The Journalists

Chapter One

Let Me Introduce Myself

My name is Samantha Slade and I am seventeen years old. I live in a two-story house on Avenue W, in the suburban area of Caspin, South Dakota. I have an average family—a mom, dad, two little brothers, a little sister and two dachshunds. I’m currently a junior in high school with a GPA of 3.7. I have a small group of close friends and a talent for writing. Do you want to know something else about me that may surprise you?

I’m a journalist.

Still holding your breath for more? Yes? Good, because there is more. I’m not an average journalist. I’m not on the school newspaper. I’ve never been on television and I rarely post my stories on the web. I’m not allowed to discuss what I do with friends or family concerning my research. In fact, no one knows I’m working on research at all.

How am I doing this job? Well, if I told you, I’d have to kill you. But since this is a universal emergency and many more lives besides yours are at stake, I’m letting you get a look on this inside. Please do be cautious. At this point in time, I’d prefer to keep my mind, heart, spirit and soul all in one piece. Please don’t let this pivotal information get into the wrong hands.

Still interested? Have I captivated your attention? Curious as to what my secret life is about? All right, but don’t say I didn’t warn you! I work with a team made up of people like me. We have many names, but prefer simply to be called: “The Journalists”.

We are a group of informants that help mediate the balance between good and evil. We work for both sides and can do so because of the very special and fragile status of being from Earth and being human. Our reports go from one end of the spectrum—evil—to the other—good. There is no room for conspiracies—although there are many—or a disturbance in powers.

You might now be wondering on how I got the job application. Truth is, you have to be born with it. Statistics from the OJN (Otherworldly Journalism Experts) say that one in ten thousand humans will be born with the gift and chosen for their local teams. Lucky me, Samantha Slade, became one in ten thousand to be just one of God’s messengers and Satan’s doomsayers.

How can you work for both sides? Good question. Here’s the answer: objectivity. You don’t want God made at you because then you’re thrown into Satan’s Lake of Fire. You don’t want Satan mad at you because he’ll save the throwing part and will just set you on fire. Either way, the results will match my little sister’s cooking: burnt to a crisp.

All in all, the toughest part—until now, that is—was laying low and flying under the radar, so to speak. After working with The Journalists for several years—time is different for us, but more on that later—you get the hang of it. Remember when I told you that there couldn’t be a disturbance in powers?

Prepare yourself; this is my story.