Page 5 of The Human Element (The Human Element Collection #1)
Lorelei
Lorelei’s eyes slowly opened, the ceiling fan in the room directly above her, she propped herself onto her arm and looked around the room.
What the hell just happened? Did I pass out?
Still feeling somewhat dizzy, she took her time standing up while letting her eyes catch up with her surroundings.
She pulled the chair at the small desk in the room out to sit and let clarity overtake the confusion bubbling up inside her.
Sitting there a moment without moving, steadying her breath, thankful for the dizziness subsiding.
When she felt like she was back to normal, she remembered what she saw before passing out.
The figure of blackness that crossed the balcony.
Was it a play of her imagination as she was becoming unconscious?
It had to be, but to settle her racing thoughts on the issue, she stood and walked over to the sliding glass door to the balcony, unlocked it, and stepped out into the chilly air.
She looked around her, seeing only a small bistro table and chairs, a fern sat in the corner.
Walking to the edge of the balcony rail, she looks over the edge, only seeing the darkness of the street below, with some splattering of light from the streetlamps. Nothing more.
Must have been a lighting trick before I blacked out. I know I was tired, but I didn’t think I was that tired.
Lorelei walks back inside and closes the door behind her, then strides across the room and fishes for her cellphone from inside her bag. Lifting it out, she clicks the screen and nearly drops it when she sees what time it is.
“It’s already 7:45?! Damn, I need to get to the bar. It’s only a few blocks from here, but since I’m walking, I need to leave now!”
She rushes over to her bag and grabs her lipstick, slaps some on, making sure none of it was on her teeth, slips on her jacket, flattens down a couple more stray hairs, places her wallet in her jacket pocket, and then runs out the door.
Her eyes were still adjusting, but otherwise she felt fine again.
She wondered if she should get a CT scan, or if she was having a sort of fit of exhaustion, but with no other adverse effects from passing out—Lorelei decided it must’ve been a fluke.
She noted to herself to keep an eye on it should it happen again.
When Lorelei stepped out of the hotel lobby door and onto the sidewalk, she checked her phone’s GPS to make sure she knew where she was going, and then turned left into the direction of the pub.
Stuffing her phone back into her pocket, she pulls her coat collar a little closer around her face and sets out on her walk.
She could hear her heels click upon the slightly dampened sidewalk, having recently sprinkled.
Sounds of uproarious laughter came from a couple crossing the street in front of her, huddled together to combat the chill of the evening.
Despite the consistent reassurances in her head about the incident, she couldn’t shake this foreboding feeling.
Lorelei tries to think back as to why she might have blacked out.
Had she been dehydrated? No, she knew she had enough water that day.
As various theories were making their way through her mind, a prickling sensation ran up her spine.
Looking up, the light from the street lamp in front of her began flickering wildly, and that’s when she saw a dark figure heading her way.
Had he been there this whole time? It was like he appeared out of nowhere.
Lowering her head slightly as she began to pass the man who was donning a dark grey hoodie that covered most of his face.
When she glanced up at the last moment, just as they were passing each other, bright green orbs met hers from under the hood of the man’s jacket.
They flashed brighter the moment their eyes met, and she gasped.
Before she had time to think, she whipped around to see where he went, but he was gone. Vanished entirely.
Her heart was pounding fiercely and she just stood there on the sidewalk in confused awe.
The encounter made her shiver, goosebumps trickling along her arms, and she hugged them around herself for warmth—or possibly, protection.
Turning back around, she continued on her way to the pub, hurriedly.
All the while, she couldn’t help wondering how the man disappeared on an open street. And what about those glowing eyes?
I must be more tired than I thought, I'm definitely seeing things.
Stepping into the pub, she was still visibly shaking and quickly found her way to the bar counter to sit.
Fumbling to take off her jacket, she lays it over the back of the chair and rubs her hands together.
Lorelei gets the attention of the barkeeper and orders a large ale, which she practically chugs, willing it to calm her already agitated nerves.
Taking a moment to turn in her seat, she admires the coziness of the tavern.
It was a small place, with earthy, rich colors throughout.
Varying glasses hung upside down from the ceiling behind the bar, creating a glowy, speckled display as the dimmed lights reflected off their pristinely, cleaned surfaces; resembling a disco-ball.
Wooden tables and chairs lay about in an organized manner all around; people clinking their beer and wine with exuberant laughter, filled the already vibrant space with cheer and camaraderie.
One of the many reasons why Lorelei adored traveling was to experience the medley of folks enjoying their off time together.
People appreciating the joys of a good drink, hearty conversation, and music that muffled the sounds of whispering couples in corners beyond.
Times were tough, but moments like this reminded her how glorious the world was and how lucky she was to be able to explore its depths.
It was already 8:10 by the time she'd finished her first beer, but Dean was still a no-show.
“He’s probably just late or stuck in traffic…” mumbling under her breath, trying to reassure herself.
Another lager down and 30 more minutes later, there was no sign of Dean.
Sighing, feeling quite defeated, she figured she could have one more beer before heading back to the hotel to wallow in her pity.
As she begins waving to the bartender for another round, a man takes a seat beside her.
Excitement rushes through her and as she turns to greet who she assumed would be Dean; to her surprise, it wasn’t Dean at all, but the man in the hoodie she passed on her way here.
His face was turned forward, but a few strands of long, silver locks draped out from under the hood.
The bartender comes by again, her mouth agape, unable to articulate any words; trance-like, she reaches a hand and drags the dropped off ale towards her silently, as the bartender now looked at the newcomer.
“Aye, what’ll it be then, lad?”
The man finally lifted his hood back, moving a piece of hair out of his face before responding.
“A pint of lager, thanks.”
The man’s British accent was a deeper, caressing sort of tone that could definitely make a woman weak at the knees or make a heart melt.
But right now, it sounded worried and haggard.
The bartender nods and runs off to check on other customers, but Lorelei couldn’t stop looking at the silver-haired man at her side.
It’s the winged man from my dream.
She couldn’t believe it, but there he was, sitting right next to her in this little Scottish pub.
Words wouldn’t come, she just kept blinking, thinking perhaps she’d had too much to drink, or maybe her drink was laced with something and she was hallucinating.
The barkeeper came back with the man’s beer and he downed it in one go, wiping his lips off impatiently.
Before she could muster up something to say, he spoke again.
“You don’t have to gawk at me like that, it’s off-putting, eh?”
Lorelei just stared at him. Struggling with the reality sitting before her, her voice finally found its courage when she responded in a mocking way.
“Off-putting? You’re the one who’s off-putting! Who the fuck are you? I…I saw you in a dream?! You passed me on the street and..an–”
As she starts to say more, he cuts her off, huffing in frustration and at last turning to face her. His emerald eyes were piercing and they made her feel frozen in time, just as they had in her dream.
“I don’t know why or how for that matter, you saw me in a dream. But that isn’t the point, we don’t have time for you to wrap your lovely little head around all this, alright? If you want some answers, and you don’t want to die, then you need to come with me.”
Lorelei hadn’t responded yet while he was already standing and pushing his chair in. He walked a few steps away from her and stopped, looking over his shoulder.
“You coming? Or do you actually wish for death, then, hm?”
The harshness of his tone made her heart start to pound once more. She looked around the bar fervently, hoping Dean would show up all of sudden and save her from this insane experience altogether.
The man rolled his eyes, walked back over to her, hands in his pockets, a seriousness washed over his face as he watched her eyes search the pub.
“He isn’t coming, so don’t waste your breath. Now, let’s go.”
What? How does he know…
Despite every fear in her body, she didn’t think arguing with this man would get her anywhere, plus, he obviously knew far too much about her for her to not get some answers from him.
Yet, she can’t move. She only stares after him, fear gripping her insides.
As she felt she might scream for help from this obvious lunatic, she was saved by the barkeep coming back.
“Aye, you gotta pay for that, son.”