HIGHLAND GAMES, CENTRAL VIRGINIA
The Hotel - Present Day
Rather abruptly, Clarion woke from the dream he had wandered into. It was the same dream he had visited hundreds of times since he was taken by the witch. He was always a bystander, watching, but never part of the dream…until now.
The girl, the one he had seen in his home from the past was there as well, he knew this because she looked right at him and said, not his name, but a name he knew all too well, his brothers.
Pushing himself up to sitting, he looked around the room he was in. At first, his mind still muddied from his dream, he had no recollection of where he even was. However, that didn’t last long since he could quite clearly hear two distinct voices bickering outside his door.
Without opening the door, he already knew who each voice belonged. Letting out a heavy sigh, he pulled back the covers and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
Ignoring the knocks sounding on his door, he went to take a shower.
♦
The hall lights flickered as Mildred lowered her hand and turned to look over her shoulder at Rubric. “He’s not answering.” Her brows creased with worry.
“Well, you got your answer, then didn’t you? The lad wants to be left alone.”
“But what if he needs help or a bit o’ conversation….”
“Mildred,” he sighed her name. “If the lad wanted or needed your company, don’t you think he would have sent for you already?”
“Yes, but…”
“You gave him instructions on how to use the phone to get in contact with you,” he added. “But he chose not to.”
Mildred wrinkled her nose and muttered some incoherent retort but finally grabbed hold of the teacart and pushed it down the hall.
Rubric gave the closed-door one last look. Turning, he followed his wife back to the lobby.