First Magic by Raven Steele (ebook reader screen txt) 📖

“You’re a different girl, Llona, you know that?”

I chuckled. “You don’t know the half of it.”

“That’s a good thing. You’re one of the few who will actually make it far in life. Not just survive but really succeed.”

I turned to him, my eyebrows lifted. “You really mean that?”

“Of course.”

“I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” I smiled, thinking how great it would be to not only survive, but also live a long and happy life. "Hey, did we score again while I was gone?”

"With only a few seconds to spare." Matt proceeded to give me a play-by-play of the last few minutes of the game, while he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to music just barely playing through the speakers. “By the way, did you get your trig book?”

I groaned. “I did, but it got knocked from my hands. What am I going to do now?”

“You can borrow mine. I’ll bring it by tomorrow.”

“Don’t you need it?”

“Nah. I’m good.”

We were almost to my house when I noticed a car in our driveway: Jake’s and someone else’s. Probably the secret new girlfriend he wanted to finally introduce me to. “Can you drop me off at Mueller Park? It’s just a few blocks away.”

“Why?”

“My uncle has a date over, and I don’t want to bother him quite yet, especially with how I look right now. I don’t want to worry him.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“There’s a trail that practically leads to my backyard. I’ll sneak in my window.”

“Do you want me to walk you?”

I looked out the window to the darkened trees beyond, wondering what my chances were of meeting tree-creature again. It was only ten o’clock, I told myself, as if that mattered. “No. That’s okay.”

Matt parked his car next to the entrance to the canyon. “I feel funny dropping you off here, especially after what just happened.”

“You saw how close it is to my home. I’ll be fine. Thanks for going with me tonight.” I jumped out before he could protest any further.

I walked up the trail until the light from Matt’s car disappeared. I hadn’t realized how dark it was until his headlights were gone. I felt for my watch, hoping I could use it for light, but then I remembered I’d left it at home.

I remained still, listening to the night’s gentle symphony: crickets chirped, water babbled, leaves rustled, and the wind sighed through the tops of the trees. Its melody soothed my nerves and for the first time in a long while I felt at peace.

Because I couldn’t see as well as I’d hoped, I considered cutting over to a trail that ran parallel to the road. It went in the opposite direction from my house, but it was close enough that light from the street lamps should make it easier to walk. Once the trail ended, I figured I could just walk on the road back to my house. It also happened to cross over a thin, finger-like appendage of Mueller Park Lake. During the day it was a pretty cool place to visit, but I’d never seen it at night. Now’s as good a time as any. And maybe by the time I returned, Jake’s girlfriend would be gone. I wasn’t ready to meet another stranger.

I cut through the trees, pushing my way through heavy vegetation. Normally, this wouldn’t have bothered me as I was used to being outdoors, even at nighttime, but for some reason my heart began to pound and sweat pooled in my pits. Maybe it was the fact that I couldn’t hear the crickets anymore, or maybe it was the wind that had suddenly stopped blowing.

Whatever it was, my body recognized the unseen threat and began to panic.

I picked up my pace, shoving one branch after another out of my way. The night grew inexplicably cold, chilling my skin. A sound, like claws on bark, pierced the silence of the night. I froze.

A twig snapped to my left. And then another.

“Hello?” I called.

“Hello?” A mocking voice echoed back.

Move! My body responded sluggishly moving up and around a thick bush. Behind me, the snapping of twigs picked up its pace in response to my own hurried movements.

“Llona,” the voice, a high-pitched, almost whining sound called.

I couldn’t tell which direction it was coming from. It seemed to be floating around me, teasing me as if we were playing hide-n-seek. And I was terrible at hiding, but “it” was doing a great job of seeking.

A sharp branch tore through my sleeve, and I stifled a cry when it cut into my skin. Finally, I broke free from the forest and ran toward the bridge. If I could just get there, then at least I’d have some options of escaping whoever was stalking me.

While I ran, I slapped my hands together, trying to get Light to appear. Sparks appeared, then sputtered. Concentrating harder, I closed my right hand tightly. This time when I opened it, a jagged concentration of Light hovered just above my palm. Before it could die out, I turned and tossed it into the darkness toward the forest. Before it dissipated, I met the yellowed eyes of something hidden within.

I yelped and ran faster.

The old railroad bridge was about thirty feet above the lake. I’d jumped from it a few times before landing safely in the water, but that was when I had Light’s full strength to back me up. I didn’t feel like jumping from it now, but if it would save my life and help me get away, I’d do it.

I was almost to the bridge when I heard, “Llona!”

This voice was different. This voice was familiar. I stopped and turned around.

Jogging on the trail leading out of the woods was Christian. I backed away from him. Could it have been him messing with me in the forest?

“What are you doing out here?” he asked.

“How did you find me?” I took a step backwards, my feet finally on the bridge.

He moved toward me. “It doesn’t matter. We need to go.”

I grounded my teeth in frustration. “Why are you doing this Christian?”

“Doing what?”

“Messing with me. It’s not funny!” It had to have been Christian. His timing couldn’t have been a coincidence.

“What are you talking about?”

“You know what I’m talking about," I said. "Back in the woods. You were trying to scare me to death.”

I couldn’t see his expression, but when he spoke his voice was stern. “I wasn’t in the woods, and I wasn’t messing with you. I wouldn’t do that.”

“Oh yeah? Then how did you find me if you didn’t follow me?”

He spoke slowly. “I ran into Matt at the gas station. He said he dropped you off here and that you were going to walk the rest of the way home.”

“But this isn’t the way to my house.”

“I know. I just had a feeling you went this way.” He took another step.

“Nice try. Now leave me alone.”

“I’m not leaving you out here, especially after what happened to you tonight. There’s no way.”

“And I’m not going to let you mess with my head.” I took another step toward the side of the bridge. I had to get away and fast. I knew I wouldn’t be able to outrun him, but I hoped if I jumped, he wouldn’t follow, and then I could swim to the other side.

“What happened in the woods, Llona?” He was moving forward but very slowly, probably hoping I wouldn’t notice.

“You should know. You were there.”

“It wasn’t me.”

“So you’re saying it wasn’t you calling my name and—hunting me?”

Christian froze. “Why did you use that word?”

“What word?”

“Hunted.”

“Because that’s what it felt like.”

He darted toward me. “We have to get out of here now. It’s not safe.”

His rushed movements caught me off guard. Before I could stop to think, I made a mad leap from the bridge. I thought I’d cleared the wood railing until my hand caught on something. My body dangled in the darkness like a fish on a hook. I could see nothing but a bottomless black world. I looked up to see what had stopped me.

Christian was leaning over the ledge on his stomach, holding my hand. I couldn’t believe he had gotten to me so fast.

“Give me your other hand,” he grunted.

I felt my hand slipping from his, but I did nothing to stop it.

He stared directly into my eyes. “Trust me, Llona. Please.”

I couldn’t trust anyone but myself. Completely calm, I said, “I can’t.”

And then I let go.