“Maybe.” I hoped so very desperately, “Goodbye Swaggart.”
I heard him chuckle lightly as I began walking away once again. I could have sworn I heard him mutter, “Good luck with the Power trouble,” but I couldn’t be certain.
For someone who was trying to help people all the time, Seth Swaggart still gave me the chills. Although he had a good conscience he was quite dark and lacked certain social skills even I was aware of. Didn’t he know it was rude to grab people from the street and drag them away?
My heart thumping frantically I sprinted from the back street and down the alley next to the Messenger Service shop. Jack was probably wondering where I was. I wondered why he hadn’t come looking for me down the alley. I skidded to a halt when I reached the main street and looked around for Jack’s familiar figure. I couldn’t spot him anywhere among the hustle and bustle of the city people. I peered in through the glass of the Messenger shop only to discover R?ven watching my odd behaviour curiously. There would be no point entering the shop to ask her where Jack had gone, because obviously she would not answer me. I didn’t care for her right now so I wrenched myself away and sprinted back towards the manor.
By the time I was off the winding road that led to the manor grounds I had a very painful stitch in my side. I grabbed at it, panting hard. In the distance was the mansion, the stables just visible behind it, as well as the mass of forest behind that. Had Jack returned to the stables when he had discovered that I was gone? I really needed him right now for I was scared and could go into shock at any moment. I didn’t want to stop and think about anything at all, I only knew that I needed to find Jack before I fell to pieces. I wrapped my arms around my middle as though willing to hold myself together, afraid I might shatter into a million tiny parts.
I walked at regular pace across the grounds, shivering and clutching at myself. I thought of happy, distracting things like ponies and flowers as I made my way towards the stables.
The great wooden form of the stables loomed closer and I stumbled towards it, tripping over my own feet. I felt as though I was oblivious to my surroundings as I headed for my destination; deaf and blind to everything that surrounded me, besides the stables. My safe haven, because no matter whether I was in the company of Jack, Hawthorne or Camryn, I felt as though I would be safe.
I felt bile rise in my throat.
It was coming to this cursed city that had doomed me in the first place, I could feel it. If I had stayed at home I would not be facing death so soon. Soon. It made me dizzy. What would cause it? Would it be an accident? Would someone hurt me? Would it be someone I knew whose fault it was? My mind reeled with questions. I wondered if given the choice, if anyone would want to know when they would die.
Illness, accidents, murder, betrayal. Which one would kill me?
I was suddenly aware of that familiar rasping noise that seemed to be coming from my mouth. Was I really having an anxiety attack? I couldn’t feel my body, couldn’t make it respond. All I knew was my feet were bringing me closer to the stables. I was a mere twenty meters away now, but Jack was already emerging, having seen me through one of the windows. He could tell instantly that something was wrong for he rushed to me and brought his hands down upon my shoulders. He bent to look into my eyes.
“Avalon? Where have you been?”
Jack seemed to sense instantly that something was terribly wrong, which was usually the case for me.
“What’s wrong? Why is your face so dirty? What happened?” He fired, shaking me a little.
My mouth moved but no sound seemed to come out, and everything was moving in slow motion. I was scarcely aware that Jack seemed to be ushering me into the stables, using his strength and basically dragging me there. I was going into shock, I knew it, but I couldn’t seem to calm myself down. I was gasping for air and my body was shaking violently. I was going to die. Why? Why was I going to die? Seth hadn’t helped me at all, he had just frightened me.
Jack sat me down upon a stool and I realised I was already inside the stables. How had I gotten here so fast? Time was too fast. Too fast. I would die soon. When? How?
Jack’s worried voice was an echo, hundreds of miles away. Hawthorne’s cold nose pressed against my cheek and neck, searching for a response. Camryn wasn’t saying or doing anything, she merely watched me silently, waiting.