"Where is the driver?" she asked. "uh... I let him go. I know the place and terrain inside out, I can drive as well as take orders from you" he smiled a lopsided grin... her heart skipped a beat. Control Nia, he is your intern.. a known to be strange querky guy. She just looked out of the window into the changing hues of the rising sun- it was so pretty. Soon they were on the rising hills and twisty turns of the road. She was actually impressed by his driving, it seemed like they were smoothly floating in the air rather than the nauseating turns of the hills.

Just before noon she saw an abandoned building resembling a castle. She asked him to stop. He showed some reluctance, but Nia ordered him to stop and he halted and the vehicle screeched loudly as if it was taking part in the protest too. Nia always followed her instincts and this dilapidated castle was calling out to her.

Nia got down the jeep, jumped off the road into the fields towards the building. She heard --- coming behind her. "Nia, let's be on our way, this is not a good idea, we'll get late"... she could hear him. She didn't think he was faint hearted but his timidity was irritating. She had just reached the castle main door when she turned around to tell him to stay near the vehicle, she would gladly manage alone. But just then, the the floor seemed to move, she lost her balance and last thing she remembered was --- throwing himself to hold her followed by a strange bright flash and complete darkness.

... to be continued


© cmcb