Chasing The Lights Books 1-4, Omnibus

By Sherry Hutchison

My name is Chelsea Thomas AKA CT.
I’m morphing! It started four years ago when I met fairies. We moved to Louisiana. I was eleven years old. I have this wild head of red hair. Little, did I know the attraction it would hold for Fae. I saw lights out back in the forest and followed them one night. I made a wish and it was granted although it would be a few years before total comprehension settled in.
First came real live fairies in the form of Fia and Liam and their thousands of followers in their secret portal world. I found out fairies, ghosts, witches and even trolls are real. I even met my own personal Angel. Who does this?
Just when I'm breathing easier from my first exciting journey, I discover real ghosts in my back yard. I learned that sometimes you need a good friend you can trust and yes it can be a boy. His name is Johnny Granger AKA Grasshopper, and he became my cohort in crime.
As if we didn't have enough excitement enter the mean wicked witch into our lives. We've had one mystery after another to solve and they've all affected me personally ever since meeting my fae friends. At age fourteen I’ve developed many awesome powers and I'm changing. However, I never expected to grow wings. I can’t undo what is happening to my body and I wouldn’t now even if I could. I’m evolving and finding out I am unique after all. I embrace my new future. I am CT and I am Fae. My story’s not finished yet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sherry Hutchison
• Release date: Jan 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463599846

Sherry Hutchison

I was that book geek hanging out at the library every Saturday. I stepped through those doors into a magical world where I could be anyone, do anything I wished. It's no surprise this led to a successful writing career in multiple genres. I reside with my husband Chris and two fur babies, Max & Maisie. I still stand firm in the belief that Fairies do exist. I am constantly chasing those lights! www.leaverealitybehind.com https://books2read.com/ap/8PMdok/Sherry-Hutchison https://www.amazon.com/Sherry-Hutchison/e/B01M28PHJR https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sherry-hutchison www.facebook.com/authorsherryhutchison www.Pinterest.com/sherrylhutchison www.instagram.com/authorsherryhutchison

Book preview

Chasing the Lights:

Books 1 - 4

Sherry Hutchison

ISBN: 9781674807508

All Rights and Permission United States Copyright Office

Chasing the Light is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in printed or electronic form without permission.

Special thanks to Marsha Black.

Thank you for your support and continued brilliance in this crazy book world. I appreciate all that you've done.

Stories contained in this Omnibus

Chasing the Lights

A CT Journey: Book 1

Mr. Sumpton’s Ghost: Book 2

Vernon the Witch: Book 3

CT Fights for Her Life

The Metamorphosis of CT: Book 4

The Conclusion

Character Bios

CT (Chelsea Thomas)

It’s all about CT and her beautiful red hair! She’s always had a bit of an attitude but stayed ahead of the trouble. However, now that she’s 13 years old everything in her life as she knew it has slowly changed. CT is evolving, and soon it will be impossible for her to hide these changes from her mother. What will she do?

Grasshopper (Johnny Granger)

Johnny AKA Grasshopper. He’s 14 years old soon to be 15. He’s the long-legged boy next door. He’d rather run then walk, anywhere. He’d rather dive through open windows instead of walking through the door. He’s CT’s cohort in crime, her best friend. They share several secrets.  An Angel literally touched Grasshopper last year, and he’ll never be the same.

Lil John (John Wickens) – Special Friend

John was placed in a time out and lost his wings for a while, so he’s hanging out in the portal world with Fia, Liam and the other fairies.

Charles Thomas (Nickname Tommy)

Charles is CT’s dad.  CT always knew there was more to the story of why he suddenly left her and her mom a few years back. Last summer she found out why. 

GT (Gertie Thomas) and Linda Granger

CT and Grasshopper’s mothers and they’ve also become best friends. They’re so glad that their children have become best friends. If they only knew what these two had been up to over the past few summers, they’d separate them for life.

Fia and Liam (Queen and Commander of The Fairies)

To know them, to have seen them, and be allowed the memory of them is a gift onto itself. They are such beautiful, colorful, little people that fly with wings. Yet, they must stay hidden from the human world.

The Light Fae Fairies

They number in the thousands and  live under Queen Fia’s rule, deep within the forest. They remain invisible to the humans until they get careless and drop their protective shield.

Tray

Tray is small and slight for his age. He used to look pale and sort of sickly. He has short curly blond hair and was always usually skittish and jumpy, but Tray is a different boy now that his dad quit drinking and started going to church, with the help of a few hundred fairies. What exactly did they do to him?

Scott

Scott and Johnny (Grasshopper) have been friends from day one.  Scott is a huge boy for a fourteen-year-old. He’s determined to join the military when he finishes school.

Zolar, Assassin, Trusted Scout to Nialinda, Queen of the Dark Fae Fairies.

CT Book 1

CT's Prayer

‘She said a prayer late one night before she went to sleep. She didn’t know if they’d hear her. She didn’t make a peep.

She closed her eyes and wished so hard to make a dream come true.

She knew what she saw and there’s no going back. Please, she whispered, just tell me what to do.

She saw their beautiful colors and heard their graceful lilting voices. The spell was cast. The story told.

To the land of the Fae Fairy this girl would go.’

Chasing the Lights

CT, known as Chelsea Thomas, sat gazing out her bedroom window. She folded her hands up under her chin; she had her elbows propped on the windowsill. To an outside observer, one may wonder many things at this sight. Why did this young girl look so intent? What was she staring at as the shadows crept slowly from the forest's edge into her backyard? She'd taken on a nickname this past summer. Her mom had always used one and CT thought this was cool, so she gave herself one.

It was an August evening in southern Louisiana, and it could look scary if you lived near the shadowed forest as CT and her mom did. She didn't appear to be merely daydreaming.

No, you could tell by her furrowed forehead and the almost defiant look on her face that she had something serious on her mind.

It was a very intense look for a ten-year-old girl. Well, almost eleven years old as CT would quickly remind anyone. Even though her birthday wasn't until early February, she still claimed to be almost eleven. CT prided herself on being smart for her age. However, she still got herself into trouble quite often.

She had planned everything out and decided tonight had to be the night because of the full moon. It wouldn't be as dark outside in the forest. Tonight, she was going to chase the lights. CT just had to have answers, and she couldn't wait any longer. She'd thought and pondered for weeks now about everything she'd been seeing, and she just knew in her heart that she was not imagining things. The little lights were beings, maybe even fairies.

She was certain they were trying to talk to her. CT knew she should worry about what she was seeing, but she wasn't at all. In fact, tonight she was so excited because she was going to try to talk to the little lights. Tonight, when they appeared as they had every night since she and her mom had moved into their new house; she was going to follow them and see where they go. They had to be magic and CT needed their help. Maybe they'd grant her just one wish. Maybe they could just help bring her dad back home then her mom wouldn't be sad anymore. He'd left her and her mom suddenly last year and CT didn't understand why.

CT - Chapter Divider

She'd eaten her dinner tonight even though she had no appetite. She didn't want her mom worrying about her, not tonight. It'd spoil all her plans. She hadn't been eating or sleeping well this past summer, and her mom had taken her to see their family doctor. He'd taken her blood pressure, listened to her heart and assured her mom that she was going to be fine. CT had always been small for her age. She was developing and growing, but not as fast as other kids her age. Her mom just couldn't understand why CT was so tiny when her mom and dad were both on the tall side themselves.

CT had been blessed with a head of wild dark-red curls, which always seemed to be out of control no matter how much her mom messed with her hair. CT's pale skin often made her appear sickly, but she was far from sick. In fact, CT had an abundance of energy and a vivid imagination to match her wits. She was smart for her age, well except maybe for the crazy idea she came up with a few days ago.

CT - Chapter Divider

CT was standing outside the doctor's office with her arms crossed over her chest while the doctor had one of those private grown-up conversations with her mom. The kind where the kid doesn't get to listen, even though she knew it was about her. The only thing wrong with CT was the fact that she just didn't have an appetite. She wasn't sleeping well because she could hear her mom crying late at night when she thought CT was sleeping. It had turned both their lives upside down when CT’s dad had left them and moved out earlier this year. They had moved some twenty miles across town, which might as well be another planet as far as CT was concerned since it meant changing schools and leaving her best friend Shelly behind.

She'd overheard her mom on the phone the other night talking to CT's grandmother. She'd whispered something about CT's dad going through his second childhood a little early. She'd said she always thought that came at a much later age like in their forties or fifties. But he was only thirty-eight. She'd had no idea he was so unhappy, and she started crying softly. CT didn't understand what going through your childhood twice meant, but she sure as heck would not ask her mom. At least not yet. She was having enough trouble getting through her first childhood. She did not want to go through it again.

CT - Chapter Divider

If CT had been smart, she'd have minded her own business and kept quiet about what she’d overheard. But she was curious. CT was prone to opening her mouth and speaking her mind without first thinking. So, the next day she'd blurted out, Mom, how does a person go through their childhood twice? Then she got a big lecture for that question. It went on and on for a long time.

You're not supposed to be nosey and listen in on a grownup’s private conversation, her mom had stated. You're just too young, and there are things you just don't understand yet.

CT thought to herself as she stood there with her head hanging down. Her mom had said nothing about listening in on a kid’s conversations, so this must be another matter altogether. Funny how grown-ups have a separate set of rules than children. When CT grew up, she was going to invent some new rules herself.

Luckily, CT's common sense kicked in just in time as she caught the serious look on her mom’s face, and by the way she was standing there with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She was staring up at the ceiling which meant she was very upset. CT had to think quickly on this one. She couldn't get grounded, not now.

CT - Chapter Divider

Mom, CT whispered as she gave her mom one of her award-winning smiles and tossed her head just enough, so her curls bounced all around her head. This always made her mom smile. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen in. Honest, CT added.

Oh, and I wanted to tell you how good dinner was tonight. You know I love your spaghetti. I'm wondering if I can take a piece of apple pie to my room with me and read? I found this book, and I wanted to read in bed tonight. School will start soon, and I must go to bed earlier you know, CT tossed her head again just for added effect and could see it working as her mom relaxed her shoulders and smiled at her.

CT - Chapter Divider

She came over and put her arm around CT's shoulder, giving her a tight hug. Sure baby, and get yourself a glass of milk to go with it, ok? I'm glad to see you eating better hon. I've been so worried about how hard all this has been on you. Her mom said some-thing about the new school and the move, but she was yawning now, and this was a good thing for CT. This is just so much closer to my job at the post office, her mom whispered.

We're also closer to your grandparents, and we could both use the emotional support right now hon. I know you're too young to understand what all is going on, but please know that even if your dad and I can't fix us; he still loves you very much. He even called today to talk about making plans to see you after you get settled in your new school.

Well, CT responded with a shrug of her head. She didn't have much to say to that. She was hoping they'd be a family again by Christmas Holiday.

CT - Chapter Divider

CT was thinking about that show on TV called Judge Judy. She was always fixing everyone's problems. There should be a law that says parents should stay together and be happy when they have children. Moms should never have to cry themselves to sleep at night. Especially pretty moms like hers. CT’s mom had the same red hair, only hers was dark and almost looked brown. This was why CT knew for sure she wasn't adopted last year at school when they'd had a serious discussion about what adoption meant.

One of her friends, Tina, had come to school crying because she found out they adopted her, and her parents hadn't told her. She'd insisted if they adopted her, then her other classmates must be too. The teacher had to send notes home to all the parents explaining why all the children were talking about adoption. CT remembered how Tina didn't look like either of her parents, and it relieved her for the first time in her life to have wild red hair just like her mom’s. CT was remembering how she'd run in from school waving the note at her mom. She remembered running all the way home to hug her mom tight.

Mom, she'd exclaimed. I’ll never say I hate my red hair again, ok? Because I can't be adopted because I look so much like you.

Well my goodness child, her mom had said. When I said, we special ordered you; I meant you were a gift from God; a blessing from above.

She was remembering how they'd both had a good laugh at that. Her mom had answered all her curious questions about adoption and what it meant for the children and their parents.

CT - Chapter Divider

Hey mom? Did we just have a brainstorm? CT asked.

Well, my goodness where did you hear that from? her mom asks.

Oh, I just heard it somewhere. CT shrugged it off.

Yeah, I bet you did, her mom mumbled. So, tell me young lady, what do you think it means? her mom asked her.

Well, it means to mull over an idea, CT stated very smugly because she knew she was right.

Oh, her mom responds and just shakes her head. I thought it was where young ladies with red hair had too many ideas running through their heads at the same time.

CT remembers playing along with the joke and responding with, Oh, then what happens, mom?

Well, it usually makes you try to think too hard about too many things and then comes the headache.

CT had laughed saying, you mean I get a headache from brain-storming?

Oh no, not you child, her mom had declared. I get the headache, kind of like what's happening right now. Then her mom had tickled her until she couldn't stand it anymore. Then her dad came in and joined by grabbing them both. They used to laugh so much until this past summer. She just knew something had to be wrong. Her dad just wouldn't leave them like that.

CT - Chapter Divider

CT was having one of her brainstorms right now. She had to make sure her mom didn't come back into her bedroom to kiss her goodnight like she usually did. It would ruin her plan.

She then ran over and gave her mom a tight hug, saying, I love you mom. I'll say a special long prayer tonight to God to bring dad home to us. To this, her mom was quiet.

CT faked a yawn hoping her mom would fall for it because CT usually put up quite a fight about going to bed early. But her mom didn't seem to notice. She was lost in her own thoughts.

Mom, CT whispered. You look so tired. Why don't you take a long hot bubble bath? That always makes me doze off. You don't have to come tuck me in because I'm going to just read until I doze off.

Well, ok baby if you're sure, then that sounds fine to me. I have a long shift tomorrow at work.

Here's a kiss, catch it, CT whispered as she blew a pretend kiss onto her palm and blew it at her mom. Did you get it? she asked.

Yes, her mom said as she gently caressed her cheek. It landed right here, she added. Tomorrow. her mom continued talking, but she now was slowly making her way out the door and down the hallway to her room. I promise we'll do some shopping for school clothes. her mom was exhausted now and mumbling.

Oh, and one more thing, her mom continued as she turned around now to face CT. I met our neighbor and her son this morning. Her name is Linda Granger, and her son’s name is Johnny. It's so sad about her husband; she lost him in the military. Her son is so polite. He's going into, oh, I’m not sure 5th or 6th grade, and you'll go to his school, so you need to introduce yourself to him. He's already offered to show you around school, so please be polite to him.

Mom, CT exclaimed as she shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. He's a boy, right? Aren't there any girls around here my age?

She'd spent the summer trying to find any girls her age on their block and only came up with Sharon, 17 years old and who had volunteered to baby-sit her.

CT hollered as her mom was about to enter her room. Hey mom, did you tell them your real name or your nickname?

Why my nickname, of course, her mom responded, trying to look stern. Her mom’s real name was Girty, but she'd always gone by GT. She'd explained it was what happened when parents tried to name their children after long-lost relatives. Some names should remain buried forever. Goodnight hon, her mom whispered as she closed her bedroom door.

Night mom, CT whispered back.

CT - Chapter Divider

CT was thinking hard as she ate her pie and drank her milk. She even took her dirty dishes to the kitchen sink and listened quietly at her mom’s door for any sounds. She was so excited she could hardly contain her excitement. She sat at her bedroom window staring blankly at the open book in front of her.

CT was thinking about a lot of things right now. She was wondering how she'd make it through this year at a new school without her best friend Shelly. They had met in first grade and had always done everything together. CT would have skipped fourth grade along with Shelly but now had to wait since they'd switched schools. She was a little scared at the thought of a strange school with strange kids. Yet, here she was planning to sneak out of her bedroom window in the night time and didn't give a second thought to how weird this would seem to anyone else.

CT remembered a few weeks ago when Shelly's mom had dropped her off to spend a few nights. They'd had so much fun, but it wasn't enough time. Shelly was big into taking pictures, probably because she was tall and had long blonde hair. She was always messing with CT's wild curls trying to tame them and smooth them out like hers, but it never worked. CT didn't mention the boy next door when her mom mentioned their neighbors, but she had kind of met him when Shelly was there.

CT - Chapter Divider

It was late afternoon, and they'd been goofing off and spraying each other with the garden hose. Shelly got upset because her hair got wet and CT clicked a picture of her. Then they looked over and saw a tall skinny boy just standing there smiling at them. CT remembers he had a lot of dark curly hair. She remembered being disappointed when Shelly waved and yelled hi to him. She was always the friendly one while CT had to think about things for a while. It's not that CT was unfriendly. It's just that, he was a boy, and she really had no use for them.

He came sprinting over to them smiling. He didn't hang around though. He just introduced himself and said he'd be seeing her around school. She had to admit she was jealous because he had long legs just like Shelly. Soon after he took off running and sort of sprinted up and through a window at the back of his house. Just like that, he was gone. CT’s disadvantage was being so short and tiny.

Well, Shelly had smiled. Isn’t he cute? she added. Oh, yuck don't make me sick, CT remembers replying.

Shelly just replied with a smile. Well, he's cute and he's taller than me, and I think that's neat. Shelly was very self-conscious about her height. I guess mom was right when she said there are lots of tall kids my age. I just haven’t met them yet, and with this, Shelly twirled around.

CT - Chapter Divider

CT was thinking hard now as she remembered a few days after her friend had gone home. She hadn't realized she wandered over so close to the forest edge. She had gone outside after dinner feeling kind of low and lonely. CT was hoping to see the lights while she was out there. The ones she had been watching all summer.

She was remembering how badly she wanted to share her secret with Shelly, but she didn't dare. This secret was so big that she couldn't take a chance on Shelly telling her mom and ruining everything. They were best friends, but Shelly was the careful, practical one while CT was the reckless child. And their moms worked together so she just couldn't take any chances. This was way too big and far too important to CT.

CT - Chapter Divider

Suddenly, she'd heard someone yell out, Hey, curly top. What are you doing back there so close to the forest edge? Aren't you afraid the lights will get you?

CT usually would have responded with some witty remark, but tonight she had big plans on her mind. So, she just responded calmly. No, I'm not.

Cool, the young voice stated.

CT then realized this was that long-legged neighbor of hers named Johnny. He was explaining his reasoning. It would scare most girls. Even some of his friends were freaked out by the dark forest and wouldn't go near it even during the day let alone at night. CT started to ask him why they were so scared, but he went on talking rapidly now.

Hey, he said, we both have something in common, you know?

Oh, and what's that? CT asked.

Well, we both have single parents, he had quietly whispered that he barely remembered his dad since he was only four when his dad died. He was overseas in the army when it happened.

Gosh, I'm sorry. CT responded.

Well, he said, at least you still have your dad. He's just not in the house with you, right?

For once CT was speechless. This didn't happen very often. She always had a witty comeback remark but not tonight. She just nodded her head as if to agree, because he was right after all.

He said that his mom had also been in the military but got out when his dad died. He'd spent a lot of time with his grandpa. My mom really likes your mom, he was saying. She's a security officer down at the courthouse. That’s near the post office where your mom will be working.

He was easy to talk to; for a boy, she remembers thinking. She remembers how she blurted out that she still hoped her dad would come back home soon.

Just then, his mom had called him. I got to go now. Be careful out here, curly top. Don't let the strange lights get you, Johnny said as he left.

She'd wanted to ask him what he meant by that? Could he have also been seeing the same lights she'd seen? She hollered to him as he ran toward the same window she'd seen him go through before.

It's CT, got it?

What? he said as he turned around while running.

My name is CT, not curly top, got it?

Hey cool, he yelled. Okay, I got it.

Hey Grasshopper, she yelled at him. And with this he did almost fall as he stopped and turned around to face her. I'm going to call you Grasshopper because of your long legs and how fast you run.

Yeah, he smiled nodding his head. I like that. And with that last remark he vaulted up and through the window as she was yelling.

Don't you ever use the door? CT asked him. He had poked his head out of the window, responding, No, only if Mom’s watching.

CT - Chapter Divider

It'd been three or four days, and she hadn't seen Grasshopper since. She thought they'd gone to visit his grandpa. ‘Anyway,’ she thought to herself. It didn't mean they were friends just because they'd spoken a few times in the yard. He was still a boy after all. Her mom had also lectured her about wandering out near the forest after dark.

CT - Chapter Divider

Here she was sitting at the window looking for the lights. Every night they came out from the dark forest, and they would light the dark up with soft glowing lights. She'd been watching them since the first night. Every night they'd get a little closer into the yard and there seemed to be more and more of the lights. She'd tried to ask her mom about them at first, but her mom just shrugged them away, explaining they were in the lightning bug family.

CT was remembering the worried look on her mom’s face when she said they sounded like they were singing to her. So, that statement got her a trip to the doctor’s office, and she'd kept quiet about it since. CT knew all about the 136 species of lightning bugs, and she knew that these little lights were very different. They had taken shape a few days ago, and CT really questioned if she could be losing her mind. She swore they looked like little people with wings, but she only saw these things in movies and not for real.

You just didn't see tiny little people flying around in the forest. She knew how crazy this sounded even to herself.

She'd started watching for them every night and while she knew they should scare her; she wasn’t afraid at all. They had just the opposite effect on her. She seemed to feel so calm when the lights appeared. She was calmer than she'd felt in her whole young life. She just felt a longing to be near them, to go with them, to follow them.

She knew it was crazy, but she felt like they were trying to talk to her. Then the last few nights the lights came closer and were bolder than before. In fact, they started to form into tiny beings.

They flew around in swirling circles, leaving beautiful trails of colors behind them. They lit up the dark forest all around them and CT just couldn't believe no one else was seeing this. But last night was different; they'd flown right up to her bedroom window where she could almost reach out and touch them. They started singing in a beautiful lilting singsong voice. She'd heard birds singing lots of time, and these were not birds.

It sounded like a beautiful choir like when you are at church. Except these were tiny flying beings that were forming right before her eyes. They were the most beautiful things she'd ever seen and would ever remember seeing for the rest of her life. They had arms and legs and little faces. They even had wings and flew. These beings couldn't be only four to five inches tall. They soon started to chant her name softly.

Chelsea, they spoke. Chelsea come out and play, they whispered. She remembers growing so tired that she fell asleep right there at her open window. This was why she had appeared so tired to her mom for the past few weeks.

CT - Chapter Divider

Tonight, she was sitting here counting all the rules she was about to break, and there were a lot of them. If her mom found out CT would be grounded for life or worse.

Maybe her mom would think she'd really lost her mind over her dad leaving them. CT had made her decision, and that was final. She wanted to go outside just once and see them up close, maybe even follow them and see where they go. Her curious nature could accept nothing less.

CT - Chapter Divider

Here she sat at her bedroom window getting ready to go on her little journey as she'd written in her secret journal. She'd found a stepping stool out in the garage and put it outside her bedroom window earlier this evening. She had to make sure she could climb back inside safely. She had her favorite pink and black hoodie on even though she wasn't sure she'd need it. She carried a big flashlight she'd found in the kitchen under the sink.

The moon was full, so there was plenty of moonlight outside. She'd checked and listened at her mom’s bedroom door to make sure she was sleeping. She turned her nightlight on in her room and gently raised her bedroom window up. CT dropped the flashlight quietly down on the ground. She noticed the clock by her bed read almost midnight.

She propped her window with the book she had pretended to read, just to make sure she could get back in. She zipped her hoodie up as she now felt the night air coming in from the open window.

Ok, here I go, she told herself as she took a deep breath. She was worried as she hadn't seen the lights tonight, as they usually came much earlier. She was so afraid they would disappear. Maybe she was more afraid that she was imagining things.

CT carefully sat and brought her legs up and out the window so that she was sitting kind of outside her window now supporting herself on the stepping stool below her window. She climbed down and quickly turned the flashlight on as it was much darker outside in the yard than it was when you were inside looking out.

The night stretched out before her, with the trees making big shadows and playing in the moonlight. CT realized what she was doing now as she looked around her and was scared. She wondered what was wrong with her, anyway.

Why couldn't she just be like other kids and watch TV, play video games and go to sleep? Why did she always have to seek the hardest answers to impossible questions?

Like, do tiny flying beings really exist? Maybe she just was so very lonely her mind was making all this up she was telling herself. She looked around and back up to her soft nightlight glowing from her bedroom window. CT started to climb back up onto the stepping stool and go back to her room.

CT - Chapter Divider

She had decided she would just watch for a while from her bedroom window because the dark forest was starting to scare her now. At that exact moment, she saw the lights coming from the forest edge. The soft glow lit up the dark forest with a soft yellow light. CT forgot all her fear now as she saw hundreds of tiny lights break apart and form back together again. She didn't realize she had taken a few steps away from her bedroom window and started walking towards the lights at the forest edge. She felt calm and happy, so thrilled, to see the lights.

The tiny lights now formed into tiny beings as they surrounded CT with their soft glow. This was the best thing that had ever happened to CT. In their presence, she somehow felt safe with them; although she truly didn't understand this feeling. She only knew she wanted to be with them as they started circling around her. She felt so warm and safe within their light.

They suddenly began to chant her name. She stared up at them in amazement. ‘How could they know her name?’ She wanted to ask, but she couldn't seem to speak. CT couldn't believe all the light wasn't waking anyone else up. Didn't they see what she was seeing? Her last thought was of how much trouble she was going to be in if her mom caught her.

CT was caught up in something she had no control over. She only knew she had to be in the light as they chanted her name over and over. She wasn't sure if they were fairies or tiny angels, but this was the only explanation that made sense, if any of this made sense at all.

CT - Chapter Divider

Before she could open her eyes to blink, they formed a triangle shape and parted as a tiny being flew up between them from the dark forest. This tiny being was different somehow and far more beautiful than any of the others by far. CT knew she was a female because of her beautiful long lavender hair. Her wings were gold lined, and she was a soft lavender color. The edges of her lavender hair were tipped with gold. CT noticed there were others who had gold wings too. Some even had silver.

The ones with silver wings were all different shades of blue. There were hundreds of the little creatures with clear like almost translucent wings. Their bodies were shades of orange, yellow, and green. They were all beautiful, but none of them compared to the creature now hovering in front. CT knew she was very special because of the way the others seemed to surround her almost protectively. They were all quieter now except they were humming in a soft singsong voice. The creature in front fluttered up to CT and sniffed her hair and smiled.

We've found you at last, my little red-haired princess, the being spoke. What do they call you child? she asked in a soft lilting voice.

CT felt suddenly very dizzy and light-headed. She could hardly speak as she muttered a response. My name is Chelsea Thomas, but I prefer to be called CT. She felt like the time her mom had taken her to the dentist and he'd given her some medicine before he pulled her tooth. She felt sort of like that now only happier than when she was at the dentist.

A small part of her mind was aware she was turning in circles with her head up towards the night sky. She was reaching up with her arms as if to grab hold of the little beings as they all encircled her. All she could feel was the warm light and the beautiful smell like fields of flowers all around her.

She wasn't even aware they were leaving the safety of her backyard now and heading down the path leading into the dark forest. CT felt like she was floating in the air, but she didn't care. She just knew she felt so happy.

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She wasn't aware that to anyone observing her, it would appear as if she were indeed floating in midair. Someone was watching from his bedroom window, and he was in shock.

Grasshopper had also been staring out his window and couldn't believe his eyes. He didn't really understand what he was seeing, but he was terrified for CT. He could see the lights, and they were carrying her, or so it seemed to him. Her feet weren't touching the ground. Yet when he opened his mouth to yell out to CT, he couldn't get a word out. It was as if they froze him to the spot. He couldn't speak or move.

He could only watch helplessly as CT disappeared into the forest, and the dark took over as the lights faded farther away into the deep woods. CT was now in a deep trance and only felt the floating sensation as the fairies were chanting gently in some language she didn't understand. She only knew she wanted, needed, to be with them. She didn't know she was several feet up in the air being carried by the little beings. There were so many of them they lit up the darkness as they gently flew along. She had the sensation of being slightly sick to her stomach and wanted to go to sleep. But the warm lights held her.

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Suddenly, there was a loud crash and a big roar that startled the calm night. CT became alert now and could hear loud crunching noises. It sounded like trees were being thrown around. Then there was an awful stench smell. It smelled like bad, rotten food. Just like that, it broke the spell the fairies had CT under.

They forgot their game they were playing as their lights all flickered out in fear. They scattered, dropping CT to the ground below where she landed with a soft thud. When she landed, she hit her head on a big tree trunk and now her head hurt very much. She felt something wet and sticky trickling down her forehead, and she felt disorientated and confused. As she tried to look around her all she saw was, a vast darkness and she knew great fear for the first time in her young life. CT's voice failed her as she tried to scream.

Where? Where am I? she whispered. CT could hardly speak she was so frightened, but she found her voice at last and screamed, please help me!" The moon didn't penetrate through the treetops. She should have never gone into the forest at all, let alone at night.

The last clear thought she had was of climbing out her bedroom window to see the lights. She didn't remember coming into the forest at all. It was dark and cold, and she was so scared. She didn't feel brave at all now and just wanted to go home. She started praying to God like she did when she said her prayers at night. But this time she said how sorry she was for being so stupid.

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Everything was fuzzy and out of focus and her head hurt. Soon she began to hear that loud roar again and just covered her ears. She didn't understand what was happening. She only knew it was something bad and it scared her. She screamed and jumped up now with her eyes closed and started running blindly. She ran right into another big tree, and it knocked the breath out of her but this time she never hit the ground.

It felt like she'd landed on a soft feather bed. The fairies were back too. They never left her but some of them had scattered to distract the ugly troll. But she was making too much noise and they had to get her out of there fast. Others surrounded her now as they broke her fall and lifted her up higher and higher. She could see a soft glow and it calmed her because she now knew she wasn't alone.

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She heard someone issuing orders. Quickly, fly now, there's no time to waste. We'll take her with us for now. It's too dangerous to take her back right now. It was the same female talking. Someone then started to respond. Someone