1- MEETING OF FATE
It was raining again, Judy gave out a small sigh and snuggled more comfortably into her jacket. With the hood almost down to her eyes, she couldn´t see much but hey, it was cold!She was on her way to work and as usual almost running late again. Recently, she had dreams, odd ones. They were not really that bad but quite intense. She was in her senior year in university and on the best way to get her bachelor's degrees in criminology but without enough financial backing, she had to work. Finances were tight but somehow she made do. Annoyed she shook her head and fastened her pace to make it in time. That´s when she ran headlong into something, or rather into someone. By the little, she could see. That someone had silver hair, a dark jacket drenched in rain and black shoes.“Oh I´m so sorry, are you all right? I wasn´t paying attention.”She said stumbling a bit but a hand steadied her, she heard a melodic voice answering “No problem, don’t worry about it. Are you all right?” “I´m fine, thank you.”She checked her watch.“But I´ll be late if I don´t hurry!” His hands are so soft. Judy thought but immediately she scolded herself. Hardly the time to think about stuff like that now! She waved to the stranger and started to jog to make it in time. About 15 minutes later and without any more incidents Judy arrived at work, just in time. She worked parttime as a receptionist at a small company.“Hey, Judy!”She heard a voice squealing in an almost indecent happy tone from behind her, it was her friend and colleague. Before Judy could answer, however, she found herself in a tight hug. To be precise Melissa was her childhood friend and had a rather outgoing and bubbly personality, which landed both of them more than on one occasion in trouble.“Woah, slow down, I just arrived give me some time to breathe.”However, she smiled while turning to her best friend.“Omg, did you see the new Professor for the Criminology and Research Course? He´s hot!” “You know very well that we don´t have his course till tomorrow. How did you find out about him so fast anyway?” “Hmpf Judy, you are always so sadly oblivious about what´s going on. Of course, I heard about him from the others!”Judy shrugged her shoulders and sighed.“Listening to rumors again, Melissa? You shouldn´t always trust in those for information. They are not always true.”Melissa smiled broadly.“And I went to check him out.”She stuck her tongue out at her. Judy gave Melissa a shrewd look then added exasperated.“Melissa, don´t tell me you….”She didn´t let her finish the sentence.“I broke up with Jake.”She gave her a devilish smile.“But I already decided on my new target!”Taken aback Judy studied her friends face.“Mellie, you do know about the rules, right? The rules about students and professors?And what about Jake?“ She added as an afterthought.“Humph, what about Jake?”She scoffed.“Isn´t he your boyfriend? Weren´t you in fact, just last weekend, telling me that he was your long-lost soulmate?“ She couldn´t help but roll her eyes.“I don´t want to see him anymore. Yes, he is sweet and steaming hot but… Oh, Judy, he´s sooo boring and normal!“ Judy sighed and shook her head.“So, you had nothing better to do to dump Jake and move on to your Professor of all things? “Wait, I get it.”Judy waved her hand to stop Melissa, her voice was dripping with sarcasm as she continued.“Of course, boring and normal. Who wants a steady relationship with one of the hottest guys at our university? And not to forget he is actually your age. It is definitively better to date your professor who is almost twice your age or even older. Wait have you already asked him out?”Melissa pouted.“No, but I´ll find a way to get his attention.”She had that look that told Judy that she was dead set on something and that she wouldn´t listen.“It’s better than to do nothing.”She said with an edge in her voice.“If that is supposed to be a comment about me currently not dating anyone……” “Not dating anyone!? Seriously, Judy the next best thing to what you are doing, is to hit every guy who asked you out with a shovel over the head.” “Oh, come on Mellie, you know I´m too busy I need to get good grades and earn money so I can ….” Before Melissa could cut her off, their boss interrupted them both. He called while passing by with an arm full of folders.“Hey, you two over there, more work less talk!” Melissa rolled her eyes behind his back.“Yes, Mr. Jennings!” “I saw that miss Livingston!”She gave a sigh while returning to work.
After a few hours that passed in a mixture of boredom, stress and sometimes even fun.Judy was waving good-bye to Melissa and made her way home.“I’ll call you later!”Melissa hollered after her. Judy just waved without turning. At least the rain had stopped.She took a deep breath and enjoyed the cool wind on her face. It was not completely dark yet but the first stars were already winking from above. It was such a pleasant evening that she decided to take the long way home, which brought her through the park. I love the smell of nature after the rain. Judy thought to herself and a small smile playing around her lips. Involuntarily her thoughts returned to what Melissa had said. It is not that I don´t want a boyfriend, there were just a few reasons I choose not to have one right now. Judy pondered. For one I have to finish University, it was my mother’s last wish, and come hell or high water, I will fulfill that wish! The other reason was that there is just no one I´m interested in. Judy gave a small sigh. Maybe she and Melissa were such good friends because they were complete opposites. She was the type to freely experiment and to give her affections easily.Too easy sometimes. Judy thought dryly. She, on the other hand, was more guarded and she was never one to open up fast, especially if it meant to throw her heart or feelings at someone. Most men got rather quickly tired of that attitude and moved on to easier targets, though sometimes she could not help but think that that was not the only reason, sometimes she got the feeling that they were avoiding her.She gave out a dry laugh.Maybe it´s just my imagination or maybe I´m going crazy.Would not surprise me after all.Nope, don´t think about that now.She told herself firmly.The wind played with her hair and she took a deep breath. It was a good idea to come this way, nothing better than a good long walk to clear your head.However, suddenly she felt a chill running through her and the rustling leaves gave her the creeps. Well, time to head home I guess…. she thought when she heard the snapping of a twig behind her. A hand reached out from behind …“Excuse me miss.” Judy heard a wheezy voice. “Would you mind telling me the time, I forgot my watch.”A kind-looking elderly Man was standing smiling behind her.With a sigh of relieve, which she managed to hide behind a short cough she peeked at her watch. At that very instant her blood seemed to freeze in her veins and she couldn´t move anymore. It was as if she was frozen. Judy heard a cold humorless laugh. “You humans, you never learn, do you?”Still chuckling the man continued to speak.“It still surprises me how easy to manipulate you are, I just had to take the form of an old man and you completely let your guard down.”Cold fingers sickeningly ran along her cheeks to her chin.“Mmh you look delicious, my dear. And I like your look, oh pardon me, did I say your look? I meant, of course, my soon to be look.“ He said with a cold and humorless chuckle.Oh god, just my luck to meet a psychopath. But what´s wrong with me, why can´t I move?She tried to fight against the stasis, and to her surprise, she managed, to move her head just a tiny bit, so that she could see the attacker. There he was the old man from before but his face was oddly distorted. A ripping and an odd squelching sound ripple through the night.“Wait, my dearie, let me get this old shell off and embrace you. I promise you, it won´t hurt at all. Though I wouldn´t know for sure. Mmh, I would enjoy a good hunt, though. this was a bit too easy.”Eyes glinting, the creature ripped off the mask of the old man and turned towards Judy gliding a slimy hand along her cheek.“A strong one, are you?”He laughed coldly. “Tell me, girl, do you want to run?” He whispered into her ear. She shuddered in disgust at his touch and the breath that was brushing against her ear. Eyes wide in horror at what she just witnessed she could feel, to her surprise that she could move again.“Run little beauty, run from me!”Her body reacted before she could think and she started to run as fast as she could. However, oh too soon, she heard the cold voice again from behind.“Is that all you got? I thought you would make me enjoy myself longer. I’m disappointed, beautiful.”With these words, he ran bodily into her from behind and Judy felt herself falling. She hit the ground hard enough to skid along a few centimeters.“Do be careful with my body, will you? I don´t like my new skin damaged!”A hand as cold as ice grabbed her by the hair and pulled her up and around.She wriggled and screamed in pain until she could see the face in front of her. She inhaled sharply. It was hard to describe what she saw, where there should have been a face there was just something distorted. It certainly had the form of a head but the facial features were blurred out. Where there should have been eyes, she could only see two smoldering golden glowing empty sockets. It was the same for the Creatures body, where there should have been muscles just oddly stretched skin, could you even call it skin? It almost looked like a very bad human model made from rubber. “What are you?” Judy heard herself asking.“And why, beautiful, should I indulge you, mmh? I´m going to enjoy taking you.”Those glowing eyes bored into her like fire. Judy get a grip! Now is the time! I have to scream, I have to do something and get away to the road where there are people! I have to fight for my life! Remembering her self-defense classes, her body reacting almost instinctively. She grabbed the wrists of her attacker and held on to them as tight as she could, at the same time she twisted her body and swung out her food for a glorious kick to her attacker's groin. She heard the satisfying sound of flesh connecting. And her attacker, surprised by her bold action let go and stumbled backward. Judy didn´t give him time, determined she moved forward. Just staying out of the things reach she kicked again, this time she connected with his side and stomach. Not even waiting for a reaction, she turned and ran as fast as she could screaming bloody murder all the way. Judy made it out of the park, by now her screams had attracted quite a crowd, soon two police officers came up to her. Out of breath and panicked, now that she was safe, her legs almost gave away. Managing to stay upright, she carefully explained what had happened in the park, leaving out the details about the creature. She made it sound as if a lunatic had attacked her. People would think I´m crazy if I told them about that thing. No, it is better this way.“Miss would you mind showing us where the attack took place, don’t worry, we will be by your side.” One of the Police officers asked her. Judy nodded her head and led the officers to the scene of the attack. Still giddy she scanned her surroundings but couldn´t find any sign of her attacker, breathing out a sigh of relief, her eyes fell upon a man with silver hair, a dark jacket, and black shoes. Wait, she knew this man but couldn´t quite remember from where. Trying to get a good look, she craned her neck but he was gone. “Are you all right miss?“One of the officers asked her concerned.“Yes …, yes I´m just tired.” “If you don´t mind to come with us to the station, miss.”The officers led her to their car and they drove to the police station. After they recorded her testimony one of the officers said to her with a kind smile “We´ll call someone to collect you.“ “It´s alright, I live alone in a small apartment not far from here.“Judy told him.“In that case, we’ll drive you home. But please stay available for further questions.”
After a short ride home, Judy made her way to her room. She was still in shock. She sat down on her bed to think things through but her exhausted body had a different idea and she fell asleep.
Deep darkness surrounded her, there were no sounds, just cold darkness. In the distance she could see a light, running towards it, she saw her mother with her hands outstretched smiling at her. She ran with all her might but you couldn´t reach her.“Come on almost there!“Just as Judy’s outstretched hands could have touched her, she vanished in a whirlpool of blood-red…Suddenly she heard a warm melodious voice“Judy.”Someone was calling her name. She turned around and saw the back of someone, a man with silver hair! I know him!“Wait, who are you?”However, he walked away, she ran after him. Hands outstretched…
With a thud, Judy hit the floor of her room as she woke from her usual dream, but wait, this last bit was new. Who was this guy with silver hair? The man with silver hair and a melodious voice… Then it hit her! She had met him, well that wouldn´t be correct, rather she ran into him on her way to work and she had seen him at the scene after the incident yesterday. She was just too shocked to think clearly! She shook her head in frustration, replaying the events of last night in her mind's eye. Of course, there was that thing. Was that creature really not human? Or was it just a human psychopath in a clever disguise? Judy read about psychopaths in class and last night's attacker definitively fitted the bill. She sighed and shook her head then glancing at the small clock on her night table she thought. It´s almost time for class, time to get ready! She jumped up to take a shower then got dressed and ready for the day. After that, she went to the kitchen for some breakfast, just as she was starting on some toast and coffee her phone rang. Checking the display, she picked up. It was Melissa.“Hey, Mellie, what’s up?” “Don´t you what´s up me!”Her voice was so loud she almost dropped her phone into her coffee cup.“We agreed to talk after work yesterday, I couldn´t reach you all night!Where have you been?” Usually, people sleep at night. “Judy rolled her eyes and checked the phone's history. “I got home and was so tired I just fell asleep.Sorry.“ She answered in a softer tone, after all, her best friend was only worried about her.“Mellie listen, see you in class, we can talk during break.“She heard an exasperated sigh from her best friend.“All right, but don´t think that you´re off the hook!”Judy put her phone into her bag and headed out. There was something she had to do.She thought it through while getting ready and she just couldn´t get yesterday's events out of her head. Yes, of course, it was shocking and she was still scared, but at the same time, every part of her brain screamed at her to get behind the mysteries of the attack, to find answers.There could still be some evidence at the crime scene. Sure, police checked the place yesterday and there was nothing, but who knows maybe, just maybe… After all, she hadn´t told the police every detail. She smiled grimly. No, I just left out the crazy bits, but those crazy bits are exactly what I have to unravel if only to prove my own sanity! She told herself.Soon she reached the place and started to poke around until she heard a low growl somewhere in the thicket to her left. Something dark and massive was making its way towards her. After seeing its outline Judy’s faint hope of it being just a stray dog got shattered completely. Because the creature was walking towards her on two hind legs.“Oh great, here we go again!”She cursed silently under her breath. However, this time she came prepared. Slowly she grabbed the pepper spray that she had put into her pocket after yesterday’s incident. Better safe than sorry, right? Checking the direction of the wind. She waited. Her behavior seemed to have caught the creature off guard, unsure its black eyes fell on her.“Who are you and what do you want from me?”Judy managed to suppress the urge to tremble all over and stayed strong in the face of a, well there was no other word for what she saw, a werewolf. She let out a nervous laugh at her own though. By now, even the most recluse person had probably at least seen one of those Paranormal Movies or read a book about it. The small laugh, however, had shaken the monster out of its surprise and it took a jump at her. Standing her ground, waiting just for the right moment. She sidestepped the beast and sprayed it fully into its face right to its nostrils and eyes. Yes! She turned and run but looking back, she could see her attacker coming back to its senses and starting to chase her. Zigzagging through the trees, she felt like a rabbit that was being hunted by the big bad wolf. There was a thick fallen branch, almost like a small club laying on the ground, she put the pepper spray back into her pocket and picked up the heavy branch mid-run. Hiding behind the thick trunk of an oak tree, she was waiting just for the right moment. As she heard her attacker, approach she turned swung the branch full force and made contact as he came around the corner. She could hear the creature whimpering but all the attack did, was making it just angrier. Judy turned to run again as her foot got tangled up in a root and she fell, turning her body mid-fall she could see the creature getting ready to jump at her. Fumbling to somehow get her hands on the spray in her pocket again, she winced in shock as at that moment something jumped between her and the beast. Something that looked like a human and rather familiar too.“Don´t move and close your eyes.”She heard a melodic voice from the silver-haired men in front of her. Judy did as she was asked. However, she got ready to run if necessary. You never know, right? She could hear the sound of a gun and saw a blinding light even through her closed eyes. Then silence, running footsteps and a voice calling out.“Did you get the bastard, Raid?”Opening her eyes, she could see the silver-haired man putting a gun back into his holster beneath his jacket.The werewolf, or whatever this thing was, lay sprawled in front of him a bullet between its eyes. Another man, this one had black hair was standing next to the silver-haired one and was talking quietly into his phone. “We need forensics and get me one of the Cleaners at my call.” Between the shock and relieve recognition started to set in, but for all Judy knew these guys could just be as dangerous as this beast. After all the silver-haired stranger was at the scene last night too. Therefore, she slowly and quietly got to her feet, started to turn and took the first running steps towards the relative safety of the street, when her way was blocked once again.Deep black eyes in a very handsome face were scanning her from head to foot.Black hair, that just made her want to curl her hands up in it and a tall muscular body clad into a pair of dark jeans and a black jacket. Black boots rounded up this picture of perfectness in front of her.“And just where do you think you are going?”An insolent smirk was plastered on his perfect lips. His velvety voice snapped her out of more than one indecent thought about the man in front of her. He grabbed her upper arm and tried to drag her over to his friend. “Hey! I can very well walk on my own!”Judy protested while pulling her arm out of his grip. “Feisty much? Have it your way.” His expression smug he gave another insolent grin. “Shouldn’t you thank me for saving you or something like that?” He looked deep into her eyes. She felt almost as if she was drowning in his black gaze, a warmth filled her, everything suddenly seemed of no importance anymore… Get a grip girl! She told herself and turning to the black-haired man, she said to him in a cold voice.“As far as I could see your friend over there did the saving, you came too late.“With that, she firmly turned her back to him and walked over to the silver-haired man who was chuckling at her words.“Um…. Hello, my name is Judy Meryfair, thanks for the safe.”And in a louder voice, she demanded. ”Now would someone tell me… What the bloody hell is going on here?”Taken aback the silver-haired men studied her for a moment, then offering his hand to her, which she almost unwillingly took to shake he said with a smile.“A pleasure to meet you Judy Meryfair, my name is Raid Summers, the one over there is my colleague Jett Garnet.”The man with the black hair gave her a wink and his signature smile.Raid then took out his wallet showing her his law enforcement badge.Judy’s eyes widened in disbelieve. Studying the badge closer, she said:” No way, listen I´m a criminology senior at university, and I happen to know a thing or two about….” “Oh, do you now?” Jett was asking sarcastically right next to her. He almost made her jump out of her skin.“How did you get here so fast? I didn´t even hear you!” “Oh come on miss university student, use those pretty eyes of yours.” He pointed at the beast laying in front of you. “Jett!” Raid cut in.“Go and take care of this, let me talk to Judy.”And turning to her he added in a calm tone.“Please Judy, let´s go somewhere we can talk.”Hands held up defensively in front of him.“I promise I won´t hurt you or anything.” “She won´t believe you.”Jett shot at Raid in a singsong voice.”Hey Judy, watch this!”With his insolent smile, he put his fingers to his lips and gave off a shrill whistle. A black mass materialized in front of him, it looked like a mixture of mist and shadow. He just pointed a long finger at the dead Werewolf. The black mass moved forward and completely engulfed the hairy shape. Judy didn´t hear a sound, everything was eerily still. However, when the shadow thing came back to Jett's side, everything was gone, the creature, the blood from the fight.
“Bring him to HQ!”Jett ordered the black mass and it just vanished as if it had been never there. Judy´s mouth fell open, eyes wide.“Oh well done Jett. Didn´t I tell you to leave the explaining to me? You can´t just show her the Cleaner.” “She wouldn´t have believed you otherwise! A little shock therapy always helps.”Judy heard them bicker but something inside her brain just overloaded and she saw and heard no more as she fell unconscious.
Both men jumped forward but Raid pushed Jett aside and caught her.“Haven´t you done enough for one day?” A quiet sigh escaped his lips.“I’ll see you at Headquarters.” “Hey, where are you taking her?”Jett asked with an almost hurt expression on his face. Without looking back or answering Raid turned with Judy in his arms and walked towards a nearby parked car.
CHAPTER 2- CHANGES
Darkness surrounded her no sounds reached her ears.
Suddenly she could see a light in front of her. As if through a tunnel she could see a man with long silver hair that he wore in a ponytail, he had silver-grey eyes. His body was clad in elegant clothes that wouldn´t be amiss in a historical drama. Happiness radiated from him and he smiled as he stretched out his hands like an invitation to run straight into his arms. His mouth formed words she couldn´t hear…
When she woke up Judy found herself laying on a couch, slowly her eyes adjusted. While sitting up she took in her surroundings. She seemed to be in an office, large windows that let in the sunlight, old but well-matched wooden furniture gave the place a cozy look and sitting behind the desk in front of the windows was Raid Summers.Judy shot up from the couch as if shocked, which she immediately regretted because her head started to spin. She felt strong arms holding her steady.“Slow down there, Judy. You just had quite the shock. Here sit down again. Do you want a cup of tea or coffee?“Shaking her head slowly as if trying to shoo away the dizziness she answered.“A coffee would be nice, thank you.“Then she asked “Raid or Mister Summers, what happened? What were those things that attacked me and who are you?”Carrying two mugs of coffee, he came over to sit down across from her and carefully surveyed her.“Raid is all right.”He said smiling but suddenly his face grew serious.“What I am about to tell you is highly confidential. A small smile was playing around her lips.“You don´t have to shoot me after this, right? Or in this scenario, it would be more likely that you would wipe my memories, no?” “You shouldn´t joke about things like this, not in this situation. You know we can´t just simply let you walk away from this, right?”She nodded lips pressed tightly together.“I thought so.” “Judy, you witnessed something you should never have seen.” “But I didn´t choose to!” she spluttered, jumping up and pacing back and forth.” That thing, that attacked me the first night, I didn´t want that!” “We call them Corifur, they are simply put skin changers. I have the police report here and your statement.” He gave her an amused smile.“I see you skated pretty well over the patchy parts.”Her pacing came to an abrupt halt before him.“How did you get this report?” “I told you before that we are part of the police, well to be precise we are a special and secret department of the Government, Judy. We work in darkness so that citizens like you don´t have to be scared about the shadows under their beds.”Judy gave a humorless chuckle and sat down again.“Yeah, except that it didn´t work out so well for me, didn’t it?” “Actually, it worked out pretty well for you, you are still alive.”He answered in a dry voice.“Normal citizens usually don´t have that luxury after meeting the things that fall under our jurisdiction. Which makes you rather special.” “And of course, a problem for your department.”She shot back at him shrewdly. With a small smile, Raid answered “Actually …”The phone was ringing interrupting him mid-sentence he gestured to her to wait and got up to take the call.“So, Hal gave his okay? Good, I´ll take care of it…”With that, he put down the phone and walked back to the couch sitting down again. Now that she thought about it, this place was strangely familiar.“Raid, where are we? I think I´ve been here before.“Judy asked him while looking around and out of the window.“Well yes, you are in fact on the campus of your university. To be precise in my office. I´m your new Professor for the Criminology and Research Course.” “What?” she looked at him with round eyes. He laughed as he saw the face she made.“Well just for a few months, anyways. I´m just the substitute professor until Professor Lincoln comes back, you see he had an unfortunate accident.” “Uh hu, accident, right.” “Oh come on Judy, we had nothing to do with that. The dean of this university is an old friend and knowing I had the qualification he asked me to help him out.”Judy looked into Raid's silver-grey eyes.“So what´s going to happen to me now?”He looked back at her holding her gaze.“I have a proposition to make….
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