Lake Encounter Read online

  Lake Encounter

  Book 2, Dawn of Dreams

  (Destiny Series, Vol. 1)

  Bronwyn Leroux

  Copyright © 2017 Bronwyn Leroux

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 1542440645

  ISBN-13: 978-1542440646

  Cover design by Shana Moura

  DEDICATION

  For the aspiring writers out there – go for it!

  CHAPTER 1

  Kayla studied her room with a mixture of jubilation and annoyance. Sure, it was a spacious room with its own walk-in closet and space for all her shoes, but how long would she be here to enjoy it?

  Sighing, she glared at the moving boxes stacked against one wall. With her father’s job as a contractor, her family was lucky if they only moved once every few years. Sometimes though, it was a scant six months before it was time to pick up and relocate . . . again. All this moving was getting old. Although she enjoyed the new homes to explore, rooms to decorate, and stores to exploit, she dreaded the new LC’s to be navigated and the “friends” she was expected to make. Frankly, she was beginning to believe it was easier to be a loner. That way, there would be no tearful goodbyes when it was time to move on.

  Miserably, she thought of Grailynn, her best friend ever, whom she had had to abandon for this last transfer. It had been her toughest farewell ever. She and Grailynn had been so in tune with one another, they could literally finish each other’s sentences.

  Kayla was still angry with her parents for their denial of her request to stay with Grailynn’s family through the end of the semester. What difference could a few extra weeks have possibly made? But no, they had insisted she leave when they did. Consequently, she had lost out on that last precious ounce of time with Grailynn. On top of that, her early departure from the LC meant she would be starting the new semester hindered by a graduated average instead of the stellar year-end results that were typically her domain.

  Fresh fury flared and she slit the throat of the nearest box, choked by clothes. Grabbing garments indiscriminately, she hurled them onto shelves. In seconds, the box was empty. She snatched another. Its contents were disposed of in a similarly destructive fashion. With her rage driving her on, she terrorized two more boxes before yanking on the carton containing her shoes. The cardboard creaked, briefly resisting the rough treatment before resigning with a protesting rip. The tearing cut through Kayla’s anger and her temper receded.

  Taking a steadying breath, she opened the box and freed the first pair of shoes; pretty little sling-back sandals in a delicate shade of blue, perfect for summer evening socials. Smiling at the memories they invoked, she willed herself to calm down and relaxed into the tranquil task of savoring each pair of shoes. At least relocating had the definite advantage that her parents owed her a new pair of shoes. Although she knew this was their way of bribing her and a gesture she didn’t usually take advantage of, this time she intended to appropriate her pound of flesh.

  Another sigh slipped out when her fingers found her running shoes. More memories of what she had lost. Running with Grailynn had been one of their favorite afternoon activities. Daily, they had basked in the freedom of being able to stretch their legs on the unspoiled beaches of the shoreline near their homes. Kayla’s pale green eyes went dreamy as she remembered the ocean with its ever-changing color palette and scented breezes, brushing warm, salty air across her face. The closest she would come to sea and surf now would be the lake they had passed on the way to their new home.

  It was about a grid away; a nice warm-up distance, she mused. She had caught snatches of graveled sections, hinting at a pathway around its perimeter, when their terraporter had skirted the lake. Now that she was thinking of it, perhaps it was time to check it out.

  Hurriedly scraping her blonde hair into a tidy ponytail, she picked through the muddled clothes strewn across her closet. Pouncing with triumph on a long-sleeved workout tee and some heavyweight running pants, she dragged them on. A thermal sweater followed the tee and then she slid her feet into her shoes. Down the stairs she bounded, aiming for the street door and yelling to her mom that she was going for a run. Without waiting for a reply, she barged outside and escaped.

  Although it was gloriously sunny, the sun’s warmth was tempered by an icy wind nipping at her exposed flesh, reminding her that summer was at least a month away. No doubt, the snow-covered mountains that dwarfed the community were the source of the chilled air. Setting her PAL to private mode, she listened to the music that filtered directly into her ears and studied the mountains as she went through her warm up routine.

  From this spot, she could only glimpse portions of the towering peaks through the skeletal trees and plentiful homes that constituted their community. Copious amounts of snow still saturated the upper peaks. Large swathes of dark green evergreens prickled up below the snow line, their thick green bands broken by the black boulders forming the backbone of the mountain.

  Her warm-up completed, Kayla eased into a gentle jog, idly wondering whether the people here actually climbed the mountain or went hiking on its lower slopes. She would have to investigate when she had some time. Right now, she should focus on where she was going.

  The lake turned out to be man-made. What a disappointment. She had been hoping for something natural, something that would remind her of the ocean. Instead of the irregular edges where shoreline met sea, the lake had evenly rounded curves. Instead of soft, fine beach sand, the pathway was lined with stark, dull-gray gravel. Definitely not as aesthetically pleasing as running next to an ocean. Despite these disenchantments, Kayla felt her coiled muscles unwind as her feet pounded away the stresses of the last few days.

  CHAPTER 2

  With her burdens lifting, Kayla began noticing some of the more attractive aspects of the lake. It had obviously been here a long time. The water’s edge was thick with winter-bleached water reeds, rustling softly as a variety of spring-emergent wildlife scurried about in their hidden depths. Geese, their masquerade-masked heads held high, bobbed serenely at the center of the teal lake, clearly not yet feeling the urge to head back north. A startling variety of indigenous shrubs rimmed the lake, their bare arms stretching upward as though they too could not wait for the arrival of summer. Dormant, yellowed grasses flanked the pathway on either side, flattened by what must have been the weight of recent snowfalls which had already dissipated.

  Kayla’s thoughts drifted as she imagined what the lake might look like in the summer, surrounded by wavy, green meadows and alive with twittering birds lording over the small, furry animals that would surely be scampering about. As the picture filled out in her mind, she saw the sky reflected on the mirror-smooth surface of the water and the pathway softening to silver in the summer sunshine. Perhaps she could adjust.

  Curving around and up the short hill forming one bank of the lake, she turned her head slightly to take in the view and almost lost her footing. The trail had obviously been designed to give an unobstructed view of the mountain off to the lake’s western side. The scene was stunning. Kayla had not quite grasped the immensity or grandeur of the mountains. Picking her pace back up to the steady beat it had been before the sudden revelation, she kept one eye on the pathway and one eye on the impressive panorama. It was spectacular. So engrossed was she in admiring the scenery, she didn’t hear the crunching sound suggesting that someone was coming up behind her.

  “Hey, mind if I join you?” a female voice piped up.

  For the second time, Kayla nearly lost her footing, narrowly avoiding tumbling off the edge of the path into the bushes that topped the sharp drop off to the other side of the trail.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you,” came the apologetic response.

  Kayla barely slowed her pa
ce, facing the girl who had snuck up on her. She was three or four years older, had a friendly face, and was in excellent shape.

  “That’s okay, and you’re welcome to join me,” Kayla offered, remembering the way she and Grailynn had met. On the beach. Both running their frustrations away. Was this some sort of sign? “Kayla,” she introduced, giving a finger wave.

  “Miera,” the girl responded, waving back. “This your first time around the lake?”

  “Yeah, what gave it away?”

  “Maybe the way you almost ran into the lake when you saw the view,” Miera grinned.

  “Guess that must have looked pretty funny,” Kayla conceded, smiling.

  “It was. So, you’re new to the neighborhood?”

  “Yup, only been here a night and a day,” Kayla confirmed, adjusting her breathing so she could talk while she ran.

  “Well, welcome. You run often?”

  “Whenever I get the chance. You?”

  “Me? I advise everyone to avoid it like the plague. You can’t breathe properly, you wear yourself out, you get all stinky and sweaty . . . what sane person does that? Yet, here I am, racing around the lake like an idiot.”

  Kayla giggled. “Racing’s the right word; you run awfully fast.”

  “The only reason I run fast is so that I can get it over and done with,” Miera huffed.

  Now Kayla had to laugh. “Then why do you do it?”

  “Keeping fit and all that healthy stuff,” Miera explained.

  “Well, there are other ways to accomplish that besides running,” Kayla began.

  “Been there, done that. Much as I hate to run, it’s like I can’t live without it either,” Miera sighed.

  “I hear you,” Kayla nodded in understanding. The two of them lapsed into silence as they contemplated the vexing paradox.

  Nearing the point where Kayla had started, Miera asked, “Are we doing another round?”

  “Sure, let’s prolong the torture,” Kayla teased.

  Miera muttered something inaudible and they began round two. Kayla beamed. It was fantastic having someone running next to her. Even if it wasn’t Grailynn. While Kayla and Grailynn had had almost the same stride, Miera was definitely holding back, slowing her pace to match Kayla’s. For someone who supposedly didn’t like running, she sure excelled at it.

  Kayla took the time to subtly study her new running mate. Built tall and lean, Miera was the opposite of Kayla’s petite and curvy. Kayla’s long, blonde hair contrasted with Miera’s short, dark bob. Miera was wearing what looked like a hundred-year-old burgundy sweater covered with paint splotches and some faded black track pants which bravely boasted not one but two torn pockets. Definitely not the upscale workout gear Kayla preferred. However, Kayla knew better than to judge someone solely on their outward appearance. Looking past the exterior, she concluded that Miera was not as concerned about what she wore as she was about being comfortable and getting the job done.

  “What are you smiling at?” Miera prompted.

  “Are you one of those people that thrives on to-do lists?” Kayla quizzed.

  “How’d you guess?”

  “Just a hunch,” Kayla hummed, “based on years of observing people.”

  “Years, really? You sound ancient!”

  Kayla laughed and they resumed their quiet rhythm. Drawing near her exit for the second time, Kayla slowed. “I didn’t see where you joined in on the trail, but this is where I head back home.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Miera responded with obvious pleasure. “What are your co-ordinates?”

  “Haven’t memorized them yet. Like I said, we only arrived yesterday, so all I’ve had time to do is sleep in the house and unpack about four boxes. Still have plenty more to go. Oh joy!”.

  “We’ve never moved.” Miera said wistfully.

  “Well, believe me, when you’ve moved as often as I have, you can’t wait for all the moving to just stop,” Kayla shot back, so ferociously that Miera paused and stared at her.

  “You sound steamed,” she responded mildly. “Want to run off more of that steam with me tomorrow, same time?”

  Kayla whooped. “Absolutely!”

  The girls agreed that walking back to their homes would make for an adequate cool down. Kayla was surprised when Miera walked all the way home with her.

  “This is me,” Kayla said, motioning toward a house with a rooftop landing site that hosted a storage transporter leaching moving boxes.

  “Ah, so you’re our new neighbors. We saw you arrive yesterday. I’m really close; that house over there with the grey stone trim,” Miera chattered, indicating a house four doors down. “I could meet you here tomorrow instead of at the lake if you prefer?”

  “Thanks, I’d like that. Shall we say around two?”

  “You bet. See you then. I’m happy we met,” Miera called as she trotted off.

  Standing under a steaming shower a few minutes later, Kayla smiled as she considered the odds of meeting someone so nice so soon. Pity that Miera was probably already an apprentice and too old for the LC Kayla would be attending when the fall session began. That would’ve been too easy, she supposed. Oh well, she thought. Be thankful for what you have, as her grandmother used to say.

  CHAPTER 3

  Over the next week, Kayla and Miera ran four days out of seven. They settled into an easy rapport, trading snippets of information about their lives as they ran. Through these interactions, Kayla gleaned enough information to build a picture of Miera’s life. Like Kayla, Miera had grown up an only child, which meant she was used to entertaining herself. Usually this comprised countless hours reading fiction—and not a lot of time doing much else. Miera had explained that this was one of the reasons she needed to get out and run. “After all, I can’t spend all day cooped up on the couch!”

  Kayla savored the fact that Miera was easy to talk to. It was a refreshing change from most of the people she had met during their numerous moves; people who were closed off to strangers and unwilling to reveal too much of themselves, even to acquaintances. She had often wondered why people had the crazy notion that if they didn’t get close to you, they could keep you far enough away to avoid you noticing their shortcomings. Ironically, they only kept themselves lonely, and if you were around long enough, their character flaws became evident regardless of their efforts. Kayla fervently hoped the kids at her new LC wouldn’t display these traits. If everyone there was as friendly as Miera, this new community held promise. She might even be able to make a new friend. This reminded her of the friend she had just deserted: Grailynn.

  They had rapidly become proficient cyber-buddies. The holo-port connection provided by their PALs wasn’t quite as cozy as being in the same room together, but it was a useful, immediate, and tangible way for them to converse. She recalled telling Grailynn about her chance meeting with Miera on that second evening in their new home.

  “You’re replacing me already?” Grailynn had complained.

  Kayla had felt a twinge of guilt. “I could never replace you.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Grailynn said. “You know I feel the same way. I’m just bummed you found another running partner so quickly.”

  They had communicated one way or another on a daily basis, often more than once a day. But Kayla knew this would taper off when Grailynn began preparing for the upcoming year-end exams.

  It had now been over a week since she left Grailynn. Sighing, she began her warm-up routine as she prepared for Miera’s imminent arrival. While she did so, she glanced outside apprehensively, noting the leaden sky, heavy with its promise of a last spring snow. Even as she watched, the sky darkened.

  Completing her warm-up, she stepped outside; then she stiffened as the full wrath of the polar air hit her. Sheesh! That was bitter! Debating whether to go back in and get her face mask, she saw Miera opening the street door of their home. It was now or never. Kayla dashed back inside and darted upstairs to her room where she grabbed her face mask and then scooted back downstairs, reach
ing her own street door just as Miera arrived.

  “Seriously!” Miera berated the arctic air, vigorously stomping her feet on Kayla’s front porch.

  Kayla grinned, donning her face mask. “Ready?”

  “No,” Miera snapped, to Kayla’s surprise.

  “You want to skip?”

  “I’d love to, but considering we haven’t run for the last two days, I guess we don’t have a choice,” Miera grumbled.

  “There’s always a choice,” Kayla began, but Miera interrupted her.

  “Whatever, you know what I mean. It’s not getting any warmer, so let’s hustle before we freeze where we stand. Is the lake route okay?”

  Kayla nodded. It was both the closest and shortest of the three trails they had run.

  Miera took off, her accelerated pace a clear indication that she intended on getting the exercise completed as quickly as possible. It didn’t take long for Kayla to feel the effects. Not only was she unaccustomed to the increased speed, but she had to wrestle the glacial air for each ounce of oxygen. As forcefully as she pulled the chilly air in, the wind sucked it back out. The tiny amount of air that she did retain burned with icy fury as it scraped past her throat. Then the needles of frosty air prickled their way down her trachea until they pierced her lungs. Each successful breath was a victory, albeit painful.

  Thankful for her thermal layers, Kayla quickly realized that despite their warmth, she would probably only make it around the lake once today. She continued struggling with her erratic breathing, fighting for a regular rhythm. Before they were even half way around the lake, Kayla was wheezing. Her lungs were vociferously demanding more oxygen. Motioning to Miera, she puffed, “Hey, slow down a bit; battling to breathe here!”

  Miera shot her an annoyed look, decelerating marginally.