The Healer | Part 2: The War

Escape

Edith

I woke up to a loud banging and shouting.

'George, get up! Edith's gone!' Came Fred's raised and panicked voice from the doorway. Daylight flooded the room as he threw open the door.

I sat bolt upright and took a moment to reorient myself to where I was. I caught George throwing something at the door with a heavy clatter.

'She's in here, dimwit,' came George's groggy voice.

'Sorry, Edith!' I giggled at Fred's words. 'I still expect my brother down in the shop in half an hour!'

George groaned. The door clicked shut again. The one window in the room was only just starting to get bright behind the heavy curtains, so it was quite dark again. My eyes were still adjusting from being sound asleep a moment earlier to the dim light.

Wait a moment... window?

I was under the impression that there was another shop behind the wall of George's bedroom. How could there be sunlight coming from behind it?

'How are you feeling?' George asked suddenly, distracting me. I noticed his eyes had widened, he had propped his head up on a hand to look at me.

'Erm... alright,' I answered. It took another moment for me to remember why I was here instead of the sofa. I felt my stomach turn at the memory of the nightmare last night. I could still see that small, white coffin. I'd never seen it before, it was quite unnerving. I still felt an odd sense of dread, like something wasn't quite right.

But then again, I couldn't remember ever sleeping so soundly after having the nightmare. I usually tossed and turned or else slept fitfully after having the dream. As far as I could recall, I'd had no trouble falling back to sleep last night, or early this morning, I suppose.

'Are you?' He pressed.

'Aye, actually,' I nodded and settled back down into the bed. I shivered when I felt him wrap an arm around my waist. 'I donna usually sleep well after having nightmares.'

He yawned and stretched out on the bed, nearly sending me toppling out of it. He was much taller than I was, he could easily take up the whole bed if he wanted to. He was probably accustomed to it.

'I ought to get up,' he said with a groan after looking at his watch on the night table. 'You can stay here, though, I don't mind.'

'No, no, I'll get up too,' I swung my legs out of bed and stretched.

Curious, I approached the window and pulled the curtain back a bit. Then my jaw dropped.

'George, why is Loch Lomond on the other side of your window?' I asked incredulously.

He looked up from where he'd been rummaging in his wardrobe.

'Er...' he hesitated.

'Doesn't this wall face the shop behind you?' I asked, looking out at the calm, early morning in a place I knew well. The still, glittering waters and the hills that rose so gently. Even though it was October, the grass was still green but the leaves on the trees were beautiful shades of orange, yellow and red.

If I'd have known this view was here, I would have spent a great deal more time in George's bedroom these past few months.

'Yeah, it does,' he replied. 'The window's enchanted, like the ones at the Ministry.'

'Oh, I've never been to the Ministry,' I turned back to him.

'It's underground,' he explained. 'Suppose it must get dull working there all day with no daylight.'