"I wouldn't do that if I were you,"
Samantha froze at the edge of the river. She was contemplating turning around and shooing away the intruder or simply ignoring them and going in with her mission.
"I mean, unless you want a mouthful of fungi," the voice continued.
Samantha could swear there was a hint of amusement coming from the voice. She had to know who this freak was!
Turning around, she was met with a boy around her age, quite tall, though, or maybe that was because she was terribly short. He had a lopsided grin directed at her, his eyes twinkling with something Samantha concluded as mischief.
"And you are?" Samantha asked after a moment of silence.
"Oh, right. Introductions. That's what you humans do, " the voice- still unnamed muttered to himself. " I'm Ron, but you can call me Ronnie."
'Uhm, how bout I call the police instead?' Samantha thought to herself. She couldn't believe she was fave to face with a real-life crackhead. What was all that mumbo jumbo about 'it's what humans do'.
Just when she thought life couldn't be more antagonising, fate throws her a massive curveball in the form of 'Ron'.
What a nightmare!
"US humans, what? Like you're an alien or something?" This whole situation felt ridiculous.
" Me? I think it's quite obvious I'm not one of you. I couldn't possibly be that primitive, " Ron chuckled teasingly.
Wow! He was actually convinced. The drugs he was on must have been incredibly strong. Samantha could only stare wide-eyed.
"Suuuure," she answered, slowly backing away to create space between herself and this weirdo.
"You don't have to be so tense, Samantha. I don't bite....unless it's necessary, at least." Ron's voice suddenly reached her ears.
Normally, Samantha would have ignored him and kept walking away, but she stopped still and fixed her gaze back on him.
How did he know her name?
She was sure she hadn't mentioned it, so how was it that this crackhead knew her name?
"I'm quite insulted by such a demeaning term. I assure you, I'm not a crackhead. "
Samantha almost stopped breathing.
Had he heard her thoughts? But that was impossible. Yet, there was no other explanation for it.
"Oh, please, it's written all over your face that you think I'm crazy. It doesn't take a magician to know, " Ron said, rolling his eyes.
Samantha breathed a small sigh of relief.
Of course!
There was no way in he'll he could have actually read her mind. She was just overthinking over nothing .
"Won't you ask what I'm doing here? Or why I'm suddenly talking to you?"
His voice was incredulous. Like he couldn't believe she was so calm conversing with a complete stranger.
Samantha took a deep breath. What was the harm anyway? She was trying to stay away from home as long as possible. Why not indulge him?
"Sure. Why are you here and suddenly talking to me? I don't think I've seen you around town either. "
"That's because I'm not from around here. I'm only here because of the mission"
Samantha could feel a coming headache.
"What Misson? Please don't tell me you're some kind of spy and you're here in town to kidnap somebody or something like that. "
"That's utterly barbaric! Why would I kidnap anyone? I'm much too delicate for that hassle. "
Samantha's lip quirked up at that. He was kinda funny, not gonna lie.
"Okay, dramatic much?"
"Dramatic?! I'll have you know I'm considered the most level-headed amongst my kind!" He explained in a loud voice, seeming insulted by being called Dramatic.
"Fine. Apologies, your level headedness" Samantha retorted sarcastically.
"Anyways, enough of that. I'm here to warn you. It's best you're prepared so you won't be too shocked when it happens"
Samantha was shocked by the sudden seriousness in his voice and couldn't help asking. "Warn me about what?"
"You need to be careful from now on. It's only a matter of time before he finds you, and by then, everything you know and love will change. I wish I could tell you more, but it defeats the whole purpose of the ' figure it out yourself' concept that the council is going for. "
Samantha could feel her head spinning.
Everything he was saying made absolutely no sense.
What council, who was looking for her, what would change? Is this some kind of prank? Where are the cameras?
"Surely you know it's weird to joke like this with someone you just met, right?" Samantha asked a bit nervously. She was hoping Ron would burst into laughter and tell her it was all a big joke and she was part of some elaborate skit, but his face remained stoic and neutral. It was as if he found nothing amusing about the situation.
"Sure. I'm joking. Just don't say I didn't warn you, " he quipped
"Wait, wha-" she couldn't finish the question as she was startled by a loud noise from the edge of the forest. It was her father's old truck. The thing was so loud, you could hear it from the next country.
After directing her attention away from the loud ass car, ignoring her mother's shouting of her name, she turned to the spot where Ron had been standing to ask him her question, but gasped when she was met with nothing.
He was gone. Disappeared into thin air.