The Dark Details

The Visitor - 2

Reava

Reava had a migraine, the fifth in as many weeks. Mum was already muttering about specialists under her breath, the phone balanced between her chin and shoulder while she waited for the doctor's receptionist to return to the call.

Closing her eyes, Reava let everything blur into insignificance and tried to blot out the sickening stabbing pain behind her left eye. She'd never suffered headaches, in fact she'd always been in excellent health; she'd been the only student at school with a perfect attendance record. Fortunate really, as any time she did feel slightly under the weather after a bad night's sleep, Mum always freaked out. Reava suspected it was down to the fact that she was adopted. Jessica Nicholls believed that 'forewarned was forearmed' , something that was impossible in Reava's case as they'd never known anything about her biological parents; who knew how many horrible hereditary diseases were lurking in her mystery family tree.

Jagged flashes of light flickered in the darkness and she pulled one of the sofa cushions over her face as though that would somehow help. The colours faded, leaving insipid echoes of their vibrant rainbows imprinted on the back of her eyelids until a milky white light encompassed it all.

"Reava." The low, thrum of a voice was barely there, like a wisp of smoke on the breeze. "Reava!"

She sat up slowly, hand to her head, knocking the cushion onto the floor.

"What?" She muttered, reaching out for the glass of water on the side-table and taking a long swig.

Mum turned around with a frown on her face and shook her head, holding out a hand as if to ward off the question. She was nodding along with whatever the receptionist was saying, absorbed in the conversation.

Reava stared at her for a moment in confusion, then slumped back onto the sofa, closing her eyes and willing herself to go to sleep.

"Reava," The voice was clearer now; deep and husky, full of promise, and most definitely male. Reava jolted upright, her head pounding, and scanned the room through slitted eyes but there was nobody there. She eased herself back down onto the cushions and wondered idly if she was going mad. 

"Can you hear me, Reava?" This time, when she glanced wildly about her, she saw him. He pushed the hood of his silky black cloak back to reveal shoulder-length dirty blonde hair and a tanned, angular face hiding behind a rugged beard. Reava swallowed, heart racing, and closed her eyes. When she opened them he was still there.

"Who are you?" She asked, weakly, sitting up clumsily and tucking the loose strands of hair around her face behind her ears. "Where did you come from?" And why am I not afraid? 

"You'll know soon enough," His smile made her insides curl up. Reava thought he might be the most beautiful man she'd ever laid eyes on. He was wearing a pristine white shirt and black trousers beneath the cloak, and the thin layer of fabric rippled around him when he walked towards her. Reava stared, knowing she should call out to Mum or tell him to stay back, but she wanted him to come closer. She frowned, surprised to find herself on her feet, all traces of her headache gone. 

"Don't be afraid," He said, warmly. "This is just a test, nothing to worry about."

"A test?" She repeated, dreamily. She blinked, trying to clear her head and put a hand to her cheek, uncomfortably aware of the heat flooding through her. 

"Nothing to worry about." He said again. His eyes were very blue, she noted, any notion of calling out for help leaving her entirely. "Are you feeling quite well?"