The Orb

Chapter 4

Awakening

Blinking rapidly Karla tried to adjust her eyes to the softer level of light that now filled the chamber the previous blinding one had dispelled but left her entire body numb. The nightmare seemed endless to her, with her senses' still reeling she began to retch up onto the pristine floor. Then from seemingly nowhere pain erupts along her spin as an unwavering strength grabs hold of her long plat trailing down her back and viciously yanks it forcing her neck and back to arch backwards causing her to cry out as pain filled tears to course freely down her face. Without thinking and just reacting on instinct alone, Karla sweeps out a long slim athletic leg encased in jeans and knocks the new threat off their feet forcing the latest source that was attacking her to release their painful hold.

Weaving slightly on unstable legs Karla stands up taking several cautious steps backwards away from her attacker lying dazed on the ground in an unfamiliar uniform that was mainly comprised of long dazzling white robe with a pale blue shift of some sort under it. Karla took deep breaths trying to calm her racing pulse as adrenaline courses through her veins heightening her senses. She could now see an exit out of the strange room that had not been visible before but now she could hear numerous raised angry voices and they were getting louder. Desperately she looked about hoping to find another way out of there or maybe even to hide behind but there was nothing except the pedestal and the strange stone that now seemed to beat in-sink with her own heart.

As the voices drew ever threateningly closer Karla felt her panic rise knowing escape was not an option any longer but also because none of the words she was hearing made any sense to Karla. She had travelled to make countries in the world with her parents work until the age of 10 and had the uncanny ability to learn a language in a few days just from listening to the words spoken, she could speak 15 languages as if she was a local. A few of the words she heard seemed familiar but they were all from several languages, French, Portuguese, Spanish and mandarin but they were all mixed together.

What she made out was, 'threat', 'danger', 'attack' and 'enemy'. Shaking her head Karla suddenly realised that that she was the cause for people's concern and feared what was to happen next, all she could do was stand her ground and wait.

The man she had knocked to the floor came slowly to his feet, his angry glare focused on her causing Karla to realise she had made a deadly enemy. The man took a deep breath causing his chest to swell but his focus never wavered from her.

Karla took several more steps backwards trying to put as much distance between her and the man bring a sneer of satisfaction to his face.

"Incanta Espiritu Bindeza!" The man uttered with menace aimed at Karla.

In answer Karla found herself immediately frozen to the spot she stood on, her heart, her breath even her mind were seemingly bound to one single moment in time all she could do was stare terrified at the man as he now drew closer to her as if he was stalking prey.

The man stopped directly before her and slowly withdrew a blade that had a wickedly sharp curved blade on it. The only visible reaction to this new threat was Karla's pupils' dilating. The man sneer deepened to an evil smile as he slowly caressed the point of his blade along the exposed skin through her mud and blood drench shirt that had been ripped during the accident.

Karla's skin crawled and goose bumps visibly appeared in reaction to the contact. Her mind screamed helplessly begging for the nightmare to end and her torturer to stop but her traitorous body refused to comply. Her saving grace came from the new arrivals who to her surprise were clearly not content with his actions committed against her, though the words that were spoken before her were beyond her comprehension, of the few words she could understand their meaning were beyond her.