by Ashlyn Ross
will just hurt a whole different group of people. There really is nothing that I can do to help people to improve their lives.”
“That’s not true. You just have to find out how you can improve lives without causing major changes. It's a skill that's learned over time.”
“Well, apparently I have tones of that now, don’t I?” he said, trying to lighten the mood.
This caused Emily to laugh. “You know you’re right. Just think of what things are going to be like in a hundred years. Or a thousand?”
“Well, why don’t I start by taking my car back so that the very drunk me will be able to find it when I come back tomorrow?”
“Sounds good besides we can talk more when we get back to your place,” she said as she got out of the car and into the passenger seat while Scott got into the driver's seat.
They drove back in silence, parked the car where it had been, and then re-materializing back at Scott’s house only minutes after they had left.
Emily checked the papers that they had gotten from the library. On the front page, the lead story read, ‘Tragedy Strikes School Bus On Icy Roads No Survivors.’ She saw him look towards it so she passed it to Scott who just crumpled the paper and threw it across the room.
“AGHU!” he screamed with frustration.
Emily backed away from him a little frightened, but pressed, “Scott it’s for the best, truly.”
“Don’t you think I know that? I get it, but you never said I had to like it, because I don’t. They were kids and they should have had a chance in life.” He sat down and put his head in his hands.
Emily walked over to him and knelt to his side. “I know how you feel, wanting to save them and being denied the ability to. And when kids are involved it just… well it totally sucks.”
“Oh come on, how would you know? Have you ever had to deal with something like this? I mean, playing God, deciding who lives and who dies?”
Emily wouldn’t meet his eyes then. There was something in what he said that had obviously struck a nerve. Now he was the one watching her.
“I had to lose my whole family. Parents, husband, children, friends. All of them. So yes, I know how angry you are. I’d even say more so. I tried everything for a very long time. Worked with many different Time Jumpers to try and save any of them. Before you are too quick to call me out that I don’t know what I’m talking about, you might want to learn more about our world first. There isn’t one of us who hasn’t lost someone and wanted to change it,” Emily said with such fury she shook so she sat down.
This made Scott pause. He realized how much he didn’t know about this woman who sat before him. She had seen hundreds of years where he had seen twenty five. Who was he to judge her. There was so much he didn’t know about when it came to being a Keeper and here he was telling her she had no way of knowing how he felt. The truth was he had no idea how she felt or even what she had been through. He went and sat on the coffee table so that he was right in front of her.
“Emily, I’m sorry. I'm so frustrated about the whole situation. I had no right to talk to you like that. You’re right, I don’t know anything about the Keepers or what any of you have gone through. Taking this out on you isn’t right. I’m sorry.” He placed his hand on top of hers.
She looked up at him, and she looked as though she was on the verge of tears.
She patted his hands. “Scott, I know it’s not your fault. I mean, come on, how would you know that stuff. You're a brand new Keeper who has only started to play with what you are capable of. There's so much for you to learn. No one else has let you know what is what in our world.”
“Still I should have realized that there was more to all of this then my little town here.” He gave her a half smile.
“Well, you know, you don’t have to stay here, right?”
He looked at her, not really understanding what she meant by that. “Yeah, I know I don’t have to stay, I just don’t really have anywhere else to be.”
“I should have said, Keepers have these places called sanctuaries. They're places usually filled with books, and they're for Keepers to go and learn more or just to run away. They're all over the world. It doesn’t cost anything as they are for Keepers. Not one of our kind has to ever look for a place because we are always there for one another. If you want, you could come with me to one. Learn about what we are,” she said encouragingly.
He smirked. “You mean the rules?”
“And other things. There's much more than just rules. The people are amazingly supportive. You would be in great company.” She looked at him, trying to read his face.
“So you’re saying there are places where there're large groups of Keepers?”
“I wouldn’t say large but yes, groups of us. I’d love to show them to you and how you can get there do you want to come?”
Scott just stared at her not sure what he should say or do…
Read more from the Keeper Library in the first book
True Bound
Coming Soon
About the Author
Born in Denver, CO but grew up in Los Angeles, CA and Miami, FL. Then lived in Orlando, FL and New York City, NY only to return to Denver, CO where she lives with her husband and young daughter. Outside of writing short stories and novels she loves to read just as much and always has a book with her wherever she goes. When she isn't writing or reading, she is spending time with friends and family playing games or just eating some great food.
www.ashlynross.com
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