Otherworldly

Chapter 8- Part 1

A/N (PLEASE READ)- This note is for people that are really interested in this book and excited for the next chapter after each update. 

I am going to update once per week. I have not decided on the day, but it wont really matter to me because I plan on writing two chapters a week. Feel free to share in the comments what day you prefer. I start a new job on February 1st, so I will have more time to write. I only plan on posting one chapter a week on here. I want to have plenty of chapters to post during times that I cannot write. 

With that being said, there may be weeks where I post twice a week. 

I want to thank everybody for the increased interest in my book. Otherworldly has gotten a lot of attention in the last week and I'm so excited to see where it could go in the coming months. 

I am currently at 14,000 words after Chapter 8. This book will be the first book in a series. Book 2 is expected to start in July. There is a possibility it may be sooner. 

I know I said I planned on two more chapters before Christmas and I'm sorry for not delivering. I got ahead of myself and couldn't find time to write. 

I will post twice a few extra chapters in February to make up for it!

Thank you!

-T.N. Jewell

My bladder eventually woke me up. I sat up with a groan and barely was able to hold it from that action alone. I definitely did not want to pee in the hole, but I knew it was inevitable.

After another minute I couldn't hold it any longer and rushed up. I just barely pulled my pants down fast enough and squatted. The relief was instantaneous.

Embarrassment filled me but I quickly squashed it down. It's not my fault they couldn't even give me a proper toilet to go.

Once I finished my business I righted my clothes and realized how dirty I really was. I barely had time to clean myself up in the woods from all that walking. Being hunted down didn't help either. I smelled awful.

I brought a hand up to my hair and felt the rats nest with my fingertips. It was just a big knot of my head intertwined with rough, small sticks and a couple leaves that I was able to pull without my scalp hurting.

With a sniffle, I trudged back the two steps to my mat and sat down with a huff. I didn't have anything to help me feel like I wasn't a wild animal. I was dirty, stinky, and I'm sure my face was covered in streaks of dirt.

Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do about it. I laid back on my mat and closed my eyes to the whiteness of the room.

For what felt like hours I slipped in and out of sleep. Dreams of Leftens hunting me and hurting me plagued me. Eventually, my stomach started to growl with hunger.

I ignored it and opted to just go back to sleep. Even though the dreams weren't pleasant, I wasn't faced with reality. It was an escape haven. I didn't have to think about what was going to happen to me. I just slipped back into a dream world.

Sometimes a nice short dream appeared. I was with my mother and brother in our house. They were still alive and we were just watching a movie while eating some popcorn and candy. The dream ended quickly though and I woke up desperately trying to fall back asleep to not lose it again.

Hours later, I jerked up with a start when a hard metallic box was thrown by a Leften standing in front of the wall I pushed through. The wall was clear again so I was easily able to see him.

He was one I hadn't seen before. He was smaller in stature than other Leftens. He looked like a teenager.

I peered at his face. He sneered at me when our eyes connected and with a jerk of his hand, the wall turned solid white again.

With a sigh, I reached for the silver box. I flinched when it immediately opened upon touching it.

A quick look inside showed some type of cubed meat with some carrots and potatoes on the side. The smell was heavenly and without preamble I scarfed the food down before thinking about it. I was so hungry. I couldn't remember the last time I ate.

I ate the food within a couple minutes and sat back with a sigh when I realized it was all gone. Unfortunately, I didn't see any water to go with it. I flipped the small box over and it opened on the other side as soon as it was facing upwards. Two small metal bottles sat inside.

I grabbed one and twisted the cap off. I quickly drank the water in a few gulps and did the same with the other one. It didn't quench my thirst, but it did help.

The food and water wasn't enough to satisfy me, but it would have to do. It's not like I can just ask for more. Even if I could talk to a Leften, they would probably just laugh in my face.

I sat back and settled on my mat with my feet tucked under me and elbows on my knees. There wasn't much to do and I felt like doing absolutely nothing was just wrong. I should be looking for a way out of here or something, but I knew that I wasn't going anymore unless the Leftens wanted me too.

My stomach was filled with nerves due to the unknown of what they might do to me. I didn't think they wanted to kill me or I would definitely already be dead. Maybe they wanted to do weird experiments on us. I honestly just didn't know and thinking about it made me feel physically sick.

I should have tried harder to run. I could've fought harder than what I did. Maybe I could've slipped away easily if I just put a little more effort instead of just accepting it. I may have been hurt or killed, but at least I could avoid a fate worse. They could be planning on feeding us to some weird alien creatures or something. That would definitely be a worse fate.

With a grunt I flipped onto my back and curled up on my mat with my eyes squeezed shut to try and stop the rampant thoughts I was having. I had to be strong. It wasn't going to help to think of ways I could die. The urge to panic was already strong from the tight space I was forced to stay in.

With my ear to the floor I could feel a soft purr radiating from the floor. It reminded me of being on a plane and feeling the slight vibrations through the window. It was actually soothing. I took some deep breaths and tried to force myself to relax. It didn't help much, but I was able to lay down without feeling claustrophobic.

I thought about past memories of vacationing with my mom and brother during spring breaks. Those memories eventually chased me into my dreams.