Torrential Love

Chapter Thirty-One

~DUNCAN~

Duncan walked towards the market as he gave a heavy sigh. He didn't know how to describe the way he was feeling - it was like he was in the middle of doing something important, but somehow forgot what that was. It was a miserable feeling, and he tried his best to push everything to the back of his mind as he wandered about the market, looking for anything to buy for Yael.

He stopped before a stall. The table was filled with items like rings, necklaces and bracelets. They had attractive charms attached to the silver, and it looked like something that would suit her. He picked one up and held it in his hands. It glinted in the sunlight as he tilted it, and he pictured how it would look like on her.

He set it down. She wasn't here to choose for herself and he had no clue what kind of jewellery she preferred. Choosing something she didn't like sounded like a bad idea, so he walked away.

He was walking by another stall when something caught his eye. He came to a halt and looked at the items on the table. They were combs with intricate art drawn on the sides. He could tell that it was painted by hand and he wondered if she might like one. Reaching a hand out to one, his hand stopped just shy of it when he shook himself back to reality.

Why was he shopping for her?

He shook his head as he moved towards the food stalls. This was supposed to be a separation from whatever was at home, not a constant reminder of it. He needed a breather, something that didn't remind him of home.

He picked out a few steaming buns from a food stall, got some skewers of meat and some sweetened ice before he began making his way back home.

But as he was on the way back, he noticed something dark in the air. Marring the blue sky was a plume of grey smoke that seemed to -

It came from the direction of his home!

Cold fire hit his body hard and his hands freed themselves of every bag he was holding. His supply of air was cut off in an instant, and his heart pounded in his ears and his muscles roared to life.

No, no, no!

He raced down the path, his stomach twisting and turning, his mind in a mess. He could hardly breathe and it felt like there was tar coating his lungs. Everything was on high alert and he sprinted as fast as he could, until finally, his house was within view.

He shot forwards to the home which looked as it did before he left and slammed the door open. He panted as he stood in the doorway, and Yael jumped on the bed. A book fell to the ground from the side of the bed and her mouth gaped open in shock, a piece of bread falling from it onto her lap. He breathed erratically as she stared at him like he had gone mad.

He slammed the door back, closed, and put his back on the door, sliding to the ground with his head in his hands. He sat there, dumbfounded, his heart still racing like a horse bent on the prize money. He tried to calm his breathing down, but only drew shallow spurts of air in and out.

No, this made little sense. Why was he feeling like this?

He closed his eyes. No, this can't be. No, there has to be another explanation. She was a great friend, and he didn't want her dead. He would feel the same way for - for -

He held his hands out before him. It shook violently, and he grabbed onto one hand with another to still his shaking. Fear was still dominating his mind and he willed himself to settle down, but his muscles were tense and ready to fight. He breathed through the panic, closing and opening his eyes several times. Fuck!

This was real.