Taking Sides 2

I got up and began pacing, head bowed in thought, looking at the floor as if it would give me some answer, as if it would tempt my lips to move from their sullen position. Finally I stopped, looked up at the ever ticking clock on the wall, my eyes roving and studying each picture on the mantle. I felt the warmth of the fire on my legs, smelt the crackling wood, listened to the droning sound of the TV. At that single, solitary moment my senses were more acute than ever. I opened my lips slightly, took a shallow breath, and whispered, "I need your help."

His voice, silky and smooth barreled at me from across the room, "They've caught you haven't they?"

"Yes," I said somewhat inaudibly.

"How did you find out about me?"

"My brother, Sorren, before he died he gave me your name. You have no idea how long it took me to find you, searching the world for a Thomas Applegate that has no record whatsoever."

"Do you know what would happen if they figured out where I was hiding?" he questioned calmly, "I hold the key to the location of every Traveler out there. They could have every one of us locked up in a matter of months."

My countenance darkened. I knew he was right. How could I have been so ignorant in front of such a lovely creature? After all, he was only one of two Keepers left on the planet, and the other was so difficult to find Thomas couldn't even keep up with him. "The Wanderer" was what Sorren had called him. He had chosen not to live among human beings and took to adopting nomadic ways, changing his location every couple of months. He was the reason my brother was dead, the reason so many of us had perished in the war.

Thomas got up gracefully from his spot on the couch and walked my way, this time with a purpose, and with every step he took forward my heart leapt, and its pounding became so racuous I could no longer hear that ridiculous reality show. He stopped in front of me, his face inches from mine. I felt his cool hand at the base of my neck. It slid along my shoulder, down my arm and grasped my hand. His other hand pressed on my chin lightly to make my downcast face gaze into his. When I finally built up the nerve to look at him he said, "You're safe here." And I believed every word of it.

To be continued...