Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

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Jen placed a hand over Lizzie's wrist.

"They will if you think like that. We can't show fear. That's giving them exactly what they want," Jen spoke in hushed tones, but Jackson was smirking. Suddenly a scream peeled from the station and Link spun on his heel, seeing Christy standing in the doorway with the kids tucked under her arms. She pointed outward and Link swiveled his head around, his eyes widening.

"Holy sweet mother Theresa," Chase muttered, removing his beanie. On the opposing end of the setting sun was a large, shelf like looking cloud that spanned each end of the horizon. It seemed to roll as it collected speed, and dust along with it. If Link had to guess, it was traveling at least 70 miles per hour, barreling right toward them. A low rumbling sound emanated from its depths, and Link could make out hues of brown and red in the cloud. He's seen something like this before, and his heart began to race as he took a backward step toward the station.

All of them stood there huddled together and watched as the wind tousled their hair and clothing. Link decided he'd had enough watching and he began hyperventilating.

"What's happening," Lizzie whined.

"It's a dust storm," Link breathed, his respiration increasing even further. "Everyone, get inside NOW. We need to make sure the doors and windows are sealed tight, and all the vents are closed. I'm gonna run to the car to grab something to protect our faces with. GO!"

Link busted through the door of the gas station using his back, carrying a whole mess of clothing in his arms. Mike and Alex ran over to him and took some of the clothing to help ease the load, and Link beckoned to the kids.

"Let's get them covered first!" He shouted, and Lily ushered Lando and Shepard forward first with worry laden in her eyes. Locke and Lincoln were pale as ghosts, looking toward Christy with fear in their eyes. "Make sure their noses and mouths are covered, like this," Link said, fixing one of his long sleeved flannel shirts over Lando's mouth and nose, tying it off securely in the back of his head.

Mike and Alex began doing the same thing for the other kids, and the adults began lining up behind them, Christy making sure that Lando and Shepard understood that they needed to keep these over their faces at all costs.

While Alex and Mike were fixing everyone else up, Link placed a shirt around Christy and then himself. He waved his hand toward the back of the building, the lights beginning to flicker.

"Get to the back of the building away from the windows and try not to talk too much, alright?" He began to herd everyone toward the back of the store, and that's when he noticed the helpless, little old gentleman behind the counter cowering in fear. Part of his face was visible as he ducked behind the counter, gripping the edge with white bony knuckles. Link glanced over at the crew as they huddled everyone together in the furthest corner in the back away from the windows, and then he sprinted over to the man.

"Hey, it's gonna be alright sir. Come on," he said, walking briskly to the side of the counter and pushing the door open, offering his hand to the man. The man shook his head, his dark eyes widened with fear. "It's gonna be alright," Link cooed again, reaching for his hand and leading him toward the back. He was a slow walker, but he seemed grateful that somebody wanted to help him. Lizzie jumped up and took the man's hand, Link nodding gratefully at her. He decided to check the rest of the store to make sure there weren't any stragglers around that had no idea what was going on.

He checked between the aisles and in the bathrooms, hollering to make absolutely sure that there was nobody left behind. He then sprinted toward the window, his mouth falling open. Little specs of dust spun around in mini whirlwinds as the giant wall began to engulf them. It was light enough still that anyone could mistake it as rain, but as the cloud overtook them more, everything was glinting with a reddish tinge before it all went black as night. The lights suddenly went out, the kids screaming out in alarm as everyone looked about frantically.

It was so dark that Link couldn't see his hand in front of his face, and he stumbled forward into somebody. His eyebrows furrowed in anger.

"I thought I told you guys to stay put! These windows could shatter at,-" Link choked to an abrupt stop as he felt a hand clasp around his throat and constrict his windpipe with a deathly grip. He let out another choking sound, his eyes bugging as he feverishly clawed at the hand suffocating him. When the lights came back on, his heart dropped into his stomach at the scene before him. The store had been taken hostage by a dozen or so tan, whipcord strong men adorned in blazing red robes and head cloths. The others were holding his family and friends, their eyes exhibiting terror as they had knives held to their throats. Knives that looked like they were specifically hand crafted by these men.

The one holding Link belted a command to the other men in a different language, and the men responded by tightening their hold on their hostages. Link slowly turned his eyes on the man in front of him, looking square into his cold black eyes. The man took a deep breath before releasing Link, Link dropping to the floor with a gasp as air filled his lungs.

"Where is the new Alpha," the man demanded in a gruff voice, laced with a thick accent and muffled by the cloth around his mouth and nose. Link shook his head slowly, his eyes watering.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he breathed, and he took a heavy blow to the side with the man's booted foot. The man then crouched beside Link, his bushy eyebrows furrowed as he glared at Link furiously.

"Let's try this again. Where is he?"

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