CHAPTER FIVE #2
I’m midway through my sentence when the woman’s eyes fly open. A strong hand wraps around my wrist, and I’m too caught off guard to move when her jaw unhinges.
She screams.
Honestly, the scream is pretty impressive.
I think she’s going to stop after a few seconds, once she’s processed that I’m a non-threatening human woman sitting by her side, but then she notices the ghosts.
That’s when things start getting out of control.
“What the fuck?” she yells, scrambling backwards until her back hits the edge of the carousel. She winces in pain.
“You do not want to go much farther than that,” I tell her calmly, realizing immediately how that could be construed as a threat. Her skin turns ashen, so I point over her head instead. She turns, sees the enormous structure with shimmering blue string hanging above and positively loses it.
Really, I’m the one who needs to work on her bedside manner.
She staggers to her feet and I can tell it’s pure adrenaline fueling her right now.
She’s clearly hurt her right leg from the way she’s tilted over, but if the situation isn’t brought under control, she’s going to make a run for it and worsen…
well, everything. A part of me wants to turn to the ghosts and say, “See, this is how regular people behave when confronted by a group of spirits,” but the timing isn’t right.
Instead, I raise both hands in a way that I hope is placating. “Can all ghosts please leave?”
We need to reduce the amount of stimulation right now, but not a single translucent person here is capable of following a clear instruction. No, they’re all ogling her like she’s the one who’s not supposed to be real.
“You may not want to mention the ghosts, doc,” Everest murmurs. He slides to my side, flashing her one of his friendliest smiles, guaranteed to make one’s knees wobble. That’s a strictly professional opinion.
“It’s not like she can’t see that they’re not human,” I hiss at him.
Geneva glides between us and the woman, a sly smile curving along her mouth. “At least she hasn’t seen the dragon.”
I’m going to throttle her.
“Oh, my god,” the woman says, and every last bit of color drains from her face.
To my relief, Keshav hobbles over. “Geneva, don’t do that,” he scolds, then tips his hat to our petrified guest. “Please, ignore her, she’s been waiting for something like this to happen forever.”
The woman is sputtering and I can see her slipping into shock.
Her muscles lock in anticipation, except she isn’t sure if she should fight or fly.
She’s caged on every side; an abnormal carousel to her back and ghosts surrounding her like a supernatural crop circle. It’s your worst nightmare come to life.
“Ender!” I call more sternly and, thankfully, the one ghost I can count upon kicks things into high gear.
“To the main tent, everyone,” he says, before helping Keshav herd Geneva away.
“I’m one of the oldest residents!” Geneva’s fading voice says. “I should be the one to give her a tour!”
Everest turns around to face the rest of the gathered ghosts. “We’ll update everyone at the council meeting tonight.”
Council meeting?
“We haven’t had one of those in decades,” Iris says. “And you never attend.”
“We will have one tonight,” Everest promises loudly. “Now, if you would all please disperse!”
Everest is not one to raise his voice, unlike me, who yells at every opportunity available.
It’s nice not having to be the only one in charge, so I’m going to soak it in for however long it lasts.
Thankfully, this outburst catches everyone else off guard as well and, slowly but surely, they glide away, stealing glances over their shoulders.
When I look back at the woman, her eyes are lined with water, and I don’t think she’s blinked in several minutes.
“I’m sure you have so many questions,” I say to her gently, taking another step back. “But you’re in shock. We need to get you out of the cold, and I’ll tell you all about–”
“This is the carousel of time,” she whispers.
It’s a miracle that I can make out her voice over the telepathic grumble the carousel lets out. Grouchy old thing.
“Yes?” I say, but it comes out a question.
Up close, her pupils are dilated, and there’s an unmistakable sheen on her dark skin.
Clear signs of trauma, but that one sentence was crisp, absent of the confusion she no doubt feels.
I know the carousel was a legend in my timeline, but that’s not necessarily the case in all of them.
“That’s exactly what it is. You knowing about this place makes things much easier. ”
Everest’s brows remain furrowed as he studies this woman.
“I assume you didn’t come here on purpose?” I hedge.
The woman stares at me, really sees me this time. She shakes her head.
Sympathy twinges in me. “Well, that’s alright; we’ll make sure you get back to where you’re from,” I assure her. “We need to give the carousel another day or so, and then we’ll be able to–”
Before I can finish, the woman rushes over to the nearest brush and vomits. A foul odor accompanies the sound of her gagging. Everest produces a small towel from behind his back and walks over to her, dangling it in the air.
“I know the carousel from stories,” she says, accepting the towel. Her voice is thin, like her throat is made of paper. “But I can’t remember who told them to me. I can’t remember where I was before this.”
She looks up, braids plastered to her cheeks.
“I don’t know who I am.”