Adventures: Into The Abyss

By Kay Marrie

Haley is swept away from all that she has ever known, catapulted into a dreamy adventure where she dances with danger and fantasy. Can she overcome her obstacles and save Aukai's planet from annihilation? Will she be free to love who her heart truly desires? It is as though her world has been flipped upside down, and she is the one who must save them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Feb 25, 2024
• ISBN: 9781665751698

Kay Marrie

Kay Marrie is a hardworking businesswoman with a love for literature. She began writing and creating books as an adolescent and has perfected her dream of becoming a writer since then. Her novel Into the Abyss is the first book in her Adventures trilogy.

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Copyright © 2024 Kay Marrie.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6657-5168-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-5170-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-5169-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023919657

Archway Publishing rev. date: 02/14/2024

CONTENTS

Prologue

1   The Encounter

2   The Portal

3   The Arrival

4   The Last City

5   The Ruins

6   The Mission

7   Earth

8   Taken

9   Confusion

10   The Storm

11   Mr. Thompson

12   The Experiment

13   The Facility

14   The Rescue Mission

15   Haley

16   Uncertainty

17   The Portal City

18   Back to Elysian

19   Acceptance

20   The Elders and the Mate

21   The Dreaded Encounter

22   Suspense and Dread

23   The Ceremony

About the Author

For Zane and Zoey

PROLOGUE

Haley Collins was lost in a daze, her mind swirling with memories of times she spent with her parents. The crisp summer air smelled of ocean breeze and sandy shores. Tiny strands of her honey-blonde hair flung around her face as her mind drifted to distant memories. She could almost taste the memory of the burnt marshmallow on her lips as she recounted them sitting by the fire one brisk winter night. She tilted her head slightly back, letting the strands of her hair tickle her shoulders. Her olive skin looked as if the warm, gentle rays of the sun had kissed it. Now that she had graduated high school and inherited her parents’ estate, she felt as though she had no purpose anymore. All her friends went off to college, and her parents weren’t around anymore, and so she couldn’t help but feel alone in the world. It had been a couple years of Haley being trapped in an everlasting nightmare she called life, and the only thing that seemed to bring her a tiny ounce of peace was the beach in her backyard. She found herself drawn to the sound of the crashing waves and the smell of the fresh ocean breeze. But she especially admired the beauty of the night sky. She spent hours gazing at the twinkling stars, wondering if there was more than just life on earth. Her desire for adventure played with her emotions and was the only bit of fuel that ignited her will to keep living. She had no clue that soon, her wildest dreams would become her new reality.

1

THE ENCOUNTER

It was during the midst of summer, on one unimportant evening in the middle of August, when the sky was glowing with swirls of orange, pink, and blue. A sea of cotton candy clouds floated across the sky, gracing Haley with a gentle gift of shade from the gentle rays above. Melodies of singing birds danced around her, a perfect harmony of delicate trills and chirps. The wind chimed as it wisped past her ears, her face tickled by the strands of honey-blonde hair dancing along her cheeks. The artistry of the sunset sent Haley into a peaceful daze along the shore.

She felt the crackle of the glassy sand between her fingers. The sand grew cold and moist the closer it got to her feet. She dug her little toes in deeper until they disappeared. Her bracelet matched the ocean perfectly; the deep blues and blacks reminded Haley of the open ocean. She tilted her head back in admiration. Her cherry-plum ChapStick gave off hues of a sweet scent as she inhaled.

The beach smelled of the perfect mixture of sunblock and ocean breeze, and the waves crashing and roaring were the perfect melody to her ears. Haley was tranquil. Her eyelids became heavier until she could not resist resting them. She felt the empty blackness in her mind take over her consciousness until she fell into a deep, hypnotized sleep.

Hours slipped by as she lay there under the glistening moonlight, her cheekbones highlighted by rays of white. Abruptly, her peacefulness became disrupted by an eerie, unnerving sound. Her eyes swiftly jolted open as she lay there paralyzed with fear.

What was that noise? Haley was no longer serene; her serenity had been ripped from her veins by a rush of fearful adrenaline. Her eyes widened as she tried to focus her vision. The noise was coming from the shoreline. Somehow, she managed to build up enough courage to investigate. As she stood, sprinkles of sand fell around her. Chills ran up her arms from the ocean wind. Haley crossed her arms across her chest, carefully taking a few steps toward the water. As her feet dug in deeper with each step, she could feel the sand squelching and shifting with every movement.

Hello? Haley shouted cautiously.

No answer.

Her feet were sinking deeper into the sand the closer she got to the shoreline. In the distance, she could see a black silhouette. She felt the ice-cold bursts of water splashing up her ankles, but even as close as she was, she still could not make out who was standing out in the ocean.

Finally reaching the roaring, crashing waves of the shoreline, her eyes squinted trying to make out what that was. The darkness of the night engulfed any ounce of light that may have illuminated the creature in the ocean. There it was again. A sound that almost sounded like a gurgling cat. Her arms broke out in a wave of chills, hearing that unnerving noise. The wind was blowing in fast now, sending shards of sand crystals against her bare skin. Haley reached down and rubbed her leg, as it stung from being blasted by the cold crystals.

The mysterious figure straightened up, and suddenly it was towering over her petite, trembling body. Haley had an immediate feeling of regret, and the only thing she could think to do was to run.

She clumsily fell backward, trying to shuffle her feet as far away as she could from the creature. After rolling in the sand, she was able to catch her balance and slush her wet feet back up the beachfront. She managed to make it almost completely off the beach before something took control of her.

It started with a dull ringing in her ears, until it left her brain rattling with confusion and pressure. She thought she would make it, but instead, Haley collapsed from the episode and blacked out into a lifeless sleep.

Only moments passed until she faded out of the confusion, but she seemed to be stuck lying on the sandy ground. Haley stared straight up at the night sky, connecting the stars, trying to make sense of the events that had just occurred. She clenched her hand into the sand, rubbing the rough texture between the tips of her fingers. Confusion was still lingering, holding her mind hostage, preventing her from making sense of what she had just witnessed.

I must have just dreamed that—right?

Slowly, she gained control of her body. She started by wiggling her stubby toes and fingers, then lifting her arms and legs as if she were a puppet connected to string, until finally she was able to sit up with full control.

Haley was so focused on sitting up and brushing the sand off her body that she did not notice the black silhouette standing right in front of her.

Once she looked forward, she noticed a dark print in the sand before her feet, wiggling and adjusting to obtain balance. Immediately, Haley was consumed with dismay as she cautiously traced her eyes up the figure’s murky, drenched legs. She was too scared to look any farther, but her curiosity took control and forced her to keep gawking. Haley sucked in a large gasp and held it in her chest. The shock of what she was witnessing took her breath away.

It was dark and clammy and had a prickly skin covering its overly muscular physique.

Haley was too afraid to look it in the eye. Come on, Haley. You are brave enough to see what it is. She looked past its tremendously wide shoulders, and finally, she was staring at its face. Her eyes widened, and her face froze. A strand of her dancing hair got stuck to her lip, yet she was too shocked to pull it from her face.

It had cold black eyes that sucked every ounce of life out of her existence. It was almost as if it had control over her feelings. She was shaking. Her body trembled like a leaf in a fierce wind. It was the most hideous thing she had ever laid eyes on, yet it was intriguing. She managed to tilt her head slightly as she studied it more.

Surprisingly, this thing, as hideous as it was, had a calm and delightful essence to it. It reached out its scaly, dripping hands and grasped her head, soaking her hair with its gooey fingers. She tensed. Her body wanted to run, but instead it embraced its touch. Haley relaxed her shoulders and expelled a large exhale from her chest.

At that moment, she no longer feared for her life but was able to understand the meaning of the encounter. He showed Haley his thoughts and desires about this world and where he came from. His world was dying from a poisonous gas leak. She could see the images in her mind as if she were watching a movie. Haley saw flashes of his planet cracking in half, people screaming, and his world dying right before her eyes. She clenched her chest and sighed. Then, as if a flood of his emotions poured through her, she felt more. Earth was a beautiful planet, filled with an abundance of exotic species and fascinating humans, but it held species unknown to his world. He was a seeker. Haley felt his desire for knowledge. It was as if she could feel his curiosity running through her veins. Small droplets of water dripped through the strands of her hair. As the leftover water dripped from her face, she watched it step backward and give her space. Her face was blank. Stunned. What just happened?

Haley was at a loss for words. Her fingers picked at the side of her shorts as she nervously tried to speak. Who are you? Her voice cracked. Her eyes danced around as she studied the details of its skin. The colors brought back memories to Haley. Dark blue. Like my bracelet. Deep blue was her favorite color. It matched the night sky and mirrored the ocean perfectly. Maybe that’s the point, she thought.

My name is Aukai. I come from beyond the sea, he said in a rumbling voice.

Beyond the sea? In her mind, creatures coming out from the ocean only happened in horror flicks or bad comics. But she recounted the countless nights she’d spent lying on the sandy shore, gazing at the stars, with questions that were too large to be answered. Her soul ached for answers. She yearned for something, anything, that could take her out of her miserable reality. After graduating from high school, she thought she was going to live up to her parents’ dreams for her and get a college degree, but the doubt and depression ravished her confidence like a fire burning through a field, taking away her motivation to do anything. One by one, her friends moved away and left for college. It was then that the death of her parents hit her the hardest—when she was finally all alone. Her parents’ death weighed heavy on her chest. She clenched her jacket and closed her eyes. I’m just a nobody.

Realizing that she had gotten lost in her thoughts, she quickly went back to asking questions. She blinked away the forming tears that gathered in the corner of her eyes and asked, Why have you come here to my beach? This question seemed so simple. So easy. And yet it pinched every nerve in her body as she waited for him to answer. Did he come here to abduct me? Experiment on me?

I have seen you many times along this beach, and you have sparked a curiosity in me.

She couldn’t help but think how crazy that sounded. You’ve seen me on this beach? No one ever noticed Haley. She blended in like camouflage, always wearing sweatpants and a sweater. It was a way to feel hidden from the world. No man ever gave her any attention, and that was the way she preferred it. To be invisible. Life was easier that way. Maybe she craved to go unnoticed as a way to protect herself from the pain she felt from being abandoned. Abandoned by her parents. By her friends. By everyone. The mere fact that she had captured the attention of something, or someone, sparked a flicker of excitement in her chest. She reached her hand up to scoop away the strands of hair that were still sticking to her cherry-pink lips. She wanted to know more. More about who he was. Before Haley could speak, her head was taken over by Aukai’s large hands. More details of who he was flooded her mind as if a dam of knowledge had broken free within her head.

It was as if flashes of his desires played like a movie in her mind. Colors that she had never seen before wisped around like a dancing Van Gough painting. She could see it now. What his mission was. He had been on a quest in search of a companion to come along on a distant journey in hopes of saving his dying planet. She soaked in all his intentions like a sponge. It tickles. A slight giggle escaped as she stood there under his spell. Her brain was being picked apart, yet she knew that she did not have to be afraid of him. Only a moment passed before he let go of her. She felt the slimy strands of her hair sticking to the side of her cheek. Eww. Not once did she break her gaze; she was hypnotized—captivated. All her life, she had wondered if there was more than just her. Now her wildest questions were being answered, yet her face expressed confusion. She wondered why she was having the encounter. Her eyebrows narrowed. Why me?

I know you seek adventure and have a yearning for something meaningful in life. You feel lost in this world and feel like you do not belong. That is why I sought you out. You are the one I have been in search of.

How could you possibly know that about me? she asked.

It’s a gift that I have been graced with.

What? Knowing everything about me? she questioned.

It goes deeper than that. I can sense your desires and fears if I try.

If I try? You can’t do it all the time? Haley’s cheek brushed against her cotton hoodie as she tilted her head to the side.

My people come from many gifts, yet we mustn’t use them too often. It drains us. Aukai reached out his wet hand and gently grabbed Haley’s. He closed his eyes as he energetically sent his consciousness into her mind. Flashes of colors and feelings and sounds all came rushing in. She gasped. Her fingers clenched into a fist as the tiny sand crystals rubbed against her skin

Whatever guard she had left fell away, and she felt a vibrational connection with Aukai. She could feel his hopes, his fears, and his desires flowing through her veins. Haley’s fear had completely vanished, leaving her enchanted. Her heart heavily skipped a beat. The sweat from her forehead dripped its way past her eyebrow and down to her lips. The saltiness tasted so familiar, like the ocean. In the background, the roaring sound of the crashing waves brought her mind back to reality.

Hardly able to think straight, all she could say was Wow. What else can he do? Haley knew she didn’t have to say anything for Aukai to know she was questioning. Her eyes betrayed her feelings as she looked him up and down, staring sharply into his dark, marble-like eyes. Her face said it all. Disgust. It wasn’t every day that she gazed upon a creature that looked like this. The corner of her lip curled down as she studied the repulsive features of his body. She knew that Aukai could sense her disgust at his horrendous appearance. He grazed his hands in a downward motion over her eyes so that they would shut.

Imagine how you want to see me, he said. What do you want to see? Picture it clearly in your mind.

Haley imagined Aukai as a human with medium honey-colored skin, dark, wavy, chestnut hair, bright green eyes, and a smile that matched his kind soul.

Now open your eyes.

He had transmuted into the beautiful man she imagined. She was so perplexed. Now, she was not repulsed by this ocean creature but instead captivated by him. He had completely transformed.

Wow, you look … human. How did you do that?

My people are beings of many abilities; we can change our appearance to adapt to the environment around us.

So, before you changed, that wasn’t your true appearance? she nervously asked. She twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.

Aukai let out a deep chuckle. No, it wasn’t. I have been studying your ocean for a while, so I had to change my form to better acclimate to the aquatic environment.

A sigh of relief escaped Haley’s lips as she secretly thought, Thank goodness.

There was a pause for a moment. Haley’s eyes held a ponderous look in them as she dragged her toes along the sand, tracing swirls in a decorative pattern. She then looked back up at him and asked, Why are you interested in me, Aukai? Why reveal what you are to a stranger? And … what are you?

I have watched you come to this shore for many months, and you have always had such compassion toward nature and the solitude of this confined beach. I could sense your desire for a higher purpose, and the moment I saw you, something drew me to you and told me that you would be the answer to our problems, he answered. His tone had compassion. Understanding.

Your problems? Haley went back to what she saw in her mind. The dying plants and animals. The screaming people. She tilted her head and asked, Your problems? Is that what you showed me in my head? Your planet is dying? A gust of wind blew through, dancing his chestnut hair along his face.

His lip curled as he said, Yes. My world is slowly dying from a poisonous gas that has been leaking.

She stepped slightly forward and asked, And where did you come from, if you’re not on your planet?

I came from the Abyss. It’s a portal city deep in the ocean where my people come to temporarily stay while they study the creatures of your oceans.

Her face shot a look of surprise. You have a whole city in the ocean? I can’t believe it. Her mind swirled around with thoughts. Am I dreaming? She could be dreaming; she played with the thought in her head, but how would she explain the rough touch of the sand and shells between her fingers? She picked up a handful of sand and watched as it blew away with the wind. So do people live in this city you speak of?

Some beings do, but it mostly is a temporary stay. It allows us to travel between our worlds. Here, give me your hand. I want to show you something. Aukai reached out his human-like hand and guided Haley along the shore. His touch was gentle and comforting. He began to imprint images of the last living city of his planet into her mind; the beauty was unfathomable. Flashes of the vibrant vegetation and flowing waters that surrounded his city took her breath away. But then there were the images of the dying parts. The land looked as if it had been scorched by a thousand suns, leaving the ground brittle and ashy. It was almost as if she was there, feeling their despair. Her throat ached. She gulped, taking in more. She reached her hand forward as if she would be able to grab what she was seeing in front of her. A dying flower. She wanted to save it. His world seemed to be crumbling and approaching the end of its days, and his people needed help to save their species. Haley felt a sense of hopelessness and sadness as she saw the beauty that once was of his world. She wanted to cry a thousand times. She felt the immeasurable despair of his people and, in that moment, finally realized why he was there.

My people are facing an imminent threat, and it has been my duty to find someone from Earth to help us solve our problem, he explained.

Haley’s nerves wrestled with her emotions. She cupped her hands together, squeezing them tight as the mixture of sand and sweat exfoliated her skin. Why someone from Earth? Her hair tickled the side of her arm as she tilted her head slightly to the side.

It’s complicated. Our people have diminished in numbers from the gases that have poisoned my world. Our allies in the galaxy cannot intervene. Doing so would break the regulations of our alliance. We have yet to join Earth, which is why we can seek help from your kind.

Haley’s eyes narrowed. She tilted her chin up and asked, How long have these gases been leaking?

For many years, but we are facing an inevitable problem.

Haley pointed to her chest. And your people need our help to fix this? But what do we have that you don’t? I don’t know if we are able to fix such a problem. Her arms fell to her side, gently swaying with the wind.

Aukai nodded. His body stood strong and still. We have been cautious about making ourselves known to your kind. Your species is … unpredictable, but when we were faced with the destruction of our planet, we knew it would be time to seek your people’s assistance. Your planet has many things that mine does not have anymore. Plant and animal life are essential to survival. Technology that could possibly help. We are desperate now and will go the lengths of coming here for answers. Aukai gently paced along the shoreline as the rush of the water caressed his human-like legs.

I was assigned the task of recruiting someone, a human, to join me and the council’s mission of saving my planet. I have spent a considerable amount of time observing and searching for the one who was meant to join me.

Haley lifted her delicate hand and pointed to her chest. Her eyes glistened as she said, And you saw that in me? She had a hard time believing that out of all the humans on Earth, she was the one chosen for his mission.

Aukai nodded. He looked powerful and confident as his curly chestnut hair danced with the wind. He had a seriousness in his eyes, a determination that drew Haley in.

"I did. When I saw you, I felt a power from you. Something that made me know that you would be the one. After hearing me