Page 6 of The Runner
Cara clicked the rubber coated button on the base of the torch and the light blazed into full beam. She breathed a sigh of relief and looked around. Nothing obvious had changed since she’d entered, but she remembered the chilled air and the whooshing sound coming for her. After that, she had no memory of anything until just now. She sighed. A version ofher must be back in Tudorville, but she had no way of knowing exactly what was going on until her memory updated. She knew from experience she would have to wait and be patient. It was only a matter of time; she’d hoped her time travelling days were over, but it looked as though that was not to be.
She hurried back along the passageway, taking bold steps, anxious to get back into the house and exit the creepy dark hole. A part of her was scared she wouldn’t be able to return to her normal life, but there it was. The wonky bookshelf stood open, showing a crack of light, and she hurried towards it and jumped down into the safety of the warm library.
Her cup of coffee stood on the table. There was a thin layer of congealed milk on the surface.
What time is it?
She checked her watch. Only about an hour had passed since she’d entered the library first thing. That would explain the cold coffee, but how long had she been out for? It can’t have been long as she’d been faffing about for quite a while before she entered the passageway, and then she’d taken her time to find her way through it.
She sat down once again on the sofa next to the box of books and rested her head against the cool leather and closed her eyes. She needed a moment. Her head was spinning, and the sudden turn of events overwhelmed her.
Think, Cara, think.
The time travel seemed somehow different this time—her intuition told her something had changed. But what? Like in the past, after the vortex took her, she was aware she had time travelled, but couldn’t remember the details—not right away, anyway. And sometimes not at all. Who knew how much she didn’t remember?
She shook her head, stared mournfully at the piles of untouched books, then stood up and headed towards the door. The books would have to wait. She needed some fresh air.
That evening,over dinner on the terrace, Cara told George about her strange experience that morning.
George paused mid-fork and said, ‘Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I’ve been waffling on about the renovations all afternoon and you had all that on your mind.’
‘I thought I’d wait until my thoughts settled and I was calmer. Anyway, you have so much going on with the builders, I didn’t want to distract you at such a critical time.’
George stopped eating and rested his fork on his plate. ‘It doesn’t matter how busy I am—I always have time for you—you know that.’
‘Of course I do, darling. Sorry, I should have told you sooner.’
He reached for her hand and continued,‘It sounds as though you’re time travelling to Tudorville again. Do you remember any of the details?’
Cara shook her head. ‘I don’t know where I went.’
She knew he must be seriously worried when he stopped eating in the middle of his meal. He had one of the most voracious appetites of anyone she knew.
‘Eat up, or it’ll get cold,’ she said.
He picked up his fork and continued eating. ‘I was really beginning to believe it was all over.’
Cara swallowed a mouthful of risotto and said, ‘Me too. Even Sylvia thought we might have completed our Twin Flame mission and would be left in peace now.’
Sylvia was their psychic advisor who had become Cara’s trusted confidante soon after she began time travelling.
‘Well, I suppose there’s no point worrying about it. There’s nothing much we can do, anyway. We’re at the mercy of the vortex once more,’ said George.
‘True. Although it could be just a one-off,’ she said, her expression hopeful as she looked at George across the trestle table on the terrace and sipped at her glass of white wine.
He nodded, but neither of them really believed it. They both knew from experience that when it began, it was full on and soon enough they would find out what they were up against.
‘On the bright side, at least I’ll see the children again. I have such vivid dreams about them, and I never know whether they’re real insights into what’s happening or whether they’re just dreams,’ she said.
‘They are never far from my thoughts either,’ said George.
They both fell quiet as they thought of Thomas and May.
‘I just tell myself to trust in what’s already happened and that we are both doing our best for them there,’ George continued.
‘That’s a lovely way of seeing it. I shall adopt that way of thinking too.’ Cara smiled and felt a rush of love for him. Being a time travelling Twin Flame was never simple.
‘Let’s go and explore the passageway together tomorrow. It would be terrific if it turned out to be an original priest hole. You said there’s a wall at the end and it doesn’t connect to another spot in the house, so it’s not a true passageway, is it?’ George said.
