Encountering Darkness: The Great Pursuit (Book One)

Chapter Twenty

Pete feels a kick to his side and a lighter kick to the head. He wakes up and moans.

"He's awake! What should we do?"

The voices talk to each other. There are a few of them. Pete tries to see who is talking to him, but it isn't possible.

"I'm not sure. He could be a spy!"

"Look at him though. This guy looks awful." This is the third voice to speak, and it is a surprising sound. This is something he hadn't heard in a while, a grown female voice.

Pete looks at the direction the people are speaking, and begs, "Please help me, I'm completely lost and do not understand where I am. Plus, I cannot see anything. Are you guys visible?"

The second voice, a deeper, intimidating voice yells out, "Don't speak! We are trying to figure out if you are worth dealing with."

The female voice suddenly begins talking. "Listen you. You could get us in a lot of trouble. We are not supposed to be dealing with your kind. We are just supposed to let you be. They all think you should be killed and that you are a spy. I think you are telling the truth and are just lost, but don't speak or your luck might change!"

The first voice speaks again, "See though, he's crazy, he asks if we are visible. Well, don't you guys see? He is out of his mind!"

The female voice cuts through the forest. "Actually, he is not! I have been told of the invisible people. They hide, are unseen, and only rarely speak. My father met one a few years ago."

"So what happened?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen my father since. He spoke of this voice he heard one day, the next day he left, and then I haven't seen him since."

"Hmm, sounds like your father was crazy Amy," says the second voice in a joking manner.

In the darkness Pete sees nothing, but he hears a quick thump, and a sound of a man groaning in pain. Then a loud smack and the sound of something hitting the ground with a loud thud.

"Yeah, what are you saying now? Huh? What's that? Look at your pathetic body on the ground. Who's laughing now? Get up! You piece of crap! Nobody talks about my father like that!" The woman screams. Pete is sure she is kicking the guy on the ground because Pete can make out the continual thumping.

"Okay Amy, enough of that."

"Yeah, guess he's had enough because he's the one on the ground and passed out." Amy gives a mocking laugh. "Well, I don't know about you, but if this person before us heard some voices, like my father, he's not crazy and he's telling the truth. Moreover, I'm gonna help him, and if you try to stop me, or even pull a move on me, you will be on the ground too. Got it?"

The first person laughs. "I have no problem with any of this. If you say he's safe, then that's good enough with me. Let's get him to safety though; we have been out here way too long."

"Yes, you are right. If he is hearing voices, I think it means he is important for some reason."

"Let's just hope the damned do not find him."

"Let's not think about that."

The two people kneel next to Pete and help him up. He is led by both of them, one on each arm, all the way through this world. He has no clue where he is, where they lead him.

Finally Pete asks, "How do you both understand where you are going; I can see nothing."

"Oh, that's easy, we are not blind like you." says the first voice.

"What do you mean I'm blind?"

The woman laughs. "You must have been in the other world? The dark world. Well, um, what's your name?"

"Pete."

"Well Pete, you have a nasty head injury, and you seem to have lost your sight because of it. It's daytime right now. Don't worry though, we will lead you the right way."

"How do I know you are leading me the right way? In that 'dark world' you speak of, I picked up many voices, and not all of them were trying to help me."

"Pete, we are all you got, so we can either leave you here, or you can come with us."

Pete knew full well he has no chance of being by himself, so he continues on with the two people.

After a point of walking, Pete becomes so light-headed and unaware of anything going on, two people drag him along. Eventually, Pete passes out.