The next day

“Do you think you will be better by Friday? We have that meeting with Accounts, which I am sure you know about as I put it in your diary. I really need you there Lucy!” I put on my croakiest voice. “I don’t know. I hope so.” But there was no fooling my wily boss- she knew jolly well I didn’t have flu at all. “I’ll let you know in a few days,” I said, then I terminated the call. I didn’t give a shit about Katy. I had other important things to do today, including going back to that campsite. I had had a night full of vivid dreams. I was running through a moonlit forest. Everything was silent apart from the pounding of my heart and my panting, but then I woke up sweating and delirious. Did I really get bitten? What was happening to me? But it did happen- the set of teeth marks on my upper arm proved it. Strangely though, they looked like they were already healing over when it had only just happened yesterday. I had to go back there, to ask questions, to see for myself. However, when I got there later that morning the caravans had all gone and there was nothing to see apart from the tyre marks and muddy footprints left behind. I stopped and stared at a large burnt-out area of grass where the fire had been. So I wasn’t imaging it after all! The caravans and campsite had been here, but now it was eerily empty. Where had they gone, I wondered? I needed to speak with the old woman. How did I get home? Did she help me? After the bite I had blacked out, but someone must have bandaged up my arm. This morning when I had tentatively looked under the towel, I found a rough cotton wrapping around my bite with some sweet-smelling herbs tucked inside. I was amazed the wound was not infected. I felt deflated. The old woman and dog were gone. I would never be able to find out what had happened now. Whilst I was mulling over all this, I heard a familiar neighing nearby. Thunder was watching me from over the fence. At least he is still here, I thought. I smiled and went over to him, but instead of coming over as he usually did for his treats he backed away, his eyes rolling in terror. “Thunder, what’s up old boy?” I was alarmed to see him like this. I stretched out my arm to him but he flared his nostrils and reared up at me. He then bolted away as fast as he could to the back of the paddock where he eyed me suspiciously. My heart sunk. This did not bode well at all.