Chapter 1:
Things had started to go really wrong for Arika. Last week, there had been another attack. Her newest orphanage had been burnt down, and everyone thought that it was her fault. She had been forced to run. For the first time, she had been able to stay in one orphanage for almost a year and even make some friends. She had finally started to feel happy. And there she was now, running in the pitch-black back alleys of upper Manhattan from those big dark creatures, fending for her life.
Arika's POV
I was tired and sleepy. My legs ached from running for so long. My stomach grumbled. I dashed through the streets. After some time, I ended up at a dead end somewhere near the 125th street. I came to a stop. My own heartbeat pounded in my ears. After catching my breath, I started looking for them. I had not stopped running even after the growling and hissing voices of those creatures had disappeared. They had been following me from the last three days. But now they seem to be gone.
After making sure that no one was following me, I sat down. I sat behind the garbage cans, hugging my knees, so that no one could see me. Quietly, I opened my backpack. I went through the contents again. A dead flashlight, couple of books, a packet of chips and a half empty water bottle. The attack had been so sudden that I had no time to get anything. I silently ate the chips and drank the water. Zipping back my backpack, I held it close for some warmth. Despite the warmth of the summer, the street was icy and my red hoodie provided me no insulation.
I closed my eyes for a second, but the images of the horrible monsters were imprinted in my mind. I remembered when I was eleven; I had been chased by a pack of huge, black monsters. They looked suspiciously like dogs, but were humungous and were pitch black, like shadows. They were the first ones to appear in years, but after them, my life was never the same.
Monsters attacked continuously, and I was forced to be on a run for a long time. Then the orphanage found me. They were not exactly good to me, but staying there was better than living on streets and I preferred the company of bullies to monsters. So I stayed there. Everything was almost normal until last week.
I remember the whispering voices and smell of burning waking me up. Before I could even get up, monsters swarmed the room, baring their fangs and talons at me. Kids screamed and the firs spread wildly. Snake women, sea dogs and those big black hounds surrounded me. The memory haunted me and I shuddered involuntarily. I had run away but I did not know if Emily and Carson, my only friends, had made it out of the fire.
Slowly exhaustion took over my thoughts, and the world dipped out. In my dream, I was back at the orphanage. The building burnt in front of my eyes. Tears rolled down my cheeks. Voices filled in my head. Very soon little half-blood, you shall meet your fate. Your life will end even before you realize it. I saw a dark shadow. I could not make out what it was. All I could see was a pair of red, gleaming eyes. I screamed, but no voice came. Darkness surrounded me, and suddenly I was falling. Falling into an endless chasm.
I woke up gasping. I shut my eyes tightly. I could still hear the voices in my ears. I shook those thoughts from my head and opened my eyes. Taking a deep breath, I got up. I couldn't stay in one place for long. I had to keep moving. Having no particular destination in mind, I started to walk. As my mind thought of the places I could go, I didn't even realize that I had reached a place already. The central park. Summer winds greeted me, and I found myself gawking at the view. Lush green trees, gardens and pathways everywhere. It was Sunday morning, and joggers, skaters and picnic-goers milled around. No one gave me a second glance. I started walking on a pathway, wondering where it would lead me.
After taking several turns here and there, I heard faint footsteps behind me. I quickened my pace and took some sharp turns, in order to lose my pursuer. But even as I took my eighth turn, I could hear the now-distinct voice of footsteps. When I was sure that the person was following me and trying to match my speed, I quickly scanned my surroundings. There was nothing that I could use to defend myself. I cursed under my breath and decided to put up a fight against whoever it was. I turned around swiftly and heard a strangled scream escape my mouth as I saw my follower.