TimeShifter
Part II
By
Leela Atherton
Copyright © 2014 by Leela Atherton
CHAPTER FOUR
Chloe awoke to the sound of the television coming from the other room. She was alone in the bed, the covers pushed back off her body, hot and sweaty beneath the T-shirt and pants she’d slept in. In the other room she could hear background noise from the TV and her heart began to thump heavily in her chest. Climbing out of bed, she made her way to the bathroom. She was tempted to go into the main room and check to see if he was still here. Maybe he was just a figment of her imagination, something she’d dreamed up last night, but the fact that the TV was on told her that he was all too real. Besides, she could smell the tempting aroma of coffee. Preventing herself from going to check out what he was doing; Chloe forced her legs to take her to the bathroom instead, her stomach a tight knot of tension. She used the toilet, then splashed her sleepy face with cold water before brushing her teeth. Tempted to take a shower she decided against it; she was just delaying the moment when she’d have to face him.
As she exited the bathroom, she heard the volume of the TV being turned up.
“Sea View police are still staging their search for an escaped prisoner who they described as ‘highly dangerous’ and not to be approached under any circumstances. If you do recognise this man, Inspector Bennett, who is heading the search, instructs civilians to immediately call this number . . .”
Chloe’s heart froze at the sound of Inspector Bennett’s familiar voice, and, with a sinking heart, she heard him repeat the presenters description; highly dangerous and not to be approached under any circumstances.
On legs that trembled, Chloe walked to the bedroom door and opened it. Zak’s attention was focussed on the small television she’d picked up at a local second-hand store. Knees spread, hands hanging between them holding the remote, he continued to stare at the screen even though the news announcer had moved on to talk about another shack fire in Gugulethu.
“Did you hear that?” He asked, without turning to look at her.
God, did the man have eyes at the back of his head? “Yes,” her voice escaped in a husky whisper, but he heard her, turning his head to stare at her, his expression gave nothing away. “What are you going to do?” she asked.
“About what?” His pale, blue eyes moved over her, from her tumbled hair, down to her bare-feet.
Chloe’s heart skipped a beat; she’d forgotten how intensely sexual he was, forgotten the effect he had on her, and suddenly she felt angry. “About what!” She hissed, allowing her anger to overpower the sensual heat that had begun to invade her body. “You heard what they said, and I bet they had a photo of you as well, didn’t they?”
He continued to gaze at her, running his fingers lightly over the buttons of the TV remote, his expression mildly curious, which only infuriated her more. Chloe crossed her arms beneath her breasts, waiting.
“Yeah, there was a photo of me on the screen,” his gravelly voice was calm and controlled. “The one they took when they arrested me, but it’s not a very good photo.”
Chloe moved further into the room, standing between him and the television. “People will still recognise you when you go out.” She looked down at him, enjoying the position of power. “You’re not exactly the type of person to – to go unnoticed.”
He frowned. “What do you mean? I don’t look different to normal humans, do I?”
Normal humans? Did that mean he wasn’t human? She recalled what had happened the night before, anxiety spiking through her veins. He’d
told her they would talk about his – differences – in the morning, well it was morning now. But did she actually want to know? Dear God, what if he wasn’t human, the thought made her feel physically ill.
“Are you saying that you’re not human?” She had to know.
Zak’s eyes frosted over. “I am human.”
“Just different to other humans?” Her stance was no longer challenging, she was just desperate to know.
“Different to me?”
He raked his fingers through his long hair, his frustration obvious. “I am human,” he repeated. “Different to you? Yes, a little, but still human.”
Chloe had a thousand questions going round in her head, but his taut features told her he wasn’t going to talk about it now; besides there was the television broadcast to deal with. She would wait until the time was right to draw the information out of him. After all she was a skilled counsellor, and listening to people, real, active listening was what she did every day; listening - and getting people to open up about themselves
“So what are you going to do about the television report?” She watched him carefully as he stared up at her, still fiddling with the remote. “You will easily be recognised if you go out on the streets.”
“I’ll deal with that when the time comes,” he said, standing up, and suddenly she was no longer in the position of power; in fact she never had been, he’d simply allowed her to stand over him for a few minutes.
It wasn’t just a physical thing, his overwhelming presence, although he must be around 6 feet tall, it was more psychological; he just seemed dominated the room, wherever he was.
Chloe’s eyes followed him to the fridge, watching him open the door and stare inside it, as if he was expecting something to appear. “I’m damn hungry.”
There was hardly anything in there, she knew; she usually went food shopping on a Saturday, and today was Saturday. If her memory served her well the lettuce, cheese and bread had been eaten by him last night. That left, maybe half a carton of milk and . . . not much else really
He lifted that strangely curious gaze from the empty fridge to her. “There’s no food in here.”
Chloe shrugged, secretly pleased. He couldn’t send her out on her own to buy food, but he would be recognised if he came with her. “Then we’ll have to go out and buy some.”
He tilted his head, frowning at her. “While I was watching – TV,” he paused, as if unsure of the word. “I saw home deliveries or delivered hot to your door. Is that true?”
Chloe felt like shouting her frustration, but a tiny part of her was relieved, relieved that he wasn’t going out to buy food - and getting arrested. It was crazy, but a part of her wanted to protect him. How could she protect an obviously shrewd, calculative man who also seemed to have the ability to change his shape!
She bowed her head in resignation. “We can order pizza and it will be delivered to the door,” she said, trying not to think beyond the pizza delivery.