Sojourner

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Book: Read Sojourner for Free Online
Authors: Maria Rachel Hooley
Tags: Fiction, General, Fantasy
care.  I crave sleep as my head leans against the headrest.  Through half-shut lids, I see him lean over me, his face close to mine, and buckle the seatbelt that his fingers draw the slackness from.
     He stands upright, staring, a wistful expression on his face.  Then, his mouth switches back to the neutral frown while he closes the door then walks to the other side.  Shoving the keys into the ignition and starting the engine, he asks, “You still awake?”
    I can hear him, somewhere on the fringes of consciousness, but I can’t answer.  Blackness comes with  the soldiers.
    The images are fluid and relentless, like a movie being fast-forwarded.  This time it is in black and white, except me.  My blood is red against the snow.  The pain is intense.  It steals my breath.  Lev is there in the distance, watching me with those hooded eyes, standing as blood ebbs from my body.  I know he can hear my scream. 
    I’m begging for help, but my words are strange syllables that don’t sound familiar.  It is my Native tongue, the language no one has ever taught me.  Lev just stands there, watching.
    His body is so bright, and the air ripples around him.  I feel myself dying, and I scream louder.  Why won’t you help me?  He does not speak.  Small deliberate steps mean to pass time.  The world grows hazy.  Then he grabs me.  I scream louder.
    Hands grab me, shaking me.
    “Wake up.  You’re having a nightmare.”
    My eyes open widely, and I look over.  Lev is there, concern all over his face.  My heart rams my chest, and I look around.  We’ve pulled off to the side of the road.  The last of the sunlight dwindles behind the horizon, and in five minutes, I’ll be in the dark.  With Lev.
    “Elizabeth?”  His frown intensifies.
    At this moment all I can think of is the Lev in my dreams who watched me die.  The eyes are the same.  His body is huge, and I feel trapped.
    Gasping, I throw the door open, running just as soon as my feet hit the pavement.  The boots suck at my feet and then, they almost come off.  Then my feet tangle, causing my body to tumble, adding new bruises.
    “Elizabeth!” Lev screams, running after me.
    Despite the pain, I stumble.  I have to get away from him.  Get away from those eyes that burn through me.  The mouth that frowns at my pain.  He should not be there.  I should not be dying.
    “What is wrong with you?”
    I hear his voice so close to me before I feel his arm around my waist, tugging me to him.  I throw my weight against him, trying to break free.
    “Let me go!” I scream.  My heart races and I can’t take in enough air.  I’m so tired and everything is blurry.
    “Not until you talk to me.  I don’t know what’s going on.”  He firmly holds me but his arms are non-threatening.  Still, all I can think about is the dream.
    “You were there.  You watched me die!”  The words sound crazy, but I can’t stop them any more than I can quit trying to escape.
    “Calm down.”  He effortlessly stills my body as his fingers gently stroke my arm in soothing circles.  “Now tell me where I watched you die.”
    “I just want to go home.”  I’m bordering on tears and I’m so frightened that the world is spinning.
    “And I was taking you until you started screaming and jumped out of the truck.”  He waits for a few seconds longer before he offers, “Now if you’ll just take it easy, I’ll let you go so we can get back in the truck.”
    Shaking, I look at him and find my reflection in those blue eyes.  I don’t recognize the girl there who trembles with fear, her mouth slack and eyes too wide.  She only knows fear.
    Lev clenches his jaw and shakes his head.  “I’m not going to hurt you.  I swear.  Maybe you cracked your head on the ice or something.  But I won’t hurt you.  I need to get you home.”  He slowly releases me, still hovering as though he anticipates I will run, forcing him to catch me again.  I rub my hand where he

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