Chapter 10
The last of Helene’s food had been eaten yesterday.
Or was it the day before. She couldn’t remember.
She was hungry and weak and completely unaware of the fact that she had left the darkness of the woods and was now nearing a stone bridge.
The sound of rushing water was first to catch her attention and when she weakly raised her head, sunshine warmed her face, causing her to close her eyes and bask in its light and warmth.
Moments passed and as she glanced around at her surroundings, she noted the bridge spanning a stream.
She needed more water, but the thought of scrambling down the rocky banks to the water’s edge was more than she felt capable of at this moment.
Hope hadn’t completely deserted her. This was obviously a well-traveled path.
Perhaps if she waited long enough someone would come by and she could ask them for help, or at the very least for directions to Breaghacraig.
She walked to the center of the bridge and leaned on the stacked stones to gaze into the flowing waters.
It was all too much. She’d been through so much since leaving her home and now she had no idea where she was or if she was even near the castle.
Tears, which had been missing while she was so focused on finding her way, began to flow and the sobs she’d held in check loudly forced their way past her lips and out into the open.
She cried and cried, until she was forced to grasp the bridge so she wouldn’t find herself on her knees.
“Someone help me!” she called out. “Please! Someone help me.” There was no answer.
What am I doing? No one can hear me. I’m only talking to meself.
I’m alone and I’ve nowhere to turn. Helene contemplated what to do next.
She could cross the bridge and keep walking or she could stay where she was and wait.
She decided that instead she would take some time to rest, then she’d choose her next step.
Despite her state, she noticed the beauty of the stream and trees.
The birds singing gave her solace and brought a small smile to her face.
Helene noted a strange feeling at her feet and looking down was surprised to see fleeting fingers of fog, wrapping themselves around her.
Instead of frightening her, they instead calmed her and she watched as the fog grew thicker and began to engulf her.
“Helene.” Was she hearing things or was someone calling to her?
“Helene.” There it was again.
“Who’s there?”
“’Tis I, Helene. Edna Campbell. I’m here to help ye.”
“Where are ye? I cannae see ye, Edna.”
“I’m on the other side of the bridge in the year 2016.”
“Oh. Yer that Edna. I’ve heard of ye from Ashley.”
“Well, much like Ashley, yer about to travel through time. I dinnae wish ye to be frightened, Helene, which is why I’m telling ye this.”
“I dinnae wish to travel through time. I wish to go home.”
“’Tis for yer own good, lass. Ye’ll see. Don’t be afraid. All will be well.”
“Edna…” There was no answer. She was gone and all Helene knew was that she was engulfed in this swirling fog.
Magical lights of all colors popped and sparked around her and she had the sensation of travelling at a high rate of speed, although she was sure she hadn’t moved an inch.
It all suddenly stopped and the fog moved away, leaving her in a place she didn’t recognize.
The bridge was gone. The stream was gone.
They were replaced by strange sights and sounds, such that Helene had never seen.
She remembered what Edna said and she stayed calm.
“Hi there. How you doing’?” a woman asked her as she was about to pass by.
Helene noted this woman sounded much like Ashley and Jenna. “I be fine. Where am I?”
“Yer in San Francisco. Is everything okay?” The woman furrowed her brow as she stared at Helene.
“Aye. All’s well.” The woman began walking away. “Wait. What year is it?”
“It’s 2016.” The woman stopped and waited for Helene to speak.
“Oh, my.” Helene had really traveled through time. She’d told Ashley many a time that she’d like her turn in time, but she didn’t really mean it. Had Edna heard her? Is that why she’d sent her here? It didn’t matter. She was here and now that she was, Helene had no idea what she should do.
The woman she’d been speaking with gave her a quizzical glance before turning and walking away. Helene didn’t move. Instead she drank in her first impressions of the future.
Zeke Barrett was just finishing his lunch when he heard a woman’s voice speaking to him through his fireplace.
Maybe he shouldn’t have eaten those old cold cuts he’d found in the fridge.
He couldn’t even remember when he’d bought them.
Was it possible to hallucinate from eating bad meat?
It must be, because he could still hear her.
“Zeke. I ken ye can hear me. Come to the fireplace so I dinnae have to yell.”
He could hear the voice as clearly as if the woman was right there with him. A need to get to the bottom of what was going on drove him to stand and do as he was told. “I’m here.”
“Zeke, ’tis I. Edna Campbell. I’m an old friend of Sir Richard and Angelina. Do ye remember them?”
“Yes.” What on earth was happening to him?
“Zeke. I need yer help with something. I’ve just sent a lovely young lass to San Francisco. She is lost and needs help.”
“What do you mean you sent her here? Is she at the airport?”
“She came with the fog.”
“The fog?” He remembered the fog. He’d watched his friends disappear into it and out of his life.
“Yes. She’s time traveled. She has a broken heart and is disillusioned with love. She needs your help. Are you up for the task?”
“I can help. Where is she?”
“She’s in the same place ye last saw Richard. Do ye remember where that was?”
“Do I? How could I forget?”
“Well, go there now. Quickly before she wanders off and then we’ll both have a problem.”
“I don’t know how this is my problem. I didn’t send her here. You did.”
“I don’t abide smarty pants men verra well, Zeke. I’m a witch, ye ken and unless ye’d like me to turn ye into a toad, ye’d best do as I’ve instructed. Ye won’t be sorry ye did. I can promise ye that.”
Zeke’s curiosity had gotten the better of him and while he didn’t appreciate this Edna Campbell telling him what to do, he’d do it. Not for her, but because he was curious.
“Go on then, go. Hurry, hurry.”
“I’m going.” Zeke said. He made sure he’d turned off the stove and put his dishes in the sink and then headed out the door and off to the Marina to search for this woman, whoever she was.
He hadn’t thought to ask Edna how he’d recognize her, but he’d figure that out when he got there.
How many women could be standing around looking lost anyway?
Heck, he didn’t even know her name. This was starting to seem more and more like a fool’s errand.
If it wasn’t for his experience with Richard, Nick and Angelina, he’d never have believed any of this, but he knew it was all too possible to time travel and this Edna woman seemed to be the one in charge of it all.
He took off at a run. He was just around the corner from the spot where he’d supposedly find her.
No one paid him any mind. People were always running somewhere, so he didn’t seem too out of place.
For all anyone knew he was out for a jog, although his clothing was not exactly suited to running.
Rounding the corner, he made it to the crosswalk right in time to cross the street.
As he reached the opposite sidewalk, he stopped and scanned the area.
He shouldn’t have worried about not knowing who to look for.
There she was. A bedraggled blonde dressed in medieval attire.
She appeared to have been to hell and back from the looks of her.
Her hair was all knots and tangles and her face was smudged with dirt.
She seemed nervous, perhaps apprehensive.
Of course she is, you idiot. She’s just travelled through time.
She has no idea where she is. His heart ached for her, knowing what she must have been through and what she was going through now.
He wasn’t quite close enough to speak to her, but as he neared she turned and began walking away from him.
“Wait,” he yelled.
She stopped, her posture grew rigid and he watched as she forced herself to turn his way. Sad, blue eyes gazed at him as he approached.
“I’m Zeke. I’m supposed to meet you here.
Edna sent me.” When she heard the name Edna, she visibly relaxed, almost collapsing in front of him.
He was at her side in two long strides, grasping her elbow with one hand and her waist with the other.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” He bent down so he could look into her eyes.
“I’m Zeke,” he repeated. “I’m here to help. ”
“Zeke.” Her voice quivered as she repeated his name. “I be Helene.” She said his name again, sounding as if she were in a trance. “Zeke.”
“Yes. Come with me. I’ll take you back to my house. Well, it’s not really my house. I’m watching it for a friend.”
She didn’t respond. She was clutching his hand in hers now and he could feel a mix of emotions coming from her.
“Don’t be afraid. No one’s going to hurt you. Are you hungry?”
She nodded. “I’ll fix you something to eat then.
” She was shaking and Zeke couldn’t help the urge he had to put an arm around her and pull her close.
She didn’t resist, instead falling into him.
Once he got her home he’d find out what was going on with her.
Why she was here. He had a feeling this was going to be quite the story.