Between

Between Chapter 2

I awoke with my knees drawn to my chest. Shaking with fear, jaw clenched in anticipation of searing pain, I took an experimental breath and waited.

Nothing hurt.

Relief flooded through me and I breathed to try and still the tremors in my flesh, still dreading the moment I’d be wracked with pain. Slowly unfurling, I reached out, expecting to feel the cold metal of the car door.

It wasn’t there. My hand landed on soft, dry grass and my eyes snapped open in confusion.

Where am I?

Completely disoriented, I scrambled to my feet. Birds flitted between the tree branches at the edge of a meadow, their sweet melody floating through the air. Wildflowers tickled my knees as I stood with my mouth agape.

What the—? I must be dreaming.

Energy hummed— building, bubbling inside— and the air caressed me with its warm, honeyed scent. I walked along the bank of a stream, sunlight sparkling on its surface, then knelt for a drink.

A shadow appeared over the water.

Shielding my eyes with my hand, I turned and peered up at the towering figure. Illuminated from behind, his wavy blond hair shone like a halo around his head. He wore a cream shirt and pants, and couldn't have been much older than me, but he looked like a Greek god. When he smiled, a dimple appeared on one cheek.

“Weel, hallo there,” he said in a thick accent. My eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Without thinking, I blurted, “You’re Scottish.”

Brilliant, Einstein.

He threw his head back and laughed—a rich, joyous sound that bounced off the water. “Aye, that I am, indeed. Aiden MacRae of Eilean Donan. Very pleased to be meeting you.” He bowed with a grand sweep of his arm, and straightened with an upright carriage that cast an air of royalty.

“Wow. Um, I’m uh…” I struggled to think of something impressive to say in return, but gave up. “I’m Lindsey. Lindsey Waters.”

He repeated my name carefully with a sweet lilt I’d never heard before. “It's a lovely name.” He tipped his head and smiled, his blue eyes crinkled at the corners.

I wanted to say something witty, but I just stood there, absorbing him with my eyes. He knelt beside the water and took a drink. I couldn’t help but stare at the strength of his movements- swift and fluid in one way, but filled with an underlying power, like a lion at rest.

“You look like an angel,” I breathed.

Oh man, did I just say that out loud?

“Thank you kindly, lass. But no, angels are incredible beings, fierce and dangerous, and so beautiful you can barely stand to look at them.” He fit the description pretty well, but I kept my mouth shut. “No, I’m not an angel. I’m what you might call a Transporter. I’m here to take you from earth to heaven.”

My brows furrowed as if I’d just realized I’d forgotten something important. I shook my head. “From earth to heaven? To go to heaven, I’d have to be… dead.” The word lay on my tongue, heavy and tasteless, as I tried to absorb exactly what that meant. The meadow dissolved around me, replaced by a rainy night. The wind whipped my hair around my face and I stared in horror at the crumpled car wrapped around the pine tree before me.

A man at the edge of the road slid down the bank toward us. Upon reaching the mangled car, he shouted, “Are you okay?”

Ravi choked out a sob. “Help her. I think she’s hurt.”

“I’m here! Over here!” I yelled, but the man didn’t react.

The stranger moved over to the side of the car by the tree and yelled, “Miss? Miss, are you all right? Can you hear me?” When he got no response, he gave up and moved back to Ravi. “I called 9-1-1. Help is coming. Don’t worry, man, she’s going to be fine.” I ran over to him, panic welling up inside me.

“What are you talking about?” I said. “I’m right here! I must have been thrown from the car. I’m not—” A bloody, lifeless arm lay on the ground, sticking out through the shattered window.

My hand flew to my mouth.

NO!

My throat tightened and I swallowed hard in a vain attempt to tamp down the surge of grief. Aiden appeared at my side and touched my shoulder. I bit my quivering lip, jerking away from him. Choking back the tears, I wiped my face, blinking fiercely and trying to get a breath.

A cold wall of denial solidified inside me.

It can’t be true.

I took a tentative step and peered inside the car. My broken body lay in a pool of blood, unmoving. Dead.

I couldn’t contain it anymore, and great hiccupping sobs broke free. Aiden’s arms came around me in a tight embrace and I didn’t resist. He stroked my hair, whispering comforting words in a language I didn’t understand, and held me until no more tears would come. Resting my forehead on his chest, I tried to slow my breathing to match his. Peace radiated from him.

“Better?” he asked, all traces of the earlier amusement gone. I nodded and he wiped a tear from my cheek, the warmth of his body enveloping me. A siren’s piercing wail was coming toward us and I turned to watch with bleary, stinging eyes. The paramedics came down the bank and worked to free the driver. The door wrenched free with a piercing screech of metal and they pulled him out.

“Ravi!” Agony shot through me at the sight of his bloodied face. I frantically scrambled over the wet earth to him.

He was barely conscious. “No, leave me. Help Lindsey,” he repeated.

“We’ve got our top paramedic working on her. Let’s worry about you,” the EMT said. Ravi’s eyes rolled back in his head and his breathing became labored.

“Help him! Do something! You can’t let him die!” I screamed at Aiden, reaching out to Ravi, but my hand passed right through.

Aiden’s eyes held a deep compassion but his voice was resolute. “He will not die, Lindsey. I’ve only come for you.”

“But I can’t…” I began, but then stopped upon seeing the determined set of his jaw. “It’s really over, isn’t it?” I asked, though I already knew the answer. He nodded and held out a hand. I felt hollow inside, knowing there was nothing I could do. A tear slid down my cheek as I stole a glance back at the car where my body lay, surrounded by people working earnestly to save what I knew was already lost.

“Goodbye,” I breathed to my former self, then turned to Aiden and what lay ahead.