Nil

By Alyssa Jones

Waking up in a forest with no recollection of who you are or where you’re from is just the beginning of Nil’s adventure as she stumbles into a new town.
When on the run from creepy old ladies and lurking demons, Nil finds herself falling in love and befriending an omnipotent power overseeing more than she could even imagine.
Now, having to grow up without remembering your past is a challenge, but growing up along with a significant other to consider is a whole other story. Not to mention she seems to possess some unnatural, or should I say supernatural, traits. Nil is learning a lifetime of lessons in the span of weeks.
As ominous forces loom, the fate of the world and her existence is at stake.
Will Nil be able to save everyone she cares about, or will things be completely out of her control?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: May 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781398406377

Alyssa Jones

Alyssa lives in her home city, Toronto, Canada, along with her mother, father and two younger brothers. While she spends most of her time writing, she also makes sure to find the time to enjoy her family and other hobbies. A close second to writing for Alyssa is singing. It’s one of the many passions she can’t live without since singing and writing was something she has done since childhood, it has become a part of her identity. After years of training in the arts – dance, visual art, singing, modelling – Alyssa took up acting on the side as well as signing with a modelling agency. Now that she gets to fulfil one of her life goals as an author, she plans to keep the ball rolling, creating more content for future readers.

Book preview

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About the Author

Alyssa lives in her home city, Toronto, Canada, along with her mother, father and two younger brothers.

While she spends most of her time writing, she also makes sure to find the time to enjoy her family and other hobbies. A close second to writing for Alyssa is singing. It’s one of the many passions she can’t live without since singing and writing was something she has done since childhood, it has become a part of her identity.

After years of training in the arts – dance, visual art, singing, modelling – Alyssa took up acting on the side as well as signing with a modelling agency. Now that she gets to fulfil one of her life goals as an author she plans to keep the ball rolling, creating more content for future readers.

Dedication

Dedicated to my family, for teaching me that there is more to life than we see every day. Together we can overcome any challenge.

Copyright Information ©

Alyssa Jones (2021)

The right of Alyssa Jones to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398406353 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398406360 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781398406377 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Chapter 1

A low rumble and a crack of lightning wake me from my extremely peaceful sleep. Jumping up, eyes wild, I look around me trying to stop the world from spinning. I blink a couple times my vision stabilises. Green, that’s all I can see no matter which direction I look. Everything was beautifully lush and vibrant. A breeze passes and I realise that I’m not wearing anything. Thank the heavens, no one’s around, I duck behind a tree to hide my nakedness. I need to find shelter and clothes as soon as possible. That’s odd, I can tell the sun is bright but the sky-high trees block its warmth. So what was with the lightning?

Look up.

Startled, I look around but no one’s in sight. Looking up, scanning the area just above my line of sight: there was a hill a little way to my right. If I can get to the top, I’d have a better view of my surroundings. Bouncing on the balls of my feet, I take off towards the hill. Pushing my body, I make it to the top. I inhale a deep breath as I look around. Great, just great. Trees and more trees still block my view. Something catches my eye not too far away from where I stood. I squint, trying to make out the hazy shapes. I’m guessing it’s a town or at least some people camping. That works for me. I just need to get there undetected and find something to cover my body before night falls and the temperature drops. Then maybe I can find something to eat. I actually almost forgot about food. Objective one: get to the grounds unnoticed.

Making my way up closer to the area I saw, I duck behind trees and bushes, trying to avoid getting nicked by the branches. I was right, it is a town. I wonder how many people live here. It doesn’t seem very big. Where is here anyway? Regardless, now I need to find something to wear. Spotting an old cabin, I swiftly slide through what looks like a back-door entrance. I let my eyes adjust to the dim light before slowly making my way further into the cabin. There really isn’t much in here, except for a simple cot, a small kitchenette and I’m guessing a bathroom in the far corner. Noticing a suitcase, I carefully tiptoe up to it. Grabbing it I make a dash to the washroom. Who knows when the owner will return? I was not about to be caught naked in their cabin. It took a couple of seconds to find the light switch. I look in the mirror and am pleasantly surprised I don’t look half bad. Right, clothes. Rummaging through the suitcase, I pull out a long drawstring skirt, a cropped top and what I’m praying is new underwear. I pull my braids to the side and shuffle quickly into the clothes, sighing in content.

Now I need to find something to eat. Maybe the kitchen has something I can take with me to go. I freeze when I hear a door open and close. Great, now how am I supposed to get out of here?

Why don’t you come out and have something to eat, I bet you’re hungry, a woman’s voice carries through the bathroom door.

I hold my breath. Can she tell I’m here?

I know you’re in my washroom, don’t worry I’ve actually been waiting for you, the woman continues.

Well, that’s not weird at all. I slowly open the door and take a peek with my head out. I spot the woman standing by the kitchen sink. She doesn’t really look too old but then she turns her head and she looks as young as me. I cautiously step out of the doorway, eying her warily.

Come sit, you can stay as long as you need, she tells me, waving her hand at a cluster of pillows on the floor that I hadn’t noticed before.

I nod and take a seat, crossing my legs, throwing the skirt over them. She hands me a cup of tea and an egg white sandwich. Why egg white? Wait, when did she even make these? I squint; my eyes trying to size her up as she takes a seat in front of me.

Learn from her. There was that voice again.

It’s an indescribable voice; not low but not high but not mid-range either. It’s not loud but not quiet, it seems to resonate within me. I tilt my head slightly to the side, to ask her to explain what she means.

Ah, you don’t say much, eh? She nods to herself.

That’s fine, anyway I knew you were coming, I could sense your presence from earlier today.

I nod and sip my tea. I guess she didn’t hear the voice. I feel like it should be weirder that she could sense I was here but I’ll let that go for now.

I’m a seer; it’s a gift and a curse, she mumbles the last part, looking away. I have been for over 68 years now.

I almost choke on my sandwich.

No way this lady is that old. She could easily pass for 20, max 25. I blink and regain my composure. The woman laughs.

Yes, I know I don’t look it but I’ve been around a long time, flipping her silver waist-length hair over her shoulder, she shifts onto her knees.

The movement was so fluid. I’m starting to think she isn’t even human.

Do you have a name? she asks. I open my mouth to answer but I can’t. What’s my name? Why don’t I remember my name? I close my mouth and shake my head.

Do you know where you came from, perhaps?

Once again, I don’t know.

Why don’t I know? That’s all basic information. Shouldn’t everyone know their name and place of origin? I stare at my lap, confused and shake my head again.

No worries, we’ll give you a name and as I said before you can stay as long as you need. I brought a sleeping bag and some clothes for you. She smiles and the faintest of wrinkles appear by her eyes. Odd.

What’s your name? I ask with a stronger voice than I thought would come out.

Lydia, she responds.

Her honey-coloured eyes sparkle as though she knows something I don’t. I blink, setting down my mug and stretch. I nod, waiting for her to say something else.

Come now, you can rest and we’ll talk more when you wake up. In the meantime, I’ll go farther into town and grab some groceries and toiletries, Lydia says as she pulls on a pair of worn combat boots and breezes through the door.

With a soft click, the door closes and I’m alone again. I sigh. Well, that was odd but she seems harmless. I am pretty tired. I get into the sleeping bag that was rolled out for me. In no time, I feel my eyes get heavy and my breathing slows down.

Sleep, that definitive voice tells me.

That’s exactly what I plan to do.

*

Wake up, but don’t leave the cabin, the voice woke me up yet again.

What?

Stay in the cabin.

Interesting, the voice can hear my thoughts. Could it always hear what I’m thinking?

Yes.

All right, do you have a name then?

That’s not important right now, someone’s coming around back.

Maybe Lydia came back?

No. They have a weapon.

What kind of weapon, plus there is nowhere to hide in here but the bathroom.

I hear some yelling outside. It sounds like something is going on. Maybe a fight?

Go to the door and when I say swing the mug you had earlier at about the level of your face.

What?

No answer.

I get up and quietly go to stand beside the door not before grabbing the mug.

Hold your arm straight, you already have basic combat skills.

My eyebrows knit at this piece of information.

Now!

The door swings open and I swing the mug, hearing it crash into something.

Stepping back and looking down, the mug hit a man that would have stood just above my eye level. I doubt he’ll be out very long though. Just