*
Blue hadn’t said a word since we started following her, and I didn’t know what to expect, striding over to the other side of the forest. The perplexed looks on their faces said they didn’t know what was happening either. Her breathing was also heavier than usual. She was trying to appear in control and mimic the same calm expression Chris would have in this predicament, but it wasn’t working.
Stomping through damp leaves, and trying to keep a close distance beside Chris, I studied the arch between his brows. He appeared relaxed and patient, making us feel safe in this moment of uncertainty. It was easy to feel strong when he was around. But as we got closer to the destination, his expression tensed.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with her,” Blue said.
We were standing on the special road, where the red scarf had blown, the night they’d left me here alone to attend their meeting. All of the memories returned. The shoe prints I’d followed in the hallway, the laughing ghost in the woods, and the scarf I’d found in the attic; they were too closely linked to be a random occurrence. There was a message behind these occurrences. This house was trying to tell me things.
Like 'It's in the Water.'
Missy was stationed in front of the trail, with her tail calmly nestled behind her. Usually she looked up whenever we approached her, or at least acknowledged our presence, but not today. She did not turn around. She stared straight ahead, totally absorbed in a different world.
“You guys can head back now,” Chris said in a low voice. “I'll take care of her.”
No one bothered to question him after he made himself clear. Maybe they didn’t want an answer, because they’d already started heading towards the opposite side of the woods. But I didn't join them.
“What’s going on?” I hoped my definite stance would let Chris know my stick-to-it-attitude was an embedded trademark, and I wasn’t leaving here without an explanation. “Is she listening?”
“She’s always listening.”
I stared down, browsing over her black lined fur. “She hasn’t looked up at you once since we got here.” It was abnormal for Missy to completely ignore Chris in any situation. If there were a threat out there in those woods, she’d be talking more, or at least responding to Chris in some kind of protective way. But she wasn’t doing either of those things.
He sighed and asked, “Have you ever watched a dog bark at the wind even though there was nothing there? Missy pays attention to things . . . sometimes things we can’t see.”
“Like otherworldly things?” I asked.
“I guess you could say that.”
I shivered at the thought of Missy seeing things.
“You’ll be fine,” he replied. “You’re in the woods with a bunch of people you met less than a year ago. You’re going to feel like there’s someone out there watching you, and most of the time we are. But just look at this place . . . ”
“It's perfect,” I added.
“You don’t have to be afraid.”
“I'm not.”
He didn’t say anything else. Instead, we both looked ahead at Missy; I knew she was probably staring at some unforeseen formless entity. But there was something else Chris wasn’t telling me, and I think it had less to do with his tiger having a sixth sense., and more to do with this sudden meeting in the road, where the red scarf had blown.
I didn’t know why, but I felt like he wasn't giving me the total picture . . .
About the Author
Thank you for reading the first book of my novella series!
TTSP is a remake of an old book I wrote a few years ago, but never got around to finishing.
So thank you for partaking in its revival, and also its conclusion.
Be sure to leave a review, sharing your thoughts and feelings. Don't be shy. Your voice matters. The most important thing you can do for any author is to write a review. As a community of readers and writers, we should do our best to support each other.
For more information, visit
www.TheTimeStoppingPeople.Blogspot.Com
The Time Stopping People II is also available.
Kristy enjoys meditating, swimming, dancing, and singing. Eating food makes her happy, and so does writing near the mountains. Kissing this person she likes, who happens to have the most amazing lips, is another bonus.
She also likes yoga.
This book is represented by – The Turbo Team
Stephen Barbara at Inkwell Management
&
Glasstown Entertainment with Founders Laura Parker (Lauren Oliver) & Lexa Hillyer.
www.GlasstownEntertainment.com
The Time Stopping People Page 13
