the Stirring || Book 1 of the Amatori Chronicles

Chapter 1

  It was starting to get dark as I walked to my car which was parked against the sidewalk several yards away. My hands were shoved deep inside the pockets of my green hoodie and I was muttering under my breath about how unfair it was that my school gave out so many tests.

A streetlamp flickered and its dying golden bulb cast eerie shadows on the sidewalk and the road which was pretty much deserted.

I had just about reached my car when I heard footsteps behind me. My heart lurched in my chest and I quickly turned around only to see a small gang of about four guys. They laughed at me and one of them puffed deeply on a cigarette. Smoke issued from his mouth and into the crisp night air.

I cursed to myself and walked faster to my car but my legs had become shaky and I could hear the gang following me. Why had I chosen to stay at the library until closing time? What time was it? The last time I checked, my phone said eleven thirty.

They continued to follow me; their black clothes helped them blend into the darkness like shadows. I heard one of them spit on the ground and I cringed in repulsion. I forced my legs to walk faster towards my car and I felt around inside my purse hastily for my keys. Idiot, I thought to myself, stupid idiot, you just had to stay at the library until it was dark didn't you Cora?

I stopped when I was under a streetlamp and turned to face them, which was probably a bad idea. "Leave me alone," I said firmly, trying to stop my voice from wavering. "Please," I added.

The gang laughed and drew closer towards me, until they surrounded me completely. "And why would we do that, babe?" One of them asked in a sickly sweet voice, like a mother talking to a newborn baby. "All we want is some fun?"

"I-I don't like your definition of fun," I told them, turning around and trying to get past them, but they blocked me. "Please, just let me pass."

"Aww, why not sweat pea?" Another member of the gang said, yanking off my hood that covered my head. "Why do you want to hide such pretty red hair under an ugly hoodie?" He touched a strand of it and sniffed it. I shoved him back as hard as I could.

"Don't touch me!"

"Looks like we got ourselves here a feisty fireball!" He announced to his friends, grabbing hold of my arm and putting his face right next to mine. His breath smelled of cigarette smoke and I almost gagged. "Now come with us, it'll be much easier if you don't struggle."

"Let me go!" Another gang member grabbed a hold of my other arm. "Leave me alone!" All they did was laugh and tug me away from my car. I thrashed and squirmed, trying to writhe my way out of their grip, but they were too strong and were holding on too tight. "Stop! Please! I'll give you money! Just let me go!"

"Leave her alone." The gang stopped laughing and looked around to try and find the source of the new voice. "Don't make me repeat myself."

"Who the hell are you?" The lead gang member demanded, taking out a pistol from inside his black coat and aiming it into the darkness. "Show yourself!"

"The gun is not necessary, I assure you." It was a man's voice, and did I detect the slightest bit of a British accent? Why the heck were British people in Portland Oregon? "Just put it down and I will make sure that no harm comes to you or your accomplices."

The sound of a gun firing echoed down the street and I screamed and covered my ears as the two gang members dropped my arms and allowed me to fall hard onto my knees. The leftover water from an earlier rain seeped through my jeans and I scrambled backwards. Should I run? Yes, I should run. But another part of me urged me to stay and watch. What if the mysterious person got shot and needed help? My aunt was a veterinarian and I knew a little bit about medical practices. Maybe I could help.

   It was still dark, but from the dull glow of the streetlamps, I could make out a figure wearing a hoodie that covered their head. My jaw dropped in dismay. Well, I don't think he'll be needing any medical help, I though bitterly to myself. I was a big fan of all the action movies, where the antagonists and the protagonists got into these fights and used hand to hand combat, but I thought that I would never live to see the day where I would actually get to see a real one in real life. The strange man moved gracefully, darting around them with grace and fluidity, but with skill and aggression at the same time. The cracking of his fists and feet connecting with a gang member's body sounded loudly and I cringed and winced when their screams of pain came seconds later. I closed my eyes and covered my ears again, waiting till I could no longer hear those sounds. Minutes went by, and I finally squinted through them and covered my mouth in horror when I saw the unconscious bodies of the gang littered on the ground. A few hand their arms or legs bent in a not natural way. And there he was—the stranger—standing in the middle of them with his arms folded across his chest. I could feel his eyes staring at me from within the darkness of the hood.

  "Uh, th-thank you," I murmured, just barely above a whisper. "Some people are just sickening." I tried to stand, but I fell back down with a grunt. In a flash he was kneeling down in front of me with his large hands on my shaking shoulders. "I'm fine—I don't need hel—GAH!" A shriek escaped my lips when he grabbed hold of my shoulders and lifted me back onto my wobbling legs. "Um, thanks again."

  "Go home," he said slowly. His voice was smooth and deep but a little bit boyish as well.

  "What?" I asked him in confusion. "What about you? Are you hurt? My aunt is a veterinarian; maybe she can help you if you're hurt or anything—"

"Go home," He repeated, except this time he sounded firmer and more demanding.

"Geesh," I said with a shrug of my shoulders. "Fine, have it your way mister." He didn't say anything as I picked up my bag (or purse) that I had dropped and walked to my car, but I could feel his eyes burning into the back of my head as I unlocked it and slid into the driver's seat. Quickly I started the engine and drove out of there; however I couldn't help but look out at the side mirrors to watch him. But when I stared at the place where he had been standing, he was gone. And in his place was a single brown feather that was dancing away in the breeze.