Chapter 3 (Needs Editing)

8/8/2019 Chapter 3 (Needs Editing)

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A sinuous form weaved its way through the darkness, the light blotted from view by the thick

layers of leaves and brush; though a few bands cut through the shadows, barely catching the liquid

movement of the predator as the leaves gave way to her movement; her prey was close, and she wasnt

going to stop this close to victory.

Suddenly, the predator stopped, forearm held inches above the ground, as if lowering the claws

would alert the prey to her presence. She waited until the prey turned away, then carefully lowered her

hand to the ground, and pulled her rear toward her middle. Her body curled into a spring, just waiting

for the trigger holding it closed to release. The air fell silent, her pupils constricting in the dim light, her

muscles tensed.

The shadowed formshot from the brush, sending leaves and twigs in a shower behind her

slender body. Her unsuspecting prey turned to face their attacker, but it was too late. The unprotected

child was brought to the ground, completely at the mercy of the predator. His eyes widened as a set of

small, but menacing, claws rose into the air -pausing just long enough to gather strength-and came

down quickly into the side of the child, who broke into laughter.

Aunt Reli! Stop, that tickles!The child yelled as the claws lightly crawled up and down his body.

You werent paying attention Chell. Reli responded with glee. She tickled the young child for a

moment longer before lifting him onto his feet.

Now its my turn to be the predator right? Chell asked, anxiously bouncing on his toes.

Next time maybe. For now, it is time for bed. Reli responded, much to Chells dismay.

Awww, cant we play one more time? He asked innocently, pulling out the classic puppy-dog

eyes that children are so famous for, cocking his lightly feathered head to one side.

Chell, you know that wont work on me. Besides, youre already an hour past bed time. Reli

said in a more stern voice, though that wasnt much of a difference from her usual joyous attitude.

Alright. Chell reluctantly agreed. He turned slowly, starting to pout like a child who had been

denied candy at the store. However it was short lived, and he jogged off to see one of his friends, who

had likely just received the same news from his caretaker.

Reli Shei-Irra followed behind him, stretching her lean legs to their full length after having them

bent for so long in the brush. Standing straight up, Reli was about 5 feet 7 inches tall; actually short for a

Nii-Taa her age, the average being about 6and a half feet.

The muscles of her legs -barely visible while idle, but noticeable during activity- stretched,

eliciting a faint sigh of relief from Reli as the tightness melted from her body. She took a brief moment

to look around the garden, which was almost empty at this hour, and take in her surroundings. The dim

artificial lighting caused the recently watered plants to glimmer, the beads of water which adorned the

leaves appearing to emit their own light. The orchids that dotted the room emitted a slight sweet scent,

one which Reli had grown accustomed to, but could never tire of.

After she finished admiring the garden, Reli turned her attention back to Chell. He was still

talking with his friend, no doubt complaining about the curfew they had to live by. After another brief

moment to take in the scent of the orchids, Reli started to make her way out of the garden.

As she walked, Reli wiggled the long white feathers that flowed from her head to her hips,

making sure none of them were stuck together, and later she would inspect them to be sure no foliage

or dirt had clung on during the games she played with Chell. For her it was like a hobby -caring for the

feathers-, something to entertain her when she had nothing better to do, though to some extent she did


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it to keep herself presentable. She would also care for the short, pale pink feathers that rested in front

of these, though they had a nasty habit of getting tangled up when she flared them, so she spent less

time on these than the longer white feathers.

She strode past Chell; turning to him to be sure he noticed her leaving. He waved goodbye to his

friend, and ran over to Relis side, his grey feathers bobbing slightly on his head with each step; he

hadnt yet mastered running as softly as he could walk. Together they walked out of the garden and into

the structures living quarters. Reli walked Chell back to his home, where his parents were patiently

waiting for their son to return.

Chells mother, Darlea, was the one to answer the door. Welcome home dear. How was he

today Reli? She asked with a smile, rubbing her hand over Chells head.

She was fine Darlea, no problems as usual with this one. Reli responded kindly.

Good. Chell, do you have something to say to Reli?

Thank you Reli. Chell said before running off to his room.

Darlea waited until Chell had left, then turned back to Reli. How has Irra been Reli?

Shes been great Darlea, she should be fully healed by Thursday. Reli responded.

Relis mother, Irra, had been hit by a car 3 months before, and had recently gone through her

final surgery on her spine. Darlea and Irra had been close friends since they were children, and Darlea

made sure to keep up on Irras status.

Thats great news. We should celebrate as soon as she is able to. Irra said with enthusiasm,

excited to hear that her friend would be alright.

Ill be sure to let her know Darlea.

Thank you. So will we be seeing you tomorrow too?

Of course, Im looking forward to it.

The two exchanged a quick hug, and separated. Darlea closed the door, while Reli turned to

head back home; 10 minutes from the complex, walking.

To Relis joy, it was still raining. She loved the rain; it was like a free shower. She stepped out

into the shower and started down the familiar path home. Her thin toes were slightly chilled by the

pooled water on the ground, but it felt better than dry asphalt. The only bad part about this rain was

that it would get her new shirt wet. Staying optimistic she just thought of it as a free wash, any dirt that

had gotten on it in the garden would surely be rinsed off with the rain.

The night was almost silent, filled by the sound of falling rain, so peaceful. Reli grinned as she

walked through the rain, sure that nothing could sour this perfect night. In the distance she heard the

squealing of tires, probably a car accident or someone taking too tight of a turn. She drove the sound

out of her mind and continued her walk home.

After a few more minutes she rounded the last corner on her route home, only 2 more blocks

and then she would be back with family. She still had the message from Darlea in her mind, and would

be sure to tell her mother in the morning, she would surely be asleep by this time of night.

Then Reli completely forgot about that message, about the celebration, when she heard a sound

that she knew all too well, but not for any good reasons. The distinct sound of a gunshot reverberated

down the street, and was followed by silence; even the soothing dribble of raindrops seemed

nonexistent.


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Reli instinctively jumped behind a nearby car, hoping that no bullets would come down the

street. But there was only silence. She cautiously leaned around the back of the car, trying to see if the

street was safe to continue walking. She watched a black car speed out from in front of the convenience

store that she walked past every day on the way home, spraying water up behind it as it sped toward

her.

She ducked back behind the car, laying her body as flat to the rear bumper as she could, begging

that the occupants of the vehicle didnt see her. The car sped past, spraying Reli with dirt filled water as

it went. She watched as the car continued down the street, eventually turning off about 5 blocks down.

She didnt seem to have been noticed, the car wouldve stopped if she were noticed, right?

After about 5 minutes she stood up and slowly made her way across the street and over to the

convenience store. If anyone had been hurt, she wanted to at least try to help them. As she approached

she thought she saw something move in the shadows across the street, but dismissed it as a figment of

her imagination. She ducked into the convenience store, hoping that it was safe, and looked around to

make sure everyone was safe. Behind the desk there was no shopkeeper, as there usually was; but

beside the front desk.

Reli gasped at the sight of the injured man who lay on his back, a blood soaked hole punched

through his right shoulder. She knelt at his side, shaking him to see if he was awake; no response. She

put her hand over his chest, trying to feel for if he was breathing; he wasnt. Reli looked around

desperately for a phone; she needed to call an ambulance, to get the injured man some medical

attention. During her search she found a wallet lying beside the man, but it looked strange, and had a

metal clip over the side. She picked it up and popped open the clip, thinking she could give the

ambulance more information on the injured man.

This was not a wallet, and it didnt belong to the man on the floor. It only had one fold, which

was flapped over a photo ID. The man on the ID was clean shaven, and completely bald; while the man

on the floor had a full head of hair, along with a well-defined beard. She couldnt read anything on the

ID; the writing was in some other language, though she couldnt tell what it was exactly.

She was cut off in her examination of the ID by motion outside of the store, in the same area

that she had seen the movement before; this time she was sure it was real. She moved over to the

window, straining her eyes for a better look. Her heart sank at what she saw.

The black car from before fishtailed out into the intersection in front of her, and stopped in

front of the convenience store; the driver had likely realized he had dropped his ID, and now he was

back for it. And if this had been the man that shot the man that was lying on the floor, how would he

react if he thought Reli had seen him?

Reli dropped the ID where she stood and quickly moved to the back of the store, she heard the

car door slam shut outside, closely followed by the front door to the store opening with a metallic hiss.

She heard a few footsteps, doubtlessly just the man walking over to the ID which Reli had dropped at

the front of the store. Now he would just leave and get back in his car, drive away, and Reli could call the

ambulance.

But the footsteps resumed, though they seemed to be slower, and they almost seemed to be

getting closer to her. Reli hoped the man was just checking on the other man, seeing if he was dead or

not, but the footsteps kept coming back through the isle, and were accompanied by a loud metallic


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snap; yet another sound that Reli recognized, but was not fond of; the slide of a handgun slapping

forward.

Reli had to act quickly; she looked around the back of the store, hoping for some way out. There

were shelves lined with magazines, a freezer full of TV dinners, and a door. A door! Reli knew it may be

her only way out, she just had to gather the courage to dash for it.

The footsteps grew louder, closer, along with the handgun. She took a deep breath, and started

counting.

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She dashed across the back of the store, making a run for the door, only 10 feet. She pushed the

door open, and stumbled into a dank alley-way; still raining. A bullet ricocheted off of the metal door

just as she made it out of the store. She ran through the alley, looking for somewhere, anywhere, to

hide from the gunman behind her.

She heard the door click shut behind her, and knew that this was the only chance she would get

to escape. She looked left and right, but couldnt find anywhere to hide, unless one of the other doors

was unlocked.

Reli heard something beside her click, and with a gasp she was pulled into darkness.

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Chapter 3 (Needs Editing)