Raven Saga 01 - Raven

out of town, I smiled to myself happily and checked the map again before taking a turning off the main road. There was tarmac for a hundred or so metres and then I had to take a left down a small and winding dirt track. The track became even longer and narrower then, giving an almost funnel effect.
    I continued walking until I eventually came upon a wide open space. In the middle was a large concrete base. I had found it. This should have been the place that I grew up. The happy years that we could have all spent together. Should have spent together. Serena, my father, Neleh... and me. How different my life could have been, I thought as I walked slowly towards what would have been our home.
    I looked around and noticed that it was surrounded by trees, hidden away from any kind of prying eyes, perhaps that was the reason my father had chosen it. He knew the family secret and he knew the importance of keeping it just that: a secret. It was perfect and it was peaceful. I understood perfectly why my father had chosen this plot of land. Not only was it well hidden, but it also had a great feeling to it. I tried to picture what the house could have looked like. A large log home a bit like Gabriel's perhaps? No, this would have been quite a bit smaller and even more cosy. It was perfect.
    As I wandered around the base, I noticed a large pallet of logs which had become ruined from years of neglect in the outdoors. I felt sad as I approached them and gently rubbed my hand along one of the logs.
    I had been so focused on what could have been that I didn't even notice that it had started raining. I looked up as the storm clouds collected over head. I pulled my beanie down further over my face and as I turned away from the logs, I heard a tear and then a click before an almighty crash.
    A searing pain went through my leg as I fell to the ground with a thud. A log had come loose and had landed on top of me. I barely remember anything, except that I screamed out in pain. I felt nauseous all of a sudden and, barely conscious, I tried to shout for help yet I knew nobody would hear me. As I had noted before, the house was perfectly well hidden, after all. I could just about feel my face becoming wet from the rain when I heard a loud of clap of thunder.
    I felt trapped in a nightmare. One where I couldn't move. The more I struggled, the worse it became. The log was too heavy and I was too injured to move a muscle.
    I've no idea how long I was there.
    Just as I felt like giving up all hope, drifting in and out of consciousness, I saw movement from beyond the trees and then before I knew it, I heard the voice of an angel. “Don't worry, Lilly. You're going to be all right. I'll make sure of that.”
    I must have been hallucinating as I remember being lifted higher and higher into the sky before completely losing consciousness.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

    When I came to, I noticed a pale green ceiling and green walls. A distinctive smell hovered in the air. It smelled... clinical. Hearing people moving around beyond my room, I realised I was in the hospital. I had absolutely no idea what had happened to me.
    “Lilly?” said a deep voice to the side of the bed.
    I turned my head and saw Ben sitting patiently by my side, waiting for me to wake up.
    “What happened?” I asked.
    Apparently it was a mystery to him too. After he had treated his patients, he had been working alone on some paperwork in his practice, when there had been a knock on the door and when he opened it, he found me lying on the floor unconscious.
    “I had absolutely no idea what had happened. At first I assumed you had knocked on the door and then collapsed but when I tried to pick you up, I noticed someone had roughly wrapped your leg with these huge leaves. Someone had clearly helped you and then left you there. Do you have any idea what happened?” he asked.
    I shook my head, which ached a little and I asked for Gabriel.
    “Don't worry, he's here. He's just having a word with the doctor. Rose is here too, and Sonya and Meredith are on their way.”
    “They don't need to come. I'm okay... aren't I?” I asked, unsure whether I was or not.
    “You've broken your leg and you've got a few bruises but other than that I think you're okay so don't worry. Your hair looks great, by the way,” he said, trying to make light of the situation.
    Gabriel walked into the room and thanked Ben profusely for bringing me to the hospital so quickly. “If you need to get back to work,