BEYOND THE LUNAR VEIL

er chest like a tide. She flailed like a savage animal, punched with her fists, and kicked out with her legs, but to no avail. Her

ncrete digging into her ankles as her feet slipped against the stairs. The scream that was building in her throat was chok

im and the other extended towards her, as though reaching out even in unconsciousness, his body wa

ut her voice was muffled b

surge of adrenaline coursing through her body. Her movements became increasingly erratic and desperate. The f

ly sobered by the sudden cold. As her eyes adapted to the low streetlights, she blinked quickly. They were alone in a small

against something unforgiving, and she struck the metal floor hard, her si

ch turn, the doors slammed behind h

were racing through her head: Who was this person? Wh

n's side for support, she at

back down by a heavy boot

ow distorted, as though laced with gr

cult for her to breathe. With its face buried in the shadows under a hood, the fig

o look around. The interior of the van was cold, claustrophobic, and windowless. The ceiling, walls, and floor are all dull grey

as no w

turned. She could hardly move as she tried to brace

tely spun around and m

ringe out of h

oice was hardly audible abo

The figure took hold of her arm with cold fingers

her vein, burning. Her vision start

but her words were slurr

he engine, and the distant horn of a passing car, faded into distant echoes as her limbs becam

s numb and her mind was cloudy. A single bulb threw a yellow pool of li

th a dull, pounding pain, and her limbs hurt, too. A wave of vertigo struck her as she attem

ally. walls of stone. concrete flooring. One c

ched from t

de her eyes focus. The figure moved forwar

y

woman was someone she knew. The odd visionary. The one wh

a shaky but defiant

ra said, "Welcome, Mia." "I have

racing. Her ears thr

e here? What are you

on serene - too serene. However, there

ted, "You have a role to play." "A role

in her throat. What

s smile, eerily confiden

ou'll see," and e

ike steel around Mia's

ime comes,

apped with this woman and her prophecy,

something that

. The ancient ones' secrets

ent

ia gazed at her with wide eyes. She was

ng changed

ries. A dream.

knew had changed irrevocably, b

e focal po