Spark

Chapter 4

Zoey's POV

I awoke to feel warm, like I was beside a fire. The last thing I remembered was being carried away by a knight in shining armor. Okay, a teenage boy, I'm not going to kid myself, but he did rescue me. The damsel in distress. Sigh. I hate feeling weak. My eyelids fluttered and then closed again. I wasn't quite ready to come back yet. Somebody shifted beside me, and I became aware of someone's presence.

 “Cam, she's waking up. Come quick!” His voice sounds urgent, yet subdued at the same time. I recognize him. Weird.

“It's about time,” someone mutters. Hurried footsteps approach the place where I lie.

 If I had any energy left, I would have scuttled away, but as it was I could only flinch my face an inch in the opposite direction. “I think it's time you woke up. I need to tend to you.”

I wasn't in any position to argue, but I couldn't bear to look into the eyes of my torturer and find out it was all a dream. Someone grabbed my shoulder and roughly shook it. My body was shaken, and it hurt like hell, but I was determined not to make a sound.

 “For medical and humane reasons, Jake, it's not a good idea to shake someone awake you know.” The voice sounded teasing, but also reprimanding at the same time.

“Cam, we need to be on our way. This spot is too open. We need to find cover. We're only 10 minutes away from the office. They'll come looking soon.”

 “All right, all right.” the man named Cam said. Somebody scooped me up into strong arms, and started walking. Suddenly I recognized the voice, the stride, even the much changed face. Jake Redthorn. He's from my school. Well, was from the school. I think I’ve been away for long enough that it isn’t my school anymore.

No, that's impossible, I told myself. He can't have got here. You have to be a traveler, to jump between worlds. Wouldn't he have recognized me by now? Then I remembered my haggard state, swollen face, and abnormal hair. I wouldn't recognize myself either.

After about two hours of walking, my carrier started to slow down. Not once had he tired, nor complained, or said a word. We had traveled in strained silence. He set me down and by now I really am awake so I decided, I might as well end the dream before it goes too far. I open my eyes and give a squeak of discomfort. Only it's more like a growl. Upon opening my eyes, I look into warm, chocolate brown eyes, staring curiously at my face. Did I mention they were an inch away? I guess I forgot.

“Sorry. Didn't mean to frighten you.” He mutters and moves away. Suddenly I find my voice. He didn't frighten me; I'm not scared of most things, let alone a slip of a man. By now my patience was not waning, but entirely gone. So, shame for him, I take it out on Jake.

 “You did not scare me. You snuck up on me; really, you shouldn’t do that to people, Jake Redthorn. It's rude, disrespectful, and a waste of my thinning trust.” Then I turn away, and concentrate on deciding whether I should try and punch him, or ignore him. I decide that seeing as I can't possibly get a decent punch in, I should ignore him. Reasons be told…

We never used to get along well at school. He was a jock, and I was...well I didn't have a cliché. I was sort of cross between 'attitude' and the glamorous. Not a good mix. A look of surprise flashed across his face the moment I mentioned his name.

So, he recognizes me as well. About time, I think ruefully. I'm curious as to what he'll see, how he'll react. In the second before he answers I study his face, those warm eyes that I love and his handsome features.

It was always a mystery to me why every girl in the world wasn't after him.

 “No,” he whispers, “it can't be! It's been three years, but I'd recognize that face anywhere. You look different, Zoey Cambridge.” He looks around bewildered, yet happy at the same time.