Chapter Three

Nora ran out of the house with a teary face, she ran across the street and didn't know where she was headed to, she wasn't thinking all she knew was that something was wrong with her, but she didn't know what it was, she left the streets and was headed down the hills when a figure was running behind her breathless and eager to catch up with her, she increased her stride and kept still crying. 

"How was she to find out? What is she going to do? What If I can hurt people?" All these thoughts circled her head, as she ran still increasing her stride, then she heard her name, 

"Nora! Nora!!" Yelled the voice, still running after her, 

She didn't look back, neither did she turn her head, she kept running, by this time she had left the town and almost at the hills, the figure caught up with her, he grabbed her shoulders with great strength. 

"Darey!" She exclaimed as he turned her around to face him, he looked different, with those blue-grey eyes, and long dark hairs tumbling down to his shoulders, his muscles well-trimmed, biceps popping out.

 "Did he somehow change himself? Or it might be from her, yes it is definitely from her, there's something wrong with her," she thought to herself as she stared at him.

"Nora, I don't know what happened but we are far away from the city and," Darey said as Nora interrupted him

"How come you are here?" She asked, 

"I stay just two blocks away from the house," Replied Darey, 

"I haven't noticed you, or seen you around," She said wiping the tears off her eyes, 

"Let me help," Darey said as he wiped off her tears with his hands, 

"We need to head back to the city before it gets dark," Darey said, 

"I can't, I am not ready to face my mum yet," She replied, 

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, 

"I don't," she replied, 

"Come on, there is a place I usually go to whenever I feel like the world is pressing its fangs inside my neck, you will like it there, it might help relieve you," Said Darey as he stretches out his hands to her, she hesitates looking at him suspiciously, 

"At least let me help you, just as you did help me," Darey said

Smiling at her, she put her hands in his. At that moment she felt a connection as if they had known each other for a long time, what she felt when she had helped him at school.

"How do you manage to hide all these?" She asked, gazing at all his physique, 

"Come on, I don't hide them, they just won't show in those clothes I wear to school," he said grinning, 

"Oh! Clothes," she replied remembering what he had worn to school, baggy jeans and a sweatshirt two times his size, but now he just had blue joggers and a casual short sleeve t-shirt and a canvas.

"How did you see me?" She asked, 

"I was about to go to the basketball court when I saw you run out of the house like a whirlwind, I didn't know how to stop you, so I followed you, " replied Darey

They kept discussing till they got to a place that covers about four hectares, and includes Tropical, Subtropical, Mediterranean and Arid glasshouses, a winter garden and a rock garden, a pinetum, a Japanese garden, and a herb garden. There was also a woodland walk, a fern garden and a lawn aviary, the flowers in it were blooming and the sight was amazing.

"It's beautiful," Nora said in amazement, 

"Yes, it is, come on," Said Darey as he led her through the flowers and they got to the back of the flowers, where there was a waterfall. 

"Wow! This is amazing, Nora exclaimed, 

The air blew their hair across their faces, she was beaming, her face had this spark that made her fairer, she felt a surge of power that comes with nature, with that she yelled at the waves.

" Yes, that's the feeling, you can yell as much as you want here, no one will stop you," Darey said, joining her as they yelled together.

"This feels good," said Nora, 

"Come on," Darey said leading her back to the herb garden, where they sat down, 

"Strange things have been happening to me, I don't understand," Nora said, 

"Just like what happened at school?" Asked Darey,

"Yes, I have also been dreaming about things that happened in ancient times, I don't understand them, and mummy won't explain them to me, she always waves it off, as just a dream," Nora said, 

"Was that why you left the house crying, you had another dream?" Asked Darey, with a worried voice, 

"Yes, I had another dream, it was so real as if I was there in the dream," she replied, shuddering at the thought of the dark knight racing towards her in the dream.

"Have you by any chance seen the Knight that always comes and goes like just that?" Asked Darey

"Without saying a word he just stands and stares at you, with his sword by his side, and his white hair tumbling down his head," Said Nora, 

They stared at each other, not knowing what to say, they had both seen the same person, and it looks as though they were having dreams too, a lot of thoughts ran through her mind.

"Have you tried talking to your parents about this?" Asked Nora, 

"No, I just didn't know how to, they might think I need to go see a doctor," replied Darey, 

"That's why you hide who you are at school and let those bullies bully you?" Asked Nora, 

"No, I just don't get angry, I learn to control my emotions, so they don't consume me," Replied Darey, 

"What exactly is happening?"  Asked Nora, 

"If they won't give us answers themselves, let us find out ourselves," said Darey.

Just then she felt the presence of someone around them, 

"We are not alone, Darey," Said Nora, as she held his hands, 

"They both stood up and turned to their side, sitting right there was the knight, they looked at each other alarmed.

" You two are quite difficult to track when you are together, we have a lot to talk about." Said the Knight as he dusts his palms together, not looking at their faces.

*                 *                    *                      *                 *                  

It was getting dark already and she was not yet home. Mrs Langson paced around the house worried, she had slept a while, hoping to give her the space she needed. She needed to clear her head for the conversation they would be having later that day. She had planned to tell her everything. 

The dining was already set, she was going to wait till she comes back if she doesn't before nightfall, she was going to track her, just then there was a knock at the door, it came again and again, 

The porter answered the door, it was Darey's parents, 

"Let them come in," Said Mrs Langson, as she welcomed them into the sitting room, 

"We are sorry for coming at this time, but we wanted to know if Darey may by any chance be here?" Mr Jones asked, 

"No, but why would you make such assumptions," Said Mrs Langson quite surprised, 

"I know we didn't start up on the right foot, but my name is Jones and this is my wife, Serena, we moved into the building two blocks away from yours about ten years ago," Said Jones 

"Yea, I knew when you moved in with your family, but still why would you think your son is here?" She asked, still wondering, 

"Earlier today, we saw him running after Nora, he hasn't been home since then, we called his friends at the basketball court, and they said he didn't show up for the practice, and Nora isn't home as well," Said Serena.

Mrs Langson was quite scared at this information, the mood at which Nora left the house, she could do anything, she had not learned to control her emotions.

"I think we should go look for them, it's getting dark out there," Said Mrs Langson, 

"Do you have any idea where she might have gone?" Asked Serena, 

"Nora is a private person, and she doesn't have many friends, she might have gone just anywhere, what about you, do you know where your son might be?" Replied Mrs Langson, 

"He has some friends, which we have called and he isn't there, that's why we came here," replied Serena.

What was she to do, if she was with Darey, who knows what might happen, she paced around the sitting room looking disturbed.

"I am sorry about this, we had a little quarrel, you know how kids are, she left the house angry," Said Mrs Langson exhausted, 

"Please don't, we should be grateful to you, not after Nora helped him, he owed her that much, that was why we didn't stop him," Said Jones,

"They should be together, let us wait a while, they will show up soon," Said Serena, as they stood up to leave, 

"Thank you for stopping by, once she gets back will inform you," Said Mrs Langson, 

"We will do likewise, '' Jones said, as they exit the house.

*                        *                       *                     *                           *

"Who are you? What do you want? Why are you following me around" Asked Nora, 

"Hey, calm down," Whispered Darey, as he held onto her hands tightly.

"You ask a lot of questions, one at a time, replied the Knight, 

"I am Gretchen of Vermont, I have been watching over you, not following you around," Replied Gretchen, 

"I still don't understand what you mean and where in Vermont? Are you like my guardian angel? What exactly is going on?" Asked Nora, tears already gathering in her eyes, 

"Darey,  don't you have any questions?" Asked Gretchen, calmly, 

"Not yet," he replied.

Gathering Nora in his arms, the few hours they had spent together had brought them together, he could now feel the connection between them, she was confused, she didn't understand anything.