Chapter 1

• Prologue
• The Chronos Book 5 The Alterealm Series by J. Risk / Jacqueline Paige
• Looking over my shoulder I kept running. I didn’t see anyone following me, but I wasn’t taking any chances. For two weeks I’d watched, waited and planned for the opportunity to get off this island. It was now or never. I couldn’t be here another minute.
• I pulled at the hard, red cuff around my wrist, trying, yet again, to pull it off. If I could access my abilities I might have a better chance. It was seamless, I’d spent the last two weeks trying to get it off. Stumbling over a branch, I looked back up and tried to figure out where I was headed. There was no path, and. they never patrolled this way, ever. I didn’t know why, but I intended to find out.
• My lungs screamed at me to slow down, but my mind told me go, so I kept going. At any moment I expected to hit another invisible wall. I’d encountered more than one as I tried to discover how well they covered the island. I knew hitting one at this speed would probably knock me unconscious, but I had to try.
• I ducked around low branches as I tried to keep going in a straight line. It scraped across my cheek. Shaking off the sting, I glanced over my shoulder when my footing slipped. I slid across the ground on my hip and landed, stunned and panting. The ground dropped off suddenly.
• Getting to my hands and knees, I crawled toward the edge. Reaching it, I put my hand out looking for the barrier I couldn’t see. My hand wasn’t stopped by anything.
• Inching forward, I leaned over and looked down. It was a straight drop into the water. It had to be at least a hundred-foot drop, from my estimate. Now I knew why no one came this way. There was nowhere to go.
• Arms shaking, heart pounding I leaned over to see if there was a way to climb down. Shaking my head in disgust, I sat back on my heels. Even with ropes and a harness, there’s no way I’d try climbing down that.
• Now what? I looked behind me and held my breath, listening. I still heard no one. I looked around the edge of the drop off. If I took the time to look further for a way to climb down, it would give them more time to realize I was gone.
• Leaning over again, I looked down. Could I jump? I was a good swimmer; I just wasn’t sure I was brave enough to jump. A barrier could also be an unknown factor. If I could find the courage to jump, there was no guarantee I wouldn’t hit a barrier on the way down, or in the water. I could literally be plunging to my death in so many ways.
• “There’s nowhere else to go this way. Head back and check in the bushes, she’s hiding somewhere.”
• I lay flat on the ground. They knew I was missing. My heart was beating in my throat as I tried to keep my breathing quiet. I looked out over the water. It was quite a distance to the nearest land.
• “Told them they needed to put trackers on them. I’m sick of wandering around here with the damn insects looking for women that think they can get off the island.”
• I nodded my head, I could do this. Had to do this. Getting up slowly, I stayed low and looked through the trees to see if my location was visible. I didn’t see anyone. I straightened and backed up a few feet. Leaning over on my knees with shaking hands I swallowed the fear lodged in my throat.
• “Fuck, I’m getting eaten alive here.”
• I leaned toward the edge and launched myself over the side, hoping I’d clear any rocks near the shore. I’d like to say the descent was long enough that I had time to look, but it was over in a flash. Icy water closed over me as I dropped into the depths.
• The shock spurred me into kicking toward the top as quickly as I could. When my head broke the surface, I gulped in the fresh air. I’d done it! I was off the island. Bobbing around I turned to look in all directions. There were rocks sticking out, marked so boats would see them. I could rest on the other side of them so no one looking from the island would see me.
• Treading water, I debated taking off my shoes, but decided when I made it to land I’d need them to put as much distance between me and these insane people. Kicking was hindered, but I started toward the rocks as fast as I could manage.
• The water was much colder than I’d imagined it would be. I was already feeling my muscles start to cramp. Turning, I laid on my back for a moment to check the distance from the island. It wasn’t as far as I’d hoped. I rested for a bit longer, hoping to catch my breath, while scanning along the shore to see if anyone was looking there yet. I didn’t spot anyone.
• Flipping back over, I pushed my body further. The shoes had to go, they felt like cement weights. I tried to keep my head above the surface to take them off. The laces were wet and wouldn’t untie, so I bobbed up and down, sputtering for air several times, trying to free my feet.
• I had to pause between shoes. I was wasting valuable energy doing this. Taking a deep breath, I sunk beneath the surface and fought to get the second shoe off.
• Hands grabbed me, I gulped in water, trying to struggle out of their hold. Kicking out against them, I reached the surface and started swimming with all my strength. I was not going back.
• I heard someone say something but wasn’t about to stop and see. The sound of a boat registered, and I swam faster. My side was hurting, my legs felt like they were moving slower and slower. I went under again, and had to fight to not gasp for air while under the surface. Kicking, I managed to get my head above the surface. I didn’t know how much longer I could do this.
• A hand touched me again. I kicked out and connected with a body. I heard a man swear as I dropped below the water once more. He pulled me up and held me firmly with his arm wrapped around me. His grip was tight. He was swimming and dragging me. I fought, coughing and swallowing more water than air.
• I held onto his arm, trying to rid my lungs of the liquid, gasping for air. He turned, and I found myself at the rock I’d been heading for. I clung to it, still trying to breathe, gathering the strength so I could get away. Large arms surrounded me, his body pressed me against the rough surface.
• “I’m not here to hurt you.” He said between breaths against my ear, “you’re safe. We’re here to get you to safety.”
• I turned to see a boat coming toward us. “Safe to where?” I coughed when water filled my mouth again as a wave hit the rock.
• “Away from that island.” He said calmly, his uneven breathing against my cheek.
• I rested my face against the rock, drained, I couldn’t swim any more.
• “Arius, let me coast as close as I can.” Another man called out.
• I heard the motor of the boat stop.
• “Thought she was going to out-swim you.” A third male said.
• He lifted his head away from me, “it was close.” He huffed out a breath.
• “I brought a blanket.” It was a woman’s voice.
• I didn’t know if this was another lie, or a scheme to get me back on the island. My body was numb, I was shaking from the exertion and had no more fight left.
• I felt myself being pulled through the water and lifted up.
• A woman’s face was in front of mine. “I saw you. You are so brave.” She nodded and wrapped something warm around me. “You’re safe now.”
• That was the last thing I heard, just before I closed my eyes.