Free Entralled by Annette Gisby Page A

know where
we are?"
    "Of course," Linden said with a broad smile, but made no
attempt at sharing this knowledge with them. Abigail wondered if they
had stumbled upon some strange cannibalistic cult and they were going
to be dinner. Linden didn't look as if he was contemplating eating
them, but then how could you really tell?
    "If you could maybe point us in the direction of the nearest
town or village?" began Abigail hopefully.
    "Oh, I can do better than that," said Linden. "You're
on the edge of Forever. I can take you there."
    "What?" exclaimed Caden.
    "Forever. It is my city. The nearest city. I will take you
there."
    "Thank you," said Caden and Abigail together. As Caden
stood up, he winced in pain and Abigail could see that he was biting
his lip to stop himself from crying out
    "What is it? Where are you hurt?" she asked and rushed to
his side.
    "My – my leg," he gasped out, his face turning the
colour of oatmeal. "Left one." Abigail bent down and ripped
the leg of his trousers to get a better look at his left leg. Just
below the knee she could see a small piece of bone protruding from
the flesh. How could he not scream with that?
    "Is there a hospital in Forever?" asked Abigail.
    "I'm sorry. I do not know that word," replied Linden.
    "A doctor? A physician?"
    Linden shook his head. "We have no words for these."
    Abigail bit her cheek to stop herself screaming from frustration.
    "What do you do when you get sick?"
    "We never get sick," he replied simply.
    "A healer? Do you have a healer?" she asked, inspiration
suddenly dawning on her. His garments were old fashioned, maybe he
would understand the old fashioned word.
    "Why, yes. Why didn't you say so before? My sister, Celeste is a
healer. We will take your friend to her."
    "Thank you," said Abigail, just as she felt Caden go limp
in her arms. He had fainted. She hoped this city wasn't very far
away. Caden didn't look good.
    "I will carry your friend," said Linden and bent down
towards the prone Caden. He hefted him over his shoulders, as though
Caden were a dead deer and Abigail shivered at the thought.
    The city, if it could be called that, was nothing like Abigail had
ever seen before. There were no buildings as such, everything was
carved out of wood or rock, there was nothing man-made at all.
    Linden walked towards one of the larger trees and went inside. He
turned and beckoned for Abigail to follow him. Once inside, Linden
placed Caden on some fur rugs on the floor. A few minutes later,
seemingly from nowhere, Celeste appeared.
    She was as tall as Linden, a good head taller than Caden, with
flowing fair hair that reached her lower back. Like Linden, she was
wearing a short tunic with the two blue stripes. She was so beautiful
that she hardly looked real, more like a fantasy. Caden's fantasy?
    Celeste sat down cross-legged on the rug beside Caden and touched his
brow. His eyelids fluttered open and she stared at the vision in
front of him, his lips forming a pleased smile.
    Abigail felt as if someone had just punched her in the gut. He hadn't
even looked to see where she was. He had eyes only for Celeste.
    "Come," said Linden. "We must leave Celeste to her
healing."
    Abigail didn't want to go. She didn't want to leave him with that
overgrown Barbie doll who was Celeste. As they reached the opening,
it couldn't really be called a door, Abigail risked a glance back and
wished she hadn't.
    Caden was caressing Celeste's cheek. He didn't look Abigail's way.
    When they were outside, if this strange green gloom could be called
outside, Linden took her hand. She pulled it away quickly, feeling
dizzy and disoriented. His touch was like fire, she felt the desire
pool between her legs, her face flaming.
    She grabbed the nearest wooden wall to steady herself. "Don't
touch me," she hissed at him.
    "I am sorry. The touch was only meant to help you."
    "Help? How could that help? Just leave me alone."
    "As you wish," said Linden, bowing and walking away. There
were other people