Abduction

This is the start of a short story I have yet to finish...comments very welcome.



A cleansing rain sends rivers of grime down concrete graffitied walls, cartoon images bleeding mire from airbrushed eyes. Reflected lightning slashes across mirrored storefront windows along First Avenue illuminating a lone figure, splashing, head down through the rain. Coughing violently into her arm, Kalia kicks a crushed Coors can into the drain, it's splash is consumed by the raging runoff below the city.

She closes her eyes against the rain's persistent force and continues her trudge home. The fine hairs on her arms spring to life from a sudden temperature change as warmth caresses her skin. Kalia opens her eyes and sees pulsing in the distance three red rings of light surrounded by an eerie yellow glow. Curiosity piqued she quickens her pace feet splashing in the rain soaked street. An uneasy sense of familiarity teases her mind and drives her into a full run, but the glow stays tauntingly in the distance. Kalia turns down Third Avenue quickly doubles back to First Avenue, spins in circles, splashing muddy puddles in a frenzy but the eerie glow eludes her. She slumps to the ground, frustrated tears mixing with rain on her cheeks as she closes her eyes against the stinging rain once again.

As her eyes close the warm glow returns. She opens them to find the eerie light enveloping her. She is completely enclosed within a red-rimmed embrace, her auburn hair takes on a bright crimson hue from the supernatural glow, and her skin flushes pink from its growing warmth. The rain sounds fade as deep vibrations travel her body and the light spins around her until the city is nothing but a muddy blur of color. With a soft hiss like a match hitting a puddle of water Kalia and the strange light vanish leaving the steady chilling rain to cleanse the city streets.

Kalia opens her eyes to a darkness so alive her skin crawls at its touch.

"Wh-where am I?"

Her wavering voice echoes around her with a metallic ring. With a shock she realizes she is completely dry and her skin has begun emitting a faint glow; she feels energized, more alive. Kalia stops to listen, the only sound is the ringing in her ears and the steady thump of her heart as it races blood beneath her skin. She turns in circles, shoes clicking on the metallic surface below her. She stops as footsteps mingle with her own; they continue when hers fade. They grow closer and closer echoing off vast walls around her. Her skin prickles as the outline of two doors suddenly glimmer to life before her; one rimmed in red the other glowing with a polarized black on black. Echoing footsteps pounding in her ears Kalia reaches for a door…