AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I could say the same for you and your secretary,” Laura said, getting huge enjoyment out of teasing him. “You see her all day long.”
“Ah, not all day, and not every day,” Chris said, holding up a finger. “Sometimes, like today, I only work a half day.”
“It’s not my fault you’re a part-timer,” Laura grinned.
Chris shook his head and rolled his eyes – though Laura sensed it was at himself, not at her. “Okay. So maybe it’s a little ridiculous. But you did tell him first.”
“Ah,” Laura said. “But you’re looking at it wrong.”
“I am?”
“I told him after we’d worked together for four years,” she said. “I’ve only known you for four months.”
Chris tilted his head as if considering. “Actually, that does make me feel better.”
“Good.” Laura sipped at her coffee and Chris did the same, the pair of them sharing a more comfortable silence now. “I wish I could have done more, but I guess it’s just one of those cases.”
“Don’t feel bad.” Chris looked at his hands as he spoke, as if he was remembering something in particular. “Sometimes you just can’t help everyone. I still get those patients that I can’t save, no matter how hard I try. It’s not your fault, same as it’s not my fault.”
“You’re right.” Laura reached over and touched his hand to reassure him – then instantly pulled back. What was that?
“What?” Chris asked, a worried look coming over his face.
“I’m… I’m not sure,” Laura said. She took a breath, told herself to be brave, and reached out again.
The feeling that came over her was like being submerged in fog. Gray, light fog swathing around her, clouding the room and swallowing everything up. It was a similar experience to the aura of death she had, minor handful of times, encountered, but that was a clinging, cloying blackness. This was much lighter – but she had no doubt that it was just as serious.
“I think you’re in danger,” she said.
“From what?” Chris asked immediately, his eyes going wide.
Laura shook her head, unable to give him an answer. She was trying to think, to concentrate. She gripped his wrist harder, closing her eyes to focus, willing a vision to come. This wasn’t like the awful, sick feeling she got from the aura of death – she could power through it. But nothing came.
“I just don’t know,” she said, helplessly shrugging as she let go. “It’s not becoming clearer or giving me any further signs. I just have this vague, foggy feeling.”
“That’s reassuring,” Chris said.
“Sorry,” Laura replied, pressing her hands against her own forehead. “Sorry. I probably shouldn’t have said anything. What a useless thing – to warn you against something without actually being able to say what it is.”
“No, I guess it’s good,” Chris said. Laura got the sense that he was trying hard to take it well, for her sake. Under the surface of his words she sensed a current of tension, of fear. “I can watch out for things. I don’t know what I’m watching out for, but I can be sensible. Like, maybe I won’t drive too fast on the way to work tomorrow, even if I’m running late.”
“Yeah,” Laura nodded. “I would appreciate you being a little more careful for a bit. Until I get more details – or it goes away.”
“Don’t you have to keep touching me in order to make these visions show up?” Chris asked.
“I do,” Laura smiled.
“I think I like the sound of this vague danger after all,” Chris grinned. She had the impression that he was latching onto a joke in order to hide the very real unease he felt. Unease that centered around her – something she wasn’t too pleased about.
Even though she smiled back, Laura couldn’t shake that sense of unease. That something was coming. Something she didn’t know, couldn’t name. It wasn’t the aura of death – but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t turn into one. And besides, there were plenty of things that were worse than death. Things that would make you wish that death had come for you after all.
All she could do now was stay vigilant for whatever it was that was coming for Chris – because there was no way in hell she was letting it get to him.
CHAPTER SEVEN
July looked down at the car keys in her hand, thinking. If she just focused, she would be able to get them in the lock. She just had to manage to control the swaying for a moment, and it would work. Left… no, right…
July stopped, the key clunking against the side of the lock yet again and not quite getting in. She couldn’t unlock the damn car.
