by S.A. Geary
***
I shot up in bed, clutching my breast through the nightgown, a nightgown I didn’t recall putting on. What the hell happened? I fumbled around in the dark trying to catch even a glimpse but there was nothing. All around me it was cold, damp, and there was the smell of the woods. I was outside. How did I get here?
“Will?” I called out loud, thinking that maybe I unknowingly tried making my way to him. It was the only plausible explanation, though I’d never been a sleepwalker before. Maybe I was dreaming? I peered backwards to see if my body still lay on the bed, but beneath me was only grass and rustled earth. Over my shoulder a rush of warm wind blew and with it the faintness of a deep voice. A minimal amount of light shown through a dense fog and I stared at the dim light, feeling a strange tugging but not being able to go to it. My body and my feet were entrenched in the soil, almost as if someone were holding me. The caller urged again, beaconing me forward and so I forced my feet out of the invisible clutches and walked on. I stumbled over patches of gravel and soon saw blooming wild flowers as I made my way higher and higher into the surrounding bleakness of night. It was like the path was becoming illuminated just for me.
Come to me Lina, it said and this time I startled, because the sound was louder, more deliberate and much closer.
Mechanically I pulled along, sensing I’d been traveling hours but not feeling exhausted—I was no longer in charge of myself that was evident. The trees thinned as I reached a small plateau in the hill and when I turned around the mansion shown in the pitch—a golden wash of light below. I gulped once at it, as the rugged voice whispered again.
Don’t turn back, come.
Will? I sent out into the chilly wind, praying it was him driving me, but there was no response. I found a cluster of boulders and leaned against them for support. I didn’t want to continue, not knowing what was ahead. The force had other plans and without my consent my body raised and I kept moving. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to be drug along, positive I really was dreaming and determining that if it were true, I should have no fear. Moments later I was dropped to the frigid ground—hard awakened, I scrambled after my dream state, scraping my knees as I made it to a nearby tree. Panic rocked through me as I took in the eerie sounds of night, realizing, I had in fact slept walked, and for the first time in my life. I had on only that thin lace gown, no shoes and no jacket, and I was freezing. I could hear everything; birds rustling high in their nests, rabbits burrowing down in their holes, and above me an owl spun his head before nestling into himself. At the sound of crunching earth, I was on guard.
“Will?!” I yelled this time, feeling frightened. Nothing. No answer. “Who’s there?” Still, silence. “Who’s out there?!” I shouted more firmly, though the strength of my voice left something to be desired. And then there was movement in the trees.