Read Online Set the Sky on Fire (Fire Trilogy Book 1) by L K Walker - Free Book Online
Authors: L K Walker
Ads: Link
through the back of it. When her headphones were plugged comfortably into her ears, she hit play on her MP3 and started down the track. She was quickly engulfed by the shade of the trees.
The first fifteen minutes of the run were pure freedom; no thoughts, no worries, just the music beating in her ears, and her feet padding unhindered along the dirt track. A trickle of sweat ran down the side of her face. Her hand swiped it away, transferring the salty fluid to the front of her shirt. But it didn’t last. The lack of exercise over the last few months started to become evident. Her body began to protest. More sweat broke free from her brow, the brim of her hat not able to hold it. Normally, she could push through the bad patch, but her mind felt weak, trying to renege before her legs had a chance to. Her stride length quickly diminished. The next ten minutes were half-hearted, turning into a slow jog at best. The number of people she passed dwindled the further she ran from the car park. In the last five minutes, she hadn’t seen anyone on the path, which wasn't all that uncommon. The timer on her watch suggested she should have reached the halfway point by now. Not even close.
I’m not going to make the whole loop.
She took another look around. Not a soul in sight.
At least, no one is here to see me turn around.
Three strides back towards the car. That’s as far as Ari got before the change in her feelings registered. Even tucked away as they were, she couldn’t ignore the anger swelling inside her. She stood still, eyes focussed on the track in front of her. A gentle breeze tousled the pine needles on the trees. Branches undulated above her. She yanked the headphones from her ears, the bass of the music still audible, coming from the earbuds in her hand. She switched off the MP3 player and tucked the cord into the waistband of her shorts. Now, there was no noise beyond the rustle of leaves, no sight beyond the trunks of the trees. The sturdy shafts no longer bestowed a sense of freedom. As Ari looked around, it was like peering through prison bars. Sweat ran down her face, threatening to hinder her vision. She tried to wipe it away with the bottom of her singlet. But, as soon as she did, a fresh layer formed.
Ari tried to slow her breathing, to silence the loud exhalations. With the whisper of the wind being the only contender, her breath boomed like thunder.
Ari let the feelings out of their hiding place. It was definitely him…the man at the funeral…coming for her…coming directly at her…much quicker than she could comprehend. She pictured his face. Those ice blue eyes, they were out there, looking for her. She turned to face in the right direction, but his course changed abruptly.
How was he moving that fast ?
Ari turned with him, following his movements, walking in an erratic circle, waiting for him to show himself, waiting for him to come for her. But he held his distance. What were her chances of escape? Trees stretched as far as she could see, hemming her in on each side. She checked out the path, first looking in one direction, then, the other. Which way? They both looked the same. She couldn’t tell which would take her back to the carpark the quickest.
Ari was disorientated, alone and utterly terrified.
Her eyes flickered from side to side, looking for any small movement. A noise came from her left. She jumped. Panic seized her throat. Her head swung around, blurring her vision into a mottle of green and brown. A pine cone bounced on the forest floor and rolled to a stop two metres from where she stood. Gravity taking its toll. She breathed a sigh of relief.
A mocking laugh danced through the trees, severing the quiet. Ari doubted there was anyone nearby, but she screamed for help anyway. More chilling laughter was her only response. She was alone. And, it seemed, he knew it too.
“What do you want?” she screamed to the pines bristling in the breeze. “Just leave me alone.” Chest
The first fifteen minutes of the run were pure freedom; no thoughts, no worries, just the music beating in her ears, and her feet padding unhindered along the dirt track. A trickle of sweat ran down the side of her face. Her hand swiped it away, transferring the salty fluid to the front of her shirt. But it didn’t last. The lack of exercise over the last few months started to become evident. Her body began to protest. More sweat broke free from her brow, the brim of her hat not able to hold it. Normally, she could push through the bad patch, but her mind felt weak, trying to renege before her legs had a chance to. Her stride length quickly diminished. The next ten minutes were half-hearted, turning into a slow jog at best. The number of people she passed dwindled the further she ran from the car park. In the last five minutes, she hadn’t seen anyone on the path, which wasn't all that uncommon. The timer on her watch suggested she should have reached the halfway point by now. Not even close.
I’m not going to make the whole loop.
She took another look around. Not a soul in sight.
At least, no one is here to see me turn around.
Three strides back towards the car. That’s as far as Ari got before the change in her feelings registered. Even tucked away as they were, she couldn’t ignore the anger swelling inside her. She stood still, eyes focussed on the track in front of her. A gentle breeze tousled the pine needles on the trees. Branches undulated above her. She yanked the headphones from her ears, the bass of the music still audible, coming from the earbuds in her hand. She switched off the MP3 player and tucked the cord into the waistband of her shorts. Now, there was no noise beyond the rustle of leaves, no sight beyond the trunks of the trees. The sturdy shafts no longer bestowed a sense of freedom. As Ari looked around, it was like peering through prison bars. Sweat ran down her face, threatening to hinder her vision. She tried to wipe it away with the bottom of her singlet. But, as soon as she did, a fresh layer formed.
Ari tried to slow her breathing, to silence the loud exhalations. With the whisper of the wind being the only contender, her breath boomed like thunder.
Ari let the feelings out of their hiding place. It was definitely him…the man at the funeral…coming for her…coming directly at her…much quicker than she could comprehend. She pictured his face. Those ice blue eyes, they were out there, looking for her. She turned to face in the right direction, but his course changed abruptly.
How was he moving that fast ?
Ari turned with him, following his movements, walking in an erratic circle, waiting for him to show himself, waiting for him to come for her. But he held his distance. What were her chances of escape? Trees stretched as far as she could see, hemming her in on each side. She checked out the path, first looking in one direction, then, the other. Which way? They both looked the same. She couldn’t tell which would take her back to the carpark the quickest.
Ari was disorientated, alone and utterly terrified.
Her eyes flickered from side to side, looking for any small movement. A noise came from her left. She jumped. Panic seized her throat. Her head swung around, blurring her vision into a mottle of green and brown. A pine cone bounced on the forest floor and rolled to a stop two metres from where she stood. Gravity taking its toll. She breathed a sigh of relief.
A mocking laugh danced through the trees, severing the quiet. Ari doubted there was anyone nearby, but she screamed for help anyway. More chilling laughter was her only response. She was alone. And, it seemed, he knew it too.
“What do you want?” she screamed to the pines bristling in the breeze. “Just leave me alone.” Chest
Similar Books
