Revelations End: Abaddon

Lucy

Chapter 4

"But I don't want to go among mad people!"

"Oh you can't help that," said the cat, " We're all mad here. I'm mad, you're mad!"

Lewis Carroll

Consciousness returned in her body long before she opened her eyes. Her body and hands felt the soft padding of the seat she was sitting on and noticed the absence of any chill breeze biting at her skin. Slowly she opened her eyes, wondering at the vision of heavy snow in front before awareness of the glass sank in. Quickly her psyche identified the familiar interior of a car; the musty aroma of the worn and damp seats pervasive in the enclosed space.

"Hi"

She shrank quickly back at the sound of the voice, dragging her legs up behind her, shrinking against the doorframe.

"Hey, hey; its ok! Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. It's ok honest." He sat across from her, hands raised, palms out to face her; empty. She glanced suspiciously at him through the strands of hair covering her face as he reached into a pocket, violent memories suddenly awoken and vivid again.

Her eyes darted here and there as she worked through the remains of her confusion, quickly scanning his clothing; a ragtag assortment of coverings, obviously scavenged and well used, ranging from the coarse black trousers and thick woollen socks, to the worn and grubby hunting jacket, its pale green colour bulging with the extra clothing worn below. His feet were bare but for the socks, sturdy hiking boots lying in the seat well, and he had taken his gloves off, one upraised hand now holding what appeared to be a bit of chocolate. But nowhere was her view suddenly arrested by the white or red that she feared...lacking the signal of mal intent and affiliation that was synonymous with it.

Her muscles relaxed slightly as she looked up at his face, but her arms remained wrapped round her tucked up legs, defensive and warding. Unruly black hair covered his head, unbrushed and lank, flecked with grey, a long fringe hanging over his forehead almost to his eyes, and curling around his ears and the nape of his neck. His face was lean, the skin stretched over angular cheeks and jaw, an aquiline nose sitting like a statement in the centre. Lips, their colour tinged blue with the cold, sat full above his chin, pulled tight in what looked like an expression of concern, highlighting old laughter lines around their edges and at his nose. He moved slightly, tilting his head to try and catch her eyes with his, their concern obvious in the furrow of his brows, the edges wrinkled with crow's feet, questioning. Even in the dimness of the car, she could make out their blue hue, and as his concern deepened on his face, she felt the clenched muscles in her posture start to relax.

"Nathaniel. Nate. My friends call me Nate. I found you outside, remember?" the frown on his brow increased; as if the effort of speaking was one he wasn't used to, the words hard to come by. She slid her feet slowly back down to the floor, running nervous fingers through her hair as she looked at him askance.

"Lucy," She whispered, unsure whether he heard until a smile cracked suddenly across his face, lightening his features.

"Pleased to meet you Lucy. Wanna bit?" He held out the piece of chocolate like an offering, features intent on her reaction. Slowly she reached out a hand and took it warily, cautiously sniffing it before popping it in her mouth. The explosion of taste caused her mouth to water, and she was unable to hide the wolfishness with which she finished it, licking her fingers clean for good measure. When she looked up coyly, his eyebrows were raised in mirth; but amused, not mocking.

"Hungry? Thought you might be. The little man was scoffing it like there's no tomorrow!"

David!?