James and the Fey (Legends of Pinewood 3)

3. When You Are The Chosen One

The worst thing about my nightmares was usually the moment right before I woke up.

That moment when I was running, frantically searching for a way to wake myself up and hoping I'd make it before a shadow or creature grabbed me.

So far, I'd always made it out in time before I got harmed. Except for last night. I still felt the vines digging into my skin, and I still half-expected to find wounds all over my body. But whenever I looked or brushed my fingers against my skin, the wounds weren't there.

Then again, it seemed this particular 'nightmare' wasn't entirely over yet.

I opened my eyes to a dark room. Thankfully, it was a familiar room this time. My aunt and uncle's guestroom. For a while, I felt too groggy to get up, so I just stared out the window. The sun was already setting, and it seemed I'd slept through the entire afternoon.

I was surprised Riley had left me alone this long. Where was he, anyway?

After finally convincing myself to get up, I trudged down the stairs. Darting a glance at the clock in the living room, I noted it was five and my aunt and uncle should be home from work soon. Riley was in the kitchen.

The moment I closed the living room door behind me, Riley's face poked around the corner.

"James! Jesus, I thought you'd never get up. Come here!" he hissed.

"What?"

"Your weirdo 'friend' is still there."

I frowned and walked to the kitchen. "What are you talking about?"

"That dude who brought your tent after Xavier and the muscle-lady left."

Riley pointed at something outside. I stepped beside him and tried to see what he was looking at.

A jolt ran down my spine when I saw one of the strangers from this morning standing outside our house.

"That's Isen," I thought out loud. "He was with Xavier and the other woman this morning."

But that didn't answer the question why Isen was in front of my aunt and uncle's house. He wasn't staring at us or the house or anything, but that didn't make his presence here any less weird.

Riley turned to me and raised a brow. "You know the weirdo, then?"

"No, not exactly."

Only now that I saw Isen again, it occurred to me it was actually strange that I'd never seen him before.

I knew most people who lived in Pinewood, and I'd visited every village in the greater area at least once. While I hated camping, I enjoyed meeting new people and even at a young age, I'd already wanted to travel around with the limited means I had at the time. Even if it was only a road trip to all the villages in the woods.

If Isen was from here, I should have to know him and I didn't. Yet, Xavier who had rarely left his own village, did.

"I think he's one of Xavier's friends," I said.

"Well? Call Xavier and ask what his 'friend' is doing in front of my house," Riley complained.

"Wait, so how long has he been here?" I asked.

Riley shrugged. "I don't know! I wasn't staring out the window the entire day. For all I know, he's been there since this morning when he delivered your tent."

I sighed. "I'll go ask what he wants."

Riley shrugged again and walked over to the cabinet. "Suit yourself," he said, as he grabbed a bag of chips and pulled it open. "As long as you don't go camping. I'm not looking for you in the woods if you faint again."