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Sypher

August 12, 2020, the first day of college,

“I’m not sure about this place.” My brother Bailey frowned while he looked around my small dorm room. I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. Bailey was the second oldest of us, and with Ace off fighting, doing whatever it was he did, Bailey took his job of big brother very seriously. “My closet at home is bigger than this room. And what’s with the tiny ass bed? Boy can barely fit himself on it, let alone a girl.”

“Leave him alone,” Stella snapped, slugging my brother in the chest as her husband, Digger, brought in another box from the truck that held all my things. Turning to face me, Stella glared. “And there better not be any girls in that bed. You hear me, Danny? Your mom and dad wanted you to get an education, not help populate the world. Got enough of that shit back home.”

Blushing, I muttered, “Yes, ma’am.”

Stella Moore was a force to be reckoned with. The second she and Digger met, she ruled the roost, so to speak, and poor Dig simply followed, doing everything she said. Stella reminded me a lot of my mom. Beautiful, strong-willed, and God help anyone who pissed her off. After Mom died, Stella stepped up in the mom department when I needed someone to talk to.

“Reaper said this was the best place for the brat,” my other brother Charlie said, looking out the window at the campus below. Charlie was the third oldest and, in some ways, was the quintessential middle child. Charlie and I got along the best, mainly because of his laid-back personality and don’t give a fuck attitude. But like Bailey, when it came to me, Charlie had a mean streak a mile wide, and the fucker forgot nothing.

“What did I say?” The man himself, Reaper, walked in, also carrying a box that he placed on the floor next to the others.

I still couldn’t believe that Reaper, the president of the Golden Skulls, dropped everything to be here today. The man was so busy, yet he told me he wouldn’t miss this day for anything. The man kind of scared me sometimes, which I thought funny ‘cause he also reminded me a lot of my dad. A no-nonsense man, Reaper liked things plain and simple and let’s face it, those were two traits that should never be used to describe me.

“That this school is the best,” Charlie muttered, turning around to look at all of us. “What if Danny gets into trouble and we can’t get to him in time?”

“He better not get into trouble of any kind.” The president of the Golden Skulls glared, pointing a finger at me as his light blue eyes bored into my soul, challenging me to defy him. “For what the club is paying for this place, you better keep your damn nose in a fucking book.”

“Yes, sir.”

See? Scary.

“Aw, come on, Reaper.” Digger chuckled. “Give the kid a few inches of rope. You know what happens in places like this. Parties, drinking, girls, and lots of sex. Let the kid live a little. He’s got his whole life to do the right thing. Now is the time for him to fuck up.”

“Feeling left out, Digger?” Stella questioned as she sternly looked at her husband.

“No, baby!” Digger gulped, quickly shaking his head while he sputtered, “I love my wife. Shit , I meant to say life. I love my life! Wouldn’t change a damn thing.”

My brothers chuckled as Stella flipped her husband the one finger bird. Turning to me, she smiled. “You pay your brothers no mind, Danny. You are smarter than all of us and they know it. You are too good for the clubhouse and the life we live. You’ve got options we never had. What you make of your life is yours to decide. I, for one, am already proud of you. Never thought I’d see the day one of us would ever get the chance to be in a fancy place like this, but here we are. Your mom and dad would be so proud of you.”

“We all are, kid,” Reaper added, walking over and handing me a set of keys. “From all the brothers.”

Looking at the keys in my hand, I whispered, “My own bike?”

“They thought you would like a reminder of why you are here. Your dad told me once that you were better than all of us. He was right. What you have in your head will take you many places, but those”—Reaper pointed at the keys in my hand—“are to remind you of where you come from and who your real family is.”

“Thank you.”

“Now.” Stella sniffed, wiping a lone tear. “I got you everything you could need for your room, and Julie made you a new quilt for your bed. It’s in one of the boxes. She would have been here, but she wasn’t up for the trip. Ace wanted to be here, but he’s out of the country. Said when he could get leave, he would stop by and see you.”

“I understand.”

Digging in one of the boxes, Stella handed me a black folder.

“Here is all your important personal information along with your class schedule and a list of books you still need to get. Do you have the black Amex card Dylan got you?”

“Yes, ma’am. It’s in my wallet.”

“Good.” Stella nodded. “It has no limit, but that doesn’t mean you can buy stupid shit. I mean it. It’s for school. Understand me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Stella, leave the boy alone. He will figure it out,” Digger grumbled, getting to his feet. “If we don’t get going, we never will.”

Stella sniffed again but nodded as she pulled me into her arms, hugging me tightly. If I closed my eyes for a few seconds, I could almost imagine my mom hugging me. “I love you, Danny. I’m gonna miss you.”

“Love you too, Stella,” I whispered, hugging her back as I looked at Digger, pleading with him to help me.

I loved Stella. I really did, but since Mom and Dad died, Stella had taken the mothering to a completely new level.

“Woman,” Digger groaned, rolling his eyes as he had to peel her off me. “Let the boy breathe.”

Holding his wife, Digger escorted Stella out of my new room. My brothers quietly followed, leaving me alone with Reaper.

Taking a deep breath, the man took one more look around the room before he extended his hand.

As I took it, Reaper clearly said, “The world is your oyster now, Sypher. What happens next is up to you.”

“You’re going to need me, Mr. Reaper. Maybe this was a mistake,” I muttered as indecision and fear of the unknown seeped into my bones. I’d never been away from home before. While I wanted to be here, even I could admit, it was a bit scary.

“No.” Reaper shook his head. “You are right where you need to be. Your brothers voted. You know the rules.”

“What about the mess with the Society ? I’m still gathering information. What about Jackson?”

“I’ve got Phantom, Matrix, and Player to help me. You let us worry about them. This is your time, Sypher. Besides, if I need you, I know where to find you. As for Jackson, that hasn’t changed. He has been and always will be your top priority.”

“What about the other stuff? You know…” I looked around, then whispered, “… the ghost stuff ?”

“All in due time, kid.” Reaper smirked, heading for the door. “The dead aren’t going anywhere.”