"You think that I am crazy don't you?"

"No! I think you had way too much wine last night before you went to bed. You could have at least joined Charles and me for drinks instead of drinking by yourself."

"I didn't drink anything before going to bed Christina! I fell asleep right when I got home. I know you find that heard to believe."

Christina shrugged her shoulders, "What ever you say to yourself to help you sleep better. And I am just saying, people have weird dreams all the time. This one time I dreamed I was a flying monkey..."

"Ms. McCracken, a word please."

Hannah looked up from her work. Her boss was standing right in front of her with his arms crossed and a not so pleasant look on his face.

"Make up a good excuse Hannah," Christina whispered as she quickly walked away to busy herself with work.

Hannah followed her boss into his office and sat in the chair across from his desk.

"Why were you late today? You never are. You are always punctual instead. So I am at a loss for words as why you came in four hours late. Care to explain yourself?"

She struggled to find an explanation as to why she was late. She couldn't just say that she had a realistic dream that put her back in time. "I overslept," she finally said. A half truth was better than a full lie in her opinion.

He looked at her and nodded, "Okay, just try to set an alarm next time. I don't want it happening again."

"Yes sir. Is there anything else you needed to discuss with me?"

"No. You can go back to work."

She escaped from the office back into the safety of her cubicle without a second thought.

"What did the monster want this time?" Christina had slid over in her rolling chair to gather all the gossip.

Hannah rolled her eyes, " He told me not to be late again. It was a warning I guess."

"He's a jerk. It was one time compared to my multitude. He never dragged me into the office. What if boss man is crushing on you? That would be gross. Anyway, just ignore him. He won't do anything in regards to firing you." She winked at Hannah before rolling away back to her desk.

Rolling her eyes one more time, she went back to work in hopes of staying under the radar of her boss. Lunch came around. Hannah placed her hand on her stomach that was growling viciously. "I am hungry, I know," she said to her stomach.

"Talking to yourself again?" Christina was leaning over the cubicle wall smiling. "Want to go get hamburgers with Charles and me?"

"Absolutely!"

Hand in hand, then went down to the cafeteria for some food. Charles sat at a table saving it for them.

"You take days Christina," he whined.

"Oh shut up," she quipped sitting down across from him.

Hannah was put in the award position of sitting in between the two lovebirds. She took a bite of her burger hoping to satisfy the ferocious beast that was growing with each passing minute. She tuned out their conversation since they were talking about bar hopping on Saturday. While devouring her burger, a large figure caught her attention, but as soon as she focused in, the figure disappeared.

"I'll be right back," she said as she tried to focus in on the figure who was fast departing. Hannah didn't even wait for them to respond. She picked up her purse and pursued the mysterious figure. The shadow continued retreating every time she got closer. It was a game of cat and mouse, something she wasn't too thrilled about. Finally, she cornered the figure only to be shocked.

There was no body but there was a shadow on the wall. Its build was hard to identify. It was neither a male nor a female specific shape, but rather a blob that had a human form. Hannah stared at it trying figure out where it was coming from. Turning around, she tried to find the person who was casting their shadow down onto the wall. There was nothing to be found. Absolutely nothing.

"Trying to figure me out," a whisper of a voice came from behind her.

She froze too scared to turn around. The shadow was speaking, or so she thought.

"Hannah McCracken. 25. Single and in possession of the book that is currently in your bag. How am I doing so far?"

Spinning around, she stared at the shadowy figure. Her mouth moved but no words escaped from its depths.

"You know something Hannah? The book you have in your bag holds truth and love. You have to embrace that." The figure moved its hand and placed it on what Hannah could only assume was the hip. "It was no mistake that the book found you."

Hannah choked on her spit, "The book found me? No, no, no. I was the one who found the book. Books cannot find people. That is impossible."

"Oh Hannah please. Don't you believe that anything can happen?"

"Yes, but let's be real for a moment."

"Oh darling," the shadow chuckled, "I am being serious. The world is far beyond your comprehension." The shadow cocked her head to the side. Something that resembled a filmy smiled appeared. "Have you ever had the dream of being rescued by a handsome man and swept off your feet?"

"Well yes, I have, but..."

"Hm," the shadow smirked and moved over to Hannah. Opening the bag, it touched the book making it start to glow. "Then hold on dear because it's about to happen."

-----

Scotland 1574

"My Larid! The battle is almost over!" Balfour shouted from the ground up at Camden on the horse.

"Good news Balfour! Tonight, we celebrate!"

Camden clicked his heels into the horse's side urging it back into the fray of fighting men. Sword in hand, he attacked all those who came near him and his mighty steed. The sky was clouded over by the smoke from the burning castle that loomed in the distance. The sound of metal clanging against metal was music to Camden's ears. Battle was a beautiful thing to him for that was when everything came alive.

A warrior rushed at him with a battle-axe held high aiming for his chest. Sword ready, he blocked the axe pushing it away and throwing the warrior off balance. Swinging his sword, he caught the man in the throat and dragged his sword across leaving a clean cut. The man's eyes bulged while he grappled at his throat trying to block the red stream from flowing out. Camden gave a small smirk before finishing the job.

Follow the path, a voice whispered in Camden's ear.

He turned his head to see who had spoken to him, but there was no one there. The sounds of the battle slowly disappeared. A small golden path appeared. It was faint, but bright enough to be seen. He shook his head making the path disappear. There was no way he was going to follow something that was glowing. For all he knew, there could be a witch in the castle luring him to his death.

"My Laird. It's over! We have won!" Balfour's shouts sounded from somewhere in the crowd of warriors. Camden surveyed the field. Bodies lay strewn everywhere. Some were knocking at Death's door, while some had already passed though it. Camden swung himself off the horse and onto the stained ground. His warriors were going through and finishing off what was left of the other clan. Balfour jogged over to him.

"The Laird is cowering in the castle. All of his warriors are gone," Balfour informed him. It was a subtle hint that Camden should go and finish off the Laird who was a disgrace to his now eradicated clan.

Camden gave a nod. Patting his horse, he started the walk to the castle to finish the battle. As he walked with a purpose filled stride, he couldn't help but notice a little gold shimmer to his direction. It was only a few meters in front of him, but every time he got closer, it moved away.

Follow the path Camden. Follow it.

Camden paused in his stride. The voice was back, but as before there was no one to be seen. He continued and so did the little, golden light. Warriors cried out for water, but he did not care. Instead, he stepped over them ignoring their pleas for help. The castle loomed in front of him. Flames licked the little village that sat on the inside of the large, stone walls. The villagers had fled a long time ago as he had advised them. Sneaking into the village was Balfour's idea. The idea of killing the innocent women and children made him sick to his stomach. Being a warrior hardened him to certain things, but he was not completely immune to human kindness.

He swung the oak door open to find Laird Damhan cowering behind the oaken chair.

"Laird Damhan or should I call ye Laird Fawn, for ye are cowering like one from a hunter. Come out and fight like a warrior ye father raised ye to be. Come and fight," Camden roared. He moved closer and closer to the over-sized chair. As he came closer, he could see the Lady strewn across the floor on the right with red staining her blue dress.

"The Lady took her own life, and yet ye did not join yer warriors in battle? How could ye be so cowardly?" Anger bubbled in Camden. This man let his wife take her own life while he watched and did nothing to stop her. Raising his sword, he struck the chair making Damhan jump. His eyes were wide with fear, yet he made no move.

"Move ye coward," Camden screamed slamming his hand against the chair. Yet, the man did not move. Taking action into his own hands, he grabbed him by the shirt and threw him out into the open. "Fight. Fight me."

Instead of grabbing the sword that was firmly attached to his hip, Damhan raised his hands in mercy. Camden growled. As he stepped down the steps in the direction of his enemy, the golden light reappeared. It paused and then darted to the right in the opposite direction of the deceased Lady.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, "Balfour, watch him. I will be back."

Balfour nodded his head. Pulling out his sword, he took a stance that was both threatening and menacing.

Camden sheathed his sword and followed the light. It went out through the door and down into a large field in the back of the castle. He could hear something. Voices. There were male ones and a soft one that reminded him of an angel. Hannah. Breaking into a sprint, he followed the voices. The scene that greeted him lit a fire deep within him.

"Pretty lass, ye is beautiful, and dressed differently. Come with us lass. Don't be afraid," the warrior laughed.

Camden frowned. The warrior had intentions that were not proper. He could tell that the warrior was joking with his kindness, while he was serious about other things. Unsheathing his sword, Camden let out a loud battle cry. The men turned around, but didn't have time to react. He swung his sword in a blind fury. Camden did not care if the men survived or if they were completely disemboweled; all he wanted was Hannah to be okay and unharmed.

"Camden," a voice screamed at him pulling him out of the darkness that engulfed him. He could see clearly again. All around him was ground that was stained red. The warriors that once stood were past Death's door. They were gone and would never return to walk the hills of Scotland. In front of him, Hannah stood with wide eyes. Her skin glowed with a pale sickness as she surveyed his work. Sheathing his sword, he walked towards her.

"Do not come near me Camden." Hannah's eyes were ablaze with fear. It was a fear of him and his brutal and violent manner. She took a step back while covering her mouth.

"Hannah," he said softly trying to coax her closer to him, but it didn't work. It only pushed her further. Camden watched as her eyes darted from one body to the next with disgust written all over her paling face. "Hannah," he tried again taking a tiny step.

"No. I just-"

She did not finish the sentence. Turning around, she released all of the contents that were in her stomach onto the ground. Not waiting anymore, Camden covered the distance between her and him in a few strides. He pulled her long hair away from her face and rubbed her back like his mother used to do for him.

"It's okay Hannah," he said softly, "It's okay."

"Thank you," Hannah whispered back.

Those two words made his heart do a little something that he hadn't experienced since Ailsa's death. He didn't know if he should be happy or saddened, but he knew one thing; time was never forgiving.

What do you think of the strange shadow? What do you think it is? Are you shipping Hannah and Camden?

Secondly, a huge shoutout to my evil twin flowersandmurders! She is awesome so go check out her books!

Thirdly, go check out my other books! And I am thinking of having a contest! So comment away! Have a lovely day/evening/night!