Sleepers 4

by Jacqueline Druga

  “That’s the one I’m looking for. I can’t lie. I have tried and it was to save my life, right with you in an a cornered off makeshift office.”

  “Large cans of fruit cocktail and guns everywhere.”

  “Exactly. Beck…” I pulled the chair closer and folded my hands on the desk, “watch my face, listen to my words when I tell you this. You… died.”

  At first Beck smiled and then it quickly swiped it away. “You say that a lot. I mean, you never came out and said that directly, but it has been said.”

  “Yes. You died. You were killed. And oh my God did my heart break.” I looked up to the ceiling to gather my bearings. “I mourned you. I went to visit your grave every day. You died.”

  “Mera, I–p”

  “Let me finish, Beck. I needed to see you one more time. Just to hear your voice and make sure you know I loved you. I needed to resolve that last moment. So, I did that one minute cerebral time trip thing and embraced our last moment together.”

  “And you stopped me from dying?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I didn’t.”

  “I’m here.”

  I exhaled. “Alex.”

  “Alex brought me back?”

  “He went as an assurance that I wouldn’t use that measly minute to change time. It wasn’t enough time for me… but he found himself face to face with the soldier that shot you. My assurance failed. So imagine my surprise when I woke up and you were in bed with me.”

  “My first night home.”

  “Yes. So I needed you to know that.”

  “I died.” Beck sat back.

  “And, Beck, I would never betray you, eighteen months away or not, I committed myself to you. But in my heart, and in my mind you had died. You were dead.”

  “You’re pregnant.”

  When he said it, my heart thumped and my stomach fluttered. “I am very pregnant. I haven’t hid it, because I really didn’t know. I ran around for days believing that mass Javier felt in my stomach was a tumor. I just found out and I am coming straight to you. I didn’t hide it. That is important for me to know you understand, and that I didn’t betray you.”

  Beck’s huge hands went to his face and he slowly slid them down.

  “I’m very sorry if this hurts you. I fully understand if you walk away …”

  “And go where, Mera?” Beck asked. “Move out, start a life?” He chuckled. “Move to the next cell block and watch you every day? Please do not take this the wrong way, but there is more to our life than just you. We… you and me, started before I went to the ARC, putting that life together.”

  “So you aren’t leaving me?”

  “Mera,” he stood and walked around to me, “when I took Phoenix to the ARC, I did not expect you to wait for me. Especially when there was such little contact and the weeks turned into months. I was surprised and very happy that you did, though. I was thrilled and happy. I had in my mind that we would start our life again, and if... if there had been someone else, I wouldn’t let it affect us. So if that was the case, how could I even consider walking away when you were living in an existence where I had died?”

  I threw my arms around him. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. And we’ll talk more about this is if you want later. Or we can switch the conversation to planning for our newest family member.”

  “I’d like that.” I pulled from the embrace. “I’m still registering this. And… heads up, I get a little crazy when I’m pregnant.”

  “I’m ready for anything.” He winked.

  “Thank you again. But people are going to—”

  “Don’t worry about people. We’ll say I knew and we’ll never say who the father is.”

  “You didn’t ask.”

  “I’m not going to and I don’t want to know.” Beck walked back around to his chair. “You gave your word that you would never had been with someone had I not died. Well, I didn’t, Alex changed that, so the father hasn’t a clue he was with you.”

  “You’re right. But if you ever want to know...”

  “I won’t. That child is ours.”

  I inhaled deeply through my nostrils and stood. Beck was positioning to go back to work. He obviously had something going on with all the maps on his desk. “I’ll leave you be. Please know I am very grateful that you feel this way.”

  “I know you are.”

  I passed a smile to him and walked out, closing the door. I wanted to go back, to look, to see if after I exited, Beck crumbled in frustration, if his demeanor changed and he put on a strong front for me.

  I didn’t. I felt foolish for doubting him even for a second, and firmly believed what he said. Feeling better, I left, grateful for his support and grateful that nothing crazier was going to happen on this day.

  21. SONNY

  It was a ridiculously long day, but I got all the in house phone extensions written down and you could hear them ring all over the complex. I had reminded people to turn down the ringers. I kept that list of extensions in my pocket. Randy promised to plug them into his computer for me. Dealing with Bonnie the rest of the day and evening wasn’t easy. Instead of feeling bad about nailing Randy with the frying pan, she continuously sought me out to yell at me for it being my fault. How was it my fault she clocked him?

  Randy was fine and we were setting everything up to go. He was going to plug in the exact coordinates, time and day. I only hoped I remember it well enough. I wrestled with the time. Five minutes would make a huge difference.

  Since the arrival of soldiers, and a few more expected to arrive in the morning, Beck was planning a big strategy meeting. I was to attend that meeting and the last thing I wanted to do was go to the meeting, change destiny afterward and find out everything was different because I missed the meeting when Alex was there.

  It had to be done before morning shifts. One less ripple to worry about. But we still had to pull Mera. Not that we had to, I wanted to.

  Randy said he saw her at Javier’s but didn’t mention the time trip because she had a lot on her plate.

  “She’ll tell you, Sonny. I can not divulge.” Randy said. “Go ask her.”

  “Come on, tell me.”

  “It might not be a good idea. She may not be in a condition emotionally to handle it.”

  “What?”

  “When I saw her, she was telling me that Javier found a mass in her abdomen and he was checking her out.” That was all he needed to say. I tore out of the library, telling Randy I’d be back and was bound and determined to find Mera.

  A mass. Mera was dying.

  Oh my God. My heart sank. Especially now she needed to go. She needed that happy moment in the midst of all the dark.

  I raced to her family section of the dormitory and saw Beck outside their room.

  “Sonny? What are you doing?” Beck asked.

  “I didn’t want to call. Didn’t want to wake the kids. Is she up?”

  “Yes. Sonny you live right above us. What’s going on?”

  “Oh, well, nothing. I was with Randy and we wanted Mera to join us in this game.”

  “A game.” He looked his watch. “At eleven at night?”

  “Yeah. We need another person.”

  “You know what? I’m sure she’ll want that. She’s restless with a lot on her mind.”

  “I bet.”

  Beck started to go to get Mera and stopped. “Do you know something Sonny?”

  “No.”

  Beck turned.

  “Yes.”

  Beck stopped.

  “I know. She spoke to Randy and he told me.”

  “I see.”

  “I have to say, Beck, you’re being really strong right now.”

  “Sonny, life is too short. How am I supposed to act?”

  “Mad, angry, sad.”

  “Mad?” Beck shook his head. “If you think about it, Sonny it’s not a bad thing.”

  My mouth dropped. I wanted to deck him, call him a heartless bastard, but Mera stepped
to the doorway.

  “What’s going on?” she whispered. “Talk anymore and you’ll wake the kids.”

  “Sonny came to see if you wanted to play a game with him and Randy.”

  “Oh!” Mera said excited. “Yes, I would love that, I can’t sleep. Do you mind, Beck?”

  “No, when you can’t sleep, neither can I.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Go have fun and take your mind off of things. And... Sonny knows.”

  “Randy told me,” I said, lowering my head.

  “Well, people are going to find out sooner or later.”

  I couldn’t believe her attitude; she was so strong and brave. Or maybe it was a front for Beck’s sake. Once we made it outside the housing building, and to the administration structure, I took a moment with Mera.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” she asked.

  “For what you’re going through.”

  “It’s okay, really. Beck is good with it and that’s what I needed. He understood.”

  “Did you think he wouldn’t?”

  “No, not really. He’s a good man.”

  “Can’t Javier do anything? Remove it?”

  “Why would he …” Mera held up her hand. “Wait, wait. Before I assume you are cold and cruel, what are we talking about removing? What did Randy tell you?”

  “He said Javier found a mass in your stomach.”

  “I see. Well, it’s a mass aright. A mass of human flesh,” she said. “Sonny, I’m pregnant.”

  Thank God. Hearing that made me smile. “That is so awesome. And to find out so soon.”

  “I’m over four months along.” She folded her arms.

  I didn’t have to be a mathematician to do the counting. “But Beck was …”

  “Yes.”

  “Wow. He is being really good with it.”

  “He is. Can we play that game now?” She asked. “Where are we playing?”

  “The library.”

  “We have a library?”

  “Down the hall and to the right.”

  Mera started walking.

  “Who’s the father?”

  She stopped cold and spun around, her arms folded tightly to her body. “Oh, you would ask that, you would?”

  “I… I’m just curious.”

  “Well it doesn’t matter, because I got pregnant when Beck was dead, and since I wouldn’t be with anyone else if he lived, the… father… doesn’t know.”

  She turned again and resumed walking.

  “Is it mine?”

  She only looked over her shoulder briefly and headed to the library, shaking her head.

  “I’m curious; you said the father wouldn’t know.”

  “Sonny, shut up.”

  “Man, and when I am about to give you the surprise of your life.”

  Slowly, Mera turned around. “Is it a good surprise?”

  “I think so.”

  “You found Boggle! Sonny, we have been looking for that gam—”

  “It’s not Boggle. It’s something better.”

  She stepped to me. “Better than Boggle?”

  “Much better than Boggle.”

  “I don’t know, it has to be good, that was our favorite game when we were at the church.”

  “It is. Tonight, or in a few hours, we are gonna attempt, attempt mind you,” I placed my hands on her arms, “to bring back Alex.”

  22. SONNY

  Honestly, I didn’t know exactly how Mera would react to my telling her. I did just blurt it out. I was ready for anything. Her arguing that it wasn’t right, asking why, stating that as much as she wanted Alex back, it was something we should do.

  What I didn’t expect was for her to say, “It’s about time. No pun intended.” And walk into the library. “Where’s Levi?” she asked.

  “Why would Levi be here?” Randy asked.

  Mera turned to me. “Were you lying about Alex?”

  “Not at all,” I said. “Randy brought the means for up to three of us to make a five minute trip.”

  Randy corrected. “Four minutes and forty-five seconds. That’s why we need to be precise. Sonny has pinpointed the coordinates and we have the estimated time.”

  “What timeframe are you going?” Mera asked. “At what point?”

  “We cannot make a trip with the intention of stopping Alex’s death,” Randy explained. “We have to change an event that will indirectly stop the event.”

  “I understand that,” Mera said. “Like when Alex brought back Beck. We didn’t tell Beck to not do something, Alex told the soldier to be careful who he shot.”

  “Exactly,” Randy stated. “Can I ask why you aren’t arguing this?”

  “I want Alex back. We need Alex. The whole community needs him. I just have a gut feeling that any Sleeper wars we have would be better fought with Alex.”

  “You’re right,” I told her. “Randy has The Doctrines. Alex isn’t dead in them. And he came after Alex died. So I knew immediately we changed it somehow.”

  “Alex is crucial to the Paler wars,” Randy insisted.

  “Hopefully,” I added. “If we do this, maybe me, Alex, and Beck can think of a way to stop this war before it begins.”

  “That’s been everyone’s intention all along,” Mera said. “It just hasn’t worked.”

  “That’s why we will use The Doctrines and Randy’s knowledge of history. We won’t make the mistakes The Doctrines say we will.”

  “What point are you going to change?” Mera asked.

  “The baby.”

  She inhaled and stepped back. “That baby is the reason Alex died. Jessie tried to return it to the Sleepers thinking that would stop them from attacking.”

  “That’s where and when we are going,” I said. “I am going to find me to stop me from even bringing that baby into Grace.”

  Randy said, “You and I will stay back, Mera. We cannot be seen.”

  “Then why am I going?” Mera asked. “You don’t need me.”

  “You, Me, and Alex, we were tight,” I said. “Very tight. My heart is broken, Mera. I cannot wait for that moment, when I see him, for that feeling of joy. You are heartbroken, if you don’t go, you’ll never know. And that is robbing you of something you of all people deserve.”

  Her lips puckered and her eyes glossed over as she laid her hand to my cheek. “Thank you.”

  I grabbed her hand. “Let’s do this.”

  I didn’t understand the logistics of how it would work. But once the final ‘when’ was put into the computer, it took hours to load. I was actually fearful that Beck was going to show up.

  I held tight to my little timer. I would press it when we went through and start my countdown. It wasn’t much time.

  When Randy’s device beeped ready, he pulled out this eight-inch bar. It lit up in a sequence of ocean blue lights.

  “We will all hold this,” Randy instructed. “I’ll tap us through. There will be no doorway, just a bright light and a feeling of landing. Be ready for the weather changes. If you are not holding this when time is up, you are stuck and we’re in trouble. Mera and I will not move, so I don’t foresee us getting left behind.”

  “Let’s say I fall,” I said. “And get stuck. What then?”

  “There will be two Sonnys and one of you will turn completely evil,” Randy replied.

  “Really?”

  Randy huffed. “I don’t know. No one has ever failed to return. Don’t be the first.”

  “Scout’s honor.”

  Randy braced his pad style computer in one arm and extended the bar. “Both of you hold it. Here’s to a successful trip.”

  “Here’s to success.” I placed my hand on it, next to Mera’s.

  Randy tapped on his computer then extended his hand, laying it over ours. His eyes watched his screen. “Three… two… one… off.”

  It went as Randy described. A huge bright light, a slight sense of squeezing pressure and when the lights disappeared, I felt as if I jumped from a two foot wal
l, off balance.

  Plus, we emerged from a semi-lit library at night into bright daylight, not to mention it was Texas and hot. Really hot. It was a shock all the way around.

  After immediately pressing my timer, I looked at Mera. “You hurt?”

  “I’m fine,” She said, her eyes shifting about.

  “Do you know where we are?” Randy asked.

  “Yes, I do.” I smiled. We were in the woods behind Grace. In fact, we weren’t far at all from where Alex and I were attacked by Sleepers and witnessed the baby being born. We were so close; I could hear our arguing voices echoing through the trees. It was odd.

  “I hear him,” Mera said. “Oh my God, I hear his voice!”

  Her face tensed up, and I knew she was looking for him.

  “There.” Randy pointed. “There you are running.”

  It was the weirdest feeling to see myself running, holding that bloody newborn baby, and immediately, I ran to cut myself off.

  I raced down the small grade hoping I was right in my estimate. I knew those woods well behind Grace. But I was off. I saw myself run by and I had to call out. “Wait!” Please stop.”

  I saw my past self stop, slowly peering around to me. It was a shock because the baby almost toppled from my other me’s arms.

  The Sonny of the past was frozen solid, eyes wide looking at me.

  “I don’t have much time. It is imperative you do not take that baby to Grace. Do not.”

  “Time travel is possible.”

  I nodded. “For the sake of everyone, for the sake of Alex, don’t bring that baby in. Would I of all people encourage that if the consequences weren’t dire?”

  Holding that baby, my past self looked down and shook his head.

  “I gotta go.”

  “Holy shit, the damn Sleeper bite is making me see double.”

  That voice. It called from the distance. He saw me but I couldn’t say anything to him. I couldn’t. More than anything I wanted to stare at him, wait for Alex to get close and say, ‘Spoiler alert, Alex, you die’

  But I couldn’t. He did see double. Do the right thing, I told myself. And then wanting badly to look back once more to Alex, but knowing I couldn’t, I raced back to where I left Mera and Randy.