43
Chapter 42
The scorching heat of July gave way to an even hotter August. Martin continued his mental rehabilitation, and found a helpful recovery in reading, helping him regain vocabulary skills. He gave The Notebook a try after hearing Sonya rave about it so much, and found he enjoyed the story, although he’d never admit it to a group of strangers.
“I’ve been thinking about the future,” Sonya said one night at dinner. “What happens here? If I go away, will there be people wondering where I am? Or does my life just vanish?”
“Time just sort of stops,” he said, not having a clue how it actually worked traveling forward in time.
“What happens if I die in the future?” she asked.
“Of course you’re gonna die in the future. We all do.” Martin offered a smile, but Sonya was in no mood for jokes.
“I’m being serious, Martin. If my life is in danger like yours is here, I just want to know what happens.”
“You won’t be in any danger. I promise.” He reached across the table and embraced her hand, rubbing slow circles around her palm with his thumb. “When we arrive, I’ll fill you in on everything you’ll have missed. I could go over the major events, but it’ll be helpful to have Google.”
“Google?”
“Sorry. It’s a website where you look up anything you ever wanted. It’s like Yahoo, but a million times better.”
Sonya nodded, grasping the simplest idea of the future internet juggernaut.
“You know,” Martin said. “I was considering staying in 1996 with you. Just leaving my life behind in the future and seeing where it goes from here. I wanted you to know that you aren’t the only one who made a difficult decision. I thought long and hard about it, but decided it’s not best for me to stay in a world where I already exist. That alone is a high risk. And then there’s Izzy. If I stay in 1996 and save her, that leaves her with two fathers and a world of confusion. I’d still have to watch her life from afar, and that’s not what I want to do. I want to be in her life.”
Sonya nodded. “I love you,” she said. “That’s the only reason I’m going with you. I’m terrified. Don’t you know how scary this is?”
“Of course I do. I had to do it by myself coming here. I’m just glad I have someone to share the experience with now.”
“I just want you to be happy. What happened to your daughter is disgusting. I couldn’t imagine living another day if something like that happened to me. You deserve to keep her safe and return to a normal life with her.”
“You’re an amazing woman,” he said. “I’ve never known anyone with such a big heart. I only hope I can make it up to you, and make your life everything you want it to be in the future.”
“I know you will. I wouldn’t take this leap if I didn’t believe so. I’ve been having some weird dreams.”
“What about?”
“This old man. He never says his name when I ask; he only smiles. But it’s not a friendly smile; it’s pure evil.”
Martin nodded. He wouldn’t let her know the truth about the man she had visions of. If she knew he was waiting for them in the future, she might reconsider going.
Oh, that old man? He’s only the keeper of time, and sure, he’s probably from hell and has dinner with Hitler every night, but he’s a nice guy, don’t you think?
Hopefully Chris wouldn’t take his emotions immediately upon arrival in 2018. He wanted to enjoy at least a day with Sonya before his soul turned numb.
How you gonna explain that one to her, big guy? Thank her for leaving her life behind to join an old, emotionless postal worker in 2018? That should go over beautifully.
Martin knew he should’ve been upfront about what lay ahead, but he couldn’t afford to let her change her mind. She’ll be fine. Everything can be explained. Just get her to 2018 and take it from there.
“I want to talk about next month,” Martin said. “Saving Izzy. I want your help. I know I had told you I needed to do this alone, but I’ve thought it over and feel it would be best to have another set of eyes. It’s a small house, but I can only be in one area at once. What if I’m covering the front and she slips out the back? Or vice versa? I just want to have all my bases covered.”
Martin caught himself speaking abnormally fast. Nervous much? Did it finally occur to you that the big day is only four weeks away now? Time sure flies when you’re comatose and forgetful.
“I’m happy to help however you need me,” she responded calmly. “What did you have in mind?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead, honestly, but perhaps I’ll have you stakeout the area ahead of time. All we know is that Izzy goes missing at some point in the middle of night. Lela confirmed she checked on Izzy before going to sleep, and that was usually around ten; Izzy’s bedtime was nine. So, I just want some eyes on the house in the hours leading up to then. It’s too risky for me to hang out on the block, even from a distance. Maybe you can park a couple houses down and watch things. I really want to make sure no one is scoping the area ahead of time.”
“And what will you be doing?”
“Probably pacing circles and trying to not puke my guts out. I’m going to show up when the sun goes down around eight. I need the darkness to blend in. I’ll be dressed in all black and will hide in the shadows.”
“Who knew you were such a ninja.” Sonya made her attempt at humor, but now Martin was the one in no mood for jokes. “So what’s your plan for Izzy? What will you do once she’s safe?”
Martin nodded his head slowly, like a game show contestant who knew the answer for the big cash prize.
“Then we leave,” he said flatly. He could tell Sonya was expecting a more elaborate response. “That’s all there is to do. I can’t risk her seeing me. All I can do is get back to 2018 as soon as possible and see how she is.”
“And how will you go about finding her? Your life can completely change by her staying with you, and a lot can happen in 22 years.”
“I’ll be able to find her. You can find anyone in 2018 with the click of a mouse.”
“I’ll take your word. I just thought you’d have a better plan in place.”
“I wish I did, too, but I just don’t know how any of this works—travelling back into my present time, that is. Besides, I really do work at the post office in 2018 and can run an address search when I get back. I’m actually on my way to work when we return, so I’ll probably go in and see what I can find before I quit my job.”
“Why would you quit?” she asked like a disappointed mother. Martin waved two gentle hands at her to relax.
“I’m not going to need a job when we get back. I’ve done some investing and should have a small fortune waiting for me in 2018.”
Martin had made a couple of trips to a small investment firm downtown and bought stocks he knew would grow by 2018. The stock broker had cautioned him against loading up on so much technology in his portfolio, but Martin insisted he knew what he was doing.
“We will be taken care of,” Martin said. “Where do you want to live when we get back? Housing is through the roof, but we’ll have enough money to live anywhere.”
The words felt foreign leaving his lips. He never thought he’d get to say such a thing.
“I’d like to live in my same house,” she said, distant as if her mind were already floating away to the future.
“I think we can manage that,” Martin responded with a smirk.
He took joy in hearing Sonya speak about the future. While he knew she wouldn’t back out this late, he wanted her to enter the journey with no hesitations. The more they spoke about the future, the more realistic it felt, even for Martin. His life in 2018 really did feel like 22 years ago instead of five months—or ten minutes.
He knew how the world was in 2018, that wouldn’t change. But his life could wind up completely different. If Izzy was okay, there was a chance him and Lela would still be married. How was he supposed to bring the new love of his life home to meet hi
s wife and daughter? If he tried to explain what really happened, Lela would call the mental asylum.
A lot can happen in 22 years. I just hope it’s all for the best.
44
Chapter 43
School was back in session during the final week of August, and Sonya had returned two weeks prior to prepare for the upcoming year.
“I guess I know how my students feel during that final week of school now,” she had said in regards to her pending departure from 1996. “It’s hard to focus on anything. How are you holding up? We’re just a few days away from the moment of truth, can you believe it?”
Believe it he could. A lot more had happened than he had budgeted for on this journey: falling in love and a coma at the top of the list. More importantly, Martin discovered a life as a new man where drinking was only done in celebration, not as a major part of his daily diet. His coma recovery also led him to discover that he enjoyed reading books, something he had never taken the time to do in his past life. It was hard to focus on such a task while in a constant state of inebriation.
He also reaffirmed something he had long believed: Fuck crossword puzzles.
The blank white squares on those bastards teased Martin every time he sat down to try and complete one. His mind simply didn’t function in a way that could guess words from a vague clue.
Regardless of how things played out with Izzy in a couple of weeks, Martin knew life would be different when he returned to 2018. He’d have no need to work, he’d have Sonya by his side, and have actual hobbies that consisted of things besides passing out drunk in the living room while the TV flashed over his limp body all night.
No more hangovers. The feeling of waking up with a clear mind had been a big catalyst for Martin taking a new appreciation of his life.
All of these thoughts had flooded his mind, submerging from the depths of his psyche every time he glanced at the calendar and saw his date with destiny looming less than two weeks away. He fought to push them aside, dismiss them until they were needed.
This particular night was a Thursday, one more day until the school year’s first weekend. Sonya had fallen into the groove of mindlessly telling stories about her students. She had made it clear that she wouldn’t get too attached to them, considering she’d never see them again after another week and a half.
They had finished dinner and settled in to their new routine of Sonya doing the dishes while Martin picked up and swept the kitchen before sitting down together to watch the nightly news and sip glasses of tea.
See, this life won’t be so bad in 2018. You basically have a wife again.
They would certainly need to pick up some new hobbies, seeing as neither of them would have to worry about going back to a job. He considered getting back into golf, something he hadn’t done since before Izzy was born in 1984.
When they had finished their cleaning routine, Martin turned on the TV and adjusted the antennas for the clearest signal on Channel Nine before plopping down on the couch. Sonya joined him with the other part of their nightly routine: two glasses of steaming hot tea.
“I’m so tired,” she said. “The first week of school is always the hardest.” She swung her legs up on the couch and curled up on Martin’s chest.
“It’s only a couple weeks, then we’re on to our new life together.”
The news station played its familiar introductory jingle while graphics for channel nine danced across the screen. The channel’s longtime anchorman, James Young, filled the screen with his typical stern expression to complement his strong jawbone and perfectly combed over gray hair.
“Good evening, Denver,” he said in a booming voice. “We have tragic news out of Littleton that we want to cut right to.”
The camera flashed to a school, and Sonya bolted upright on the couch, practically jumping off the edge.
“That’s Columbine!” she shouted, pointing at the TV with a wagging finger. “That’s Columbine!”
“A fire broke out today at Littleton’s Columbine High School at 2:45, just a half hour before school was to let out for the day,” James Young said. The screen showed different images of the high school they had just visited a few weeks earlier, charred and smoking like the bottom of a fire pit. There wasn’t a trace of the building left. “Authorities are still looking for the cause of this enormous fire, but what we do know is that it started in the school’s cafeteria and spread to the library. Since there was no one in the cafeteria at the time, it’s unknown how long the fire had been burning before the alarms were set off, but by that time it was too late.”
James Young choked up and fought for his next words.
“The flames completely engulfed the library, collapsing the second floor onto the first floor. So far, thirty six bodies have been discovered in the rubble in that section alone, with the count increasing by the hour. The fire spread from the library and took the rest of the school with it. Columbine High School is no more.”
The words echoed as Martin felt a sharp pang in his stomach.
This is it. This is why you had no resistance that day. The past is toying with you now.
“Martin,” Sonya said nervously. “Please tell me this was supposed to happen. Tell me this is part of history.” She stood, gawking at the TV as she spoke to him, unable to break her stare from the gruesome images of charred skeletons and crying mothers. James Young’s voice had all but drowned into background noise.
“It’s not,” Martin said through a clenched jaw. “This never happened.”
“Well what are we supposed to do?” she demanded. “This is our fault, isn’t it?”
She paced around the coffee table and sipped her tea with a trembling hand.
Martin raised his hand for her to calm down, feeling stuck to the couch.
“I know this looks bad.”
“Looks bad?” Sonya snapped. “I’ve never even heard of Columbine High School until you got here with your story from the future. Then I’m thrust into the school to leave a letter for the principal, and now the school is gone. It’s a pile of fucking ashes, Martin!”
“I didn’t know this would happen,” Martin said, remaining calm. He had to. If he showed his true emotions that were running frantically around in a panic, Sonya might actually lose her mind. “This must be how the past pushed back. I’ll bet the principal read that letter today, finally. And this is what happened. I’d bet money that the principal didn’t survive.”
“How do you know this?” Sonya asked. She was clearly upset, but didn’t seem to be angry−more of a mixture of terror and concern, infused with some guilt. “There have been a lot of questions I’ve refrained from asking, mainly because I’m not sure I want to know the answers. But now I need some answers. How do you know how this all works?”
Sonya crossed her arms while she stared at Martin. He still couldn’t move from the couch, the feeling in his legs having vanished.
“You know the dream you had about the old man?” he asked.
She nodded her head in quick jerky motions.
“Well,” Martin continued. “I know that old man.”
Sonya stood frozen, the only movement coming from her lips, which furled in disgust.
“You mean I’ve been having nightmares about this guy and you knew about him the whole time?” she asked.
“I’m sorry,” Martin said. “I didn’t want you to be afraid.”
“Tell me who he is and what he as to do with all of this.”
“I’ll tell you what I know. His name is Chris, and he’s the reason I can travel through time. He calls himself the keeper of time, but I think he’s a demon – or maybe an angel – I’m not really sure. He’s never done or said anything evil, but I just get bad vibes. I met him right here in Larkwood in 2018 when he opened an antique store. I went in with my mom one day to look around and he lured me back to the store. When I went back a second time, alone, he took me into his back office where he has this lab of potions and powders, and that’s where he makes th
ese pills. He’s visited me three times since coming to 1996, and he has all of the information. He’s the one who warned me to never cross paths with my past self.”
“But none of that explains about the past pushing back,” Sonya barked. She had not calmed down one bit during his explanation.
“I’m pretty sure Chris led me to meet this other guy. Remember the liquor store that burned down a few months ago?”
Sonya nodded.
“The owner was also from the future. It’s like Chris knew I would go into the liquor store and meet this owner. The owner was scared of me at first, but then explained many of the rules of living in the past.”
“I used to go to that liquor store. You’re telling me that sweet Asian man was from the future?” Sonya’s words dripped with skepticism.
“Yes, and I watched him get murdered and the store get burned down. There are these people called Road Runners who travel through time and kill other time travelers. I’m still not clear what exactly their angle is, but they killed him and burned down the store.”
Sonya shook her head, arms still crossed. “I don’t know what to believe any more. I think I need a moment alone to think things over. This all sounded like a big joke and I’ve gone along with it. It’s all become a bit more believable, and now this. All of these students dead and buried under the rubble of their own school. I can’t even stomach the thought.”
Martin pushed with all of his mental might and stood from the couch on wobbly legs. He jab stepped toward Sonya and extended his arms out for her, grabbing her around each arm.
“Sonya, please. I know this is crazy. I didn’t want this any more than you, but this is what’s happening now. All we can do is learn from it and be prepared for the next event.”
“If you think I’m going anywhere near your past right now, you’re out of your mind. I’d love to help you with your daughter, but I don’t wanna see a worse outcome like this.” She pointed at the TV as a lone tear streamed down her face.
Wealth of Time Series Boxset Page 24
