My smile shrivels on my face. The second Jillian sees Jarrod her mouth drops open and her eyes squint like she’s trying to figure something out. We step closer and her eyes suddenly spring wide open in startled shock. She looks comical, but I’m not laughing. Something is wrong. She fumbles in her jeans pocket for her glasses in a mad kind of panic. She puts them on and starts screaming.
Her terrified screams hit a high pitch. I sense wildlife scattering at the sound. I can’t understand her reaction. She’s mumbling something about evil this or that, but it’s hard to distinguish any actual words.
Finally she stops but is still breathing hard, a hand splayed across her heaving chest. Of all the unexpected things to happen, today is definitely the day for it. First that bizarre storm in the lab, and now Jillian losing control. And it’s so out of character, I can do nothing but stand here stunned. Slowly, I slide a sideways look at Jarrod. This is all he needs. He’ll think we’re both crazy now. Predictably it’s written all over his face, scepticism, shock, and fear of being in bodily danger. His pathetic spirit makes me mad. Where is his backbone? Can’t he see the woman is upset?
‘What happened, Jillian?’
She points to Jarrod with a trembling hand. ‘Snakes. I saw snakes.’
Jarrod’s eyebrows lift.
‘On him?’
She nods, sucking in a deep gulping breath. ‘A vision. It must have been a vision. They’re gone now.’ Reluctantly she draws her gaze away from Jarrod, locking her blue eyes to mine. ‘There were at least twenty, Kate. Covering the top half of his body, green slimy things that weaved all around him, over his shoulders, his head, into his hair.’
I don’t doubt her for a second. ‘God, what does this mean?’
She shudders and slips her glasses back into her pocket. ‘I don’t know, darling. Snakes are vile creatures, indicating the presence of evil.’
‘We’ve only just met, but I don’t sense evil on him.’ I think about this and shake my head. ‘Nah, not evil, Jillian. No way. He’s more …’ I shrug as images waft across my subconscious, ‘kind of puppy-doggish.’
‘If you’ll excuse me,’ Jarrod’s placid voice unfolds between us. ‘This is all very amusing. If I ever get my sense of humour back, I’m sure I’ll laugh – in about twenty years. Right now though, I gotta go, get that Band-aid, y’know?’
Wonderful. Of course I know what he’s doing. Ignoring his obvious urge to get the hell out of here, I try pushing past his scepticism and mounting fear. ‘Wait, Jarrod. Let me explain.’
He adjusts his glasses, then points a finger with a negative shake of his head. ‘I don’t think I want to hear it. No offence, but … this isn’t my scene. You wanna know the truth? I hate snakes. I had an incident with snakes in my bed once.’ His whole body shivers. ‘Never ever again.’
He turns, but I beat him to the door. ‘While you’re here let’s just fix your arm. It’s the least we can do, really.’
‘I think the least you can do has already been done – to my sanity. Now, don’t bar that door, or I’ll take you through it with me, Kate.’
A strange breeze starts to blow, trinkets and wind chimes start dancing erratically. It hits my face and swirls my hair around and it feels sensational. It isn’t angry, like before in the lab. This wind is mystical yet tame, and it sings to me. I wish I could share it with Jarrod, ’cause he created it. I’m sure of this. And it’s such a beautiful wind, swirling around my feet, pushing gently upwards to the ceiling. I get so caught up in it I start to move, with it, through it, into it.
I almost forget about Jarrod and his urge to flee. But he’s noticed the wind too. He’s looking at me oddly, his head tilted, a peculiar expression on his face, like he’s intrigued against his will.
‘Ooh, how delightful.’ Jillian comes back in, her hands full of bandages and herbal antiseptics. ‘If you’ll just sit down for a minute … Jarrod, isn’t it?’
He nods, his mind momentarily distracted from running, and sits on the stool Jillian points to. I watch him peer through the glass windows at the stillness of the trees in the forest. He’s wondering how there could be such a breeze in here when outside is calm, almost still. It’s good that he’s wondering. I allow him to do this without jumping on his thoughts. I have just learned not to go too fast with him.
The breeze disappears the instant the first drops of antiseptic sting Jarrod’s open wound. ‘Hey! What the hell is that stuff!’