I was surprised at how much attention my story was getting over over these last two weeks. My internets been down, but that hasn't stopped me from writing. So no more delays! We're going straight into the story now. Enjoy.
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Chapter 4
There were no stars in the sky, nor was there the familiar light of the moon. Only darkness stretched out around them, choking and suffocating. Panic raced through Leonardo as faint sounds could be heard in the distance. It was getting closer and closer… and then silence.
Dead silence.
Leo blinked, desperately trying to see through the walls of pitch-black that masked his vision. Remembering the words of His Master, he closed his strained eyes and relaxed.
'5…4…3…2…1'
Leonardo slowly opened his eyes. He could see again.
Leo started as the trees and earth beneath him seemed to glow faintly, giving everything an eerie outline. He swerved his head from right to left trying to take it all in. It seemed so…surreal. Like the effects of a drug or toxin. Or maybe just a very strange dream.
This notion brought his mind back to his current situation and the possibility of be captured by Karai after all. Looking around, Leo spotted her in the darkness; her figure barely outlined by the faint light around her. She was turned to the side, as if staring at something.
'If Karai had him captured and under the effects of some drug why would she be here?', he thought. In a nightmare, she would murder his family right in front of him laughing at his agony. But right now, nothing was like that. None of it added up.
Suddenly, Leo was jerked out of his spiraling thoughts by Karai's sudden movement. She seemed to lurch over and a startled gasp escaped from her lips. He stared curiously, as a creature appeared and loomed over her, its teeth sunk in her arm. Blood dripping off its face, into the air and onto the ground.
Leo didn't blink, just slowly began to reach for his swords still lying on the ground at his feet.
His fingers trembled slightly as they reached closer and closer. The creatures head turned and zeroed in on him. Its red eyes wide and un-moving. Leo stopped. His hands were just inches away from his swords. He locked eyes with the creature. Who would make the first move?
But fortunately, both had forgotten about Karai so the creature had no time to escape the sword that pierced it through the throat. The creature let out an un-earthly screech of pain and in that instant Karai rolled away from the creature, blood gushing from the wound as she pulled her sword free.
Leonardo quickly grabbed his swords and ran over to where Karai was standing, gripping her arm painfully in spite of herself. He raised his weapons, ready to defend the both of them in case the creature attacked again.
The creature had no such intention though; it simply clawed at its own throat as if not understanding the source of its pain. Finally, with dying screeches, it dragged it-self away into the forest and melted into the darkness of the night. And all became silent once more.
Leonardo relaxed slightly and lowered his swords. Turning to Karai, he asked quietly, "Are you alright?" He could hardly make out her face, but there was no doubting the pain and anger in her glinting eyes. Angry at now being the one with the disadvantage; angry at being unable to hide the pain.
"I'm fine." she replied curtly.
'So much for gratitude.' Leo thought to himself. In the dark, he couldn't see her arm very well and could not therefore asses how bad the wound was. But it seemed that he wouldn't need to worry, because Karai simply ripped off some cloth from her uniform and wrapped it tightly around her arm. Right now, cleaning it was out of the option but at least the blood flow would stop.
Leo felt like hitting himself. Why should he even bother taking the time to think about Karai's well-being? He could've cared less if that creature had killed her, so why did he worry now?
His emotions tore at him. It was obvious now that this was no drug-induced hallucination or dream. And it was also obvious that none of this was Karai's doing. Both of them were facing a greater danger now.
But Karai was still the enemy! He couldn't worry about her when his brothers were back home thinking that he had abandoned them to the hundreds of dangerous that threatened to tear their existence apart. He had to protect them, he had to get home! And yet….Karai was here now. Injured before him in this un-known world. What was he supposed to do?
Leo sighed. He had to think rationally if he wanted to get home in one piece. Obviously, if he and Karai stayed together their chances of survival increased. So he really had no choice.
'Damn it.' he muttered bitterly under his breath. Why was he always faced with the hardest decisions?
But his inward ramble was interrupted by a hand gripping his sword. Leonardo lifted his face to meet Karai's eyes, the only thing that he could clearly see in the darkness. There was an emotion in them he could not read, something that made him suddenly cautious.
Her voice was quiet, but steady. It echoed in the silence and made Leonardo cringe.
"Kill me."
TBC…..