Chapter 3: The Meeting

We're within twenty feet of each other when he slowly stands, turning his face toward me. His eyes meet mine and I have to stop and catch my breath. The intense combination of brown and an almost orangey-red mix is incredible. I'm not sure if it's the cloud cover or the tiny wedge of sun somehow managing to cast light on them, but I'm mesmerized before I say a word. We stand in silence for a few more seconds while the rapid thud of my heart pounds in my ears. Then suddenly he turns and walks away.

Shit.

Did I piss him off? Does he want privacy?

I watch him head toward the woods, his heavy coat swaying in the wind, giving him an almost otherworldly look, and for a moment I wonder if he's real. Maybe he's been in my imagination all along. But then he glances back at me and I see that same rusty-red glow in his eyes, even from where I'm standing. I think he's looking back to see if I'm following him.

Wait...should I? Follow him?

I don't give myself enough time to think about it because he's about to disappear from my sight. I take off in a dead run, my feet pounding through the brush after him. My hoodie pulls away from my head, causing my thick, dark hair to scatter in all directions. I'm sure I look like a running Medusa.

The forest is dark, even without the sudden cloud cover and my eyes dart in every direction but he's no longer in sight. When I stop to catch my breath I hear the rustling of leaves and footsteps to my right. I jerk in that direction. It's him, but he's not looking at me and like before, he starts to walk away. Only this time I can tell he's actually waiting for me.

Holy shit.

I'm scared and still out of breath but I don't know what else to do. What else is there to do? So, I follow him.

Again.

Several minutes go by as I try to keep up. He's fast and knows his way around the forest, stopping only when I get too far behind.

I look up and see that the clouds have gotten thicker, making the shadows of the dense forest even darker. Lightning shoots sideways across the horizon, followed by distant rumbles of thunder. If I weren't blindly running behind some random dude in a strange forest, I'd be happy to be reading a good book in bed, snuggled under my covers. The more I think about it, the crazier it sounds, so I stop, wondering if I should go back to my car and forget this insanity.

What the hell am I doing?

Leaves crackle and the sound of a body against branches comes toward me, confirming he's on his way back. I start to panic.

What should I do? Run away? Say, "Sorry, but I don't want to play anymore?"

I barely have time to think when he's suddenly standing directly in front of me. I flinch, giving out a startled gasp. The hood of his cloak completely covers his face; all I see is darkness when I look up. I'm frightened out of my mind but can't make myself do anything but stare. He reaches out his hand to me and there's something about his movement, something gentle and non-threatening. I hesitate because somehow I know the moment I take it, my life will change. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but in an effort to relieve me of my horrible thoughts I reach out and I take it.

His hand is warm and double the size of mine and his touch sends an intense tingling vibration that shoots through my fingers and up my arm-like a small electric shock. It doesn't hurt but I'm startled and jerk my hand back as I look up. This is the closest I've been to him and I was wrong about his height. He towers over me and has to be at least six foot five. The hood of his cape still shields most of his face, but his eyes are visible and when I look a little closer, I can see specks of yellow dotted all around each auburn iris.

He reaches for my hand again and this time I'm more prepared; the tingle is still there but less severe. He pauses, as if giving me a second to get used to it, then pulls me into him, wrapping his cloak around my body. Out of nowhere, I'm lifted and carried along, safe in his arms as he easily navigates his way through the dense, narrow trail.

I'm not sure if he's running or somehow flying but whatever this is, it's fast. As quickly as he began he suddenly stops, opening his cloak to let my feet touch the ground. Everything is pitch black and I'm a little dizzy but I can tell we must be in some kind of cave because water echoes all around us and the smell of dirt and musky earth are heavy in the air. My heart races and the taste of bile hits my mouth. I'm frightened out of my mind and now I'm hoping I'm not some kind of kidnapping victim.

Trying to will the nausea away, my thoughts are quickly diverted when flames catch my eyes. Light from a primitive-looking wooden torch attached to the rock wall illuminates the area, and I see I was right. We're definitely in a cave. Rhythmic streams of rain resonate all around us, so loud it sounds almost like it's raining in here, too. But it's not.

I haven't seen him since he let go of me but I know I'm not alone. It's as if I can feel his presence. My eyes dart around, stopping when I spot a large rock with some sort of white crystals around it. He's crouched next to it, his hood down over his face.

What the hell?

I have no idea what to do next. Should I introduce myself? Should I run? There's nowhere to run. I can't just stand here and let him murder me without a fight.

A few seconds go by and I muster up enough courage to take several steps toward him. When I'm only a couple feet away, his palm goes up, warning me to stop.

So I do.

"Um, who are you?" I ask, hoping I haven't pissed him off already.

Silence.

Shit. This can't be happening. What the hell was I thinking? I need a plan.

Taking a few steps back, I slowly turn around, searching for the way out of here. Maybe he just wanted to keep me safe from the storm? Maybe he's just being a Good Samaritan? I'm sure I could find my way back home if I tried.

I freeze when I hear shuffling behind me. My pulse begins pounding in my ears, overpowering the sound of the rain. He's close; I can smell the earthly wool of his cloak.

"My name is Dominic."

He finally lifts off his hood and looks up at me, his eyes now simply brown as tousled strands of black, shoulder-length hair stick to the side of his face in what appears to be blood. The deep gash underneath is still bleeding and my first reaction is to go to his aid. I practically leap forward, trying to cover his wound with my hand, but he grabs my wrist, holding me back.

"You must stay away." His deep voice echoes around us, pulling my eyes back to his.

"Who are you?" I ask again, my body starting to tremble.

He releases my wrist and looks away, as if trying to find the right words. "You are in danger."

"What?" I'm even more confused than before. "Who the hell are you and why did you bring me here?" I pause because the main question that's been plaguing me for months flies out of my mouth before I can stop it. "And why are you always at the cemetery when I'm there?"

He pulls himself up and I step back, wondering if I'm making him angry or worse, making him want to kill me. Clearly, he's powerful enough for the job. He carried me here like I was a feather, even though he was wounded.

We stand facing one another and I flinch when a loud crack of thunder echoes around us. The rain is definitely getting heavier, pooling in little rivers on the edges of the cave. It's little comfort, but I know I'm at least safe from the mother of a storm that's beginning to rage outside.

Finally, he slowly turns, facing the large rock with the white crystals surrounding it in a half circle. He leans down and picks one up, leaving seven remaining, and I watch it turn deep red in his fingers. He squeezes his hand and a burst of blinding white light surrounds him. It's so bright that I have to close my eyes and look away, and when I open them again, he's still standing in the same spot. I can't find words. I can't seem to do anything but watch. His head is down like he's bowing or maybe praying and I hear him whispering something I can't quite make out.

He finally turns to face me again but this time all the blood, even the deep gash, everything, is completely gone. His brown eyes have that same amber hue I saw before and now I can see his whole face. He's handsome, in a rugged, Fight Club kind of way and muscular, like he lifts weights. He's older than I first thought, maybe even in his mid-twenties-and there's something else, something much deeper and harder to see from just the surface. It's like an understanding, an awareness; I can almost feel the wisdom in his eyes, as if he's been in this world far longer than he actually looks.

He takes several steps toward me and stops, leaving only inches between us. He holds out both hands and I take them, looking back up at him.

"I am your Watchman." His voice is deep and soothing like his touch but I have to stay focused.

"Come again?" I don't try to disguise my disbelief as my hands begin to tremble. What is he talking about? Have I made a horrible mistake? Am I now trapped in a cave with a crazy homeless dude?

His eyes narrow as if contemplating what to say next. I'm beginning to think he's just as baffled by me as I am by him. He lets go and walks away, whispering something under his breath. It sounds like it could be Latin, but he's definitely irritated.

I should probably apologize, or say something to cut the tension I'm clearly causing. So I follow behind him. He's strong, that much is clear, so maybe I should apologize before he decides to kill me.

"Look, I'm really sorry, but this is cra-"

I stop because he suddenly spins around, his black cloak catching up a second later as it flares in a circle around him.

"Listen carefully," he says, his rich voice echoing when he pauses to take a breath. "I was sent to protect you."

Holy shit. He's serious.

"I don't understand." I swallow hard, trying to push back the lump in my throat. What is he talking about? Protect me from what? Am I supposed to solve some kind of puzzle?

"You must go," he says, reaching for my hand and leading me to an archway I didn't see before. The opening is small, like a doorway, but beyond it is totally pitch back. The only reason I can see it at all is because the rocks in the wall are sparkling from the torch. I pull away. It looks scary as hell but I don't have a choice. His grip is way too strong as he pulls me through.

The same tingling sensation from when he first touched me happens again but this time, it's throughout my entire body. It's doesn't really hurt but it's not pleasant either. Kind of like when you get zapped from too much built up static electricity. Seconds later it's over and daylight is all around me. I have to squint so my eyes can adjust, but when I look up I see the same cloudy sky I saw when I walked into the cemetery. I know I heard rain in the cave (if it was really a cave and not my imagination), but everything is dry.

Wait, what?

I spin around, looking for the Watchman, or Dominic, or whoever he is, but he's gone. My hands shake but I manage to yank my cell phone from my back pocket, nearly dropping it when I tap it to check the time. I'm relieved when it quickly lights up.

Thank God it still works.

My eyes go wide when I see the time flash across the screen. 4:16. It can't be. 4:16. There's no way it's the exact same time it was when I got here. I jerk my head toward the gate and see the Volvo still parked where I left it.

What is going on?

I bolt into a dead run, heading straight for it, fumbling in my front pocket for the keys. Opening the door, I slide in, closing my eyes as I take in a deep breath, the familiar aroma of my mother surrounding me.

Calm down, calm down, calm down...

Flashes of lightning streak across the dark sky while booms of distant thunder follow closely behind. I wait for a moment, trying to piece together what the hell just happened. Did I somehow bang my head and dream everything up? My hands go to the sides of my face then the back but nothing hurts and my hands are free of blood.

This is completely nuts, or more likely, maybe I've finally lost it?

I stick the key into the ignition, looking up when something dark catches my eye.

It's him.

The Watchman.

He's standing where he always stands but this time he's facing me, like he wants me to see him. He's completely motionless-a statue-and then he vanishes into thin air.

Oh.

My.

God.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. Am I hallucinating? Has losing my entire family finally pushed me over the edge? Can taking Prozac for over two months cause some kind of delusional side effect?

I have no clue because my eyes are still glued to the spot, wondering if he'll somehow reappear. Is he an eccentric magician who enjoys playing sick jokes on people at cemeteries?

No, even I know that's not true, and my thoughts instantly go back to the six words he said to me.

"I was sent to protect you."

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Protect me from what? Myself? I'm not sure anyone can do that even if they are capable of disappearing. It feels like I'm in a never-ending black hole, trying to claw my way out and getting nowhere when I try. The psychiatrist told me it will eventually pass. He said that since I never suffered from depression before now, it'll just take time. Apparently, the kind I have is the kind people get when they die of a broken heart. Maybe he's right. I've never experienced anything this horrific before.

I hear a chirp from my phone and see Skylar's text flash across the screen.

Skylar: Come over if u want. Practice was cancelled.

A friend sounds really good right now...and he's pretty much the only one I've got. I don't even have to think about it.

Me: On my way.

I shift into reverse and back up, turning the Volvo around. I take one last look at the hill but he's not there-only flashes of lightning streak across the ominous sky.

I push the stick into drive and punch the gas, passing through the tall cemetery gates as fat raindrops begin smashing against the windshield.

A few minutes later I'm standing on Skylar's front porch, relieved to have somewhere to go after the insanity of what just happened.

He gets to the door quickly and as usual, he takes one look at me and his smile instantly drops. "What's wrong?"

How the hell does he do that?

"Nothing. Why?" I smile, trying to make it reach my eyes as I stand there, holding a broken umbrella above my head.

There's no freaking way he can ever know about the Watchman or whatever just happened. He'll go straight to talking about my depression and asking if I'm taking my medicine like he always does. I know he cares but he's like my freaking mother. I just want to talk without him analyzing my every move, but that's not going to happen. He's already taken it upon himself to watch me like a hawk.

I'm pissed before I even walk into his living room. Maybe I shouldn't have come here.

His eyes narrow like he doesn't believe me. "Fine, don't tell me. But I'll eventually get it out of you."

Good luck.

Before we can get into it, I get a text from Aunt Kelly telling me to come home before the storm hits. It's already raining and ominous-looking, so it's the perfect excuse for a super quick visit. Besides, I know he would have tried to get me to talk. I made him a promise a while ago that I wouldn't keep any more secrets from him. Now I don't have to make up an excuse or worse, lie.

After handing me the chemistry notes, Skylar pulls the curtains to one side and looks out the window. "Shit, she's right, you better go."

"I know," I answer, pushing up the half crumpled umbrella.

"Seriously?" he mocks, frowning at the pathetic excuse I'm about to hold over my head to stay dry.

"Dude, don't judge me, it's only sprinkling and it's better than nothing."

"Just barely. Go-before it starts to pour."

His words haunt my thoughts. This is the same storm I already lived through once. In the cave, when I was with Dominic. The Watchman.

Shades of green and gray and even yellow blanket the sky as scary, thick clouds race above me. Now I'm on a mission to get home before all hell breaks loose. Within minutes, my cell phone buzzes.

Jesus, what now?

"Hey," I answer.

"Where are you?" Aunt Kelly asks, the urgency in her voice grabbing my attention.

"On my way home. Why?"

"There's a tornado in the area, honey. If you're closer to Skylar's, go back until it's over."

Shit.

"I'm almost home," I lie. I'm closer to his house but I can't go back. I can't be interrogated right now. Not when I can barely wrap my head around anything.

"Okay, just hurry, honey."

I hang up, trying to ignore the sky that has become almost black with fury. The rain is coming down so hard I have to slam on my breaks at a stoplight because I barely saw it. The wind rocks the Volvo and I pan around, looking for other cars, but clearly no one's stupid enough to be driving right now. I decide to run the light, hoping I can keep going without breaking the law again, at the next stoplight. But that doesn't last either. I don't even give myself enough time to think because this time I blow right through the intersection, trying like hell to stay aware, darting my eyes in every direction.

Almost there.

Relief hits me two miles later when I get to our street. It's short-lived, of course. Within seconds it sounds like a hundred pellet guns are shooting at the roof of my car as hail begins to mix in. It's deafening and I can barely make out anything even with the wipers on their fastest setting. I have to slow down because the faster I go, the less I can see.

This is crazy.

Finally, I see the driveway and turn in. Aunt Kelly is at the door, frantically waving me to come in. I don't even try to use my joke of an umbrella and practically fly up to the door, my purse and a binder over my head.

Something catches the corner of my eye as she pulls me into the house. Something in all black and maybe hooded? It happened so fast that whatever it was is gone before I can tell for sure.

Wait.

It was him. Dominic. The Watchman.

He knows where I live?