The Lion's Song

The Lion's Song

M.R Bloomfield

Published by M.R Bloomfield, 2024.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

THE LION'S SONG

First edition. July 9, 2024.

Copyright © 2024 M.R Bloomfield.

ISBN: 979-8227423900

Written by M.R Bloomfield.

THE LION’S SONG

M.R Bloomfield

Copyright © 2024 M.R Bloomfield

All rights reserved.

Published by M.R BloomField

Sydney, NSW, 2170

9798227848000

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: BETWEEN WHITE WALLS

CHAPTER 2: THE AWAKENING BREATH

CHAPTER 3: MORNING REFLECTIONS

CHAPTER 4: FRACTURED REALITIES

CHAPTER 5: SKETCHING MOMENTS

CHAPTER 6: STRINGS OF FATE

CHAPTER 7: FOOTPRINTS OF CHANGE

CHAPTER 8: THE MUSIC ROOM HEIST

CHAPTER 9: A CRY IN THE WILDERNESS

CHAPTER 10: THE LION’S ROAR

CHAPTER 11: LOST MEMORIES

CHAPTER 12: COFFEE AND CHEMISTRY

CHAPTER 13: FROM FRIENDS TO MORE

CHAPTER 14: SUNSHINE AND SMILES

CHAPTER 15: ROARING HEART

CHAPTER 16: Karla’s Quest

CHAPTER 17: HIGH HOPES

CHAPTER 18: A BOLD PROPOSAL

CHAPTER 19: FIRST DATE NERVES

CHAPTER 20: A DAY OF DISTRACTIONS

CHAPTER 21: GAME ON

CHAPTER 22: NAVIGATING CHAOS

CHAPTER 23: ROAD TRIP MISADVENTURES

CHAPTER 24: SILENT STEPS

CHAPTER 25: CHASING ANSWERS

CHAPTER 26: A REQUEST FOR HELP

CHAPTER 27: ALLIES IN THE DARK

CHAPTER 28: DESPERATE MEASURES

CHAPTER 29: THREADS OF DESTINY

CHAPTER 30: COURAGE

CHAPTER 31: IN SAFE ARMS

PROLOGUE (3 months earlier)

A child walking towards a building Description automatically generated Karla Walker let out a heavy sigh when she reached the familiar building of her school.

It was the beginning of their senior year and as usual, she was ready to dominate again. She adjusted her shirt and smoothed the invisible wrinkles from her skirt, lifted her head high and entered the building.

Loud voices filled the hallway. Students were excited about meeting their friends again after the long break, chatting away about how they spent the time. It was energy giving, containing the ingredients intended to fuel Karla’s own excitement. 

She navigated smoothly through the throng of students. It didn’t require much effort, with her marching like a person on a mission, people moved out of her way when she got close. Some even snapped her picture. She trusted her stride was seductive. It was basic algorithm; neck position, head position, mindset, it was all significant. One girl beside her with anime eyes hushed awesome, and Karla’s smile grew. There were more bobbing head dolls along the way. Although she smiled at everyone, at times it was stilted. Especially to Samara who stood by the bathroom entrance, playing with her auburn hair and ducking her head. This was a kick in the pants for her every time she saw Karla Walker.

Her destination in sight, Karla picked up her pace. As soon as she was about to walk through the door of the office, a hard body slammed into hers sending her stumbling a few steps backwards. Unable to regain her balance she fell on the floor and her shades flew. Disoriented, she looked up to see a boy, paper in hand.

Hey! Watch it! she snapped, irritated. He was checking what she assumed was his class schedule. He should have known better and in such a busy place too.

He looked at her sheepishly, stretched out his arm to her. Sorry, are you alright?

Karla hesitated, eyed the hand for a moment before grabbing a hold of it. She let her eyes travel all over his body as he helped her up.

Are you hurt? I was careless. The tone of which he spoke and the look on his face made it difficult for Karla’s anger to grow. Her poised ankle bent the wrong way and it seemed like she was going to hit the ground again. He grabbed her arms, keeping her steady. For a second, she felt weightless, and he supported her weight like it was nothing.

Held on by his arms, she immediately noticed their firmness. Was she wrong and he was maybe a fitness teacher? He let go of her, stepping back. She took the opportunity to look at him properly. Her eyes widened a bit but she caught herself in time, hoping he didn’t notice.

He definitely was not a teacher, not with that baby face and innocent eyes, a dreamy blue. Someone she knew nothing of which was nearly impossible, she was good with faces and would have remembered someone that looked like him.

She wasn’t going to deny his attractiveness. His hair luscious, dark brown, and messy like a tornado had hit it, freckles clustering on the bridge of his nose are light. Cute even.

His politeness surprised her, boys that looked like him tended to have bad attitudes like their handsome face would cover the fact that they were assholes. She waited for a smart retort that most times came next, however, nothing. Strange she thought, he was almost unnatural.

And he smelt good too. Like soap and a field of flowers. So clean, he didn’t have that deep bad boys’ perfume that she was so used to sniffing. She immediately felt the rosy alpenglow in her cheeks burn like a poppy. She suddenly felt bad for the way she spoke to him, but regardless of his sincere apology she wasn’t going to take it back. After all, she just met him in the most impolite way.

Was this a set-up from one of the guys on the football team? She wasn’t buying it; he was too good to be true. It was pathetic really. She burst into a giggle and his eyes widened with surprise, assessing her.

Who put you up to this? she asked, hands on hips. Hips which compelled him to stare.

Excuse me?

Typical! she said to herself keeping her voice low. I bet my Jimmy Choo’s it was Chase. That...that little tease! She crossed her arms, rolled her eyes and huffed, completely ignoring him.

Bet my Jimmy Choo’s? seriously? Nick thought amused. It took a great amount of willpower to keep himself from laughing except for he kept it inside knowing very well that those Jimmy Choo’s were something dangerous.

He took notice of her outfit, gathered that she must be a woman who loved high-class fashion, and had big bucks to fund it.

Who? he asked, frowning. He looked down at her black pumps and intrinsically his eyes traveled up the fair smooth skin of her slim naked legs. He blinked away hard feeling his insides twist.

With a glare that could freeze even hell, she passed him and went into the office. Nicholas waited for a moment, suspecting that she would return, and he was right. she skimmed him, her eyes sharp. You’re the new transfer student? Nicholas Gray? she asked, trying to seem disinterested.

My friends just call me Nick.

She rolled her eyes with a sigh, Well then, Nicholas, let’s make this quick shall we, I have an appointment in five. No more giggles fed her. She pushed her hair back off her face, straightening her back. I have no intention of being your friend so if we cross paths, don’t say hello, don’t wave don’t nod kapish?

Nick was struck dumb; the girl had a sharp tongue. Her nature of speaking is almost ruthless. He was new here, big deal, she didn’t care. He felt silly to expect anything trivial as a welcoming smile from her.

Alright, but before we start on your rules can you at least tell me how to navigate the school?

Let me take a look at your schedule.

He handed it over. She proceeded to explain where to find his classes and the cafeteria. He had never met anyone like her before, in fact, he found it quite strange coming into a school where males and females co-exist. He was from an all-boys school that’s why.

He watched her as she disappeared behind the door, shook his head and continued on his way. His walk to homeroom was uneventful. Through the time he was with her, he hadn't been able to tear his gaze from her. He was deeply disturbed by how distracting she was, and he hoped he didn’t share any classes with her. In a huge school like this, it should have been easy to avoid her.

Classes had been going smoothly, the teachers were great, and he already made a friend. The bell rang for his American history class. He watched as students trouped into the room until he saw a very familiar face, one he thought and had hoped he wouldn’t.

Oh no, he said, covering his face with both palms. When he brought them down, he met her gaze, she had the same expression. It was going to be a long semester.

CHAPTER 1: BETWEEN WHITE WALLS

It was quiet. Too quiet.

The only thing Karla could hear was the silent trembling of her own breath. She wasn’t sure why, but she felt like she had been running. Her chest was sore with every breath of air she sipped. She found herself between the pure white walls of an extended corridor. A warm familiarity crept in.

There was a strange Deja Vu as she steadily walked down the corridor, passing bedrooms on her left, and towards a shimmering object in the distance. Everything was neat. Almost untouched. As though its flare was calling her name, she responded with one foot after another.

A sudden agnostic rush entered her body weighing down at her feet. At the end of the corridor, there it was. Right in the center of the room. And it was no ordinary room. There were no beds and windows like the ones she had just passed. There was something unordinary about the walls. She had never seen anything so white. As she was about to step into the room a soft grumble startled her to freeze.

A lion lay rested on two white cushions just beside the mystical object. It startled her that she didn’t see the lion before. It’s huge. Was it even there before? She was sure that if it was, she would have spotted it instantly. Then her mind speculated for a moment. What If it woke up? It would tear her to bits with its sharp pointed teeth that’s for sure. What if it was a friendly lion like the ones in cartoon movies? But this was the real world, or at least she thought it was.

Once again, she was so certain that she’d been here before. It seemed all too familiar to pass by and yet she wondered if she had been here before and in the exact same position why couldn’t she remember how she got there and why she was alone. Where was her family? She couldn’t even recall having a family. It was as though she was trapped at the moment and nothing else existed.

She stared at the object for a while as it glistered. She held her breath and as though in a trance, she reached for it with wide and mesmerising eyes. The object was a musical instrument, a triangle. Laying on a slim, slanted lectern at just about her eye level. Only this triangle was not like any she had seen before, it was made of stone. As she drew nearer, she realised it was glowing, insinuating it was a magical object. She didn’t think twice before picking up the shimmering wand and tapping it against the base of the triangle. And when she tapped it, a tune played, and as though she had been put under some kind of spell. She began to hum and her lips had been compelled to sing.

When you’re alone but not alone you will find him and a shimmering stone. Whom who plays shall he awake, and he who awakes shall begin the game. For when he awakes, thou must hide. You must have but little of time. Once he finds all shall he restore until awoken to play once more.

As suddenly as she is released from the trance, the lectern had disappeared. Leaving the room as hollow as she felt. She heard the giggling of a little girl close by and spun around, seeing her little sister turn around and run down the corridor, disappearing into one of the rooms.

Lizzy! Karla called, and as she followed her sister hastily, not noticing the missing lion that was on the pillows not long ago. She began to hear lively chattering. ‘That’s strange, I thought I was the only one here’. She followed the chattering that led her into the kitchen. Elderly women were gathered around the kitchen island, chatting while washing some vegetables. There were so many of them. It was like she was in a workshop. They all seemed so busy. The kitchen had suddenly come to life. Karla guessed they were in their 50s. ‘Older than my.... Wait-’

Karla couldn’t recall anyone she knew, other than her little sister that she saw here. Not even her parents. She couldn’t imagine their faces. However hard she tried it was useless. She had no memory of anything, not even what she did the day before. There was this dense blockage in her mind. She observed these women in silence and was certain she had never seen them before. For a minute, Karla wasn’t sure they could see her at all. They went about their chatting and chopping. Since she walked in, they paid no attention to her. None of them gave her direct contact either. ‘Am I a ghost?’

Um, hello, Karla called out uncertainly to one of them. Two hazel eyes glance up to meet Karla’s Hello dear. Can we help you? the wrinkled brunette smiled politely at her. Karla examined her, she had another strange sickening feeling in her stomach that she had been in this room before, repeated this EXACT conversation. Like Déjà vu. So strange, she thought.

Karla blinked hard at the women who had just spoken to her, who was still awkwardly smiling at her. "Um, yes actually. I was wondering