staff. Light is shining from above and I can see that it is bright green and gold in colour as it wraps itself around the Rod of Asclepius, the symbol for medicine and healing. I sense there is something mystical about the vision before me and I can’t help but be in awe of the snake’s presence — my previous fear is immediately replaced by a sense of peace and calm. At the same time I’m about to turn away, I feel painless drops of blood pool in my belly button before sliding directly downwards. Strangely, it gives me strength and I know I must continue on my own journey to the light. I head towards an archway, momentarily glancing over my shoulder to reflect on the path of my shedding skin. As I round the corner into the glimmer of light, my arms have become wings and my nose a beak. I carefully poke out into the air, spread my magnificent wings and fly, feeling my body strengthen with each passing second. I fly higher and higher into a majestic tree. My bird’s-eye vision fastens on an owl resting on another branch. It’s as if he nods to me and I acknowledge him by lowering my head in return. I see the world like I’ve never seen it before, so high, such perspective. As I tuck my wings back around my body, they brush against a nest full of eggs nestled discreetly into the hefty branch. One egg wobbles dangerously over the edge, as if in slow motion. I attempt to save it as my body leaves the safety of the branch and my wings lengthen to protect its fall.
I wake up suddenly with the feeling I’m falling and gasp out loud, completely disoriented. What a weird dream. I don’t ever remember dreaming of animals. It leaves me feeling a little anxious and with a sudden sense of foreboding — as if there is a path I’m destined to take that could result in short-term pain for long-term gain. I shake my head to dislodge the mental images from my mind. I wish I had my dream book with me. Maybe I can find an app when I land that will help me interpret such vivid, colourful imagery. The lights shine in my eyes and breakfast is being served. I must have been asleep for a while. I change from my pyjamas back into my travel clothes and look forward to my imminent arrival, a step closer to Jeremy and whatever he has planned for me this week. I’m so excited to finally be here and soon to be in the arms of the man I love — have always loved. I can’t keep the smile from my face.
* * *
Finally, we touch down in London as scheduled.
I walk through the swinging doors at Heathrow and notice a chauffeur standing with my name on a placard. What a pleasure it is to travel like this, with every detail smoothly organised. We share greetings as he takes my luggage.
When we arrive at a luxury black sedan with the door open, there is another man standing beside it dressed in similar attire to the chauffeur.
‘Good morning, Dr Blake. Welcome to London.’
‘Good morning. Thank you, it’s great to be here.’
I smile as he opens the door for me and the first man takes care of my luggage. As I settle myself in the back seat, ensuring I have everything, I hear my name being called from somewhere in the distance behind me. As I look over my shoulder I am stunned to see Jeremy and Samuel running towards the car I am in. How amazing. What on earth are they doing here? I didn’t think they were due in until later tonight? I wave my hand in surprised recognition as the driver’s assistant suddenly shoves the door closed and bolts into the front seat. I see the panic in Jeremy’s and Sam’s eyes and on their faces as they run towards me. Just as I am about to ask the driver to wait for them, the car surges forward and I am flung across the back seat. I ask them to stop, telling the driver that I know those men. Jeremy is now running after the car and banging on the back window and there’s fear in his eyes. Something is terribly wrong. I try to open the side window to speak to him, but there is no button. The window tint turns black and I can’t see his face any more. The door is locked and as I turn around to look at the driver, a blackened barrier rises between the back and front seats. I scream and bash on the door and the glass. We are moving fast. I start to tremble as the memory of Jeremy’s agonised face is etched firmly on my brain. I fumble for my phone in my handbag, only to find there is no service indicated. I don’t understand any of this. I am in a blackened car with no phone reception. Who are these drivers? I bang on the windows and barrier, screaming at these men, trying to make sense of what is happening. I attempt to open the doors, urgently checking both of them and bang my palms until they hurt with pain against the black tinted windows. What is this about? Suddenly I feel woozy, faint. Then I don’t feel anything at all …
Jeremy
My world closes in on me in slow motion as I witness the scene in front of me in astonished disbelief. My chest is collapsing within my ribcage. I can’t breathe. Alexa has literally disappeared from within an inch of my grasp, before my very eyes.
‘Sam, grab that taxi, we need to follow them. Quick, jump in.’ We leap into the back of the first black London cab idling in the rank.
‘Follow that black sedan in front,’ I shout at the driver. ‘We can’t afford to lose them.’
He drives off much too slowly. ‘This isn’t Hollywood, mate. Let me tell you right now, I’m not losin’ my fuckin’ licence for a bit of your James Bond nonsense.’
I slam the seat hard with my fist. What a fucking nightmare!
The driver immediately pulls over to the kerb. ‘Get out, get out of my cab, I don’t need you bastards smashing things up. Piss off. Go on, get out.’
Shit. I’ve never been this out of control.
When it becomes clear that the driver is going nowhere with us inside his cab, we scramble out again. Sam stands speechless and shocked as we are left on the side of the road wondering what the hell we are going to do now.
* * *
We arrived at Heathrow late last night as I had a meeting cancelled and could get to London earlier than planned. I couldn’t wait to surprise Alexa by greeting her personally, to wrap my arms around her and tell her how much I’ve missed her, how much she means to me. I had the whole day planned. I took the liberty of taking a larger hotel suite than usual so we could share, but booked a small room in her name too, just in case she had an issue with it — I know Alex has quite fixed ideas when it comes to presenting a professional persona to the outside world. Given this is her first involvement with the Global Research Forum she may have wanted to keep up certain appearances and I didn’t want to kick-start our time together making incorrect assumptions. I know it wouldn’t take much convincing for her to stay with me, but if it would make her happy to have a room booked in her own name as well, then I’m all for it, particularly after everything she went through last time we met up. God, I just shake my head at the thought. Having her consent freely to what she went through, what she agreed to, for me. What a woman, she just never ceases to amaze me. It literally makes my cock tingle thinking about her — how damn gorgeous she looks when she desperately tries to deny what her body is feeling, sounding all prim and proper. I always try to remain as aloof as possible until it gets so ridiculous I have to hit her with her own redundant attitudes head on — or simply touch her. Both strategies have yielded me endless success in the past. I hadn’t decided whether we should consummate our reunion on arrival or later in the day. Even though the delay would be gratifying, I didn’t think I’d have the restraint to wait given it’s been over a month since I’ve seen her.
And now I catch a glimpse of her for two seconds and then she vanishes and it’s my fucking fault. Shit! I’ve been briefed on her every movement since she returned to Hobart, every single move. We even had cameras installed to monitor her front gate so we could identify every person who entered her house. I didn’t mention it to Alexa, as I didn’t want to freak her out, particularly over the phone, and then she’d have to explain to Robert why we needed to take extra precautions so I decided it wasn’t worth all the hassle.
