I felt the cold breeze on my cheek and the scent of salt in the air- I was back.
But I was moving.
My eyes opened to find that I was being carried away by a strong pair of arms.
I lolled my head with the little energy I had to see the man's face.
He had a handsome face; a strong jaw; shapely lips; thick brown hair combed under his grey fedora.
His brown eyes caught me off guard- they were as clear as honey fresh from the hive swirling into the pupil's abyss. they caught the light and for a moment I was stunned as he looked down.
He smiled seemingly relieved by my conscious state.
And I, still fading back into the real world, smiled back doe-eyed and bushy-tailed.
His smile widened as did his eyes before he spoke-
''Don't worry, miss- I'll get you to the doctor and we'll have you right as rain.''
His eyebrows showed his impression of me as a damsel in distress.
''Don't worry, miss, I'm a police officer.'' He grinned proudly.
I suppose he couldn't have expected my reaction in a month of Sundays.
My eyes widened and as my vision cleared I could see him in more detail; he was more handsome than at first glance- the tip of a scar that crept from the shadow of his hat- it added character and definite intrigue.
But alas a gal's gotta do what a gals gotta do.
I suddenly engaged my plan with extreme gusto as I began to thrash in his arms.
A few grunts of disbelief came as I bucked and writhed to escape his tightening grip.
''Miss! Please!''
With his call for civility, we both came crashing to the grass, landing tangled.
I pushed myself from the ground to find I was mostly atop the man.
He groaned as he regained his bearings before he turned his attention to me.
Our faces mere inches apart he stared into my eyes with something familiar in his expression.
However I had no time to ponder on it because with little warning- even to myself- I leapt off of him diving into a roll before coming to my feet in a guarded stance.
''What the heck-'' he mumbled as he probed his head for injury.
I decided to interject and make my position clear to him from the get-go.
''Listen- don't touch me without my permission - okay, Bizzy?''
He was slow to get moving but he quickly hopped onto his feet with youthful vigour.
''Excuse me?'' he questioned.
I decided to end our interaction there and then as I walked back up the field to the log where I had set my things down.
After a step or two, I groaned upon hearing him call after me.
''Miss!- where are you going?- miss!''
I didn't answer thinking he would get the hint.
I was wrong.
I was halfway back when I noticed his footfalls where following instead of running- a fool - I thought decidedly and chose to try and scare him off with the fiery personality I was so teased for in the orphanage- red hair and a temper. Cliches and snarky remarks were the least of my troubles in that hell hole.
None-the-less I wasn���t prepared to be dogged by a Bizzy whilst I was here trying to be incognito.
''Listen.'' I suddenly halted and pivoted to face him. Only I almost smacked into him; he was that close.
He stared down his nose into my eyes. His breath was hot in the March chill.
His honey-like eyes pulling me in…
Nope!
I quickly stepped back, uphill, to look him in the eyes without a strange fear of losing myself to something quite foreign to me.
''Listen, '' I began again with more exasperation than venom. ''I'm getting my stuff so I can be on my way- ok? Not a crime is it?'' I put my hands on my narrow hips waiting for him to give up and go away.
''No…'' he said understandingly- however his smile said something else just before it formed his counter attack.
''Though it would be a crime to leave a sick girl stranded away from medical attention and polite society- at least it would be to me.'' his grin said he had me with that one.
He didn't.
'' call me a 'girl' again and there will be a crime committed,'' I growled before turning to make it to the fallen log.
I looked around soon finding my satchel and coming back hoping beyond hope that he would have gotten the hint.
But alas, when I came back I found him in the same spot with a serious and sceptical face.
''I' should be taking you to the doctor,'' he stated.
I said nothing
Maybe if Ignored him he would just go away…
''Come on- you need a check-up- don't neglect yourself.''
I stuck him with a disinterested glare.
''I have had my physical for the year- but thanks'' I faked a smile and continued to walk on past him.
Suddenly I felt the air shift as the pig's hand moved to catch my arm.
I spun backwards staying just out of his reach as he tried to catch up with my movements he couldn't - I knew that. I was 2 foot away and then suddenly I changed course: I was risen to my tippy toes to facing off with him.
He froze in place my teetering balance meant that our noses kissed. His face was still a mask of stone as he stared back at my menacing snarl.
''Buzz- off. Do you understand, Bizzy bee?'' with that said I descended, hitching my satchel over my shoulder, I walked past him.
As I did a low rumble emanated from his chest…
Curious...
I ignored him- it wasn't meant for human ears- and I wasn't about to reveal myself as a witch to this … intriguing stranger.
He was something…
I continued walking to the road. Then something stirred. At the nape of my neck, I felt a warmth grow. It was the signal for magic in the air…
I turned back to see that he stood still, his long coat blowing casually, his scent caressing my senses in the breeze; sweet but dark.
When he still didn't move I felt my heart sink.
I felt bad for hurting him with my prejudice- I didn't want to be that person.
I tilted my head thinking how nice it would be to have a sketching set… I was beginning to lose my self in his scene...
he's a mystery- alas, a mystery for another time - maybe never.
Either way, he wasn't my problem.
When I got to the road I felt tempted to just shift to my Grand's place but when I heard the car door open I realised that the Bizzy had not been so shocked after all.
Good. he needs to stay away.
Fixing my appearance I readied myself for the walk - until the policeman disappeared and then I could do magic.
I gave the man one last look. He was sat in his idling car staring blankly at me.
I smiled and gave a small salute before I walked towards the town.
A mile later and I still had the Bizzy, in his car, following me.
Is this really happening?!
I looked at my sensible black shoes and thanked the cosmos that the ministry valued practicality over fashion.
But I was tired, hungry and I didn't get any of that damn cigarette and- and…
Baba
I couldn't say it aloud- that would make it real.
All this time I have lived a lonely life and then I come here and…
I saw my father…
I could remember - I felt the pain in my chest when I thought of being taken from under my Baba's coat and then my life of devotion began.
I watched the grey road slip beneath my feet as I kept walking.
How could he?- he gave me to them - he put me in this life of servitude to a cause I don't care about.
The ministry was a tool of oppression to bring order to what the humans perceived as chaos. But it was the natural order.
with everything that the humans have put this world through they still don't seem to have learned.
The ministry of Magic Under MAjesty… the ever constant in this world is that people try to control what they fear because they do not trust for a greater power to be more enlightened and peaceful than they. They take good and force it into their moulds for the status quo.
I stopped abruptly and when I looked up to the town it was like staring at a cookie-cutter ready to take away the things that didn't fit. Like me.
I whipped my head around to see that the policeman had maintained the same distance and was slowly following me into town.
I narrowed my eyes at him before dropping my case and striding back to knock on his window.
He rolled it down smoothly before tilting his head so my heart could be pierced by his amber eyes as they were struck by the sun.
Pull it together Mei Su.
''Can I help you miss?'' he asked so politely.
I put my hands on the roof of the car hanging into the car I stared into the man's eyes.
Again his face turned to stone.
''What was your name?'' I asked.
''Its alexander- Alexander Armstrong…''
I shook my head and sighed before standing back from the car.
I chewed my lip taking deep consideration of the situation.
I turned my gaze to the sea.
''I apologise…- for telling you to buzz off, i mean.''
I glanced sideways to try and see his reaction. He dipped his head hiding beneath the brim of his hat. But I could hear the hum of mirth in his throat.
He said nothing and despite determinedly looking to the path ahead my eye couldn't resist the urge to catch a glimpse of his smile; of course, he saw me.
It must have been a coincidence for us to look at the same time. But I encountered that moment of flight or fight and I froze for a second.
His smile grew as he soon leaned out of the window.
My eyes darted back to staring at the sea
He's getting close
I stared straight ahead almost challenging the ancient town to tear me down.
I have to be tough here. I can't run and hide when the bullies come out- I have to face them now.
''Miss?'' Armstrong said rousing me from my inner turmoil,
My head snapped to attention without a second thought.
He's still smiling… is he a lune?
''What's your name?'' he asked very politely.
My brow scrunched for a moment before realising that I had not introduced myself to the man.
''Oh, it's Mei…'' I stopped looking down to the road.
''Is that it?- surely you have a surname.
I felt strange - why was I feeling self-conscious because of my Chinese name...
You're being ridiculous!
''Yes, yes, its Mei Su Wickhim - Alright?- i-'' halfway through my outburst I realised that there was no reason for it; a point which was driven home by the expression on the bizzy's face.
His smile had fled and his brows were heavy. At that point, I noticed a small silver line cutting finely through his brow and off to his temple.
I stood for a few seconds stricken with a mixture of embarrassment, confusion and shame.
''I'm sorry'' I said in a sincere and calm voice, ''again…''
I waited for him to reject my apology- to chastise me for being an ill-mannered tart…
Maybe that was too harsh a prejudice…
''Mei Su.''
My head shot up to look him in the eyes when he said my name.
He looked melancholy as his honey eyes met mine; though they were somewhere very far away.
I stared back without feeling any discomfort for I knew that he could not see me.
I waited for a few seconds before deciding to break whatever world he was in by speaking.
''Well, Mr Armstrong, I shall be on my way. Have a good day.'' with those words I swiftly turned and walked up the road picking up my possessions without stopping in my stride.
As I walked on my mind went over the interaction I had had with the Bizzy; Alexander Armstrong
What an intriguing fella… hope I don't have to deal with him too much.