40. Chapter 40 - Ash

Ineeded a weapon.

I looked around the room, there was nothing good enough. I went back to the doorway and stood looking out, taking stock. I could see the gate in the distance.

Between me and the gate were numerous people, all dressed in this odd medieval way, dusty and dirty and drab.

A man walked by and bowed as he passed.

Weird.

I would find a weapon of some kind, then I would head toward the gate. I walked across the compound, my arms hugging my middle, shivering in the cold and came to a low building with horse stables and noticed, hanging on the wall, a long iron spike with the end hooked over. It was about eighteen inches long.

A weapon.

I strode up to it, but there was a sound behind me. I spun around. A boy was standing there with his brow drawn. He bowed.

I carried on, standing on my toes to reach it. "I'm taking this spike. Or what is it... a tent stake, or... I don't know, but I'm taking it. You can't stop me. It's mine, want it, need it." It was heavier than I thought, about five pounds, and because I didn't expect it to be that weight, I grunted as I pulled it off the wall.

The boy didn't attempt to stop me.

I held it tight in my right hand, the pointed end down, turned, and stalked toward the gate, my teeth chattering.

A man who looked like a guardsman strode toward me as I neared the gate. I raised the spike, prepared to stab it if need be, but he bowed.

I said, "You need to let me pass."

He spoke. He didn't sound antagonistic, but of course I couldn't understand a word. I waved my hand toward the gate. He shook his head, that I understood.

"I want out! You have to let me out!"

People all around me bowed.

Then one of the young women from my room rushed up, carrying a wool wrap and talking non-stop. She wrapped the wool shawl around my shoulders and seemed honestly concerned about my wellbeing.

She conferred with the guard, and then the guard spoke loudly to some other men, and they opened the gate.

I looked around. I'm free to go? Everyone bowed.

Fine, good, thank you.

I walked to the gate and went through. I was out. They had let me go.

But the young woman followed me about seven feet behind.

I considered my options. There was a long dirt path that came to a fork. I had no idea which way to go once I got there. I could usually sense my direction, where the ocean lay, but I was completely lost. This landscape was ringed by mountains, I had never seen anything like it.

I trembled in fear. How far away was I from Florida? How long had I been out?

The spike wasn't so much heavy as cumbersome, and it didn't have a comfortable place to hold it. Carrying it for a long time was not fun. I switched the spike to my other hand, and opened and closed the hand that had been gripping it in fear.

Was I dreaming? Or completely out of my mind on whatever drug they gave me?

Scarier still.

I walked for a few feet, with the young woman at my heel. I stopped and gestured. "Stop. You stay here. Don't come with me."

Her eyes went wide.

I said, "No. Don't come."

I took a couple of steps then she took a step. I turned and told her again. "No, don't follow me. No."

I started to walk and looked back, she remained there, shading her eyes with her hand, watching me go. I walked down the wide path, surrounded on both sides by tall grass, it was warmer on my face than it had been last night, but still cool. I was grateful for the wrap. I looked back over my shoulder. She was still there.

I came to the fork in the road and tried to decide. By the shadows I was facing south. East or West, Ash? You gotta decide.

East toward the morning sun.

I set off down the road, glancing back once to see the woman still standing there.

I walked and walked, until I came to the edge of a forest and heard water moving nearby. A river, I could follow it to the next town. I entered the woods, it grew dark and trees crowded the path. What the hell was I doing walking aimlessly into the woods? I checked behind me, I could see my path, I wouldn't get lost. If I had to go back, I could. But I wouldn't, I was free. I was escaping.

I walked a bit longer until I emerged from the woods. Ahead of me a wide rocky bank and a gurgling river.

I looked up and down in both directions. Nothing. Damn it.

Would the water be safe to drink? Probably not. But I was very thirsty. Very very thirsty. I had to drink. The water was fast, it was coming from the direction of a snow capped mountain. It would be fine — probably. And besides, I didn't see any industry.

I went to the edge, and touched the water, it was cold, brisk, I scooped up some and drank. Oh man, it was delicious. I drank and drank more. And then sat on a boulder with the sun on my face and thought about what I would do next.

I was free.

I could follow this river, to the left or right, up or down. But the banks were rocky, there was forest beyond.

And no signs of civilized life. I let the sun shine on my face and took a deep breath. Why didn't I see any industry? Nothing, no wires, no roads — how common was this?

I opened my eyes and stared at the sky, blue with puffs of white. Not a stripe to be seen. I stood and gazed around. I heard no jet engines. I saw no planes.

That was weird, but was it? I felt like it was.

But was it?

Where the hell was I?

I needed to go up to get a view.

I followed the river as it bent north and then left the banks of the river seeing there was a slope up the side of a mountain. It was an easy dirt path, every now and then I would look back over my shoulder to look, seeing the compound that I had left, but nothing else. I need to get a better view. After an hour of walking I came to a boulder outcropping and climbed onto it in a blustering wind and took in the wide panorama of the valley.

The river wound through the valley, there was the compound. Near it was a church. A few small houses, a tiny farm. No roads. No cars. No towns that I could see in any other direction.

My eyes swept the landscape, huddling against the wind, trying to determine where to go.

Finally, I decided to pray. I didn't pray often anymore, not in years, but if ever there were a time to ask for help it would be now. I got down on my knees and clasped my hands and began to pray. I asked for guidance. I begged for help. I prayed for a long time, until my knees ached, until I couldn't bear it.

Please help me find a way out of here.

Or if I couldn't find a way out, for someone to rescue me, or if not that, to finally wake up from this nightmare. Please.

Then a low voice filled my mind, like an exhale — Where?

I don't know. I don't recognize anything.