15 Minutes- The Complete Saga Boxset

by Jill Cooper

  But as we step through, I’m horrified. Each of the cages hold someone special to me–Jax, Rick, Dad—and they are all sprawled on the floor, or on a bed, and there’s blood dripping from their ears; it puddles on the metal bed frames or the tiled floor.

  They’re dead. All dead.

  Cameron killed them all so I could find them? Somehow, this seems too cruel, even for him. I rush over to the plexiglass cage to where my dad lies on his side, his eyes staring at nothing. This was him, this was my dad, the one Other Lara had sacrificed herself to save. He wasn’t just a random John Crane. He was my dad. Mine.

  I fall to my knees with my hands up against the glass. “Dad?” He’s dead. He can’t hear me, but I can’t stop from calling out his name and wishing…begging for him to wake up.

  Cassidy is beside me before I realize it, her hands on my shoulders. “We have to press on, Lara.” Her voice is softly comforting, as if she doesn’t want to intrude on my grief—but how can it not? Even my breathing intrudes. Everything we had done had been to bring him back, to save him. And now I’m lost.

  I lost.

  My lip quivers but I can’t take my eyes off my dad. “We’ll rewind time. We’ll stop this. We’ll bring them back again.”

  Cassidy shakes her head, her refusal to try enrages me. “We're on the bridge. It exists outside of time. There’s nothing to rewind here.”

  No. It can’t be true. I’m so angry that I shove her. “You can’t know. You don’t know what I’ve done, how I feel about him? We have to try...I’ve already ruined so much.”

  She grabs my hand and holds it steady as tears pool in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Lara. So sorry.”

  My chest rises with a sob and I swallow it back so it won’t consume me. Just then a voice breaks out over the intercom. “Lara?” Cameron’s singsong voice interrupts everything as it toys with me. “If you want to find your little pets, you’re going to have to come find me. I dare you.”

  Mike and Molly--I’ve almost forgotten that was why we had come. I sit back on my heels and wipe may face. As much as I don’t want to move on, I need to. “Where would he…where would he be holding them?”

  Cassidy swallows hard. “If they’re not here, then he would’ve taken them to the main lab. That’s where I took you and wiped your short-term memory.”

  The lab. “What’s he doing to them?”

  “I only know what he tells me.” Cassidy resists telling me the whole truth, I can tell from the look on her face.

  “Cass—” my voice rises in anger, “This is no time to keep secrets.”

  “He’s trying to unlock time travel. He knows what Molly becomes, and I think you do too.”

  There’s no time for me to argue, or wish the truth away. Instead, I rise to my feet and Cassidy and I make our way out another set of double doors and into the hallway. I remember the way to the cafeteria, and for a split-second I remember what it had been like, to be there and see all my family and friends. Now, they are all dead. Killed in their prisons as Cameron fried their brains.

  It is a bad way to think. I can’t let such thoughts into my head as I race to face Cameron one more time.

  As we get to the door of the lab, Cassidy pulls out her gun but keeps it low against her thigh, her finger hovering on the trigger.

  “Ready?” I ask.

  Cassidy nods and I push the door open. The lab comes into view as we step inside. Mike and Molly are each strapped down to their own metal tables. There are straps across their foreheads and tubes running into the back of their heads and into their arms, most likely a liquid IV to keep them hydrated and alive.

  Mike is unconscious and Molly’s eyes are closed, but she’s whimpering in distress. Her forehead is wet and her small hands are clenched in tight fists. She’s in pain, that’s the only thing I can think of as I step forward and stare into Cameron’s smug face.

  I don’t get a word out before Cassidy fires a shot straight at Cameron. But the bullet stops, suspended in midair and everything wobbles around us. Like water that has turned to blue slime. It’s like being beneath the sea, except I can still breathe, but I can barely walk. In her sleep, Molly tosses her head around as if fighting a horrible dream.

  Cameron laughs but it, too, is in slow motion, it sounds deeper and angrier than I’ve ever heard before. It’s as if the speed on an old-fashioned record player has been turned to the slowest setting. “She’s doing this. She can slow down the bridge. She’s more powerful and unique than you ever could be,” Cameron drawls, “I don’t need you anymore, Lara.”

  “Scum,” Cassidy snarls at him as the goo we stand in begins to bubble in reverse, and then disappears. The bullet that had been suspended in midair shifts, and instead of going forward, flies backward and hits Cassidy square in the chest.

  When she gasps, I stiffen. I grab her before she falls to the ground, and I can’t help but notice the spray of blood coming out of her chest.

  God no. Not Cassidy too.

  “Molly can’t control it yet, but she will soon,” Cameron says.

  I don’t look at him, I see only Cassidy lying on the ground, our hands gripping each other’s. “Hang in there. Don’t you—.”

  She struggles to take a breath. Despite my words, I know that I can’t save Cassidy. She’s going to die and at least I can be with her. “Stop him. Stop him.” Her head turns the side; she might not be dead, but she will be soon.

  “Sorry, dear Lara,” Cameron’s behind me and he pushes the butt of Cassidy’s gun into the back of my head. “This is how it ends. Everyone you love is either mine or dead. You're obsolete. A little girl who died a long time ago. Say good night, darling.”

  I squeeze my eyes shut. There’s a rustling behind me. Molly? Is it possible that she could be awake? I prepare myself for what is about to come and take a deep breath, then with a grit of my teeth, I shove my elbow into Cameron’s chest and twisting myself painfully around, I grab his forearm. Cameron screams and places his open palm on my head, forcing me to be still.

  As I stare down the barrel of his gun, he fires. My gamble hadn’t work, and in an instant, I’ll be dead.

  A horrifying scream rises from the end of the metal table, it jolts me backward. Cameron too is on his back on the opposite side of the room. I charge at him as a brilliant white glow encompasses Molly. The room fills with blue again, like an ocean made of gel. This time, I can move through it, except now I’m doing so backward. I’m not in control of my body; it’s as if someone else is controlling me. I am being rewound.

  Molly is rewinding not just me, but time itself.

  I watch everything play in reverse. Cassidy is standing beside me at the open door and the bullet goes back into her gun. Then time rights itself. Cameron stands in front of us slackjawed, a confused expression on his face.

  “It’s not possible.” He shakes his head and backs up, only to say it again.

  There’s so much I could do but instead, I stand back and let Cassidy step forward. When she raises the gun, I look away.

  “You think you can kill me?” Cameron asks. “If you do, another one of me will rise up. From a different world, a different timeline. You’ll never be rid of me. This never ends.”

  “I know.” Cassidy’s voice is hollow and flat. And then a gunshot rings out, but I care too much about Mike and Molly to spend any time grieving over the son-of-a-bitch who had done this. I rush over to them and see their hands are still clasped, and not only that––their hands are glowing.

  I don’t know if it’s coming from Molly or if they were able to do this together. In either case, I have to get them out of here. With Cassidy’s help, I unstrap their heads and unplug them from the machines. Molly is the first one to awaken. Slowly, she blinks and then she trains her eyes on me.

  She gives me a sleepy smile. “Is it over now, Lara?”

  I think of everything Cameron had said. “Yeah, it’s over.” I hold her to my chest in a deep embrace while Cassidy meets my eyes. I see the depth of her pa
in, but right now, there’s nothing else I can say. I give her a nod and somehow she understands me.

  Cassidy gets a sheet and uses it to cover up Cameron’s dead body. I don’t know what we’ll do with it yet, but I don’t want the twins to see it when they’re able to sit up again.

  “Lara?” Mike’s voice sounds confused, more confused than Molly’s. “What happened? Where are we? How did—.”

  I’m not sure what to say to him, but Molly gets off her table and crawls onto Mike’s. They hug and hold each other as if their lives depend on it. For them, maybe it does.

  “I’ll be right back,” I turn to Cassidy and whisper, “I’m going to go back into the prison area. The kids don’t need to see that.”

  I turn and walk from the room. I might’ve saved my brother and sister, but I wouldn’t call this a win. My heart only feels as if it has lost.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  With resolve, I step into the prison ward. I expect to see death and destruction; my loved ones and family dead. But that’s not what I see at all. Instead, I see them inside all of their cages alive. Awake. Not even hurt.

  “LARA!” In groups, and one at a time, they call out to me.

  I rush over to the computer console to free them. I don’t know what I’m looking for, but finally, I find a button labeled release, and I press it.

  The doors open and they stumble out. One by one, they greet me. I’m happy to see them, all of them, but it’s Dad I look for. When I spot his confused eyes and stumbling walk, I rush to him and crush him in a hug. “Dad!”

  He’s not dead. He’s right here with me. I didn’t lose it all. It’s like a dream as I smother my face against his chest; I never want to let him go.

  He crushes me as hard as I hug him. “Thank God,” he kisses the top of my head and holds me tighter than ever, “I thought that mad man hurt you. I thought he—” Dad presses his lips together to keep the surge of emotion out of his voice.

  Other Lara…. I don’t have to tell him about her sacrifice because her pain and love…well it’s mine now. “I’m okay. Everything is okay. We won, we finally won.”

  “You bet we did,” Cassidy says from behind me. I glance at her and see she’s holding Mike and Molly’s hands. Molly beams with happiness and Mike looks lost, dazed, and confused.

  “Kids,” Dad’s eyes open, horrified, “Are you all right?”

  “We’re okay, Uncle John,” Molly says.

  But Mike just shakes his head. “I have no idea what’s going on. Lara…?” He peers up at me with frightened eyes and I stroke the back of his head.

  “I’ll explain it to you, but first let’s get you home, okay? Mom and Dad are really worried about you guys,” I throw a glance at Cassidy, “We send these people back to where they were taken and then you go back too, Cass. Go back and live your life.” Cassidy’s eyes barely flicker up. With a sigh, I touch her shoulder. “Please, listen—.”

  “You listen, Lara. You listen,” she points at the cages, “Someone needs to keep an eye on this place. Someone has to make sure no one else finds this place. I stay here, I use the bridge to monitor time. Anything comes up, we can stop it. You and me. You in the TTPA. And me here, on the bridge.”

  I open my mouth to argue, but I’m not even sure what I’m going to say.

  “You know as well as I do that a place like this is just trouble. Other people, other timelines, everyone is going to want it. And I’m going to protect it. So, the future can live on.”

  “Even if it means you never get to? Your life—.”

  “This is my life. Another version of me will be born one day—I hope—and that one will be happy. Not carry the burdens I do. Maybe she’ll even meet someone nice.” Cassidy shrugs.

  Oh, Cass…

  My heart breaks for her. I want to tell her that as Molly hugs her around the waist and buries her face against her shirt. Cassidy goes rigid and then, slowly, she strokes Molly’s hair.

  Molly’s face is tear-streaked when she gazes up at her. “You’ll find someone nice too.”

  “I doubt it,” Cassidy says, “but thank you…Molly.”

  If Molly says it, it might be true.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  We step out from the bridge into frozen time, in front of Mom’s townhouse. Dad and I hold hands, Mike and Molly standing in front of us. Molly blinks even though time is frozen and when time speeds up, Molly rubs her forehead and then she looks at me. There’s a quizzical look on her face as she gazes at me and my dad. “Finally,” she smiles as if everything is okay. Like everything is right.

  Not quite, but almost.

  “You kids go in first.” I give them a little push toward the door.

  They run inside and Mom charges toward them, with Jax following close behind. The family of four crush each other in a giant hug and the happiness is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Their eager, wide arms engulf the kids.

  I glance at Dad and see tears in his eyes, but there’s a giant smile on his face. Happy tears, at a happy reunion. I place my head against his shoulder as we watch silently. Maybe I should feel like I’m intruding on a private moment, but I feel part of it instead.

  We step inside quietly and before the door closes behind us, Mom gasps and gives us a stare. “John?”

  I open my mouth to speak, but I don’t get a chance as Mom races toward us. I expect she’ll yell at us for lying to her, but she just hugs him. I move off to the side. Tears run down Mom’s face as she gawks at Dad. “Am I dreaming? Is it really you?” She caresses his cheek and their eyes fixate so intently on each other, I doubt they know I’m even in the room.

  “It’s me, Miranda. It’s me.” Dad’s voice is soft.

  Mom’s face scrunches in confusion and I give her the cliff notes version. “I had to hide him to protect him. No one could know. I’m sorry, Mom.”

  Her eyes dart between me and Dad, but it’s like she barely sees me. “Don’t you ever, ever do something like that again. You nearly killed me, John.” I cringe at the irony of her statement, but neither of them notices. They just go back to holding each other—as if time itself holds them still.

  Their eyes close and the embrace is so much more than what it is on the surface. My gaze breaks away and fall on Jax. He’s staring at Mom and Dad, and his face is crestfallen, but his arms remain around his twins. “Come on, kids. Let’s get you something to eat,” he ushers them away, “Lara, do you want to join us? Must be one hell of a story to tell.”

  I’ll say. “I’ll tell it soon, but first…I have to find Donovan.” Time to come clean and tell him…tell him why it’s over.

  Jax nods, but Molly races over and takes my hand. “It’ll be okay, Lara. It’s all going to work out.”

  I hope she’s right. I lean down and give her cheek a big sloppy kiss. “And you…I’ll see soon. We have a lot to talk about.”

  Molly’s smile is carefree and jolly. I don’t know if she knows what is about to come, but seeing her happy means the world to me. Just as it always has.

  ****

  I could use time travel to arrive home quickly, but I don’t. Instead, I use that time to walk, and to figure out what I’m going to tell Donovan. Except in my heart of hearts, I don’t want to say anything. I want to pretend that none of this is happening.

  He chose the money over me. He chose to lie, instead of telling me the truth. And that just can’t be allowed to fly.

  I stand outside our apartment and place my hand on the doorknob, but I don’t open it. Instead, I sigh and lean my head against the wall. Against my ear is my cell phone and after I’m done talking, I listen to Delilah take a sharp intake of breath.

  “Are you sure this is what you really want, Lara? You want a position at the TTPA? I won’t lie, this is what I’ve dreamed of, but if you’re not sure—.”

  “I’m sure. There’s a lot I need to tell you, but can we do it another time? Right now, I’m just…tired.”

  Tired. That was a good way to describe it. I am so tir
ed that my bones ache.

  “Of course. Let’s meet in a few days. I can just imagine how you must be feeling. I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk, at your father’s service.”

  That was something else we need to talk about. “I’ll talk to you soon. You’re going to flip when I tell you everything.”

  Delilah laughs. “Well, I can’t wait, dear.”

  I end the call and finally push my way into the small apartment. Although it hadn’t been home long, it feels as if it is, as I slip my keys on the hook by the wall.

  “Lara?” Donovan’s voice rings out from the living room and my heart pangs at the sound of his voice. “Can you come here? I need to talk to you.”

  “I need to talk to you too.” I squeeze my eyes shut for a split second to ride the wave of pain. Steeling myself, I adjust my purse across my shoulder and head into the living room.

  Donovan’s sitting on the ottoman facing me--I try not to look at his face. Instead, my eyes focus on the simple bouquet of wildflowers he’s holding.

  I don’t remember this ever happening before.

  “What’s this?” My voice shakes as I stop in front of him.

  “Thought I’d get something nice for you—for putting up with me for the last few days. I know I’ve been withdrawn and not easy to deal with. I thought before I explained—.”

  Before he explained? My heart patters and comes alive with hope. “They’re beautiful.” I take the simple bouquet from him. Usually, Donovan buys me roses. Long stem. Always splurging. But these flowers are beautiful in their simplicity. Purple, yellow, and white, their color bright and gorgeous.

  I don’t realize there’s a tear in my eye until I wipe it away. “Sorry,” I whisper and Donovan’s eyes hold deep worry.

  “Please, don’t cry. If you do, I might not be able to say what I need to.”