Everything was black. It was like floating in an inky void. Panic began to creep in. I thought it would swallow me whole.

"Nova...." I heard my name being called, but I couldn't see anything or anyone.

"Nova don't be afraid of what you are," he said.

His voice felt like warm light. Like walking outside for the first time and feeling the sun on your face. The warmth wrapped around me, and I wanted to bask in it forever.

"You belong to me..."

I tried to speak but couldn't. It was an odd feeling. Like my voice wouldn't work.

"It's okay..." he whispered, and I felt him surround me again.

I wanted to talk to him, to ask him who he was.

"You will find me soon." His voice floated around me.

'Can you hear me?' I asked him, finally finding my mind's voice. That's the only way I can describe this. I wanted to rejoice. I just hoped that he could hear me, that he would answer me.

"Yes, I can. I can always hear you. My chosen one."

'Chosen? Chos---'

"All will be revealed when it is time. We will be together soon. Now it is time for you to go back."

I wanted to protest. To feel his touch. To hear his voice. To talk to him more. I had so many questions.

Suddenly I was standing back on the ship's deck, the sound of the ocean surrounding me once again.

I could hear the music coming from the dining room. The same song was playing as when I had left, only moments had passed from when I first came out on to the deck.

How was that even possible? What the hell had just happened? Had I hallucinated? I knew I hadn't had that much to drink. I didn't know what to think, but I didn't want to return to the dinner party. 

Hopefully Lila would understand, but if she didn't then I wouldn't worry too much about it. Having a friend would be nice, but I wasn't going to be anything other than myself.

Not anymore.

Plus, I needed to figure out what the hell was going on with me. Was I just going mad? Hallucinating? Or, was this man real?

Oh, how I hoped that he was.

I needed to get to my room. Documenting everything from this point on would be a start. From there I would figure it out. Or, so I hoped.

After leaving dinner I came back to my room and started writing about my episodes. My interactions with him. What he said to me. All of it. I had to be careful with this book now. If anyone were to read it, I would be locked away for sure. Or worse.

I hadn't dreamt about him that night, although I wish I had. His voice was like a comfort to me. This is the first time I felt this way, my whole life. I needed to know him. I was determined to find who this strange man was, and just what the hell was happening to me.

The only problem was; I had no idea where to start.

          It was raining. Lila and I were sitting in the sunroom, that we shared between our quarters. I had to say that I welcomed the rain. It gave me an excuse to avoid leaving my area of the ship. I secretly hoped it continued to rain for the rest of our voyage. 

Lila was telling me about the events I had missed last night after I left rather abruptly. Or rather what I hadn't missed. The dinner party went as I had expected. What surprised me was Lila. She had covered for my absence with the other passengers.

"So, Nova, where will you be staying when we arrive?" Lila asked, sipping her tea slowly.

I cleared my throat, staring out at the silver sheets of rain that were falling against the glass windows that surrounded the room. "I don't actually know the woman. My---" I paused; How did I even broach the subject of who Della was? "The woman that raised me made arrangements with a lady she knows, that runs a shop in Silver Falls. She has a flat above her store that she is supposed to rent to me. She's supposed to be waiting at the docks for me when I arrive."

Lila nodded; her eyebrows raised slightly. "Well, if for some reason you can't, or don't want to stay at the flat; you are welcome to come to my home. I have plenty of room if you need."

"Thank you. That means so much, really," I smiled, turning my attention away from the downpour of rain to my new found friend.

"I don't have any family to speak of in Silver Falls," Lila was saying, "I lost everyone a long time ago."

So, she was alone too. An orphan like me. "I'm not really sure who any of my family are. I was left when I was very young. I don't remember it. And Della would never tell me much about who I came from." I laughed, and it felt hollow. "They always made me feel as if I were a burden in their home. But they never cast me out because of how it would make them look."

Lila sighed, leaning forward in her chair. "So why did they send you away now?"

I stood up walking to the small bar in the corner of the sunroom. The walls were painted a cheerful pale yellow, and on any other day the light from the sun would have penetrated the half windows that lined the room. Today, though, was dark and gloomy. A sofa lined one of the walls, its powder blue cushions fluffy and inviting. A small wicker coffee table positioned in front of it. Lila was seated at the small white wicker round table, her cup in front of her.

I was done with tea. I grabbed a crystal glass that sat on the shelf above the bar. "Would you like?" I questioned, motioning towards the pretty crystal decanter full of whiskey.

Lila smiled wryly. "Yes ma'am," she replied getting up from the table, leaving the delicate teacup behind. "But I have to say, this is not at all entirely ladylike. Drinking in the middle of the afternoon." She walked up to the small bar taking the glass and downing its contents, motioning for another.

I laughed out loud. I could imagine Della walking in at that moment and what the sight must look like. Better yet, what her reaction would be.

By the time we finished the contents of the crystal decanter Lila and I had swapped stories of growing up. The boring parties and the things that set us apart from the polite ladies that fit into the upper-class world that we had been brought up in. It was uncanny how similar we were in many ways. I was just happy to finally have a friend that I could be myself around, and I thought that Lila must be feeling the same.

          The rain had stopped, and I was sitting on the deck of the ship, in the outdoor dining area. Stars filled the night sky and there was a cool breeze surrounding us. Several other tables were full, mostly men playing card games and drinking. We were almost at out port destination and I was getting nervous. I was glad I met one person, at least, who I would know when we landed. Everything else was up in the air.

The gas lamp hanging above my table let off an eerie glow as I stared into the glass of amber liquid before me. I was starting over; beginning my life. I didn't know what that was supposed to look like though, and it worried me.

I quickly emptied my glass, pouring a refill. I was getting used to the slow burn that followed drinking the amber liquid fire. It calmed my ebbing nerves, allowing my mind to settle as I sank further into my chair, beginning to feel the familiar darkness overtake me.

I felt a hand brush my cheek, and I knew it was him.

"You're almost there my love." I heard him whisper, and then I was back at the table with Lila in front of me.

"Hey, are you okay? I was trying to get your attention but---"

"I'm sorry," I started, cutting her off, "I was just thinking about what I'm going to do when we arrive in Silver Falls." I smiled, pouring us both a drink. "You know, this is my first time being on my own." I paused, taking a drink from my glass, trying to not think of his lingering touch. "I—I'm not really sure where I'm to begin."

Lila's shiny dark hair was swept up on top of her head, the dark fabric of her dress made her eyes stand out against her peach complexion and she smiled at me, her teeth gleaming in the low lamplight.

"Trust me," she said, swirling the liquid around in the glass that she held, "I know exactly what you are feeling, but you will do just fine. If you would like I could go with you to see this flat. To make sure the woman is -- okay, and to tell you if it is an area you would want to live in or not. I'm pretty familiar with the Silver Falls area."

I downed my drink and poured another before answering her. "I think I would like that."

I felt lucky; all things considered. What were the odds of meeting a friend like this on my voyage? She wasn't like anyone I had ever met before, and I was glad that we happened upon each other on this ship. For a fleeting moment, I wondered...... was it all much more than luck?