Kismet (Book One - Completed)

Chapter 3: The Mysterious Man

Chapter 3: The Mysterious Man

After two days of leaving Ferr, Lanet and Kayla arrived at the entrance of the forest bordering their hometown. Normally, the forest would be quiet, although it would be punctuated by sounds of travellers making their way to Ferr. Today was different, however; it was exceptionally quiet and still.

Lanet and Kayla couldn't help but notice that the atmosphere was a bit strange. What caught their eye was a group of children trying to cross a brook. All of them had a mysterious symbol in the form of a birthmark on their right arm. They also wore wooden bangles.

The group was led by a boy who was responsible for everyone's safety. Sensing danger ahead, the boy observed Lanet and Kayla from a distance. He ran impetuously towards them. Suddenly, he jumped, releasing a combat knife mid-flight.

"Lanet, look out!" Kayla yelled when she saw their incoming assailant.

The boy lunged at Lanet. He tried to stab Lanet but he was caught by the teenager on time. Grabbing and twisting the boy's wrist, Lanet tried to pull the knife away from his hand.

"STOP PULLING ME!" The boy yelled, writhing and twisting as he clutched the combat knife tightly. With some effort, he broke away from Lanet.

"If you had dodged slower, I would have stabbed you!" He muttered. Blade facing the sky, the knife swept elegantly through air as the boy attacked. Fortunately, Lanet dodged in time. Kayla stepped in to hold the boy back.

"What were you trying to do?" Kayla yelled. "You almost killed us!"

For a split second, the boy wondered if he should remain silent or answer the girl's question. He examined their clothes and studied their faces. Judging by the style of their clothes and the bulky items that Lanet and Kayla were carrying, the boy concluded that they were travellers.

"You guys don't look like dangerous people, so let me give you some advice." He warned them, "Turn back and stay out of the forest!"

"Why should we?" Kayla protested. "We are not bothering anyone. We were just travelling to Mount Yari!"

With a flustered look on his face, the boy insisted, "No...turn back, turn back now before it is too late...they are coming for us. We shouldn't have left our village in the first place. That was how they spotted us. Those people...they will be here soon." There were ominous undertones in his words. It was as though they had been lodged at the back of his throat all this time and he had restrained himself from yelling them across.

"Who are you referring to?" Kayla questioned.

"Bad people. They are out there looking for us." The boy replied.

A bad feeling resided in the pits of Lanet's stomach. He knew that the boy was sincere because every physiological reaction in his body—his nervous sweating, shaking voice and serious expression—told him that he was telling them exactly what he saw. Bewildered by the overall situation, Lanet watched as the boy directed another child who, in turn, relayed his message to the group.

"This boy must be the group's leader." Lanet concluded. "I doubt that he has any reason to lie to us."

He decided that it was best for him to find out what happened to them.

"Where did all of you come from?" Lanet said.

"We came from Ordin Village." The boy said. "This morning, we left our village to play. Our parents had warned us repeatedly not to do so, but we were so cooped up at home that we wanted to play hide-and-seek in the forest. When our time was up, we tried to find our way home but we couldn't find it. The entrance to the village has shifted to another site."