The Calo Chronicles
Book One: Hunted
— E.R. FOWLES —
Samuel turned at the sound of the pistol behind him. The ground seemed to move out from underneath his feet as a gunshot rang in his ears. He found himself looking up at the night sky. When he grabbed at the pain in his side, he felt a warm sticky liquid oozing through his fingers. He lifted his hand in front of his face and could see the light reflecting off the thick dark blood that covered it. The world around him seemed to spin and blur all at once, and he couldn’t get over how cold he felt. Around him, he could hear shouting and chaos. He thought he heard someone calling his name, but everything was so unclear.
EXCERPTS:
He ran as fast as he could, despite his already exhausted legs. He was about to run south, but another gunshot was fired from that direction, so he ran north for a block, then west after that. In the distance, he could see the ports coming into view. In the light of the streetlamp, he could see Captain DeSouza and his crew loading their ship. Miguel was already there handing over the package he had been carrying with him. If he could just get to them, he would be safe, he thought to himself.
Breathless he called out “Miguel!” He knew his voice hadn’t carried far so, he called again. “Miguel!” He still didn’t seem to hear him. With all he could, he shouted “Miguel!” Miguel squinted to see past the lamplight and into the shadows. “Samuel? Is that you?”
Samuel turned around at the sound of a pistol being cocked behind him. The ground seemed to move out from underneath his feet as the gunshot rang in his ears. He found himself looking up at the night sky. When he grabbed at the pain in his side, he felt a warm, sticky liquid ooze through his fingers. He lifted his hand in front of his face and could see the light reflecting off the thick, dark blood that covered it. He felt the world around him begin to spin and blur all at once, and he couldn’t get over how cold he felt. Around him, he could hear shouting and chaos. He thought he heard someone calling his name, but everything was so unclear.
‘I’m next,’ realized Samuel. ‘I’m trapped; I have nowhere to hide. Finally, this is where I meet my end. At the very least, my enemies won’t have the satisfaction of being the ones to do it,’ he thought to himself, ‘but what would it matter? Dead was dead, wasn’t it?’ The others were all dead now, it was just him and their attacker. With his legs pinned down, he could do nothing, but wait for his turn to die.
Bits of loose mud and debris fell on him as their attacker drew close to the top of the hill and into view, looking down on him. He slowly turned horrified, at what he might see standing there. His heart about stopped at the sight. He was not looking at a terrible beast or hideous blood-thirsty cannibal, as his imagination momentarily envisioned. Rather, he saw what he could only describe as an angel.
“Listen, Samuel,” This may be the only chance we have to speak alone. I told them I don’t remember the other night. That’s why you were told I had amnesia, but I remember everything,” she confessed, looking him in the eyes. “Why would you pretend you didn’t?” he asked, confused. She looked to the door nervously. “I’m afraid they will kill me.” A tear escaped down her cheek, and she was quick to wipe it away.
“This will not come between us,” he assured her. “True love is not overcoming outside forces together. It is about overcoming the forces from within ourselves, and our relationship, that would tear us apart. Help me fight my demons, and I will help you fight yours.