Chapter 1: Captured

Slowly, Blade rose to his feet and held his hands up. The man stepped closer and grabbed his arm. Blade looked down at the hand that held him. The skin was rough and appeared to be cracked into dark, solid flakes. The fingers were bony and narrow with long, curved nails. Blade looked up into the man's face. As he shifted, Blade saw a pair of bright green eyes set into a face that was definitely not human. The creature was bald with scaly skin and two slits for a nose. It began dragging him back through the forest.
"What are you? What do you want with me?" Blade demanded.
"Back home," the creature answered. "No escape this time."

First Place in Action/Adventure in the Stardust Awards