Free Tora (The Tora Trilogy Book 1) by Lucy Nichols Page A

tried her best to remain positive about the rest of the day.

 
     
    Six
    ~†~
    Eva woke, to threads of light seeping through her curtains. Automatically, she rose on her tip toes and peeked outside her window. Myriad of stars on a clear moonlit night. The moon seemed to light everything up, even the peonies growing outside her window.
    Something shimmered in the distance that caught Eva’s eye. It looked glassy and wet, and Eva wondered whether there was some kind of river or lake out there.
    Nothing could beat a midnight swim. If she wasn’t tied up, she drove her Chevy to Sapphire Bay in the middle of the night to enjoy a dip. There was something magical about being at the bay at night, something Michelle had never understood.
    She loved how the waves lapped up around her and the instant rush of cool that came with it. The waves were exhilarating, but something about swimming in the dead of night all alone, was mesmerising.
    Diving below the water sent her to another world, like being in another state of mind.
    Suddenly Eva felt the urge to step outside and to find out what was there. The cool frost that almost burned her skin as sue met the night air, didn’t even put her off. She was as eager as anything to clear her head. Swimming in isolation gave her the thrill she was looking for.
    Eva reached slowly for her towel hanging over the edge of her chair and wrapped it around her bare skin. She was only wearing her underwear; she hadn’t thought to bring a bikini, but she figured that would do.
    Holding her breath, she crept across the dorm. A thought suddenly dawned on her. Were the cams watching her?
    No point living life in fear Eva.
    Eva circled the building and searched for her window. The dorm Eva had been allocated was large and it wasn’t easy to differentiate any of the rooms. They were compact, square, simple brick rooms with small high windows. And there was about thirty of them.
    The outside light was minimal, only enough for Eva to make out the outline of certain objects.
    She was about eleven rooms down when she looked out onto the escarpment and saw it again. Trampling carefully towards the glimmer she heard a rustle and panic gripped her when she pondered over whether it was her thongs pounding against the leaves, or a snake.
    As she got closer, the moon shone more brightly on the glassy surface. Soon it became clear, she was in luck.
    Under the stars, the lake seemed to go on forever. The way the forest met the shore. Blue light that danced on the waters, blending the sky and lake together; in a binding loop that bonded the elements in unity.
    Everything in front of her was perfectly matched.
    Eva kicked off her thongs, slipped off her towel and headed for the shore. The water rolled over her toes and washed over her feet. She untied her hair, previously done up in a twisted bun so it fell loosely around her waist. Her hair seemed to glow in the light, to match her porcelain pore less skin.
    But just as she immersed her body in the pool of water, she noticed something was not right.
    Damn it . Eva muttered under her breath, cursing herself for not thinking fast enough.
    She never felt this feeling before. Something rippled between her the water. It felt like a force, and it caused the liquid to bubble around her.
    Eva was a strong swimmer, but when her legs started to get sore and lethargic, she knew to trust her gut instinct.
    She bolted for the cave swimming fast and furiously. Eva glanced over shoulder to see what it was attacking her. With a shudder, she saw what had been haunting her in the past, had come back to her.
    The shadows.
    They were advancing. Quickening in speed with every pace.
    Kept alive by pure adrenaline, Eva forced her legs to work even harder. She couldn’t afford to stop now.
    The shadows hadn’t looked like this before. The grey ghostly shapes were darker and more monstrous than ever.
    This is only a dream , Eva reassured herself. She turned back once more, to see the