Midnight's Ghost Riders: Follow Me - 'I Am'

978-1-942451-88-4: Paperback

978-1-952320-12-5: Ebook

Midnight’s Ghost Riders – Follow Me - ‘I Am’

Copyright © 2019 by D.M. Gregg

All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are totally the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, events or locales, is entirely coincidental. Opinions expressed are entirely those of the author.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

For permission requests, write to the publisher at the address below.

Yorkshire Publishing

4613 E. 91st St,

Tulsa, OK 74137

www.YorkshirePublishing.com

918.394.2665

Printed in the USA

Contents

Teaser

Dedication

Cast of Characters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Teaser

Animals with Superpowers?

Utterly Ridiculous!

Embark on a wild ride with a most unlikely band of heroes in D.M. Gregg’s exciting novel, Midnight’s Ghost Riders- Follow Me - ‘I Am.’ With the fate of mankind hanging in the balance, Midnight’s Ghost Riders are trusted to save the day. When the professor’s lab experiment takes an unexpected turn Midnight, a cat, is transformed into an immortal hero with magical powers and healing abilities. Along with Roedee, a genetically engineered mouse and Ghost Kitty, Midnight’s former nemesis, the three unite their powers to ward off the threats of Zorah, the wicked ruler of the New World Order. This science fiction fantasy adventure plunges the reader into a battle between good and evil. Complete with a collection of ferocious companions, you’ll come face to face with the kitty whacker, the gargyies, and a reformed dragon. Find six jingles (song-titles) in this sci-fi thriller starting with the title of this book.

Can the Ghost Riders save the day? Will the evil Zorah triumph? Perfect for lovers of fantasy, the twists and turns never stop. Watch for the sequel, Midnight’s Ghost Riders – ‘I Am’ the Word.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my Heavenly Father who through Him has inspired these words in the fight of good against evil. This book is written for the purpose of helping our young people to find their place in this world and to recognize the things that are to come at the end of time, as we know it, and through the gift of the Holy Spirit. I pray, this story will lead them to the Lord and earn them eternal happiness. ‘I Am’ promises, I will never leave you or forsake you. I want to thank my family and friends for their encouraging words and endless support in getting this message to our young people.

Cast of Characters

Midnight – the cat, a five-week old black kitten, who Thomas finds abandoned in a garbage dumpster on a cold wintery night. Thomas takes in this little bit of trouble and his life changes dramatically, but he has no regrets.

Thomas Sheffield – the cat’s humanoid, which is what cats call humans, and the lab assistant of the professor. He leaves Missouri to find himself, and finds instead, the girl of his dreams. His loyalty to the professor is rewarding, but it almost costs him the life, of the woman he loves.

Professor ReMax – a renowned scientist known for his work in genetics, when he successfully cloned some of God’s creatures back in the seventies. A bit of an eccentric and recluse, but rich enough to not have to worry about what the world, and the people in it think. His life is his work, which he dedicates to producing the perfect genetic specimen, flawless and magnificent. But, his destiny changes.

Papa and Mama DellaVecchia – they came all the way from Italy and settled in Chiptaw and opened their own restaurant, Papa and Mama’s Italian Ristorante, where they offer more than just great food.

Jonathan ReMax – son of the professor with a successful law practice in New York. He understands the dedication and devotion to one’s career, which lands him in a divorce after seventeen years of marriage. He suffers from early signs of Parkinson’s which his mother, Louise died from twenty years prior. He’s about to lose the very thing he values most when he receives a generous gift, and learns an important lesson.

Tasha Marie Winsfield – daughter of the professor who married her high school sweetheart. She is the Belle of Society, one of Boston’s elite. But, she has much to learn about life and unconditional love.

Anthony Spencer – a seasoned con-artist. His specialty ‘the perfect sting.’ He pockets thousands and thousands of dollars from unsuspecting patrons by gaining their trust and then stealing them blind. He develops a devious plan to set-up the professor in an effort to rob him of his family’s fortune.

Bruno DellaVecchia – son of Papa and Mama. He’s associated with the Italian mob unbeknownst to his parents and he can make problems disappear with the help of a little cement and a deep river.

Professor Marian Rutherford – the prodigy student of the professor who graduated with a PHD in Phylogenetics from the University of Washington. She explores human cloning and succeeds where her mentor fails, but there is a great price to pay.

Ghost Kitty – the evil white clone of Midnight produced in the lab by Professor Rutherford. His only mission, is to destroy all humanoids, but, his destiny changes as he changes, but not until after he harms the innocents.

Roedee Rodent – a cloned mouse with special powers, designed to destroy the evil white cat, who turns against his only friend, Midnight. He must decide if he wants to fight evil with good or relinquish his loyalty and fight good using evil as he struggles to find his place in the world. Will he ever find his place?

Mallory Malone – a woman from the wrong side of the tracks who uncovers the greatest secret of all. Does she guard the secret with her life, or reveal the discovery for her own personal gain?

‘I Am’ – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The one and only true God-Yahweh, known to the Ghost Riders as ‘the voice.’

‘The Lamb’ – the Son of God who took away the sins of the world, so that all, who believe in him shall have eternal life.

Chapter 1

Chiptaw, Virginia, according to Professor ReMax, is one of the most beautiful rural places on earth, with its rolling hills and surrounding snow-capped mountains. Valley’s nestled below which seem endless and rivers and streams rich in minerals that flow with boundless energy.This is the perfect place for the professor’s lab, located midway up Duncan’s Mountain, a very discreet, out of the way place, with the small town of Chiptaw lingering below with a population of less than two thousand.

The professor has few friends, probably only one, Thomas, his lab assistant but, he has plenty of acquaintances, some who want only to get their hands on the fortune left to him by his oil baron father. Thus, the professor is rather cautious about who he can trust. He’s a lonely man, a widower, who lost himself in his work after the death of his wife from Parkinson’s, twenty years before and losing her makes the dedication to his work, even more important as he seeks to find a way to help others overcome this dreadful disease.

He hasn’t seen his son or daughter since the funeral of their mother, and he has grandchildren and great-grandchildren he has never met. He is a recluse from his own family and the world. He allows his devotion to his work to separate him from all things that once had meaning and he often wonders, if he will ever see them again.

Thomas Sheffield is only twenty-five, when he comes to work for the professor, and he is the best lab assistant that he could ever hope for, as he exceeds all of his expectations. He does what he’s told and never asks questions, but most of all, he keeps things to himself. The young man’s interest is only in Telesa Roberts, a hometown girl who rarely travels any farther than the city. She is happy with who she is, a woman who finds true love in the lab assistant of the professor.

Thomas came to Chiptaw from Missouri over a year ago, and he is the image of handsomeness with his five foot nine lanky frame, dark hair and manicured hair-cut and mustache. Being part Cherokee Indian and French has its benefits, giving him well defined cheek bones and an evenly dark tan. For some strange reason, he was drawn to this meek little town unknowing that his future was about to change dramatically.

It’s a cold wintery night in January, and a pounding snow-storm leaves Chiptaw with several inches of pure white snow covering the ground. The wind is calm but bitterly cold, just above freezing, and as the ice melts, it refreezes leaving the roadway slippery and wet. Thomas is finishing up the night, at Papa and Mama’s Italian Ristorante, where he works as a night manager. This was the only job he could find, since moving to Chiptaw, so he accepted the position.

While the night lingers on, Thomas, loses track of the time and it’s almost twelve o’clock. Finishing locking up, he makes his way into the alley when he slips and falls, hitting the ground so hard, that it knocks the wind right out of him. Getting up, he wipes away the chunks of ice from his clothes, and takes a deep breath, when he hears a piercing cry, and follows the sound to a nearby dumpster. There he finds a weak little black kitten with a splash of white on his head and chest, who is just about frozen. Extending his long muscular arm, into the dumpster, he pulls out the fragile little feline.

Holding the delicate ball of fur, which fits perfectly in the palm of his hand, he wonders if it will survive the harsh cold. Well, what do we have here? Look at you and how small you are, you’re so cold. The kitten helpless and unprotected from the elements, shakes uncontrollably and continues to cry, while the big man wraps him snuggly inside his jacket. "Who put you in that awful place and left you all alone, little guy? Come on, let’s get you inside where it’s nice and warm. I think I’ll call you Midnight," he says as he glances at his watch and notices the time.

The meows grow stronger and stronger and more intense, even though the strength of the little kitten is almost gone. But, as his body temperature rises Thomas sees he is going to recover, so, he takes him home. Midnight, he says. I see no reason for either of us being all alone. I think I’ll keep you. While he calls the kitten by name, the little cat opens and closes his eyes, and stretches his paws and kneads in the air, and it’s then that Thomas knows, he has chosen the proper name. So, off they saunter into the night.

The next few days are very frustrating for each of them and adjusting to one another is not an easy task. Thomas knows nothing about cats and Midnight knows nothing about humanoids. The cat remembers only, the one who took him away from his mother, and threw him in the dumpster in the dead of winter, leaving him there all alone to die. Of course, Midnight thinks all humanoids are alike; but he quickly learns that Thomas isn’t like all humanoids; at least not the way he remembers.

This is the start of a beautiful friendship. The days turn into weeks and the weeks into months and the two of them become the best of buddies. They come to know each other better than they know themselves. Their bond is so connected that they always seem to know what the other one is thinking. Midnight, goes everywhere with Thomas, even to work. They play and do fun things that kittens love to do, like chasing string and jumping high into the air and coming down on all four paws, and then bouncing up and down and all around. Thomas can’t keep up with the little kitten’s energy, it is invigorating. He can’t understand how such a tiny creature can hold such a special place in his heart. He wasn’t a ‘cat person,’ at least not until now.

Their day to day ritual is always the same. Since Thomas works nights he sleeps part of the next day. But, when the noon hour comes, Midnight is quick to raise his favorite person by taking a long running leap off the tall mahogany dresser and landing smack in the middle of his back and without delay, his master rises.

Okay, I’ve got the message, I’m getting up, are you hungry, little guy? What follows is a loud meow and Thomas asks, Just what does the little gymnast want for breakfast? More meows echo through the kitchen, but this time it sounds like, tuna. Thomas stops in his tracks and stutters, What did you say? Then he hears it again, tuna. Either he’s hearing things or this is amazing, he has a cat who can talk? Standing there in disbelief, he banishes such a notion and says, No, that’s impossible. So, breakfast is served and the incident is soon forgotten.

Spring is coming and the snow is melting, filling the rivers and streams with crisp clear water. Leaves begin to grow on the hard-brittle limbs of the barren trees. Blossoms are blooming, birds are singing, and the brutal cold is finally leaving. The earth is being reborn, casting a new season of freshness in the air, bringing joy and happiness to the town of Chiptaw.

Thomas arrives for work with Midnight in tow when he receives an unusual phone call from who the town’s folk call, ‘the crazy professor.’ It’s Professor ReMax and he wants to place an order for Fettuccine Alfredo, which he insists be delivered to his lab midway up Duncan’s Mountain. Thomas tries to explain that they don’t offer delivery, but the professor will not listen. He is adamant and shouts, I’ll make it worth your while young man, just bring me my food and be quick about it. I’m hungry!

But sir, we don’t deliver. You’ll have to come by and pick it up. I’ll have it ready for you in about ten minutes. But, after much debate and sensing the desperation in the professor’s voice, Thomas decides he will personally deliver the order. Hanging up the phone he asks, So, why do you call him the crazy professor? The chef explains, He’s a kook man, a screwball, a mad scientist who does weird experiments. Stay away from him, I’m telling you man; he’s crazy but he’s rich, very, very rich. Maybe he’ll give you a good tip or use you in his next experiment. The kitchen fills with laughter as Thomas prepares the dish and shakes his head in disbelief. His interest in the professor peaks, when he asks, So, where’s this Duncan’s Mountain? Getting directions he motions for his feline friend to come along and while they drive up the mountain Midnight starts with his chanting meow’s, like he usually does, when he’s trying to have a conversation with Thomas.

What’s wrong boy, do you think the professor’s a kook too? He laughs. Midnight, nuzzles up next to him and begins to purr very loud. They go around a ninety-degree curve and come upon the entrance to ReMax Laboratories. Thomas thinks to himself, well, what do you know? Why would a lab like this be so far away from the city? That very moment, Thomas hears Midnight say, Job. He stops the car and exclaims, I know I heard you say something, now say it again. He begs and begs, but hears nothing but silence. No purring, no licking, nothing at all. Oh, I must be crazy, he mutters as he eases his foot off the brake petal and rolls into the driveway.

Man, this place is huge; he must have some set-up here. Walking towards the front door with his feline friend following in his footsteps, he rings the door-bell once and then a second and third time, but no one answers. He’s feeling like he’s been the victim of a teenage prank when all at once the door opens making an eerie, creaking sound. There before him stands this tiny five foot six frame of an elderly white haired man who Thomas surmises to be in his early eighties, wearing a gray dingy lab coat, and thick black rimmed glasses, looking very tired and weary.

Professor ReMax? he asks. Yes, yes, I’ve been waiting for you, come in and bring my dinner, I’m hungry. Stepping inside, he places the plastic container on a nearby table. That’s fine my boy, here’s fifty dollars for your trouble. Thomas gasps, But, sir, this is way too much money, the meal is only $10.95 plus tax. The old man chuckles and declares, I told you I would make it worth your while. I never eat out; it takes too much of my time away from the lab.

The mature gent sits down and begins eating his meal, savoring the flavor of the home-made noodles and cream sauce. Thomas starts to place the money in his shirt pocket when he stops and hands it back to the professor. Sir, I really can’t accept this much money, it wouldn’t be right. Midnight wraps his tail around the legs of his master and lets out a big Meow.

The professor says, My, that’s quite a beautiful animal you have there, what’s his name? You know, I don’t get a lot of company up here. I stay pretty much to myself because of my work. Thomas is curious and probes, What type of work sir, if you don’t mind me asking? Looking scantly over his black rimmed glasses he glares at the young lad for a moment and replies, It’s top secret, I can’t discuss it with anyone.

Being respectful of his privacy Thomas proceeds to introduce his little buddy. Sir, this is Midnight and he’s a very special cat. Starring down at the floor the old man studies the slinky black cat and asks, Well, what so special about him, my boy? The young man is caught off guard and replies, I don’t really know, sir, I just know he’s special.

The professor explains as he finishes chewing the tasty noodles and sauce. Young man, you seem like an honest fellow and you like cats. That says a lot to me about your character. This place is way too large for me to operate by myself anymore but, I can’t seem to find the right lab assistant. I need someone I can confide in and trust, who has enough knowledge to be my right hand, but, more importantly, a person who can keep a secret.

Thomas’ eyes grow very large and his heart sinks as he realizes this opportunity, but will it be in his area of expertise? Eagerly, he makes it known. Professor, my background is in bio-engineering research and human genetics. I have experience with DNA sequencing and DNA hybridization. I moved here, not long ago, and I’ve been looking for work in my field. If there’s any way I can be of service to you and your research, I would sincerely appreciate the chance. I can show you my credentials, and I promise, you can trust me to keep my mouth shut.

The professor, is in awe with the young man’s familiarity with genetics and he says without hesitation, Fine, you’re hired! When can you start? Thomas, with a look of