5
Talia
Did I hit my head? That explains the pounding at the base of my skull. The man’s voice is kind of familiar, but not enough that I can place it. I open my eyes and stare up at the clear blue sky. The air tastes sweet and I’m dizzy and breathless even though I’m lying down.
I turn my head, trying to figure out where I am and what happened. There’s a pretty blond man kneeling nearby. He’s staring and apparently concerned about me, judging by his pinched expression. I should know who he is, but my mind refuses to provide the answers.
“Where am I?” My throat is dry. I struggle to sit up. My arms are weak, and everything aches like I’ve been run over by a bus.
“Take it easy.” The guy helps me sit. His touch is cool, almost impersonal, but he’s studying me a little too hard, like I’m a bug about to be dissected.
My heart lurches and I check my clothing, but it’s all in place. Then I glance around the clearing. It’s just me and him and a rolling field of grass. There are trees not that far away, but they are too green when they should have orange leaves. I frown. I’ve never seen those kinds of trees before. My heart lurches. This isn’t the park.
“How long was I out for?” I’m checking my watch before the guy even answers.
“A while.”
My watch is blank. I tap the screen and flick my wrist, but the battery seems to be dead. Damn it. It shouldn’t be dead. Am I dead?
If I am dead, would I be wondering about being dead?
I don’t think so.
Memories flicker to the surface of my mind. I was walking the dogs and…
I turn around and whistle, hoping that they’ll come. “Where are the dogs?”
Mild panic swells and breaks in a storm. I scramble to my knees. Where the hell am I?
“They took off, and you chased after them, and then you hit your head,” he says, and it sounds perfectly reasonable, but it’s also a lie. I can almost taste it.
I glare at him. “Then why aren’t I on the path? How did I end up here?” I narrow my eyes. “And what do you have to do with it?” He’s kneeling next to me as though ready to help, but at his waist is a gun and what looks to be a sword next to it. My chest constricts. “Who are you?”
“I’m Ronan. Do you remember your name, what day it is or anything about what happened?”
I hesitate. Am I being overly cautious or is he being overly solicitous?
“Talia.” As for what day it is…I sneak another look at my watch. Hoping it’s back alive.
He smiles. “That’s cheating.”
“Clearly, I’m fine if I remember how to cheat,” I snap. I’m not sure I am fine though. The edges of the world have a sparkle. I need to get out of here and my head injury is the perfect excuse. “I think I need to get my head checked out. I’m still seeing stars.”
The world shouldn’t glitter at the edges of my vision. I keep turning my head to try to catch whatever is there, but of course there’s nothing.
He stands and offers me a hand, which I accept. Not because I want to, but because I think I might need it and I don’t want him to realize that I don’t trust him. I’m alone with him and I have no idea where I am.
Once I’m standing, I don’t feel any better. My stomach grumbles, my mouth is like a desert and I’m a little dizzy. I feel my pocket for my phone, glad that it’s there, and pull it out. It’s as dead as my watch. Well, fuck.
“I need to find the dogs.” I need to take them home or I’ll lose my job. And I’ll be late for my afternoon walks if I don’t head back. Though the idea of wrangling more dogs seems like a bit too much. Whatever happened has left me exhausted.
He licks his lip and I know there’s something he isn’t telling me. “I’ll take you to the healer.”
Healer, he must mean doctor. I force a smile even though I am not fine. “I need to find the path and then I’ll be fine. No need to trouble yourself.” I even force a smile.
This isn’t part of the park I’m familiar with, but I don’t want to share how lost I am with him.
“If you need to get your head examined you aren’t fine, Talia.”
