Ocean's Secret |on hold|

3 | A New Journey

Meredee...

Voices. Children laughing. Meredee struggled to focus on the muddle of sounds that penetrated her foggy mind.

Meredee, time to wake up.

Her mom. Had Meredee overslept?

Children outside in the street, talking and shouting. Had they started the tournament without her?

She felt hands shaking her shoulders.

"Yeah, yeah, Mom, I'm getting up," she mumbled as she tried to push the darkness away and force her eyelids open.

Bright light. Afternoon sunlight shining on a blurry figure above her.

"Meredee, are you ok? It's me, Emily," there was concern in this voice which definitely was not her mom's.

"Emily?" Meredee pushed herself up on an elbow. "Where in the world am I?" she said as she looked around her. She was lying on a soft bed in a spacious room that had windows along three walls, walls that were made from smooth stained timber. There was a bookcase on one wall containing many books, but it was the intricate designs carved into the timber that caught her attention. She'd seen it before, but not on Earth.

"You're in Cyrus' mansion. We found you on the bank by the Lake," Emily replied calmly, peering at Meredee with concern.

"The Lake," Meredee repeated softly as she rubbed her head. Think, think! Why couldn't her mind think clearly? Then it started coming back.

"How did you get here? And what are you doing here?" Emily seemed satisfied that Meredee was ok, so started asking the obvious questions.

"Um, I was just swimming at the beach, when...you know, the killer whales...."she trailed off, hating the half-truth but not sure how much she wanted to share about her mysterious stalker who seemed to have led her here.

"I didn't think they would be there anymore? Oh well, they must have let you through the Gateway for a reason." Emily leaned in and gave Meredee a tight squeeze, "But it's so nice to see you! I've missed everyone so much. But it's been amazing here with Jace! Oh!- I should probably let you rest, then you can come down and talk to Cyrus," Emily stood up from her perch on the side of the bed to give Meredee some space and time to rest.

"No, no I'm fine. I can come down now. I feel fine, honestly," she brushed aside Emily's worried attempts to keep her lying down. Looking out one of the windows, Meredee could see children, perhaps from the nearby village, playing on the lawn, their laughter ringing with joy. Beyond them, the mountains were still just as majestic as when she had first seen them, and the Lake reflected the blue sky and tall pines with such clarity that it looked like someone had placed a mirror in the valley. Running a hand shakily down her dress to smooth the wrinkles, she assured Emily, "I'm all good. That sleep should last me a week; I can feel the air working wonders on me already," she laughed and followed Emily down the winding staircase. The room must have been on the top level of the mansion, as they wound down stairs, glided through long corridors, stepped through magnificent wooden doors, and all the while Meredee noted the intricate woodwork etched onto nearly every surface. It was exquisite.

"So how have you been?" she asked Emily as they made their way to wherever Cyrus was.

"I've been great, thanks! It is the most amazing thing to be living here with Jace. Every day is just so beautiful, and we've been spending time getting to know the villagers before exploring the countryside in the afternoons," a contented smile was spread across Emily's radiant face, and Meredee just watched her friend with a twinkle in her own eyes.

"Sounds like married life suits you," she couldn't help teasing.

"Oh, it's- it's so incredible! Being with Jace all the time, never having to say goodnight but waking up to his smiling face every morning, it's just....I am so blessed, Meredee. I can't thank Jesus enough for all He's given us," Emily gushed, her cheeks dimpling in the widest grin Meredee had seen on her friend's face. "Here we are," Emily said softly.