The Lost Knight (Volume I)

Chapter 35: Betrayal

After Dathid leaves, I numbly change into my nightclothes and hop into bed. Today has been a long day. I'm exhausted, but my stupid brain won't shut off. It's still busily processing the overabundance of information I've received. I can't believe that I've only been in Cromsmead one full day. It feels like a week. I hope every day won't be as tough as this one.

Albína comes in and I try to convince her that she doesn't need to babysit me, but she insists. Just like last night, she knits while I stare at the clouds on the ceiling.

"Is there anything to read? Dathid said the faeries had a large selection of books from Earth. Is there anything here?"

"I don't know. I could check for you."

"No, that's okay. I'm just awake. My brain is at capacity anyway, so a book might really damage it."

I lie awake, staring at various parts of my new room for a long time. I'm not in the least bit tired. When there's a knock on my door, I leap from the bed, but Albína is already answering it.

"Good. You're still awake," Jonah says as I run over to greet him.

Albína hands me a bathrobe and wishes me a good night before she leaves. Jonah and I sit together on the sofa.

"Did Dathid talk to you?" His tone is making me nervous.

I nod.

He grunts. I have no idea what that means. Maybe he'll miss Dathid, too.

After a long pause, he blurts out, "I'm leaving, also."

"What! You can't leave! You can't leave me here. You can't!" My heart seizes, forcing my blood to race to my fingers and toes. I wobble like he hit me. I want to strike back. "You bring me to this strange place and then you abandon me. How could you do that? I don't want to be here without you!" My sobs make my words unintelligible. I can't look at his pitying face, so I stalk to the other end of the room.

I pace until I'm out of breath and sweating, or maybe that's the fear. I stare out the window at the bright, sunny night and let my tears fall silently down my cheeks. I feel every bit of the strangeness of this land. I can't believe I put myself in this situation. I'm profoundly stupid. I want to hate Jonah for bringing me here and deserting me, but it's my fault. I never asked the right questions. I just trusted him and now here I am, lost and alone.

I sense him walking up behind me. He hands me a hankie. I don't want anything from him, but I need that stupid hankie. I grab it, but refuse to look at him. He tries to put his hand on my shoulder, but I shrug it off. He gives up and walks away. It's like he's walking out of my life. But that's what people do, right? Walk out. I shouldn't be surprised and I shouldn't be so mad.

I stay by the window thinking nothing and everything. I imagine this place without the comfort of my friends and I don't like it. I don't like this place. I don't like the strange creatures or their strange customs. I don't want to be here.

When my composure returns, I turn to talk to Jonah but he's gone. He didn't even say goodbye. The room tilts and my head swims. I'm alone, really alone. It's just me. I'm all I've got, and I am not enough.

"Jonah," I whisper. I want to yell it as loud as I can, but my voice is gone. I'm about to run after him and beg him to not leave me when his shadowy form ascends from under the sofa.

My panic is so quickly replaced with relief that it makes me giddy. I giggle for no reason and say, "That's still creepy." I blow my nose and we huddle on the sofa. "I can't do this without you." The tears start again.

"That's why I have to go."

"I don't understand. Why are you making me do this by myself? I don't know anybody. I want to go home."