Tyler's Story (Tales of Quelondain)

by Chester, Mireille

  He shook his head to dismiss her apology and came to sit on the floor beside her. “Don’t be. You’ve been through a lot, Heidi. The therapist said it would take time for things to feel normal for you again. Maybe you should go see her again.” He pulled her close at her small ‘no’ and kissed her forehead. “I don’t care if you sleep on the floor for the rest of our lives; I’m just glad you’re alive.”

  Heidi took a deep breath and Blake gave her another squeeze.

  “How’s work going? Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

  “It’s going well. It helps me to not think of things.” She didn’t tell him that what she was trying to forget was the way Tyler’s eyes softened when he kissed her, how his arms had felt when he held her. The worst memory, however, was the devastated look on his face when she’d flinched from his touch and how he’d simply stood, looking like his heart was breaking, the instant right before she’d turned and walked away from him.

  “Robbie and the other staff are being great and the regulars are happy I’m back. I need to do this, Blake. I need to get back to my life.”

  “Alright.” He kissed her hair. “Go have a shower and I’ll make breakfast.”

  She watched him walk out of the room and made her way to the bathroom. She watched herself in the tall mirror as she pulled the green t-shirt over her head before stepping out of her sweat shorts. She was thin, she thought with a grimace. She couldn’t blame it on her time away; she’d started losing the weight when she’d gotten back. She turned so she could see the ‘H’ shaped scar on her shoulder. It took a few deep breaths to keep herself under control as the flashback took over.

  Steve’s face was twisted into an angry sneer.

  “This will teach you to forget what you are,” he’d spat at her. “Hold her still, boys.”

  She’d struggled as hard as she could, but no amount of kicking and wiggling had helped. She’d felt the blade cut through her skin and into the muscle.

  Heidi bit her lip to bring herself back to the present. A shower. A shower always helped. She ran the water until the steam rose over the shower curtain then stepped in with a sigh. She reached for her shampoo and took her time lathering her hair. When she was clean and the water was starting to run cool, she stepped out, wrapped herself in a towel and went back to the bedroom.

  There was a knock on the door.

  “Heidi?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Look, work just called. There’s a problem with one of the sites and for some reason I’m the only one who can fix it. Are you going to be ok if I leave now?”

  She opened the door and smiled at the worry on his face. “You’ve been back to work for a week now. I’ll be fine.”

  “I know, but I told you we’d take a hike this morning.”

  “It’s ok. We’ll go tomorrow.”

  “Ok.” He smiled and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry.”

  “Go.” She hugged him tightly. “I’m fine.”

  “Ok. Coffee is ready and there’s pancakes keeping warm in the microwave. I have my cell phone and you know the number to the office. I’ll try to come home early since they called me in early…”

  “Blake.”

  He stopped pulling his hiking boot on and look up at her.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  He took a deep breath and nodded. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  She watched as he rushed out the door with a pancake in hand. Heidi inhaled and let the breath out slowly. He’d refused to leave her side for an entire week after she’d come stumbling to the door claiming not to remember how she’d gotten home. It was the same routine every morning since he’d gone back to work. Wake her up, spend time with her, make her breakfast, then worry endlessly about how she’d do on her own until she left for work. Her parents had tried to get her to move back in with them so she wouldn’t have to spend any time alone, an offer she graciously turned down.

  The phone rang on cue.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, honey. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m good, mom. I’m just having breakfast. Blake made me pancakes.”

  “Have you thought more about seeing the therapist again? I’m worried that you refuse to talk about it.”

  “I’m fine, mom. Really. I just want to get on with my life.”

  “I know. I phoned the detective in charge of your case yesterday.”

  “Mom! I told you to leave it alone.”

  “I just wanted to see if they’d made a bit more headway.”

  “Mom, I don’t remember where I was, how I got there. Everything is sort of a big blur up until I found myself walking up to the apartment.”

  “Maybe the thera…”

  “No. Look, mom, can’t you just be happy I’m home. I just want to leave it behind me. Please.”

  Her mom stayed quiet.

  “I’m just getting ready to go for a hike. I’ll see you for supper tomorrow, ok?”

  “You’re going hiking?”

  “Yes. I miss it. I can’t just go through life scared of what might happen. What happened to me is a one in a million thing.”

  “Do you have the pepper spray you dad got you?”

  “I do. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m sorry, honey… I just…”

  Heidi’s throat tightened at the sound of her mother fighting back tears at the other end of the line.

  “Mom, hey. It’s ok. It’s going to take a lot of time for everyone to get back to normal. I’ll give you a call when I get back from my walk. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, honey.”

  Heidi hung up before her mom could start crying. Would it have been easier on all of them if she’d stayed in Quelondain? She knew most of the people in her life had started to convince themselves she was dead; that she wasn’t going to be found.

  Giving her head a shake to clear her thoughts, she pulled on her hiking boots and grabbed her bunny hug off of the back of the chair before locking the apartment and making her way to the woods behind the building. It was one of the reasons they had picked this apartment complex. It sat just on the edge of a park filled with trails. Heidi picked her way onto one of the main trails. The breeze blew softly and she smiled. She walked aimlessly, picking one trail and then another.

  She stopped short at the sight of a trail she knew no one else was able to see. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the cross gem. Could she do it? Did she want to? What about Blake, her parents? Could she do that to them again? And what about Tyler? Could she assume he’d even be happy to see her? It had been two weeks. Where would he be? Her throat tightened. She should have said goodbye. She should have kissed him one last time for good measure.

  When he’d first held her under the water, she’d been shocked then terrified. By the time she’d gotten to the shore she’d been angry beyond measure. It wasn’t until a few days later when she’d been lying on the couch, trying to not think of him, that she’d realized why he’d done it. She’d given up and he’d seen it and once again he’d saved her.

  She closed her eyes and felt the tears run down her cheeks. God, she missed him. Did she still love Blake? Yes. But what she’d been through with Tyler; they’d fought together, bled together.

  She sat back against a tree and let the sobs come. What was she supposed to do?

  “Heidi! Honey… Baby, it’s ok.” Blake rushed to her side and wrapped his arms around her. “Shush, now. I’m here.”

  “What… what are you doing here?”

  “Your mom phoned me at work to tell me she was worried cause you were going hiking.” He smoothed her hair. “Heidi, you should have waited for me.” He helped her to her feet. “Come on. Let’s get you home. I’ll phone in and take the rest of the day off and you can phone in and we’ll just stay home tonight.” He looked into her eyes with a slight frown. “Ok?”

  She wanted to say yes. She wanted to tell him nothing would make her happier, but she was s
ure that the best way through this was to keep busy. She shook her head.

  “I have to go in. I’m ok. Really.” She smiled to ease the worry in his eyes. “I need to do this, Blake.”

  He took a deep breath and nodded, though she could tell he wasn’t happy about it.

  “Come one, I’ll get you home.”

  By the time they’d gotten back to the apartment, his presence beside her had helped to ease away some of the chaotic thoughts running through her mind.

  “Blake?”

  He leaned back against the door. “Hmm?”

  “Do you still want to ditch work?”

  His grin spread and he nodded. “Give me two seconds and we’ll make some popcorn and I think there’s some chips and dip in the cupboard… why don’t you go pick the first movie?”

  She smiled and nodded.

  “Which movie did you pick?” inquired Blake as he entered the living room carrying bowls heaping with junk food. He set them down and returned with a couple mugs of hot chocolate.

  “Top Gun.”

  “Ah, the classics. Another reason why I love you.” He leaned across a bowl of taco chips and kissed her lightly.

  They settled in for a movie marathon and as the first jet flew across the screen, Heidi moved the bowl so she could snuggle into his side. Blake kissed the top of her head and pulled her close. By the time Maverick and Goose were being told they were going to Top Gun, she was asleep.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  “I’ll take a rye and coke, sweetheart.”

  Heidi nodded to the dark haired man as she lifted her tray and made her way back to the bar with her latest orders. “Sure thing, Frank. Are you starting a tab?”

  He grinned and she chuckled.

  Robbie, the bartender, looked up from the beer he was pouring as she set her tray down.

  “I need three Kokanees, a Canadian, one rye and coke, one rye and seven,” she looked back to one of her tables, “a Mike’s Hard, a vodka and seven, a Coors Light, and a cherry whiskey paralyzer.”

  He gave her a nod and started on the order as she punched everything on the screen in front of her.

  “Hang on, Heidi,” he said as put the last drink on her tray. He reached over and adjusted the green bandana she kept tied on her upper arm. She smiled her thanks and continued her rounds.

  She noticed a man walk into the bar and seat himself in the corner. She made her way to his table, each step getting a bit slower than the previous one as she took in his shaggy dark brown hair, the line of his jaw, and the shape of his shoulders while he twirled a coaster on the table.

  “Can I get you anything to drink?” Her heart jumped into her throat as deep brown eyes met hers.

  “I’ll take a Canadian.” He frowned. “Are you ok?” He stood and sat her down in his seat. He brushed the dark brown bangs out of his eyes.

  Heidi made herself take a closer look at him and she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. “I’m fine. Sorry. It’s been a long night.” She stood and noticed his eyes move to where the bandana had slipped. She pushed it up again. “Are you starting a tab?”

  He nodded. “Put it under Brent.”

  Robbie looked up and frowned as she reappeared at the counter. “Are you ok? You look like you’re going to pass out.”

  She shook her head. “I… that guy, he looked… I had a flashback.” She retied the bandana snuggly.

  He smiled kindly. “Why don’t you take the rest of the night off? It’s slowing down; Carly can handle it.” He put a hand on hers at the shake of her head. “Heidi, it’s only been three weeks since you managed to escape the men that kidnapped you. No one would blame you if you took some time off. Go home. I know if I was Blake, I’d be sick every time you left the house after what happened.”

  “Ok.” She smiled. She went to find Carly, told her she was taking the rest of the night off, and headed out to her car. She started the engine and looked at the clock. Twelve thirty. The night was almost over. Robbie was right; Carly could handle it.

  Once at home, she unlocked the door to the apartment as quietly as she could and turned to close it softly behind her.

  “Hey.”

  Heidi screamed, her hand going to her hip where her dagger had once sat. Blake held up his hands.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “I… It’s ok. It’s been a long night. What are you doing up?” She went to sit on his lap and tried to calm her heart.

  “I couldn’t sleep.” He kissed her softly. “I’ve been thinking about things.”

  She snuggled into his chest. “About what?”

  “I think we should move.”

  She looked up at him, frowning. “Why?”

  “Everything here scares you. You won’t go into the woods. I miss our walks together. Every time we go out, you have these flashbacks.”

  “It will get better.”

  “Not unless you decide to talk to someone about it. Heidi, I know you’re not telling me everything.” He held on to her arm to keep her from getting up. “I mean, I believe you… I don’t doubt you were kidnapped, but it just seems like there’s more that you’re not telling me.”

  Heidi shook her head and tried to keep the tears from welling in her eyes.

  “I want you to talk to someone. You need help.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “I want us to talk to someone.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Blake took a deep breath. “I mean that I know that those three months were probably horrible for you, but they weren’t easy on me either. We both need to get past this.” He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “I love you, Heidi, and I don’t want to lose you to this.”

  Heidi leaned her forehead against his. He sounded so tired.

  “I love you, too. We’ll figure something out.” She smiled and kissed him, lacing her fingers behind his head. The kiss was soft, hesitant on his part. She felt a pang of guilt. He hadn’t done much more than hold her since she’d been back. She’d never said she’d been raped, but she hadn’t denied it when the police had asked what her abductors had done to her. To say she’d been held captive for nearly three months and to not have been taken advantage of simply seemed like an unbelievable story. Especially when she’d shown up beaten black and blue and branded.

  She held his face lightly in her hands. “Kiss me.” She leaned toward him again and sighed as his lips pressed against hers, not quite as hesitantly. She moved so that she straddled him on the couch and she shivered as his fingers found the skin under her shirt.

  Blake groaned as she pulled his t-shirt out of his jeans and ran her hands up his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and let his lips trace along her jaw, down her neck. Heidi shivered as his tongue slipped along her collar bone. His lips took hers again before pulling away. He looked into her grey green eyes, his need so clear in his that her body clenched at the sight of it. She ran her thumb over his cheek bone.

  “Let’s go to bed.”

  His mouth claimed hers and he stood with her still in his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  “Alright, Heidi. Enough is enough.”

  Blake had left for work after kissing her senseless just like he’d done countless times before she’d disappeared. She sat on their bed, her mind made up. It was time to forget Quelondain and the best way to do that was to get rid of the things she’d brought back with her.

  She moved to her dresser and dug into the back of her shorts drawer until her fingers found the rough leather of her pack. She took a deep breath. She hadn’t looked at it since the day she’d gotten back. One of the first things she’d done after Blake had dragged her into the apartment was to hide it. She didn’t want the police questioning her about the dagger and any of the clothes she’d brought along.

  Heidi grabbed the bag and pulled it out in one swift motion like she was ripping off a bandaid. Her fingers ran over the pockets. She stood, ready to throw the entire thing in the
trash out in the alley, but something stopped her. Could she throw out the dagger Tyler had bought her? She reached into the pack and pulled out the three tunics and two pairs of pants, laying all of them on the bed. She remembered the look on Tyler’s face when he’d first seen her in the light blue tunic. She touched it softly. Next to come out was the money pouch which still held coins. Her hand found the hilt of her dagger, still in its scabbard, and she pulled it free of the pack. She traced the delicate vines etched into the hilt.

  It was a good blade, she argued with herself. It was stupid to throw away a perfectly good blade. She twirled it in her hand before setting it back onto the bed. She reached into the pack to pull out the small knife John had given her as a joke after she’d teased them for looking like barbarians cutting their food with their daggers. She frowned. The hilt her fingers touched was too big to be the knife’s.

  Her throat tightened and her heart dropped at the sight of the knife in the leg sheath. When had he gotten it? She placed it beside the dagger. They were a pair. Tears spilled down her face and fell onto her lap. She had to forget; she just had to. She took a long shuddering breath and put everything back into the pack.

  Chapter Nine

  Tyler ducked under the water and scrubbed himself down with soap. He opened his eyes and looked at the underwater world; the weeds, small fish and bugs all tinted a greenish blue. He blew his breath out of his nose and resurfaced, shaking the water out of his hair. A flutter of wings on the shore of the river caught his attention and he grinned.

  “Bird!” He swam the short distance to shore, shifted and shook himself dry before shifting back and pulling on a clean pair of pants. He looked in his pack and pulled out his grey tunic. He felt a small pang in his chest as he thought of Heidi wearing it. He set it aside and found his green one. He sat and Bird settled on his knee.