First Encounter

I looked over at Shalom; although we have just met not too long ago, we both know we had to be in the same team; we just had to find a third person. Unknown to us, everyone already had a plan to ditch us because we were the last of the bunch to arrive.

After trying to recruit people I think are a little bit strong, I walked up to Shalom, but they all turned me down without listening to me; shalom, on the other hand, just stood there without any attempt to recruit.

"looks like it, you and me, "I said, trying to sound friendly "nope, I fly solo," she said as she began to walk away from the people towards the entrance of the amphitheater. At this point, one could see the flashing of light everywhere in the colosseum; people were getting teleported to the unknown; some were watching to see what happen, while some made their team and didn't care to watch.

Shalom tried to step out of the colosseum only to find out she can not step out, seems like a barrier is stoping her; I walked right next to her and tried to extend my leg past the gateway of the colosseum like Shalom I couldn't. I starred her down, and I mimicked her with my arms doing the fly bird sign, "Miss, I fly solo; you are going to make the team now?" she pouted her lips, and she responded with " sure, Mr. I can't find anyone to join my team."

"I am pretty sure you can't find anyone either," I quickly said to protect my little pride.

"let shake hands already," she grabbed my hand. A tattoo appeared on the back of our palm, a tattoo of a box.

White light was the last thing I saw before landing in a swamp, I looked around, and I found trees that were at least 100 feet high, the weather I feel cold, I could see my breath coming out of my nose like those time in Alaska, Things isn't adding up I am in a swamp with trees that look like redwood and it cold, wherever we are I am not expecting anything normal to be out here it best we get out of this swamp.

As if Rafael thought were projected out loud, he could see bubbles on the surface of the swamp about 10 meters in front of him. F**k who the F**K is the author of my shitty life? I turned around only to find Shalom was already Half through the swamp; she was moving through it like she just saw a ghost.

I did the same thing as her, I didn't want to look pack, but I could feel the sweats rolling down my back, my mind racing; if I were in a cartoon, my heart would be out of my body with how fast it was racing leaving my body behind.

I have heard the sounds of gunshots, a mortar round fire, Ied blast, machine gun fires, and even .50 cal, but the sound of the roar of the monster behind me sent fear into my soul. I got out of the swamp just as I turned around to look; the breath of the monster hits my nose; it smells like the swamp but fishy; its eyes were bigger than a soccer ball, its jaw where like shacks, a body like crocodiles but bigger, its ears were Gills and when it turned around to swim back in the swamp its tail was like the tails of dragons in the movies.

Luckily it didn't come out of the swamp, or it will be my last day breathing in oxygen; I looked at Shalom; she always acts like she is always in control, but this time, it was different; her legs were visibly shaking, and if you listen close enough you could hear her heartbeats as she rests her hand upon a tree not too far from her.

"Are you okay?" I asked, she responded with a "No." both of us are still trying to figure out wtf we are doing out here.

"shhh, something is coming," Shalom said as she began to slowly walk further in the forest, resuming her tough girl act; no, it not an act; she has a strong heart, an unshakeable one.

Although I didn't hear whatever she said was coming, but something tells me she knows more about this place than I do.