The hot July Sun was currently beating down upon a certain young man hiking around a lake. As he paused to catch his breath and wipe the sweat out of his eyes, a welcome breeze sprang up from across the lake. Shane was currently sixteen, enjoying his last summer break before his senior year of high school began in the fall. Or, at least he would like to be enjoying his summer break. An unfortunate lack of interest in exercise had left him chubbier than he would really like to be. This led to his current situation. Instead of filling his summer with his favorite pastime, reading, he was hiking.

"Why did I have to pick the hottest summer on record to get in shape? I swear I'll probably sweat half this extra weight off by the time I finish the circuit!"

He grumbled to himself as he allowed for a small break. The entire circumference of the lake is 4 miles, so taking a break halfway through should be fine, right? He took a moment to look around, enjoying the peace of nature. The lake he had chosen as his training course was a little ways off the beaten path. That combined with a larger, more recreationally friendly lake nearby made it so that it was usually pretty empty of people.

As much as I complain, I do enjoy the peace out here. No people is definitely a plus. It's not really that I hate people, they're just so exhausting to be around.

Sighing to himself, Shane mustered up his determination and moved to set off once more. As soon as he started moving he found himself stopped once more, this time in shock. He suddenly found himself surrounded by grey lights that seemed to spring up from nothing. Leaving aside the oddity of the light not having any discernable source, and the strange color, it didn't behave like light should. Flowing in ribbons as it circled him, it appeared almost viscous. When he reached out to touch it his hand passed right through it. The only evidence he had the light was in fact there was the oddly energizing feeling that pulsed through him when his hand made contact.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

I'm not tripping, right? I've never had drugs in my life, but I'm pretty sure this isn't normal. Did someone spike my water when I wasn't looking?

As Shane questioned himself the light began pulsing, with each flash leaving the ribbons brighter. Each ribbon was clearly moving faster as it circled him, undulating around each other in strange ways that left him dizzy. He stared at the lights with growing apprehension as they began weaving around each other, letting only slight glimpses of his surrounding through. As the speed of the ribbons picked up so too did the flashing, becoming brighter and brighter with each pulse. Shane had just enough time to make one last observation before the impossible happened.

Are they getting closer? Wai . . .!

With a final brilliant pulse, the ribbons of light constricted in with Shane at the center, becoming one large ball. This ball of light then collapsed in on itself becoming the size of a baseball before bursting out. Once the flash faded away all that remained to prove Shane had been there were his footprints in the dirt path he had been standing on.

Around the world this same scenario played out eleven more times. With no distinction between race, gender, or country of origin. The only unifying factor seemed to be age. Only those between the ages of 16 and 20 had been taken.