Page 3 of Revelations

A weak giggle escaped her, which soon evolved into hysterical sobs. Rivulets of tears streamed down her dirt-stained face. Indiscernible mutterings escaped her parched lips. She did not even understand what she was saying. Was it a prayer or incoherent mumblings?

He must be mad!That was the answer! Somehow, that did not make her feel any better about the situation.If he is crazy, then what am I?

The stranger had walked over to a farm cart situated a few feet away and patted the hay bale next to him as a signal for her to join him.

“Milady, please let me explain. This must all seem bizarre and unnatural to you right now, but I assure you that what I say is true. My intent is to help you, not hurt you.”

She tentatively pushed herself up to a standing position. Wobbly knees gave out once, even twice, but grew stronger with each step toward the dilapidated-looking cart.

He waited for her to sit beside him before continuing in a patient tone as if consoling a distraught child. “I should have been more considerate in my statements, considering all you have undergone tonight.”

Her mind wanted to scream at him, and unleash all her fury and confusion, but no words passed her lips.

He tilted his head to peer up at the cloud-covered sky in silence for a few moments. Sitting beside him now, the abject fear washed away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of calm. Logic dictated that she should doubt and run away from him as fast as possible. But something else kept her seated by his side, expectant for what he would say next.

“However, we should not tarry too long. It would not be a good idea for the locals to find a dead person up and walking around when they start their daily chores. They might mistake you for a witch or a demon or a zombie, and then what would we do?” He chuckled softly.

She did not find his statements amusing in the least. With all that had happened to her, this stranger was worried that someone would mistake her for a witch? Had he not just told her that she was “undead”? Did that make her a zombie?

His words cut through her muddled thoughts. After a brief pause, he added, “Also, I hate to mention this, milady, but you are certainly in need of a good warm bath and new clothes. Your appearance is quite dreadful.”

Really? Am I supposed to care how I look? I’m undead.

However, glancing down at her torn rag of a dress, a giggle burst out of her. He was right.

The man—what had he said his name was?—smiled down at her with satisfaction. “Now, that’s better. Just rest and quiet your thoughts. All that screaming inside your head is giving me a pounding headache.” As if to make a point, he rubbed the bridge of his nose with long, elegantly manicured fingers; not a speck of dirt.

“How can you hear the screaming inside my head?”

He just smiled, a cockeyed side grin with a glint in his eyes.

“Milady, I am here to escort you to your new … afterlife, as it were.” He stated this as it were a simple fact, not to be questioned. “You certainly cannot remain here.”

The sky had begun to lighten to a dull gray. With the sunrise just over the hills, the stranger appeared increasingly restless as his eyes darted around the cemetery. “Please know that I only have your best interests at heart and will accommodate you in any way possible to ease your transition.”

“My transition? To what, exactly? I was dead and now I’m not.”

“Milady…”

“Will you stop calling me that?” Why did the term grate on her nerves so?

“Well, milady, since you dislike the title, perhaps I can utilize your human name. There was no grave marker.” He shrugged. “Do you recall it?” His voice carried a perturbed taint.

Her lips opened, but no sound followed. No words. No name. She should know the answer, but somehow it eluded her.

Dejected, she slumped against the cart. How could she not know her name? Shaking her head, tears built up at the corners of her eyes, blurring her vision again.

“Well, that is most unfortunate…and odd. I have to say I’ve never known a guardian to have amnesia.” The man paused a moment. His forehead crinkled while he pondered what to do or say based on this news. “Why don’t we pick out a new name befitting your new status as a guardian angel? That will be fun.” He clapped his hands together as if encouraging a small child to play along to an unfamiliar game.

Now she had to have heard that wrong. “Excuse me? My new status aswhat?”

This was too much. She was now supposed to believe that she was some sort of anangel? This must be a bad dream, or she was suffering from a terrible affliction of the mind.

As an afterthought, she hazarded a glance over her shoulder.No wings.

He chuckled, and the reverberation rippled through the quiet landscape that had begun to awaken. Laying a hand on her upper arm, a mysterious calming sensation spread from the point of contact until it filled her entire being.

“I do apologize. You want answers. You need answers. You deserve answers. Truly, I understand and promise to impart all my knowledge to you, but we must hurry. Our discussion can be held once we are a safe distance from here. However, if you need a name right now, hmmm…”

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