Page 50 of High Noon

“You’re stubborn, and it’s going to get you killed,” Maru chastised.

“I thought you and Titus agreed that it was my love for Enoch that would get me killed.”

He ticked his head back, alarmed. “We never said that.”

“You did! You just said it…” I argued, my head swimming in confusion.

“Eve, I did not say those words to you.” Maru looked me over carefully.

“No… You’re right, you didn’t. I must have dreamed it. I didn’t kill her. It never happened.” I needed to calm down. My pulse sprinted uncomfortably.

Enoch was suddenly at the door. “Is she okay?”

“I’m fine,” I told him grumpily.

He handed me a glass of water, a slice of thick-crusted bread, and a piece of cooked meat. “Thanks.” I tore a chunk off the bread and began to chew, refusing to meet his eyes.

Maru looked from Enoch to me. “I’ll give you two some privacy.”

I thanked him with my eyes and watched him walk out the door, easing it closed behind him. Maru was on edge, too. He didn’t like being here. Didn’t like Enoch. Didn’t know what to think of me and my brand of crazy.

Enoch perched on the edge of the bed. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

He nodded once. “This reminds me of when I first met you. I took you to the dungeons because that’s what we did with anyone new that was allowed inside. You were so healthy, up until the moment you became suddenly sick.”

I released a breath, knowing he deserved my honesty. “I thought it was just the stress of traveling and the harshness of landing that took a toll on my body, but I haven’t felt right since I left my time.”

“Not at all?”

“It’s weird. Sometimes I feel fine. Perfectly normal. And then – bam! My head’s hurting so bad my vision blurs, or my legs feel like a newborn fawn’s. It comes and goes so fast. I don’t know what triggers it or how to make it stop.”

“It couldn’t have been this landing, because I caught you,” Enoch offered, giving me a heart melting grin. “But then you were shot, and you lost a lot of blood.”

“But now I’m as good as new. My suit healed the wound; I just can’t understand why it won’t heal whatever else is going on inside me.”

He threaded his fingers together and leaned forward, offering quietly, “Maybe it is. Maybe whatever the suit is battling is more complex than a simple bullet wound.”

The problem was worse than that. I was starting to think I was losing my mind. That I was in some cell back in Kael’s lab, hallucinating all of this. That would explain why I couldn’t tell real life from dream, or vision from reality. I took a sip of water and a bite of the meat. The water tasted cool and clean, though the meat was a little gamey. I was tasting it. Feeling the texture of the crumbly bread. I’m not hallucinating. Am I?

“Titus explained the chemical that fuels your journey. Could the element in your hand be poisoning you?”

“I don’t think so, but who knows at this point?” I groused.

“Something else is bothering you.” He didn’t ask me what it was. Didn’t ask me to elaborate on what I’d seen in the spring, or what I’d woken up terrified of, but he could read me as well or better than my friends, despite the fact – as they kept pointing out – I hadn’t known him very long.

“We won’t have long here, Enoch,” I said, my voice breaking.

I was so tired. I just wanted to stay here with him, but I had a duty to perform. I had to go with Titus and Maru. It was the right thing to do. I knew it in my heart. And not because of the bonds of loyalty or friendship. I needed to go back and try to right a lot of wrongs. Plus, all signs pointed to the fact that Enoch was expecting me to land any moment back in our time. That meant I left him in this one.

He nodded, tenderly taking my hand in his.

“In the spring,” I began, pausing to collect my thoughts.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“I do. It’s important. You need to hear it.”

---