Midnight Prey

Midnight Prey
An Introduction to the potential novel, by Maranda L. Scott

The wind whispered through the bows of ancient sakura trees, breaking the still silence of the night. Crystal water plunged down a massive waterfall into a seemingly bottomless pool of moonlight. With each crash of the cascade against the sharp rocks below, the water rippled and distorted the reflection of the starry sky above. Soft petals danced slowly into the water, and stained deep red, the petals diffused down into the stream like blood. In the vast, pitch black sky and in the distorted reflection of the pool, there hovered not one, but two crescent moons. Wispy clouds floated eerily in front of them, blocking the moonlight and casting odd shadows upon the land.

The forest floor was littered with glowing  fox fire blooms, leading the way into the deep, dark swamp. Along the path the ground grew moist and spongy, turning into deep, deadly mud. It smelled strongly of rot and decay, so pungent that one could not go near. It was a place where no one would ever want to be, and where many have been lost never to be seen again.

It was a frighteningly beautiful place, this world. But it seemed almost... lifeless here. Not a thing stirred in the shadows of the night. However, that was not the case. Hidden among the soft pink blossoms of a sakura tree, there hung a tiny bat. Her small, delicate wings wrapped tightly around herself. But even with her soft brown fur, she shivered against the cold of the night. The little bat's eyes were wide with fear, and her eyes were shiny and wet with her tears. She just waited there, waiting... waiting... waiting... afraid to move. Afraid to be found.

Suddenly the bat's little ears shot up and jerked. She tensed, pulling into a tight ball. The clouds of her warm, rapid breath wisped away into the black of the night. She closed her eyes, trying to deny it all. This is not happening. It is a dream—it has to be.

From the darkness, a strong dark figure emerged soundlessly. His face was completely obscured by shadows but for deep, blood red eyes, glowing menacingly. The small bat pressed herself against the craggy branches of the old sakura tree. She hid in the shadows, and just barely peeked out to watch in utter terror. He radiated evil, and just his very presence drained the warmth from all around her. Never was there a figure so To her he was as tall as a mountain, and just as strong. He was a fighter no doubt, and could easily demolish her. Could she run, could she could fly? When he turned and looked at her, the moonlight caught his piercing eyes. His appearance was so intimidating, so frightening, no words could truly describe him.

He stopped right in front of her, and when her eyes met his, she instantly hid out of sight. Her heart raced—each beat felt clearly within her little chest- and she feared that even he could hear it. She closed her eyes, and waited, waited for what seemed to be forever. But then, she heard him walk away and his steps faded away into the distance. One minute past... five... ten... half an hour... not a sound. She listened to the crashing waterfall, and the hoot of an owl in the distance. With a sigh of relief, she sighed and came out from behind the flower blossoms.

All the sudden, she gasped. A strong, hard hand held her in its grip, crushing her. She lost her breath, unable to let out a single squeal or squeak. She squirmed, wiggled, did everything she could in her power to escape from its grasp. Her throat was burning. Her lungs were ready to burst. Her heart pounded. And when she looked to see who it was, it was none other than the one she feared the most-- The one who turned her.


Midnight Prey (c) Maranda L. Scott
Photo (c) its respective owner.