2nd Prequel to The Shade Riders Series.

Chapter 1     Hunted

Outside the farmhouse, it was dark. A car squealed at the top of the driveway near the road. Gunshots rang out in the woods.

It was the Sunday, before school started. Inside the farmhouse, Nova Nowak, a ten-year-old girl, hauled heavy dumbbells with ease. She blamed her superior strength on being half Sioux, which she got from her father.

 “Scott, why do you leave your weights here in the kitchen? I always have to move them for Mom.”

 “Fine, toss them here.” Scott giggled.

“You wouldn’t like it, if I did,” Nova said.

Scott came into the kitchen and struggled as he moved the weights out of the room.

More shooting outside.

“I wonder what hunting season it is.” Nova searched cabinets for food. Mom was a vet and she had told them to figure out something for dinner that didn’t involve the wood burning stove. In the refrigerator was a sub sandwich. 

“Whose sub is this?”

Scott rushed over. “I’ll take that.”

“Hey, I found it first,” Nova grabbed it from him.

Wilha, Nova’s half sister, raced over. “I think mom bought that for me. Give it back.” Wilha tried to grab the sub, but Scott blocked with his body.

 Scott made his move. “Look, ya gotta be fast around here.” He yanked it away from Nova. Lettuce went flying. In the process he elbowed Nova in the stomach. She bent forward.

“Scott, that is playing dirty,” Wilha said.

Nova thought an elbow to her stomach would hurt, but it didn’t. She straightened up like a ram rod and grinned.

  “What? Are ya Superman?” Scott smirked.

“No, Super Girl” Nova said. “I’ll take that.” She grabbed the sandwich ready to take a bite.

The doorbell rang throughout the house. Everyone stopped what they are doing.

“Let me in. I’ve been shot. Please let me in.”

Nova put the sandwich down and ran to the door.  A woman in a trench coat stood there with blood gushing down her upper left arm.

“She’s bleeding.” Nova told her brother and sister.  “We have to help her.”

Scott and Wilha raced over, the sandwich forgotten.

“I need help.” The lady in the trench coat collapsed. Nova caught her.

 Scott helped Nova move Leandra to the couch. Wilha ran to get Mother. Nova had Leandra’s shoulders and Scott had her feet. Wilha raced back and put a blanket on the couch just before Nova and Scott got there. Mom rushed over with bandages.

Nova and Scott set her down on the couch as Mom put on a tourniquet.

“I’m very weak,” Leandra said. “Please get me to the hospital.”

“I’ll be right back.” Mom ran out of the room. Later she came back. “We are waiting for Mr. Kincaid’s truck,” Mom said. “I don’t have a vehicle and you’re on a waiting list for an ambulance.”

Nova sat in a La-Z-Boy and watched Leandra and her

Mom talk. “Mom, is she going to make it?”

“I think so,” Mom said. “you’re going to be fine. What’s your name?”

“Leandra, I’m a private investigator.”

 

Chapter 2  Getting Acquainted

 Nova sat on the couch next to Leandra.

“Can you tell us what happened?” Nova asked. “Why did you get shot?”

Leandra shook her head weakly. “I’m taking that information to the grave with me.”

“You aren’t dying, I hope,” Nova said.

“I don’t know,” Leandra said. “But I think I already put your family in terrible danger. What’s your name?”

“It’s Nova.” She felt worried. “Is that an Australian accent?”

“No, It’s New Zealand.”

 Scott and Wilha rushed into the room.

“I still can’t get through to the hospital,” Scott said.

“It’s late,” Mom said. “Why don’t the three of you get to bed? You have school tomorrow.”

“I hope you get to the hospital tonight, Leandra,” Nova said.

“Me too, Nova,” Leandra said. Nova drug her feet to get ready for bed with Wilha and Scott. Mom stayed by the phone and ham radio in the other room most of the night. Leandra started to nod off when a bluish-green flash of light with fractals appeared in the living room. The shape formed a rectangular frame that stood on end like a doorway.

Nova watched Three Neanderthals came out of the light and approached Leandra on the couch.

“Hello, Leandra,” Braund said. “Remember? Cared and trained when small. Need to hurry and save important life.”

“Neanderthals,” Leandra said. “Or should I say Idealites? Yes I do remember you. Hurray.”

“We brought Idealite blood for transfusion,” Gunerfund said while poking her arm with a needle.

“But I don’t remember you having broken English,” Leandra said.

“Leandra was young,” Royand said. “But Idealites have always struggled with pronouncing English words.”

“Idealites use a different language that speaks volumes,” Gunerfund said.

“Leandra was taught Idealite language,” Royand said. “Just remember.”

“Leandra’s wounds will now be healed because of Idealite blood,” Braund said. “And in return as Leandra remembers, will guard and train Nova.”

As soon as the blood hit Leandra, her body sucked up the fluid in the sack in two seconds flat.

“That feels wonderful!” Leandra said.

The tourniquet was removed in time. Leandra didn’t lose her arm to the tourniquet. She tried to stand but fell on her butt.

“Ohhh, I’m still weak.”

“The blood takes some getting used to,” Braund said.

A coffee pot and mugs exploded. “And so does the magic.”

“Holy Chaos!” Nova whispered.

“I have magic abilities?” Leandra asked.

“Yes, but keep them to yourself. The Three Mystics are at your beck and call, keeping an eye on Nova’s mentor.” He patted Leandra on her back. “Until another time.”

The men leave the living room through the rainbow portal’s bluish-green lighted doorway which vanished. Leandra was now alone with Nova but she didn’t know she was being watched. She looked at the bullet hole in her arm, but it was gone, all healed up. Leandra saw a flash of light outside the window. She stood on wobbly legs and looked out. The bad guys were outside sweeping the yard with flashlights.

“That’s Boneyard Pete’s car,” Leandra said. “Bugger! They’re too close. I need to get used to this blood fast and lead them away from this kind family.”

 Leandra slipped out the door as headlights sweep the farmhouse. Mom came into the living room. “Leandra? Are you okay? Mr. Kincaid is on the way. It won’t be much longer…”

Mom searched around the house calling Leandra’s name. Nova spied on her too. All is quiet. She went to the CB and called Mr. Kincaid. “Hi Mr. Kincaid? I’m sorry to tell you this but the woman has up and left our house. Okay goodnight.” Mom locked all the doors and went up to her bedroom and shut the door.

Nova went back to bed with a grin on her face.