Platinum Magic Chapter 1

          Finally! Now she could go home. Kara had just been writing down all the sets for the marching show. The day of band camp was over, and she had to stay there for an extra 20 minutes, writing down all her coordinates for the show. She flipped the book closed and turned around. She turned the corner but before she could take one step in the new direction, she dropped the index-card binder and ducked.
          Something, whatever it was, flew right by Kara, right where her head had been not even two seconds ago. She turned and ran in the opposite direction down the hall. A group of stragglers waiting for their ride home were sitting, stupefied at the show in front of them, against the wall. Kara ran past them and that thing followed. Then she realized, just too late, what had happened. She was cornered. She turned around to see what she could do but he was too fast. The monster, which is what he was at the very least, lifted her up with one hand by her neck, cutting off all air. Kara gasped then kicked him in the gut. She thankfully breathed again as he dropped her.
          Kara ducked under his still outstreched arm and ran off. She turned around and getting a running start initiated a jump-kick. That was when she saw it, he was moving his hands in the pattern necessary for him to magically disappear. She had to be moving faster by her estimate, but it was too late. Kara could only hope her kick would reach him in time. It didn't. Her foot collided with the wall and she landed on the ground.
         "NO!" Kara yelled at the heap of clothes on the floor, "He got away again!" She swirled around and stopped as she saw one of the kids who had been sitting against the wall. Everyone else had fled, but he stayed and watched. He walked over.
         "Who was that?" The boy named Ralph asked.
         "A monster..." she mumbled, kneeling next to his clothes. When he disappeared he left his clothes behind, just like every other time. She thumbed through the pile.
         "What're you looking for?" asked Ralph.
         Silence and then, "Anything," came his reply. Kara picked up the pile of clothes and started to leave the hall when Ralph stopped her. He gestured to her arm which had a small slash in it from the monster's claws. Kara sighed.
         "I'll get a band-aid for you," he offered and left her there. She slumped against the wall and slid to the floor. He finally came back with a wet paper towel and band-aid and knelt down beside her. Ralph cleaned out the cut then was about to put the band-aid on when he realized it wasn't big enough. He groaned, "Come with me to find one that fits." As they started walking towards the band room he slipped on a paper towel and grabbed Kara's arm for support. She helped him up and then stared in wonder at her arm. She watched as the new blood coming out of the slash drew itself back into her arm and the layers of skin sewed itself seamlessly back together.
         "Wh...What was that?" stuttered Ralph. Kara didn't reply, she just led him out of the building.
         "Stay here," she commanded, "my horse will be her in second. Get on her back and let her take you wherever she leads you."
         "What about you?" Ralph seemed to be very curious today.
         "Don't worry about me, I'll meet you there."
         "Where is there?"
         "Never you mind!" She snapped. "You'll see."
         "What's wrong?" asked Ralph.
         "He got away again," Kara replied, a little kinder,"There's only one person to see now, the Doc. And that's where we're going"
         "We?"
         "Yes we, I'll see you there" And with that she walked behind the building.