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I've joined a collaborative story in the WF. This is the first rough draft of chapter 1 (or prologue) of my character. We were basically brainstorming for ideas and such, and this is what I came up with; perhaps a little cliché, but it's only a draft, without any edits whatsoever.

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So far, Helena Strikern’s day was not what she had expected.

The sun had risen normally, casting it’s dull, gold glow on the empty town, seeping through cracks in the walls of bombed-out homes, striking the creeping, black vines that twisted through broken windows. The light crawled among the wreckage with a false semblance of hope and fell across her face.

Helena awoke quickly, being a light sleeper, and rose without stretching. She crossed the filthy floor of her mostly intact house and peered in the mirror hanging on the wall. As the woman scrutinized her face, reflecting on her life for the millionth time after the attacks began, she heard a screech-like sound reverberate throughout the city premises. In such a listless, still place, the otherworldly noise was even more out of place.

Hurrying to the window, Helena could see a grotesque bird-like creature careen across the pale red sky. It was covered in muddy blue scales on it’s warped hind and fore legs, and black, rumpled feathers on its wide head, long neck, and wings like a bat’s. She could find no eyes to the thing, but what it lost for eyes was made up by an enormous mouth and fangs.

The real shock wasn’t the anomaly before her eyes, but what she heard in her head.

I know you’re there, girl. Come to me…

Helena thought she could spy a shadowy figure perched on the beast’s back, but it hardly looked human, and seemed to disappear as quickly as she found it.

“Who is calling me?” she hissed under her breath, “Wretched, evil things.”

She flew from the window to a rucksack laying by the bed. Helena worked swiftly with her hands, pulling the zipper open in one fluid motion, and pulling out a small bundle before tossing the pack on her shoulder.

The bag was black velvet and smooth under her fingertips. She tied it to her belt while shoving her feet inside her heavy, black boots and slid out the door. Of course, hiding would be difficult, for Helena wore a black tee and cargo pants set, not to mention her long—you guessed it—black hair, streaked with crimson. After she ducked behind a high wall, Helena was able to relax, for she knew she was safe—except when the voice penetrated her mental defenses, again.

Don’t run from me said the icy voice. Helena noted it was getting more impatient, and the cries of the bird-beast were nearing.

Be gone. I help none came her equally brusque reply.

This was the wrong move thing to do.

Somehow, the figure was able to sense her location, and came swooping overhead. Just as the monster passed, a foul, pungent odor wafted through her flaring nostrils, causing Helena to almost vomit.

“There you are, darling,” said a harsh, sharp voice aloud. Helena turned slowly to face the enemy, but didn’t look at the brute nor the rider.

“I answer to no one,” Helena said curtly. Why couldn’t she hear his thoughts buzzing inside her like most people’s?

“Oh, but wills are just so easy to break,” it breathed, “like the flimsy bodies that contain them.” It chuckled malevolently and made awful cracking noises with its neck for effect. Helena showed no movement.

“I think you’ll find your ride with us quite… fun.” Helena shot a cold gaze at the figure. The creature, at an unheard command, lifted its heavy paw to strike. The last thing the woman saw before her emerald eyes clouded over was a dark smile in an even darker silhouette.

Follow…

Thank you 3nodding I know there are errors here and there, but it's only a quick draft, written com,pletely in a few minutes... sweatdrop

Thank you smile Considering it's a collaborative work, however, I don't think I'll get far with this, or even use this scene. Perhaps once we pull the whole thing together, though, and get writing, I'll post a link.

Thank you whee

Truthfully, I don't know. It could be, as it is a compound word. Might just be matter of preference? *check dictionary* Mine says "otherworldly". And it's not stupid at all.

Thanks :3 But again, this is just one of those one-timers, I think.