The Lion's Soul: 1, #1

By M.R Bloomfield

"Damn you! Let's go!" one hunter spat, flinging his rifle into the back of his truck. The other followed, and within moments, they were gone, the roar of the engine fading into silence.Klara emerged from the shadows, her face streaked with tears, chest heaving as silent sobs wracked her body. She clutched her shirt over her heart, feeling the ache of loss seep into her very bones. She stood there, alone, the weight of the scene settling over her like a shroud.

 

Sixteen-year-old Karla Walker's life takes an extraordinary turn when she awakens from a coma, only to be haunted by vivid, recurring dreams. In these dreams, a powerful lion spirit implores her to protect his family. He trusts only Karla to expose a group of wealthy hunters, rescue his rare white cub, and bring him safely home. With the weight of this immense responsibility on her shoulders, Karla must navigate a world where dreams and reality blur, discovering her own strength and courage along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.R Bloomfield
• Release date: Oct 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227867216

M.R Bloomfield

Follow me for more wonderful adventurous books!

Book preview

THE LION’S SOUL

M.R Bloomfield

Copyright © 2024 M.R Bloomfield

All rights reserved.

Published by M.R BloomField

Sydney, NSW, 2170

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: BETWEEN WHITE WALLS

CHAPTER 2: THE AWAKENING BREATH

CHAPTER 3: MORNING REFLECTIONS

CHAPTER 4: FRACTURED REALITIES

CHAPTER 5: SKETCHING MOMENTS

CHAPTER 6: STRINGS OF FATE

CHAPTER 7: FOOTPRINTS OF CHANGE

CHAPTER 8: THE MUSIC ROOM HEIST

CHAPTER 9: A CRY IN THE WILDERNESS

CHAPTER 10: THE LION’S ROAR

CHAPTER 11: LOST MEMORIES

CHAPTER 12: COFFEE AND CHEMISTRY

CHAPTER 13: FROM FRIENDS TO MORE

CHAPTER 14: SUNSHINE AND SMILES

CHAPTER 15: ROARING HEART

CHAPTER 16: Karla’s Quest

CHAPTER 17: HIGH HOPES

CHAPTER 18: A BOLD PROPOSAL

CHAPTER 19: FIRST DATE NERVES

CHAPTER 20: A DAY OF DISTRACTIONS

CHAPTER 21: GAME ON

CHAPTER 22: NAVIGATING CHAOS

CHAPTER 23: ROAD TRIP MISADVENTURES

CHAPTER 24: SILENT STEPS

CHAPTER 25: THE CHASE

CHAPTER 26: A REQUEST FOR HELP

CHAPTER 27: ALLIES IN THE DARK

CHAPTER 28: DESPERATE MEASURES

CHAPTER 29: THREADS OF DESTINY

CHAPTER 30: COURAGE

CHAPTER 31: Waking to Warmth

Prologue (3 Months Earlier)

Karla Walker took a deep, steadying breath as the familiar sprawl of her school came into view. The building loomed ahead, casting shadows across the neatly trimmed lawns as if harboring secrets just beneath the surface. She felt an electric surge run through her; it was senior year—her last chance to etch her name into every corner of these halls. She adjusted her shirt, smoothing nonexistent wrinkles, then lifted her chin, letting her expression settle into the one she’d perfected over years: confident, untouchable, and just a little bit intimidating.

As she entered the main hall, her senses were assaulted by a cacophony of voices. Friends reunited, laughter echoing off the walls, exaggerated stories of summer escapades filling the air. Karla thrived on this energy, soaking it up as if it was crafted just for her. Each stride was purposeful; people moved out of her way without a word, an unspoken respect—or maybe just awe. A few students even snapped quick pictures, whispering to each other. She smirked, knowing she’d nailed her entrance.

Every element of her walk was calculated. Her posture was precise, her strides just long enough to appear graceful but assertive. As she passed a group of freshmen, she caught one girl's wide-eyed stare. Awesome, the girl whispered, and Karla's smirk widened. This was the reaction she lived for.

Karla’s gaze scanned the hall, her smile briefly faltering when it landed on Samara by the bathroom entrance. Samara’s presence was a steady irritation, her nervous glances and habit of twirling her auburn hair only fueling Karla’s need to outshine everyone.

Finally, her destination appeared at the end of the hall: the office. Just as she was about to push the door open, a solid weight collided into her, sending her stumbling backward. Her sunglasses flew off, landing a few feet away as she tried to steady herself. She glared up at the intruder, her irritation bubbling over.

Hey! Watch it! she snapped, her voice carrying a sharp edge.

The boy she’d run into looked genuinely flustered, holding a crumpled paper that she assumed was his schedule. He extended a hand, eyes full of apology. I’m really sorry—are you okay?

Karla paused, eyeing his outstretched hand before grudgingly taking it. As he helped her up, she felt a spark of something unfamiliar, almost weightless in his grasp.

Are you hurt? I wasn’t paying attention. His voice was soft, and the earnestness in his gaze caught her off guard. She fought the heat creeping up her cheeks, quickly brushing off the feeling.

She was taken aback by his appearance. He wasn’t the usual kind of guy who blundered into her life. Dark hair, freckles lightly dusting his nose, and eyes a shade of blue so striking they seemed to anchor her. She stared, only for a moment, but felt her breath hitch.

Still, she wasn’t going to let him off that easily. Was this some kind of prank set up by Chase? she scoffed, her hands on her hips as she sized him up. She tried to keep her tone haughty, though it wavered slightly.

He raised an eyebrow, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. I don’t know who Chase is. He sounded sincere, and that threw her.

Fine. Just—don’t get in my way again, she managed, crossing her arms as if that would somehow regain her control. She watched him, noting his lack of cockiness despite his looks, which was rare.

When she finally ducked into the office, she felt the weight of his gaze linger on her.

—-

Three hours later, Nick had all but given up on staying out of her way. He was surprised when she appeared in his American History class, her expression as displeased as his. This was going to be a long year.

CHAPTER 1: BETWEEN WHITE WALLS

It was too quiet.

Not the silence of an empty room or a deserted street, but a thick, oppressive stillness that pressed against her ears, muting her very heartbeat. Karla Walker’s breath trembled, shallow and erratic, a fragile thread between her and the echoing void around her. Her chest ached as if she’d been running, though she didn’t remember moving at all.

She found herself in an endless corridor of pure, blinding white. The walls seemed to glow, yet cast no shadow. Each step she took was muffled, as though the floor itself absorbed her movement. The place had a haunting familiarity she couldn’t shake, a déjà vu that felt as if it was sinking into her bones. Every door she passed was closed, pristine and untouched, amplifying her sense of isolation. Something flickered in the distance, like a beacon calling her forward.

A strange weight settled in her feet as she continued down the corridor, each step feeling heavier, as though the air itself was resisting her passage. She couldn’t look back—she didn’t dare. Ahead lay a room unlike the others, a chamber so bright and sterile it was almost blinding. And there, in the center of this space, was an object shimmering with a soft, unearthly light.

She moved forward, spellbound. As she stepped into the room, a low, guttural sound reverberated through the air. She froze. A lion lay stretched across two white cushions, its eyes half-open, watching her. Had it been there all along? The creature was massive, its mane dark and shadowy against the white floor. Her heart pounded in her chest, a frantic rhythm that seemed to fill the silence.

What if it woke? A single twitch of its claw could shred her to pieces. But something about the beast was... unnatural. Its gaze felt calculated, almost aware. She forced herself to breathe as her eyes drifted back to the object—a triangle, ancient and carved from stone, resting on a delicate lectern. Its glow seemed to intensify, pulling her in.

Without thinking, she reached out, fingers brushing its cool surface. She tapped it lightly, and a haunting melody filled the air, pulling her into a trance. Her lips parted, compelled to sing an eerie, rhyming tune.

When you’re alone but not alone you will find him and a shimmering stone. Whom who plays shall he awake, and he who awakes shall begin the game. For when he awakes, thou must hide. You must have but little of time. Once he finds all shall he restore until awoken to play once more.

The moment the final note escaped her lips, the triangle vanished, and the lion’s eyes snapped open, piercing her with a predatory stare. She stumbled back, breath catching as she noticed a dark, menacing shadow creeping along the walls of the room.

A child’s laughter echoed down the hall, breaking the trance. Karla turned, just in time to see a little girl darting into the shadows of the corridor. Lizzy. Her heart twisted with a fierce, protective instinct. She called her sister’s name, her voice echoing hollowly as she sprinted after her, not noticing that the lion was no longer on its cushions.

She ran, her footsteps thundering against the silence, until she reached the kitchen. Elderly women clustered around the counters, chopping and chatting as though oblivious to the terror gripping her. The scene was surreal, almost mechanical, their hands moving in perfect sync.

She tried to call out to them, but only one responded, a woman with hazel eyes and a disconcertingly familiar smile. Can we help you, dear?

Karla blinked, an odd sense of dread creeping over her. She struggled to form a response, but a sudden roar tore through the room, freezing the women in place. Their faces contorted in terror as they dropped their knives and huddled together, trembling.

What have you done? a shrill voice screeched. A woman stepped forward, glaring at Karla with a fury that sent chills down her spine. She grabbed a lock of Karla’s hair, yanking viciously.

You woke him up, didn’t you? You will pay!

Karla cried out, pulling away, and stumbled back into the hallway. She grabbed Lizzy, who was now giggling and playing, oblivious to the danger, as though none of this was real to her. Karla’s pulse raced as she scanned the hallway for an escape. The roar was louder now, closer.

They sprinted down the hall, her heart pounding as Lizzy struggled against her grip. She ducked into a bedroom, wedging herself and Lizzy under the bed. But Lizzy fought her, whining and kicking.

I wanna play! Let me go! Lizzy screamed, her small fists battering Karla.

Fine! Karla whispered fiercely. Go play with the lions. See if I care!

Lizzy darted out, her laughter echoing down the hallway as she ran into the lion’s lair. Karla felt a jolt of fear and anger, her mind spinning with terror and disbelief. She turned toward the window, heart hammering as she stared into the blackness beyond.

A young boy appeared in the doorway, eyes wide with terror. You can’t jump! You have to play by the rules! he warned, voice trembling.

What rules?

The boy’s eyes flickered with a strange sadness. You woke him up. You can only hide... until he falls asleep.

The shadow stretched across the floor like a dark stain, creeping silently until it spilled over the boy. He looked down, his breath catching as the darkness seemed to crawl up his legs, a creeping weight pressing down on his small frame. His voice faltered, his words turning to silence as a shiver ran through him. The shadow morphed, shifting and swelling, like it had its own heartbeat—a powerful pulse that resonated in the stillness. Karla’s gaze fixed on the shadow, drawn by something primal, some instinct deep inside her that warned of something dark, ancient, and predatory.

Then she saw it—a pair of glowing amber eyes emerged from the depths, gleaming with hunger and malice. It was no ordinary creature. Its massive paws padded soundlessly, its fur glistening in the dim light, thick and untamed. A low, rumbling growl echoed down the hallway, vibrating the very walls. Its muscles coiled, taut with lethal power. Before the boy could scream, the lion lunged forward, its jaws stretching impossibly wide. In one fluid, horrifying motion, it swallowed him whole, a dark blur of muscle and fur, leaving only silence in its wake.

Karla turned to the window, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs, each beat echoing in her ears like a warning. Darkness stretched out beyond the glass, endless and silent, but even that unknown seemed safer than what loomed behind her. She drew in a final, trembling breath, her fingers slick with sweat as she gripped the window frame. The sounds—the low growls, the distant screams—faded to a dull roar in her mind, as if her body had numbed itself to the terror pulsing through her veins.

With every ounce of courage she had left, she closed her eyes, leaned forward, and let herself fall into the abyss.

CHAPTER 2: THE AWAKENING BREATH

In a harsh gasp of breath, Karla’s eyes shot wide open. Her ears picked up on a regular beeping of a machine close by her. Her heart slammed against her chest and her throat was sore. She shut her eyes again then pried open one eye then the other. It took a second for her eyes to adjust to the brightness of the room, the white walls weren't helping. Overwhelmed and confused, she released heavy sobs. She suddenly felt hoarseness in her throat when she realized where she was.

She heard a steer next to her. There on a chair in an awkward position laid her mother. Her sobs woke her up. She straightened her neck up in a fright. When she saw Karla, she turned completely white as a ghost.

Oh my god, Karla!

Karla recognised the woman’s voice. Mum! Karla croaked, easing her body up. She removed the mask from her face. There was a large vase of flowers at the table beside her. She was in a hospital bed. She felt sore all over. She sobbed in her mother’s arms.

Daniel, get in here! Call the doctor!

Her dad and little sister ran in.

Mum Karla’s voice croaked, her throat very dry it made it sore. What happened

"Sweetie... there