Eli’s Destiny
Chapter One
Shae
I bounded through the forest as fast as my shaky legs would take me, praying to God that I wouldn’t smash headfirst into any trees. But that would be far better than what my imagination believed was about to happen to me. Suddenly, I heard it again, a howl that told my brain I was possibly about to be eaten! It was closer this time and my legs grew a mind of their own as they ran faster than they ever had before, carrying me through the forest in record speed.
I should’ve known not to trust Karen and Darcy when they convinced me that this was a good idea. Coming to the clearing on the night of a full moon is nothing short of stupid no matter how you sell it, and they sold it to me pretty good. Everybody knows odd things go on in these woods during a full moon. They told me that Sara, my best friend, had been tricked and left here without a cell phone or any way to get home. They convinced me to come with them to get her, only to find that it was I who was tricked and left behind. They’ve always had it in for me, but this time they’d gone too far. How dare they leave me out here to die in the forest, eaten by some wild animal, or worse.
I couldn’t die here—not like this. I at least needed an opportunity to get back at them.
I stumbled and tripped, landing on my knees with a thud. I didn’t stay down for long, as I quickly jumped back to my feet and began running again. The howling came again, but this time from more than one source. My heart was beating so fast I thought at any minute it would burst in my chest and that would be the end for me. I didn’t even know where I was going. All I knew is that if I stopped, whatever it was that was behind me would catch me, and that was sure to be a bad thing.
Suddenly, everything quieted, and I froze, pressing my back against a tree and listening. My breathing was coming too fast, but there was nothing I could do to slow it. Then I saw a blurred motion. Something dark approached and stood directly in front of me. I could feel its presence, just inches from my face. I cringed, terrified to look up, but more afraid not to. There was no mistaking its breath on my face. Thoughts were rushing through my mind too fast and none of them made much sense. I slowly looked up and gasped. Staring back at me was a pair of glowing, yellow eyes and gnarly sharp teeth. At that moment I couldn’t breathe, and then my mind went completely blank and my world went totally dark.
I woke up gasping and instantly recognized my mom who seemed frazzled and alarmed. She was by my side, shaking me vigorously.
“Shae, honey! Are you all right? I heard you screaming in your sleep.” Her voice was shaky and rough.
I put my hand over my chest as if the gesture would somehow slow my heart rate. “Umm—I-I think I’m okay,” I said, my throat dry and scratchy. I swallowed hard and glanced up at my mom. Her eyes were wide and her hair was in big curlers, all but one. Strange, but I suddenly found myself wondering what happened to the other one. “It must’ve been a nightmare. I’ll be fine, Mom. You can go back to bed now. I’m sorry I woke you.”
She sighed in relief. “Don’t be silly dear. I’m just glad you’re okay. Now try to go back to sleep.” She leaned down and kissed my forehead, something she often did to comfort me, then left my room, shutting the door behind her.
I somehow managed to go back to sleep after only a few short minutes.
The next morning, I slowly got ready for school, dragging my feet the whole way. No matter what I did, I couldn’t shake the nightmare. It seemed so real, and yet so ridiculous at the same time.
On the way to school, I stopped to get gas in my beat-up blue Jeep. It was old, but it was also free. My dad bought it from a friend of his and spent some money getting it in running shape. The blue paint job was scratched and chipping, but it was mine and that was all I cared about. As I stood there pumping, I suddenly had a strange feeling come over me; like the sensation of being watched. I did a quick glance around but there was no one in sight. Strange. Unfortunately, that was not the last time I had the eerie feeling. It came and went for the rest of the day; walking down the hallway after first period, during lunch, and then again as I walked to my Jeep after school.
I wish I could say that the feeling was from guys checking me out as I walked from class to class, but sadly that was not the case, but I knew the reason for that. I’m not really bad to look at. I keep my blonde hair clean but simple. I’m a little thin, but I would say I have a cute figure. My complexion is good and the advantage of that is that I don’t really need to wear a lot of makeup. But everyone has their flaws, some more prominent than others. Mine is the fact that my eyes are two totally different colors, a condition known as heterochromia. One eye is green and the other is brown. Sometimes when people are born with this it’s not very noticeable, not so with me. Because my green eye is sea green and my brown eye is almost black, it makes for a strange effect. When I was little I use to think it was cool, but all that changed when I started kindergarten. That’s when the teasing began, and it’s never really let up though I’m almost eighteen. Personally, I think it creeps the guys out, like I have a disease or something. My mom said that if it bothers me that much I should consider getting colored contacts to even them out. But I say, ‘What’s the point in that’. Everyone in this crazy town knows the truth. What good would it really do? Besides, this is who I was born to be. I shouldn’t have to change it just because others react to it. It’s really their problem, not mine, right? I don’t care to be Mrs. Popularity anyway. I have my friends and that’s good enough for me—for now anyway.
That night I sighed in relief and stretched, happy to be finally finished with my homework. I’d been working on it for two straight hours, and my back was killing me. I stood, went to my dresser, pulled out my nightshirt, and stripped my clothes off. That’s when I had the eerie feeling again. I quickly pulled on my nightshirt and went to my window and peered out. My room backs to the forest, as do most houses in my neighborhood, so I’ve never had to worry about being careful when dressing before. But now, for the first time, it felt different. As I stared out passed the black trees I thought I caught a glimpse of movement in the dark. I gasped and ran out of my room and down the stairs to be in the comfort of my parent’s presence. I knew it was ridiculous to act so childish, but the last time I saw that movement was in my nightmare, and the image came flooding back. I purposefully stayed with my parents for the next few hours until bedtime arrived.
As I lay there in bed that evening, tossing and turning, my mind wouldn’t shut off. I started thinking about the nightmare and what I was doing right before I went to sleep. Had I read something scary? Then it dawned on me—I didn’t remember anything about that evening. I didn’t remember coming home from school, or eating supper, or even getting into bed at all. My heart started racing and I felt nauseous. Had it not been a nightmare after all? Had it really happened? And if it had, then what did it mean? Was someone out to get me? No, that was ridiculous. After all, someone had brought me home. The question plaguing my mind was who or what?
My eyes briefly drifted shut. I snapped them open and felt my vision blur. The air in my room suddenly felt thick and musky.