Come and Catch Me

My life was boring. Not in the horrible God please let something happen to me way though. No, it was in the content, calm way that every young adult settles into with a fair job and a good life. But this isn't the story of my ordinary life, this is the story of how that ended. I know, it sounds so dramatic like that, but it's true. Honestly, with how my life is now I think I'm allowed a bit of dramatics. Anyways let's get the ball rolling. The last day that was anything close to normal didn't start until about five in the evening. I worked night-shift, so that was normal. and I was going to a midnight release anyways, so it was a good way to stay awake. I did all the normal things I did to get ready for a day, shower, feed the dog, and grab fresh clothes.

I then did the non-normal things I do when I wake up. I looked over my little stockpile of goods in case something horrible happened. Mostly dried food, and tools. And then checked my plate carrier for all its fittings. Everything was still sitting tight so I put it back down. Boring everyday things for me. I packed up and looked towards my dog. His name was Tucker, and he was an annoying little ball of fuzz. Sure he was big enough to come up to my knees, and too short-haired to be called fuzzy, but my point still stands. I scratched him behind the ears. "Hey, little guy wanna come with while I go to a fun little party?"

Tucker let out a happy bark and began walking in circles around my feet. I smiled and patted him on the head. "Alright munchkin, I bet Nick will love to see you." I grabbed his leash beside the door and looked at the time. Eight on the dot. Night had fallen, so I'd be at the store in plenty of time to make the release. I hooked up Tucker before loading both him and me into my beat up old truck. I smiled as he began pawing at the window until I reached over and used the crank to roll it down. He happily stuck his head out of the truck and began barking at a nearby chipmunk. I ruffled his head and turned on the truck.

We made pretty good time. I was in the country backroads near the city before I really thought about it. It helped that Tucker was trying to get in my lap the entire time, keeping me from taking note of the time. I glanced out the side window as I drove, watching a creek pass under a bridge. I smiled as the dark or early night firmly settled over the world. It was a good night. My truck started to sputter as it slowly stopped on the side of the road. I sighed and let out a curse. "Damn, I'm gonna have to fix this huh?" I looked to Tucker as I asked this, who just gave me a doggy grin in the worlds most unhelpful way.

I grumbled at him and popped the hood of my truck. I hauled out my go-bag and walked to the front of the truck. Tucker jumped out of his open window, trailing his cloth leash behind him. I glared at him as he sat beside me, unaware of the fact he was supposed to stay inside. I unzipped my bag and opened the hood. Nothing was smoking or on fire, so the problem wasn't going to be easy to fix. I grumbled and pulled out my cell phone. No service. I slammed it back into my pocket. "Of freaking course, stranded in a place with no service. God just take me now."

I saw a bright light from above me, and Tucker began barking at it. I stared at it as it slowly descended. "Wait, wait. I wasn't being serious! Go back up there you divine asshole, I got stuff to do." The bright light didn't listen and began to hasten as I stumbled back. Tucker ran in front of me, barking at the light as it fell on us. I don't know what came over me then, but I apparently put Tucker's life above my own. I moved forward and grabbed him before positioning myself over him. The light fell over me, and I felt myself falling.

***

I felt a strange feeling as I fell. but I didn't have time to catalog it as I heard a minor crash below me. Followed swiftly by my own impact on a snowy floor. I laid on the snow and grass for a moment before letting out a deep breath. I coughed a few times as I forced myself up. "Hey God? It's me, Peter. Could I please pray that you never give me what I ask for again? Thanks." I looked around, taking note of the unfamiliar forest around me. I stopped at a familiar ball of fuzz and scrambled towards it. I touched the breathing mass of my dog. "Hey, Tucker, you still with me boy?"

I heard a soft whine as Tucker rolled himself to his belly. I looked him over, trying to see if there were any issues with him. There didn't seem to be any broken bones or cuts on him. I smiled wide as I scratched him behind the ears. "Come on boy, you know better than to scare me like that." He gave me a big doggy grin and a small bark before standing up and sniffing the air. I followed suit, standing up and looking over my surroundings. I was in a forest, and it wasn't in the Georgia Mountains. I could tell by the fact I wasn't surrounded by hills. Once you grow up on hills every step of your life, you can tell when you're on flat earth. I thought back to the bright light that descended on me. "Okay, current working theory. I just got kidnapped by the predator and am now going to have to fight for my life. So take five for an equipment check then move."

I looked to Tucker and patted myself down. "Well Toto, we ain't in Kansas anymore." Tucker let out a bark as I felt my normal day gear on me. A CZ - 75, one spare mag, two lighters, a phone, a lockpick set I kept for reasons. and a wallet. I stared at the two lighters that were sitting in two separate pockets. I knew one of them was my standard lighter. A zippo my dad gave me when I enlisted engraved with the Army motto on the front, and the Lord's Prayer on the back. The second one was just a black Bic lighter, which failed to light after a few tests. I shrugged and tossed it back in my pocket. no use worrying about it now. I took all precaution and drew my pistol and racked back the slide. I may be a coward, but the smart coward knows he may have to fight. He also cheats if at all possible.

I then did the next important thing, psych check. I thought about my situation. I knew nothing, had no clue what was going on, and may be dead soon. I bit down the inevitable freak out coming from that information and made a list of goals. Luckily, it was a single point issue. Survive. I could work with that, stay busy and keep myself sane. Nodding I looked to Tucker, "Well boy, let's see if we can find our way out of this mess." He let out a happy bark and I smiled before letting out a shiver and briefly cursing my lack of a jacket before checking my area. I picked a direction at random and before moving out.

*Canterlot Castle*

Twilight Sparkle, Princess of friendship and magic, was having perhaps the best study session ever. She had been woken up in the middle of the night by an insanely large magical surge. With that happening, how could she possibly want to sleep? She was running a huge amount of scanning spells as she carefully wrote every reading down in a journal. She paused as she felt the feedback from her spell give her a strange signal. She wrote it down and read it once, then twice. She then bolted up, running upstairs. "SPIKE, I NEED TO SEND A LETTER TO CELESTIA! RIGHT NOW!!"