Page 26 of Meet Me Under the Northern Lights

Chloe’s heart was pumping hard and her head felt like it might burst as the pressure of a million thoughts all pushed against her skull.

She was running up the black sand, boots and the terrain making it heavy work, but she was determined to get as far away from Kat and this revelation as was possible in this moment.

Except being utterly determined and focussed about escape was counterintuitive when it came to practicalities.

She found herself not caring about her foot placements on the steps upwards, adrenaline surging, hurt powering through her.

‘Chloe, you need to slow down.’

A voice. Her subconscious. Telling her what to do. She was absolutely not listening to reason right now.

She stepped faster, feet slipping as she tried two steps at once.

‘Chloe, stop.’

It was then she realised it wasn’t a voice in her head, it was real. Gunnar.

‘Not stopping,’ she replied, her breath catching as she carried on rushing up the incline.

‘You will stop,’ came the reply. ‘Because you are not reading the signs that say caution is needed. Because the stone is wet. Because you are on my tour.’

‘I don’t care about any of those things. Leave me alone.’

She was furious. With Michael. With the world.

With herself for letting this news hit her so hard.

And then she came to a very abrupt halt.

It was like walking straight into a mountain.

A mountain with arms that were forcefully holding her in place.

She tried to move, wriggle, just breathe, but nothing was working.

‘Everything is OK,’ Gunnar said, the timbre of his voice low, vibrating through her.

She went to speak, opened her mouth but nothing was coming out. Instead she found herself struggling to breathe, emotion clawing.

‘Do not cry.’

It took the words to make her realise that she was actually crying. How could she be crying and not know? What was happening here?

‘Be still. For a moment,’ Gunnar continued, holding tight.

Be still. Think. Don’t think.

It took a few moments before her heart stopped racing and her mind started fighting with the emotional response and winning. She took a deep breath in, solidified her stance, let the chill breeze hit her cheeks.

‘OK?’ he asked, loosening his hold just a little.

‘Yes.’ She wasn’t. But she was better.

‘OK, so, you need to lean forward now,’ he said.

‘What?’ She went to move and then she rocked on her heels.

‘Slowly, Chloe.’ His hand was at her back fast.

It was then she realised just how close to the edge of the path she was, only a short distance away from the steepest drop. Then she shook and he didn’t wait a second longer, he pulled her towards him harder.

‘Breathe,’ he ordered. ‘Look at me.’

She took a deep breath, and met his intense eyes.

‘You want to talk about it?’ he asked her, his words more of a whisper of a suggestion. Supportive, encouraging, yet unpressured.

‘No,’ she answered, shaking her head.

He nodded, accepting. ‘You are OK, krúttio mitt . Safe now.’

Safe. Mind over heart. Focus.

‘I know,’ she answered with as much determination as she could muster.

‘Good,’ he said. ‘Very good.’

And still he was holding her… until…

‘So, slowly up the steps, yes?’ He let go. ‘I have to make sure everyone is leaving now so we are on time for the next stop.’

‘OK,’ she answered. ‘Good.’

He nodded. ‘Good.’

Without saying anything else she watched him start to make his way back down the incline.