Have me back?
I gawp at him. Hawk is rambling, and he keeps touching my arm, squeezing it, and then grinning again. He seems more relaxed, even jolly and to think I’m the one who had the accident.
‘I’m not dead, and nor are you. I’m trancing. I thought you guessed that already.’ He looks at me like I’m going senile and leans forward.
‘Nevaeh, this is a totally different level from normal. We trance in real time, and I don’t think this has ever been done before.’ He shrugs his shoulders. ‘I have help from my ancestors and the group of course. It’s getting easier, especially today - everyone is pouring their energy into me. I’ve never felt so alive.’ He looked at me apologetically, and I felt even more confused. Why did he look so embarrassed? He just said I’m not dead. Doubt creeps in. What if this isn’t an o.b. experience, what if I’m a ghost? If Hawk notices my agitation, he doesn’t say anything. He is too busy talking – does this guy ever shut up? He’s pacing now and making me dizzy.
‘Hawk, stand still and slow down would you?’ He grins and turns to face me.
‘Nevaeh, to be honest, I never knew I could do this and was more than a little impressed with myself.’ His face lit up with pride then, and I want to scream. I know he is trying to lighten the mood, but it isn’t helping and I feel my mood darkening. Something is seriously wrong here. I look at him.
‘So, I can only touch you because…?’
‘Because I’m trancing, and you’re, well, y’know.’ He steps closer then, trailing his hand down my face. I once read that people do strange things in extreme circumstances, and counted this as one of them. I’m not complaining. He is trancing, I’m having an o.b.e, and now he’s kissing my neck.
‘Nevaeh, what is that fragrance you have on?’ he groans between kisses. ‘It’s driving me crazy.’ I smile then remembering how he once sniffed me.
‘Um, I don’t wear perfume. I’m allergic, uh…’ I stop; his kisses make my skin shiver, in a nice way. Then he stops and I frown looking at him in irritation. I don’t want to talk anymore, and I wonder if all guys ask questions at the wrong time. ‘Nevaeh, that’s insane; you might be the only girl I know that doesn’t wear some sort of make- up and still look so gorgeous. No wonder the twins are so jealous of you.’
‘Really?’ I half smiled looking at him incredulously.
‘Yep, haven’t you seen them filing their cat claws?’ We both laugh and then giggle quietly when two nurses come in. Even though we know they can’t hear or see us, I don’t want to chance it. Being invisible suddenly feels kind of cool in a weird way. I even feel brave enough to wave at them, laughing loudly after they leave. I turn to Hawk, but he’s facing away from me.
‘Hawk, what’s wrong?’ His back goes rigid, and only the slight movement of his shoulders makes me think he is talking to someone. Can you talk on your mobile when you’re trancing? Another mood change, I think dismally. It suddenly feels like the fun has left with the nurses. But when Hawk turns round, his face is ashen. I knew it was serious but I didn’t want to hear anymore bad news. The mood changes are starting to get a little irritating, and I raise my eyebrows.
‘Well? What disaster is it this time? I mean c’mon Hawk; I’m already having an o.b.e – what the hell can be worse - apart from dying?’ I bite my lip, even though for me that sounded more sarcastic than normal.
‘Nevaeh, I have been contacted by my ancestor, and she has sent me a warning. Somehow, you have to return to your body and it has to be now, or your soul will be lost forever.’
I reel, looking around for sight of this ancestor. He might have been quoting, but every word scares me. It is okay having ancestors to talk to, but apart from him, I’m alone and totally terrified. I pull back suspiciously when he touches my hand. Maybe to him this is an adventure, a way of increasing his abilities, but this is my life he’s talking about.
‘Nev, we’re all trying to figure this out, but most of this is untried territory. We can do other things, but remaining here in this plane of existence is hard work, and if it hadn't been for my ancestors or the group – my energy would have been sapped long ago.’
Something in me snaps then, and I throw my hands up in irritation. Was it me? Or is everything mainly about them?
‘Well boohoo for you. By the way, the name’s Nevaeh and I’m either having a way weirder dream than normal or I’M DEAD!’ I shout, walking towards the window.
‘Nevaeh be careful, don’t step near the window you might….’
For someone who was known for having no temper, Hawk was getting the worst out of me. I purposefully exaggerate the way I lean on the mantelpiece and instantly regret it.
The mantelpiece is there one minute then nowhere, and I’m freefalling out of the building. I can feel the wind gushing past me and the noise of the cars on the street below. I’m falling in slow motion; fear of hitting the ground makes me crane my neck round while my chest feels like it is being crushed.
‘Don’t be scared Nevaeh. You’re coming home.’ A voice echoes after me.
My eyes fly open, the voice isn’t Hawk’s, it is lighter and only then do I notice strange specks of light surround me like glitter; growing brighter the further I fall.
‘I’m coming home? Where’s home?’ I think, the rational side of my brain starting to panic. I’m going to hit the bottom soon and wonder if you can die twice.
‘Nirvana….’ The voice trails off and even in my panic I register her voice. Tears roll down my cheek as I think of my parents and send a silent prayer to them, grunting from the pressure on my chest. The cars are louder now; louder means closer and I close my eyes waiting for impact.
14
Heaven
‘Nevaeh...open your eyes,’ the voice coaxes, it is soft and gentle, and I warily obey. I’m hovering now, drifting downwards like a feather. But that seems unimportant compared to what is hovering above me. The face is slim, surrounded by golden hair. Deja vu hits me, and I gasp, remembering the woman leaning over me – it’s her! She smiles then, crinkling the corners of her eyes, and I feel as if I’m meeting an old friend, so old that I can’t remember her name. She is radiating some
