Falling

by Meredith Bond

You won’t give yourself away. It’ll be easy. You go in, hypnotize her friend, put a suggestion into her mind and that’ll be that.

  “Hey guys, are you having a whole conversation with just your eyes? You’re kind of creeping me out,” Lanie said, looking back and forth between David and Ibrahim.

  David could feel himself flush and looked away. Ibrahim cleared his throat and laughed. “No!” He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “He’s going to do it. Just tell him where and when. Right, David?”

  David closed his eyes for a second. He was such a wuss, and Ibrahim was really going to owe him big time. “Yeah, all right.”

  The worry lines crossing Lanie’s forehead finally smoothed away. Pulling her hand from Ibrahim’s, she took hold of David’s arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you so much, David, really! This is going to make a world of difference to Erin!”

  He gave her hand a pat and wondered just how much he would regret this.

  Chapter Four

  “Holy shee-it!” The words were whispered as Lanie took in the apartment.

  Erin took a small step through the door but stayed firmly behind her ex-roommate. No matter how hard she tried, she just could not keep her eyes from that sky.

  It was overcast today. Darker gray clouds slid slowly past, beckoning to her to come out and join them. Her body leaned forward, even as her stomach turned somersaults.

  But Lanie was right there, next to her.

  As if sensing her distress, Lanie put her arm around Erin’s waist and pulled her close.

  Erin turned toward her best friend and dropped her forehead onto Lanie’s shoulder so she didn’t have to look out that monstrous window.

  “It’s okay, honey. It’s okay,” Lanie’s voice sing-sang the words.

  God, Erin didn’t know what she would do without her. She took a deep shuddering breath. “You see my problem.”

  “Oh, yeah! Bright as day.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Sorry. Couldn’t help it.” Lanie gave a little laugh. “It’s all right. We’re going to get you inside then David and Ibrahim will be here, and everything will be okay. All right, honey?”

  Erin nodded without lifting her head.

  “Okay. Um… Let’s see. How about if you keep your eyes down on your feet? Can you do that, sweetie?”

  “I’ll try.”

  “There’s a girl.” Lanie moved down the first step, forcing Erin to lift her head.

  Her eyes were pulled to the sky. She swore she hadn’t intended to look. She just couldn’t help it. Her body began to sway forward once more.

  Lanie grabbed her face and turned it so that Erin was forced to look at her. “You were going to keep your eyes down,” she scolded.

  Erin swallowed. “Right.” Obediently, she dropped her gaze to her Converse sneakers.

  “Good. Now keep your eyes down!”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “That’s right.” Lanie moved to the second step then turned back to Erin. “You watching your feet?”

  “Yup.”

  “Good. Then come on down the steps.”

  Erin watched her feet move down the four metal steps to the wood floor.

  “Good. Now keep them there. I’m going to lead you…” her voice trailed off. “There’s a corridor right here. We’ll go down there. Okay?”

  “You lead. I’ll follow.”

  Lanie didn’t say anything, but Erin imagined that she’d nodded her head.

  It wasn’t easy, but Erin kept her eyes locked onto her feet as they walked forward and then made a sharp right turn.

  “Okay. You can look up now. We’re in the hallway.”

  Erin looked up. They were, indeed, in a hallway that ended in a beautiful abstract piece of art.

  “Where’d that come from? Was it here already?” Erin asked, walking toward the painting.

  “How should I know? The apartment is furnished.”

  Erin stopped and spun around toward her friend. “It is? It was empty just a few days ago when I was here with the congressman.”

  “Well, it’s furnished now,” Lanie said with a shrug. “White, too. Everything is white, glass, and steel. I swear it looks like it popped out of one of those Good Housekeeping magazines or something. Really nice. Really expensive! I so do not envy you having to live in a white apartment!” she said, opening up a closet door.

  Erin peered over her shoulder to see what looked like an empty coat closet.

  “Huh.” Erin didn’t mind the white. She couldn’t even go into the living room, so there was no likelihood of her getting the furniture dirty.

  Lanie closed the closet door then walked past her to open the other door a little farther down the hall. She poked her head into a room filled with light.

  Over her shoulder, Erin could see a huge white bed covered with white lace pillows of every size. White end tables flanked either side of the bed, each with a stainless steel, modern-looking lamp on it.

  “I guess the mistress doesn’t like color,” Erin commented.

  “Guess not,” Lanie shrugged and closed the door again.

  They walked down the hall toward the painting, taking a sharp left turn. Another door on their left presented itself. This time Erin was in front, so she opened the door and stepped into a small room.

  There wasn’t one window in the dark, little space. There was, however, a double sized bed, a dresser, and matching dressing table. All very plain, spare, and white.

  The bed was just a bare mattress sitting on a frame. The dresser and dressing table were unremarkable. Clearly no extra effort was put into furnishing this room. There wasn’t a decorative item to be seen, and the one lamp was absolutely plain and boring.

  “Shit,” Lanie said, clearly disappointed.

  “This must be my room.” Erin walked further into the room.

  “No kidding. About a half-step up from a Super Eight, if you ask me.”

  Erin laughed at the reference to the economy motel.

  “Well, it’s not that bad,” she protested.

  Lanie just gave her a look.

  “Oh, okay. Maybe it is. But it’s better than the hand-me-down furniture I’m using now. At least it’s new,” Erin shrugged.

  “I suppose.” Lanie walked through the room to a door in the center of the right-hand wall. “Bathroom,” she said, walking in.

  Erin followed her. It was nice with a small tub above which rose a frameless glass sliding door. The sink hanging on the wall was also glass with shining chrome fixtures.

  “Damn, everything in this place is so modern. Glass. Chrome. Everywhere!” Lanie exclaimed.

  Erin laughed. “There is no way you could live here.”

  “Hell, no!” Lanie said, opening the door at the other end of the bathroom. It led back out into the hall, directly across from the kitchen. “More glass and chrome.”

  “Are you surprised?” Erin asked, laughing as she followed her friend.

  “No, I suppose not. But, shit! Would you look at these appliances? Is that the fridge?” She stood before a glass-fronted cabinet with chrome handles and metal shelves inside.

  Erin reached around her and opened the door. A waft of cold air hit them both in the face. “Yup.”

  “Holy…” Lanie didn’t even finish her thought. She didn’t need to.

  The entire kitchen matched the décor of the rest of the apartment. Even the counter-top was stainless steel and very sleek looking.

  “Well… it’s pretty,” Erin said with a shrug.

  “I…” Lanie didn’t have a chance to finish that sentence. There was knock on the apartment door and then voices called out, “Hello… Hello?”

  “That must be Ibrahim and David.”

  Erin turned and tried to calm the sudden pounding of her heart.

  “Wow! Great apartment!”

  “Shit, would you look at that view. That’s, like, a million dollar view.”

  Lanie walked out into the living room, but Erin just sidled along t
he wall, firmly keeping her back in the direction of the windows. In that way, she was able to peer out into the living room and toward the door.

  “A four thousand dollar view, to be exact,” Lanie said with a laugh, as she walked into one of the men’s arms for a kiss. That had to be Ibrahim. Despite the fact that Lanie had been dating him for three weeks, he and Erin had yet to meet. He was taller than Lanie, which was saying something since her friend claimed to be five feet nine, but Erin was sure she was at least an inch or two taller than that. He was dark in an exotic way—olive complexion, dark eyes and hair, and cheekbones that rivaled Lanie’s. Together they almost looked like something out of a fashion magazine, they were both so beautiful.

  “Four thousand? Seriously? A month?” asked the guy who must be David. Shit, he was hot! He had an oval face with a strong chin and cheekbones to die for. His hair was dark brown and short but a little long on top so that it fell into his eyes. He clearly needed to get it cut as he kept shoving it back as if it was bothering him.

  She could see Lanie nodding her head.

  The men made noises of disbelief.

  “It’s, um, subsidized for Erin,” Lanie explained without actually explaining anything. “Remember, we talked about this?” She and Erin had agreed that Lanie could tell Ibrahim and David on the condition that they swear not to tell another soul. And she assured Erin many times over that they could both be trusted. If the congressman’s infidelity leaked out… well, Erin didn’t even want to think about what would happen to her.

  “Um, Erin’s over here,” Lanie said, indicating the hallway.

  “Oh, uh, hi!” said the tall guy with his arm still casually draped across Lanie’s shoulders. He came around to where Erin was standing. “I’m Ibrahim.” He held out a hand.

  Erin gave him a smile and shook his hand. “Hi. If you’re anywhere as nice as Lanie says, I might forgive you.”

  He gave her a lop-sided, curious little smile. “Forgive me for what?”

  “For stealing my best friend away so many evenings.” Erin leaned against the kitchen doorway.

  He laughed. “Oh, yeah. Well, I’d apologize, but I’m not really sorry.” He gave her a shrug and little laugh.

  The other guy came around the corner. “Hi. I’m David.”

  “Oh, hi!” Erin stood up, away from the doorframe. At this distance, she could see his gray-blue eyes. He was definitely hot, and very professional looking, even in jeans and a polo. Clean cut but with a twist of something Erin just couldn’t put a name to.

  His eyes crinkled into a smile, and she could feel all of the tension that she hadn’t even noticed between her shoulder blades begin to drift away. She resisted the urge to roll her head around on her neck as her shoulders dropped to a normal level.

  “God, you’re beautiful.” The words whispered through his lips as if of their own volition. Immediately, his cheeks turned pink. Clearly, he hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

  Erin giggled. She couldn’t help it. He was so adorable! And with a flush of pleasure, she knew that with him here, there was nothing that could hurt her. She was safe. With David next to her, she had no desire to look out that window and no fear of doing so. She trusted him implicitly.

  She gave herself a mental shake. How could she feel this way about a guy she’d only said two words to—and who had said all of three back to her? Granted, his were wonderful words but still!

  “Have we met before?” he asked, before she could even put words to the emotions that were running through her.

  “I think we must have. You feel…”

  “Familiar,” he finished.

  “Yes!”

  “How could you two have met?” Lanie asked. “You’ve never been to my office.”

  Erin shrugged. “Have you been to any political fund-raisers?”

  David gave a little huff of a laugh. “No. I only just moved back here three months ago.”

  “From?” Erin asked.

  “New Mexico,” he answered.

  “Oh. No. I’ve never been there.” This was really weird. She could have sworn she knew him, and judging by the feelings he was giving off, he thought so too.

  “Well, I have to say this is a pretty spectacular apartment you can’t live in,” Ibrahim said, taking a step back into the living room and looking out the windows.

  “Yeah. Only I have to live in it,” Erin said, slumping against the door jam again.

  “I can’t guarantee anything I do will make that any easier,” David admitted.

  Lanie laughed. “Always a lawyer. CYA.”

  David shook his head and jammed his hands into his pockets while smiling a little shame-facedly. “I just don’t want to give Erin any false hopes. I mean, I’ll do the best I can, but I’m not a trained professional or anything.”

  “Don’t worry. I know. Honestly, I’ve never been hypnotized before. I don’t know if I’m even susceptible to it.” She looked at Lanie. “You have to be susceptible, right?”

  Her friend just shrugged.

  “Oh, David will be able to put you under, no doubt,” Ibrahim chipped in.

  “Well, then, let’s put him to the test,” Lanie said, enthusiastically rubbing her hands together.

  “Wow, you’re excited about this!” Erin said, laughing at her friend.

  “Yes! I want to see him do it. I’ve never seen anyone hypnotized before.”

  “Well, it’s up to Erin if she wants you to watch,” David cautioned.

  Erin shrugged, “Oh, I don’t mind. Hell, Lanie’s seen me at my worst.”

  “Do you mind if I’m there?” Ibrahim asked.

  She gave him a smile. “What better way to get to know someone?”

  She led the way back to her bedroom.

  “Wow, this is…um…” Ibrahim started.

  “It’s got great possibilities,” Lanie said, trying to be upbeat.

  “Rather bare, isn’t it?” Ibrahim asked.

  “Well, I haven’t moved in yet. It’ll be great once I get some stuff in here.”

  “It’s like a blank slate just waiting for someone to draw a masterpiece on it,” David said, looking around.

  Erin gave him a big grin—that was exactly how she saw it too. He caught her eyes and without saying a word, they could both feel the connection.

  “Umm…on the bed?” Erin asked David.

  “Wherever you feel most comfortable. You can either lie down or stay sitting up. It’s entirely up to you.”

  “Okay. Ibrahim, would you do me a favor and snitch a pillow from the other bedroom? It’s just a little farther down the hall,” she said, plopping down onto the bed.

  Ibrahim gave a nod and headed out the door. Lanie leaned against the bare wall next to the dresser then slid down until she was sitting on the floor with her knees up in front of her.

  “Wow, nice bed in there!” Ibrahim said, coming back with a couple of white eyelet pillows from the congressman’s room.

  “Well, that is why he wanted the apartment,” Erin said, laughing and taking a pillow.

  “No kidding.” Ibrahim settled himself next to Lanie, placing the other pillow in her lap.

  Erin scooted back and put the pillow behind her against the wall, and then moved over so that David could sit down on the edge of the bed. Her heart started racing as soon as he did, but whether it was from his proximity or nervousness at being hypnotized, she didn’t know. Both probably.

  David leaned forward and tugged the pillow down some. “Are you comfortable?”

  Erin slid down a bit, feeling more than a little awkward. Now, it was definitely nerves.

  “You’re not going to make me hop around like a monkey or anything, are you?”

  David smiled. “No. I promise I won’t. In fact, if you want, I can make it so that you remember everything that happens while you’re under.”

  “Yes! Definitely.”

  “Ok, then.” David settled himself more comfortably and smiled reassuringly down at her, putting his hand on her
arm. Immediately, Erin felt a warm comfort spread over her, starting where his hand rested against her and sliding up her arm and down her body. It almost reminded her of her mother’s magic touch—hers was a healing touch, David’s was a calming one.

  A question flashed through her mind, but before she could grasp it, it was gone. She sighed and relaxed, her mind slowly fading to a lovely blank.

  “That’s it. Just relax. You know you can trust me,” he said in smooth, quicksilver-like voice. It glided over her skin, seeping into her body, calming, soothing, and warming her. “Just look at my eyes. What color are they?”

  “Blue-gray,” Erin said, feeling more and more relaxed by the second. “What an incredible blue. I feel like I’m lying on the grass on a summer’s day, gazing up into a stormy sky.”

  “Good. Tell me what you see.” David’s voice floated over her.

  The gray deepened, pulling her in until she was gazing up at heavy rain clouds. But she wasn’t laying back in the grass, she was leaning out over a stone wall.

  Chapter Five

  “Erinne, please, don’t lean out so far. I’m afraid you will fall.” A gentle hand pulled me back from the edge of the battlement with a surprising firmness.

  “They are gone,” I said, feeling sadness dig a hole into my heart. “Will I ever see him again, do you think?”

  “I should expect your father will come to visit,” Lady Weobley said, following my line of vision out over the battlement, across the outer bailey, and to the forest, which skirted the road so far away. “And I do hope that your mother will be able to join him the next time he comes. It is such a shame she was too busy to join you on your journey.”

  “Yes. Her duties take up a good deal of her time. Every day she sees petitioners or is forced to journey to them.” It was unfortunate that her mother hadn’t been able to come, but Erinne had understood. Her mother’s work was important and not something that could be pushed aside for the weeks it would take to journey to Weobley and back home again.

  Her father, on the other hand, had his steward to oversee his estate. He could come and go as he pleased, and Erin had been grateful that he’d taken the time and effort to accompany her.