Here is the first look inside the second book of the ‘Psychs‘ series, entitled ‘Iblīs’. You can learn about Psychs by visiting my website or by reading the reviews on goodreads.

Have a great read.

The sixth attempt to find what he wants, Nicolas stood in front of an orphanage. He wore fake glasses for appearances and he held a small briefcase in his right hand, a briefcase he clings to and had never let go off ever since he and others like him have been trusted with keeping them. Today that briefcase was useful in giving him the appearance that he wants to reflect in public.

     The sixth orphanage… maybe it’s an omen? He thought.

     He got out from the orphanage, feeling upset. He knows what he is seeking for will take time. But he was afraid that his faith in his plans will dampen. In his dark state of mind his surrounding became obscured, he came back to his senses when a car caused the waters from the street to splash on him, leaving him with wet clothes and a concern from the thoughts interrupted by the street puddle.

     He returned to the safe house available for him in that country. They have many in almost every place in the world. There was a man in that house like the rest of the other houses, a man whose job includes patching the agents and supplying for their demands. Today he was there to make sure that Nicolas wakes up two hours from now, so he can leave the country and keep searching for that special kid that no one will ask about.

     ‘What made you get wet?’ The man asked Nicolas while offering him some coffee.

     ‘My damn luck’ he bitterly answered ‘so as you can see, I couldn’t find whoever I want’

     ‘Orphans… with no families to care for’ the man said. Abandoned by the father… is there a better soldier to adopt?

     Nicolas changed his wet clothes and then he went to his bed, the seven hours he had spent in his search left him so heavy he sunk into slumber by an incomplete blink of an eye.

     Nicolas felt a grip on his shoulder, it woke him up.

     ‘Time to leave’ the man told him. He looked right next to him on the floor, and then he sat in an upright position and looked all around the room.

     ‘Where is my briefcase?’ He asked. The man searched around and then he said ‘Where have you put it?’ That statement sobered him up. He always leaves it right next to him. He looked around for that case but he couldn’t find it.

     ‘Damn it! Where is it?!’ the man in front of Nicolas was frightened, thinking that he had just made his biggest, and maybe last mistake. Nicolas went to his wet jacket and then he took out his GPS… the case was not inside the house.

     They both were in the car now, heading towards where the device identified the whereabouts of the radio frequencies’ source. It took them thirty minutes to reach the location. The car pulled over and Nicolas got out from it, looking at an old and abandoned house that was missing half a roof and plants were part of the decoration. Who lives here?

     ‘Keep the car running’ He told the man and then he took out his sidearm. He moved slowly. His eyes checked every corner for a security camera and he looked down to spot any traps too. He went through, and with each step he looked for some kind of a hindrance that can cause him to be noticed. He spotted a couple of trap wires, following their courses with his eyes, he learned that they were related to some glass bottles. Someone here doesn’t like guests.

     Nicolas was old enough to not let such amateur espionage tricks pass him by. He took his time to move silently inside the house until he was able to hear some noises.  He heard sounds of papers. Someone is searching the briefcase’s contents. His weapon was ready, and whoever is there, he is cornered. He got out and pointed his sidearm.

     A small figure sat in the corner, his eyes widened, pointing directly toward the weapon Nicolas was holding. Nicolas was surprised, he studied the kid, he was covered with what Nicolas thought could be charcoal smoke and he was surrounded by the contents of the bag. He was scared, his blue eyes showed that even though he was sitting still. Nicolas lowered his weapon.

     ‘You’re the one who stole my briefcase?’

     ‘Yes… you can have it back if you want to… you don’t have to shoot me’ the young kid answered in a calm, yet child like tone. The way that kid spoke, he thought, analyzing him like he does with other kids in the orphanage. He sounds almost like an adult, you can’t teach real life to a kid confined in an orphanage.

     ‘You went through the chimney, didn’t you? Why did you steal my briefcase?’ Nicolas said.

     ‘I… I thought it had something worth stealing.’ the kid said.

     ‘Why this one? What made you think it worth something?’

     ‘I saw you protecting it from the splashing waters near Mary Magdalene’s orphanage… I thought it had something valuable’

     Nicolas couldn’t believe what he is looking at, what he is hearing from that kid. It is fate.

     He looked around and realized that the kid lives here, probably with someone, too. He needs to act fast.

     ‘Are you alone, kid?’ Nicolas asked.

     ‘Yes… No one lives here besides me’

     Nicolas smiled at the young boy and then he came closer. ‘You are a bad liar… but don’t worry, I’ll fix that.’

     The man in the car looked at Nicolas as he was holding the unconscious kid. He placed him inside the car and ordered for the man to go. The kid’s head rested on Nicolas’s lap, people could mistake him for his son. Suddenly, Nicolas started to hear a faint noise as the car was moving away. He turned to look behind and saw a little kid running behind the car, a girl screaming a name that dissipated in the air and couldn’t catch his ears. The car moved away, leaving the little girl to her fate.

     Two weeks later, a man Nicolas sees every month had just arrived to get a live report. He learned that Nicolas had found a new kid. He saw Nicolas looking at him from an open window.

     ‘That’s a nice Royce you have there.’ Nicolas said.

     ‘It’s a 1976 Rolls–Royce Silver Shadow; they won’t release them until next year.’ A man Nicolas only knows as Bill said.

     ‘It doesn’t hurt to look classy, even if we are in a cold war and an economical war. So I understand that I am to see the kid you have been bragging about, the one you told me he’s not like the others?’ Bill said and Nicolas led the way.

     One storey bellow the ground there was a different place. It had two soldiers and three people who appeared as they have never held a weapon before. Could be scientists. Bill thought.

     They both reached to a door, Nicolas flicked a light switch and Bill saw some light coming from underneath. Nicolas opened the door.

     ‘After you’ he said to Bill.

     Bill took his first steps inside, the temperature was different, it was much warmer. His nose picked up a couple of smells that he was able to interpret later after his eyes witnessed the horror.

     There lied a kid, not more than seven years old, every inch of his skin screamed pain, showing bruises, blood, sweat and tears. He was half conscious with what little life left in him. The kid looked at Nicolas, and then he looked at the new face, a man he sees for the first time.

     Bill spun towards Nicolas, and then he left the room. The kid was sealed again in the dark.

     Nicolas looked at Bill’s shocked and confused face. He placed a hand on his shoulder and then he said.

     ‘That’s what it takes to create a devil’