First chapter is up! Enjoy :)
Kayla blew a long stray dark lock out of her face as she continued walking down the wooded path.
It felt like the most perfect weather today. It the last day of July and the temperature was around eighty-one degrees. Good weather for a nice walk through the trails.
Her light blue eyes glanced around as she speed walked down the dirt path surrounded by trees. While she listened to music filtering through her ear buds.
The young woman was maybe fifteen minutes into her walk when the music cut out and her phone started to ring.
She fished it out of the back pocket of her shorts. The caller I.D. showed it was her mom. Like always, she seemed to have a knack for calling at the most inconvenient times, like now.
Kayla tapped the green phone symbol and placed it to her ear.
"Hey mom, now is not really a good time. I'm out on one of the paths, speed walking." She said, between breaths.
"Oh, sorry, Hun. Just wanted to know if you wanted to hit the beach tomorrow. It's supposed to be another beautiful day ahead of us." The older woman stated.
She smiled a bit, yeah, her and mom were the big beach bums in the family. While her dad, brother, and sister were...not so much. Most would say they are more indoor people if anything.
Whereas Kayla can't stand to be cooped up inside for long periods of time. This trait made her loath the wintertime, because it mainly kept her inside for the next few months.
"I don't know, I have to see. Because I think Jackie and I were looking to meet up for lunch tomorrow. Assuming she doesn't get sidetracked again."
Her and Jackie have been friends since middle school. They always hung out a lot through the years. But once Jackie went through college then into a law firm as a lawyer, her schedule became more sporadic.
It was to the point it wasn't surprising anymore when she had to cancel last minute plans with her friends or family because she either just took a case or clients had reached out to her.
"Ok, but still, keep me posted." Her mom said.
"I will, later mom." Kayla said.
She hung up, and the song on her playlist resumed playing.
Kayla took a few more steps, but something made her pause. The hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood up and she slowly began to look around her surroundings.
It was a weird feeling that she has never felt before. But she couldn't help but feel someone was watching her, from the woods.
As she looked around though, she couldn't see anything. But then she was surrounded by dense foliage that anyone could easily hide behind or in.
Still, the feeling didn't go away. And Kayla resumed her walk and sped up.
Every now and then she'd look around and look over her shoulder. Nothing or no one was in sight but her. Which was odd, because she'd figure more people may be out on the trail today to take advantage of the not too hot weather today.
Her skin began to tingle, and she sped up some more. She really hopes it's not a bear or mountain lion. Despite the fact that she did carry a small cannister of bear mace in her other back pocket, she's still wondering how much it could help.
Kayla was pretty far in and away from any nearby roads. So, if she were attacked, it take them a little longer to get to her.
At some point she removed her ear buds and shoved them in her front pocket. This way she could listen for any signs of a dangerous animal or person that could creep up on her.
She had been going for another three minutes, before she heard a strange clicking noise. It sounded like it was coming from above her in one of the trees.
She's unsure what could've made it. No land animal around here does she know of that could make clicking sounds. Dolphins and whales, yes, but that's about it.
She heard the clicks again and this time they ended in a deep reverberating growl.
That's what got her. And she went from speed walking to running just like that. Something that wasn't the brightest thing to do because they say you shouldn't turn your back and run from a large predator like a bear or mountain lion.
But something told her whatever made those sounds were neither of those two animals.
Her heart started pumping and her adrenaline kicked in as she high tailed it down the dirt path, kicking up dirt and stones as she went. At this point, she was determined to get out of there as fast as she could.
Kayla couldn't have been running for too long, when a strange phenomenon occurred right in front of her about twenty feet down the path.
She skidded to a halt when she saw something strange appeared on the path ahead. Whatever it was, it was see-through, and it shimmered. It also looked quite big.
The young woman heard that strange clicking noise again. Only this time, it was coming from the direction this strange see-through mass was. A mass that now stood in the center of the path and kind of looked like the outline of a very large person.
Kayla's eyes were wide as she started huffing and puffing, trying to get her racing heart under control. Which was hard to do because at the moment, she was scared as hell, and didn't know what this thing was.
Then suddenly, there were two yellow flashes from higher up on the form. That gave her the impression of flashing eyes.
She began to back pedal, and only took about three steps back, when her back hit something solid, hard, and warm behind her.
The young woman froze and was almost too afraid to look behind her to see what she hit. Her blood ran cold when she heard more clicking. This time it was much louder and coming from right behind her.
'Oh, God! There's two of them!?' Her mind screamed.
Then the one behind her let out a series of chirps and grunts mixed in with the clicking.
Kayla balled her fists and summoned up enough courage to whirl around and face whoever or whatever was behind her. Not realizing they were standing so close to her that she was now practically looking through them and could see a distorted image of the dirt path and trees behind it.
It didn't stay translucent for long though. There was a slight crackling sound followed by little bluish sparks surrounding it. Then the clear shimmering image melted away to reveal a very large intimidating being before her.
Her eyes widened and she stopped back with a gasp.
This...being, whoever they were, was decked out in some kind of strange armor and a mask. It also seemed to be armed to the teeth with weapons. Beneath the armor was a strange fishnet looking suit that covered smooth red and cream-colored skin with black stripes down the flanks and sides.
It had strange black tube-like hair that kind of resembled dread locks. And where they started, was a very creepy looking mask. And if that didn't scare her enough, when her gaze traveled down his solid, muscular form, she saw what looked like the front part of a human skull tide to his side.
That's when she freaked and tried to run around him. But unfortunately, Kayla didn't get that far. She felt a very sharp, strong pain explode in the left side of her face. It was enough to make her see stars and drop to the ground.
She laid there in a daze, her eyes shifting back and forth lazily in her head. And right before she passed out, she saw three more masked faces appear above her.
That's when everything went dark. And the four beings stood over the prone young woman lying on the ground.
"Kind of small. You sure we'd be able to successfully use this one for bait?" One of them inquired.
"Yes, our prey doesn't care how big or small a potential meal is. This small ooman lou-dte kale will do. Plus, we could have other uses for her too." The red one said to him comrades.
A couple of them chuckled, "Well, if she does end up being useless as bait, she could make up for it by being a good pauk."
The red one sneered and turned his attention back down to the ooman female.
She was very petite, with a small frame, but was clearly toned. She had long dark hair up in a messy bun. And had big blue eyes. It had been a long time since either of them had fun with a female.
Especially, when they were always on the move trying to avoid the Arbitrators out hunting them.
The red one looked to the one standing to his left.
"Mar'cte, take her and let's get back to the ship." He ordered.
The one known as Mar'cte effortlessly scooped up the small, light female, and tossed her over his shoulder. She let out a small grunt but didn't wake up.
Then the four of them cloaked and took off into the woods, where their ship was cloaked.
Until Next Time ;)