by Dale Mayer
She looked down at her sketchbook and realized she’d written the message. This time, Eric leaned over and read it himself. “Scary.”
“Yeah. So when I start, you have to make sure that nothing interrupts me. Got it?”
“Got it.” He took in a deep breath. “Maybe we should take Tammy home first then.”
Storey looked outside and realized how late the day was getting to be. “I don’t think we have time. My parents could be home soon.”
“That isn’t good.” He hopped off the bed and crouched in front of her. “I’m not going to be able to keep them out of the room if they hear us.”
She nodded. “I know.” With a deep breath, she added, “But I’m starting to feel a sense of urgency about this.” She glanced at Tammy. “I don’t want to put her in danger. If you have to, leave me and take her back alone. You can hop back here and get me out.”
He shook his head. “Oh no. If it’s going to be that bad, then we don’t do this right now.”
“We have to,” she said earnestly. “Look at how screwed up things are. Your world is almost normal. Tammy’s is even better, although they might not think so yet, but my world is a mess. We’re here and I can’t help but feel the longer it stays like this, the harder it will be to change.”
The Broken One spoke, shocking Storey as he once again took over her mouth, “She is correct. This must be fixed before it is too late.”
“Damn.” Eric glared at her, but she knew it was more at the Broken One than herself. “Fine. I don’t like this, but the sooner we get it done the sooner it’s over with.” He looked around the room. “Maybe you should sit in the closet or something in case someone does come.”
She looked at him in shock. “Why not just lock the door. I don’t really want to sit in there.”
“Because I presume your family could get in if they needed to. In the close—”
“They’d still find me. It’s not like the closet opens to your world or anything.” She thought about that. “Now that would be an interesting way to have a portal.”
“Don’t even think about it. Let’s do this fast and go home.” He glanced at Tammy, now watching them avidly. “Although, I’d rather get Tammy home first.”
“Torrey.” Tammy held out a piece of cracker.
Storey smiled and took it. She munched it carefully, staring at the little girl that had become so much a part of her life. “Stylus, we won’t be going back in time, will we? I won’t lose my memories of these people – right?”
There was no answer.
In her mind she could hear a weird humming as if the Broken One was considering the issue.
In horror she stared at Eric. He reached out and grasped her hand. “Don’t even begin to think that. I was in your life before you twisted time. I’ll be in your life afterwards.”
She searched his eyes. On impulse, she reached up, captured his face between her hands and kissed him. Pulling back, she whispered, “Just in case.”
He smiled, a tender smile that melted her heart. “In that case…” he leaned forward and kissed her. His kiss wasn’t smoking hot like when he’d kissed her In-between, or even heated…but it was unbelievably tender. It brought tears to her eyes.
He brushed her hair with his hand. “Hey, none of this. It’s going to be fine.”
She sniffled the tears back. “Right. Stylus. Please confirm that my memories will remain intact.”
“We have discussed this. We are not expecting to affect any of your memories,” said the Broken One. “We cannot be sure what might happen unexpectedly.”
She crooked her head. “I guess that’s the best we can hope for.”
With a final glance at Eric, she settled back. “Then let’s get this done.”
***
Eric sat back on the bed, and reached absently for another of the unusual beef jerky strips. He pulled the last one from the bag and it was snatched from his fingers. His gaze widened as he tracked the piece back to Tammy. She popped it into her mouth and laughed silently.
“I would so love to communicate with you, Tammy,” he said. Her smile was so infectious and she chewed with such joy that he chuckled. “Minx.”
She offered him the last little piece now all gummed up in her fingers. He barely managed to keep from pulling back in horror. He shook his head and pointed at her. She popped the last bite into her mouth and licked her lips. He grinned. At least she was enjoying it.
He turned back to Storey, head bent, she focused on the paper pad in her lap. Her hand was in the start up phase of her drawing process and she covered the page with large, casual strokes. He knew before long he’d barely be able to discern her hand movements as they would speed up faster than his eyes could follow.
Odd to think Paxton had possessed a stylus for over a century now, and never did any type of artwork. Thinking of Paxton, Eric realized it was a good time to let him know what they were doing. He snorted. That’s all he ever seemed to do when Storey was out of commission. Ferry information. At least it made him feel useful.
He sent his mentor a message via codex. And received the answer back that Paxton already knew. The styluses had updated him. And that was a good thing. It saved time and energy to have everyone on the same page – to borrow one of Storey’s turns of phrase. But, he couldn’t say that he was entirely comfortable with this communication system that kept everyone informed – except him.
At one point he’d suggested to Storey that they hide away in her dimension from those of his world looking to kill him. Now he realized that would be harder than ever to do. The styluses could communicate with each other at will. He doubted that they’d listen to Storey’s request and not pass on information about their whereabouts. Especially if they considered they had a better way for events to play out.
In fact, other styluses would volunteer the information before being asked.
That meant secrecy was out. In fact, privacy was also out. How did that affect his relationship with Storey? He hadn’t had much quality time with her, and he’d been looking forward to a time when it was just the two of them in a time of peace. Sure his job required him to travel often, but it wasn’t the same as in her dimension. He glanced out the window. In the blue sky he saw the scars in the air made by the flying cars. Planes. He’d studied everything about Storey’s world that he could. The archives were surprisingly complete. Storey had been a well of information as well.
Nothing he’d learned would convince him to go inside those metal death traps. The ones on the road were bad enough, but to think of trying to lift them into the air and let them fly like her people did…well. He shook his head. Not for him.
Something growled outside the window. He kneeled on the bed and looked out the window. “Shit,” he whispered hoarsely. A vehicle was driving up the driveway to Storey’s house. “No, no. Not now.” He spun around and searched the room. Maybe Storey could stop – they could get the hell away? No, Storey’s hand was moving over the sketchbook so fast he could barely see the flesh of her fingers.
Damn. She was in the zone. With the stylus’s warnings fresh in his thoughts, Eric realized they couldn’t afford to get caught here. He jumped off the bed and ran over to the door. He flicked the lock closed and turned off the light. What were the chances that the family wouldn’t come to her room? That they’d stay downstairs until Storey was done and they were gone? He had no explanation for their presence…or Tammy. He also couldn’t allow anything to stop Storey. This whole dimension would be shifting soon. After they did a reset – whatever that meant. But they had to get the hell out of here before the changes took effect or the changes would impact them too. That also couldn’t be allowed to happen.
Then he heard people downstairs.
“Please don’t come upstairs. Stay down there.” He closed his eyes and waited.
And sighed with relief when there were no footsteps on the stairs. He could only hope Storey’s parents would stay downstairs a little longer.
He r
eset his codex for Paxton’s lab. If there was no other option he wanted to make sure that he got Tammy away. He could take her back to her dimension, but if her father was there waiting for him, he might not be able to come and help Storey when she needed it, and that came first.
Paxton would not appreciate seeing Tammy again. Eric closed his eyes as he leaned against the locked door. “Hurry up, Storey. Aren’t you almost done by now?”
Storey didn’t answer.
Head bent over, she was frozen in place while all her energy appeared to keeping her arm moving at an impossible rate. He closed his eyes, his heart pounded and his blood pulsed. Storey, faster.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs.
Storey was aware of her surroundings. Aware of palpable waves of urgency coming off of Eric. Aware, but not able to speak with Eric, or her stylus. At least she didn’t think she could. Just as the Broken One had taken her over her vocal cords at will, it now controlled her arm like she’d never experienced before. When her stylus drew through her, she was still aware on some level what was happening. In this case, it was like there was a wall between her and the understanding of her actions.
She was grateful she hadn’t been put to sleep this time. Yet being awake gave her a whole new level of perspective. The Broken One had taken over so quickly, she’d barely understood it was happening at the time. She could only put it down to the fact that she’d been accustomed to her stylus for so long.
And so long only meant what…a little more than a week? She couldn’t believe that was all it had been since she’d met Eric and the stylus had come into her world. In her peripheral vision she saw Eric walk over to the door. He stayed at the corner of her vision. She wished she could ask him what was wrong. But she already knew. He was worried about her. About being caught. About how long it would take.
She wished she had answers. She closed her eyes and tried to relax. Inside, her stomach knotted. If this took much longer it would drive her nuts. And Eric. She peered in the direction of Tammy. And inside she smiled. Tammy had curled up into a ball and appeared to be sleeping.
That was good. A quiet Tammy was heaven. If she was startled awake…so not. She tried to relax further, willing the styluses to finish. She had no idea how they could do what they were doing, but she remembered sitting in the dark in her den for hours while she created the first mess that they were now trying to fix.
Please hurry, she whispered.
We are.
She groaned silently. Then stilled. What was that? Oh no. Footsteps in the hallway. They had company. She caught and held her breath.
Please don’t come to my room. Please don’t.
Had she remembered to lock the door? If they found the door locked, then what?
Please don’t come. She chanted silently in a mantra that wouldn’t quit, while her hand blurred with speed.
“Storey, are you home?”
Her eyes flew open. And stared into Eric’s wide eyed panic. He mouthed silently, “What do we do?”
She couldn’t move her head. Eric tapped his codex. She widened her eyes. She blinked several times. He straightened.
“Storey. Are you in there?”
They froze.
Eric tapped several keys on his codex. She held her breath waiting for the musical notes to fill the air and give their presence away. Only they didn’t come.
He stepped over to Tammy and struggled to pick her up. Sleeping, she was a dead weight. He managed to straighten, shifted her in his arms, and pressed the final button to go. She watched as he stood in the middle of the smoke. She hated that he was leaving. That she was being left behind. Tears welled up inside as she watched them disappear in front of her.
He mouthed at her, I’ll be back.
She managed a tiny nod.
As she watched the smoke disappeared.
Her bedroom door rattled as someone grabbed the door knob.
“Honey, what are you doing?” Her father’s voice came from down the hallway.
Surprisingly close, Storey heard her mother say, “I wanted to look and see if she was there.”
“You know she’s not. She’s run away. I don’t know what happened, but we have to let the police handle it. Like they said they would.”
Her mother’s voice made her want to cry out. There was so much pain and loss threading through it. She wanted to tell her mother that it would all be okay. But she couldn’t. There was no guarantee that it would be okay. She didn’t know what would happen after this point. Would there be anything left of them? Would her mother be happy to not have her father again? Would she have any lingering emotions from this blip on her screen?
Storey hoped not. But she didn’t know and she hated the doubts. The fear. Maybe she wasn’t doing the right thing.
Was it possible that she should leave well enough alone?
***
As soon as the black smoke blotted Storey and her frantic drawing from his sight, Eric knew he’d done the wrong thing. Hell. His nerves bit at him.
He shouldn’t have left her alone.
She was defenseless in this state. It didn’t matter that she was at home. Her parents didn’t know her. Not like he did. In fact, these parents didn’t know anything about her. They were from another reality.
He shifted his feet wishing the black smoke to disappear. If anything happened to her before he could get back…
“Hurry up. Hurry up.”
He glanced down at Tammy, who slept in a deep, relaxed manner. Thankfully. She might not be so impressed with waking up without Storey. If she opened her mouth…Eric shuddered. Tammy’s secret weapon was that cry of hers. And he did not want to hear it again.
At least at home, Paxton’s stylus should be able to communicate with Tammy. Enough to keep her calm so he could get away. He wanted to return for Storey. Of course that wasn’t likely to go so well with Paxton. Neither was it fair on Tammy. She was a sweetheart. She should be home, safe with her family.
The mist dropped low enough Eric could see the familiar white walls of Paxton’s lab. Thank you! He strode out of the portal and over to the empty table. Barely holding back a groan, he carefully placed Tammy down. His back screamed as he straightened. Tammy might be young, but she, like the rest of her people, was stocky.
“Eric,” Paxton called from the far side of the room. “Is that you? Is it all done?” He rushed over then came to a screeching halt. “Oh no. No. No. No. That’s not good.”
“No it isn’t.” Eric gently stroked Tammy’s hair. “But I had no options. I have to leave her with you.” Not giving Paxton a chance to argue, Eric ran back to the portal crying out, “I have to help Storey.”
“No!” Paxton ran toward him, his voice squawking loudly. “Don’t leave her here.”
“I have to.” The black mist rose as the reassuring musical notes floated out. “I have to rescue Storey. I’ll get back as soon as I can.”
And the black mist rose up to block out everything.
“Honey, you have to stop haunting her room. It’s not normal. You have to let it go.”
“I can’t let it go. I can’t let her go. She’s my daughter. She’s my life.”
Storey listened to the voices yelling outside her door, then a bang as something hit the other side of her bedroom door. Her mother started weeping. Not a gentle crying, but heart wrenching sobs. Storey would have bawled herself if she could. Instead she was frozen in her own body as her hand whistled across the page.
She hated the pain she’d caused her mother. In either world. How had things gone so wrong? In trying to make things right, she’d ended up making things so much worse.
“Now, come on. Let’s go downstairs and get you a cup of tea. That will make you feel better.”
The crying jag became muffled. Storey could only hope her father was holding her mother. Comforting her as Storey couldn’t. Their voices were barely audible as their footsteps receded down the hallway. Her mother’s sobs slowed the further away she went. Much to Store
y’s relief.
It is well, the Broken One said.
If you say so, Storey muttered restlessly. Are you almost done?
Yes.
She shuddered in relief. Then what?
We exit this dimension.
Good. Then let’s go to the closest or fastest point. She thought about it for a moment. On second thought, let’s go wherever we cause the least amount of damage.
Paxton’s lab. She closed her eyes. She couldn’t remember what they’d said before. Wasn’t it supposed to be the Louers’ dimension?