AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He covers his lips with a finger, shushing me. He motions for me to get behind him. I follow directions and notice the wings that have been attached and on display all day are gone. The skin on his back is as smooth as mine.
“We have to go,” he whispers.
“I lose power all the time during the winter. It’s nothing major.”
“Someone’s coming, Lucy.”
I sigh. “In case you forgot, the roads are impassable. My Jeep is old and barely drives in the summer. There’s no way it would get us out of here safely.”
“Then we’ll fly.”
I stare at him like he’s lost his mind. “You’re joking, right? I wasn’t serious earlier when I suggested you had to fly out.”
Zaph turns toward me. “We’re out of time.”
“What about Bob? I can’t leave him here. He’ll die.”
“Take him in the Jeep as far as you can. I’ll follow.”
“Then what? Nothing personal, Zaph, but this hasn’t been very well thought out.”
He stops moving, reminding me of a cat on the prowl. “Now, Lucy. There’s no more time.” He turns, picking Bob up. “Get in the Jeep, now.”
I grab my backpack, keys, phone, and laptop and run to the snow-covered Jeep. Zaph waves his hand in front of the vehicle, and the snow melts instantly. I pretend not to be freaked out by his movement and climb inside. He sits Bob next to me, and the antiquated Jeep roars to life.
“I’ll keep the ground clear in front of you as far as I can. If something happens to me, don’t turn around.”
“But…” I begin to argue.
“There is no but, Lucy. I’m sorry I put you in this predicament. I should’ve left earlier. I was selfish, and I apologize.”Zaph disappears into the sky without a sound.
Following directions, I slip the Jeep into gear and take off down my magically melted driveway. I don’t see Zaph above but feel him near as Bob and I speed down the two-lane dirt road, heading off the mountain. Just like he promised, the road clears seconds before I reach it, keeping the path drivable.
Minutes, hours, days, hell—I don’t know how much time passes before the dirt road gives way to pavement, signifying we’ve made it past the dangerous part. Pushing my Jeep even faster, I drive toward the nearest town and the only hotel in the area. The ski resort I work at is the only thing keeping this small town alive, and the hotel is the only other place for visitors to stay. I don’t slow down until I reach the parking lot, screeching into a spot directly in front of the office.
I look in the sky, hoping to catch a glimpse of wings or at least something to let me know that I’m not experiencing a psychotic break, with the entire day being a figment of my imagination. Bright stars are the only things visible. “Zaph,” I whisper into the sky.
The door dings as I enter the office. “Lucy?” an older man greets me when I enter. “What brings you down the mountain at this time of night?”
“Hi, Harry. I need a room. I have to work tomorrow, and with the weather coming in, I don’t want to get stuck on the mountain,” I lie.
“That’s smart,” he answers. Reaching behind him, he grabs an old-fashioned key from the holder. “I only have one room left. It’s the honeymoon suite. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, it’s fine. Thank you.”
“Don’t let that dog bark. If any of the out-of-town guests realize there’s a dog here, there will be dog pee everywhere.”
I smile, not understanding his reasoning, but don’t argue. “Sure thing, Harry.”
Back outside, I fight the urge to search the skies, feeling more stupid by the minute. “Come on, Bob. You have to be quiet.” He huffs, following me inside.
The heart-shaped jacuzzi in the middle of the room turns my stomach. I don’t want to think of the bodily fluids that are most likely floating in that water. Setting the few items I brought with me in the plastic-covered chair, I pull the sheets back, inspecting them before climbing in.
Luckily, they’re clean, and I climb inside the warm bed. “This is crazy,” I say out loud to Bob. He stands next to the bed, refusing to lie down. “What’s the matter, boy? Are you grossed out?” I pat the bed, and he jump-climbs his way beside me.
True to Lucy fashion, I rehash every moment of the day, rethinking everything I said and did until the sun beams over the horizon. I turn toward my snoring dog. “I’m glad one of us could sleep.”
“I’m sorry,” a deep voice says from across the room.
