Memories of a Life That Never Happened

Chapter 29 - Elopers

Time slots were up so fast that many felt as if those precious minutes had been pickpocketed out of their watches. As a lovely girl from the party crew politely informed Abel that his time was over, he thanked the seer. Pushing up from the table, he glanced left, looking for Mica. A stocky brunette had taken her place at the next table. 

Lightning stroke overhead and Abel tilted his head up to the ceiling. Several feet above, he noticed movement on one of the four thick truss pillars that supported a large, wide metal ring. Down each of those pillars, curtains of heavy olive velvet cascaded almost to the ground. 

Abel squirmed his eyes, trying to determine what was happening up there. The platform was so high that the people on top of it looked like animated peanuts. Since he had yet to catch sight of Mica, Abel decided to search for her in the stands. There he could benefit from a better view and also save her a seat. Through the audio system, a silvery voice advised it was almost time for the next attraction. 

Shouldering her way through the crowd, Mica left the farthest tent. It was much easier to cross the dining room, now sparsely populated by courting couples and a handful of sleeping drunks. Mica's dress billowed behind her as she advanced with quick steps toward the exit. As she set a foot on the whimsical walkway, someone behind her gripped her elbow. It was so sudden that Mica jerked her arm free from the grasp. Ready to shout at whoever had seized her, she swiveled back sharply. Then met utterly disarming blue eyes. 

"Where are you going?" Theo asked in an anxious tone. His words carried no hint of judgment, as if it was only natural that she was leaving. 

"Away." She doubled back, eager to get away from that place and its evil omens.  

Theo followed her out of the dome, toward the path.  

"Where?"  

That was an unexpected question. When Mica turned to face Theo again, something about his resolute attitude told her that he too was looking forward to escape. 

"This will sound silly," she said much softer. "Every year on this date, right after midnight my family heads to the shore. We skip seven waves, making a wish at each jump."  

"Does it work?" 

Mica shrugged. "It doesn't hurt."  

"Ok. Let's go, then," Theo nodded.  

"But..." Mica jerked her head back. "The party..." she trailed off. Why would he miss the greatly anticipated concert to follow her? 

Theo lifted a shoulder, gave her a dry smile. "It's nothing I haven't seen before." 

Any other day, Mica would jump at the chance of mingling with the Chusters. That night, the effort not to make a fool of herself had worn Mica out and the last attraction knocked her down. She tried to discourage him. 

"You know, it's not an easy trail if you don't know the way."  

Tucking his hands in his pockets, Theo nodded.  

"I see, but you do know the way, right?" This, he thought, was his chance to be alone with Mica at last. A mile through muddy trails would not keep him from it. 

Eyes locked with his, Mica bit her lip. Despite her weariness and Escobar's reiterated warnings against wandering off with anyone but Abel, she agreed to his company. 

"Let's go then. There's a quicker path through the woods, if you are up for it." 

"Lead the way," Theo said spryly.  

Past the gates, the night greeted them with hair-raising echoes and darkness. Theo commanded himself to man up to the task. His comfort zone lingered behind the minute he stepped out of the party and into this unfamiliar, wild territory.  

Blinking and squinting his eyes did not help to discern where to step. A few feet ahead, Mica advanced as if it was daytime. Cursing under his breath and struggling to keep up, he followed her nonetheless. There were worse forms of shortsightedness, he decided. After all, he was exactly where he wanted and with whom he wanted to be.