by Lilly Mance
After a while, my fears had subsided, and I managed to relax, so Zack suggested we tried switching realms to see if grounding frequencies had indeed worked. Slightly scared, I stretched out on my bed, rhythmically breathing. Easier than ever before, I found myself out of the body. Zack pressed his bracelet on my wrist, and the small, black patch came out of my skin with the usual prickling sensation.
He stepped back, and waited, impatiently tapping his foot on the floor. When I didn't flicker out, he smacked his palms together, saying, “It worked! You're grounding yourself.”
I smiled, faintly, unable to share his excitement in full. Zack's face took on a mysterious expression. He gazed at me grinning as if he had some devious plan on his mind, so I asked, narrowing my eyes on him, “What are you up to?”
His grin widened, overtaking his whole face, “Would you like to see my room?” He bit his lip, his eyes gleaming bright.
“Really?” I gasped.
“Really,” Zack chuckled, and took my hand in his, gazing at the coral ring.
“I'd like that,” I smiled, smoothing my hand over his.
“Then you have to suit up. We can leave your body unattended for a half an hour,” playfully, he skimmed through my hair.
Sophie frequently used her suit, but I was more comfortable using my own clothes. I didn't like the stinging effect it had when I put it on. Zack had told me that it was nanotech connecting to my nervous system, but that freaked me out even more. Hesitantly, I opened my closet, and took out a pair of black cargos, blue T-shirt, and boots, then laid them on the bed. Zack curled his fingers around the hem of my sweatshirt, and I lifted my arms up, allowing him to take it off. He threw in on the bed, and smoothed his hands down my bear arms, gazing softly into my eyes. A fine shiver rolled down my back, signaling that my body had some ideas of its own. I blinked it off, and sat down to remove my pants. Zack cleared his throat, and bit his lip, staring at me significantly.
I threw my pants at him saying, “We'll never get out of this room if you keep that gaze.”
He chuckled, and folded my pants, then slouched in a chair.
I put the cargos and T-shirt on, knowing that as soon as I zipped the boots up, that freaking sting would follow. I took a deep breath, and braced myself for impact. It stung like hell, bringing tears to my eyes, and then it felt as if thousands of tiny strings pierced my skin, and started crawling beneath. Awfully irritating, and unsettling.
“Ready?” Zack asked, getting up from a chair.
“Yap,” I said, and entered his embrace. He typed into his bracelet, and transported us into the future.
One heavy nausea later, and we were standing...Where? I glanced around, confused. I knew it must have been his room, and all those square things must have been furniture, but it was so sterile and unfamiliar. Biting my upper lip, I looked at Zack. He was grinning, and studying me, amused.
“Is this your room?” I asked, spinning around on a heel.
“No,” he said, reaching for my hand. “This is the living room.” His fingers threaded through mine.
“And you actually live here?” I chuckled. It was the least hospitable place I had ever seen.
“Mhm,” he breathed, mysteriously smiling. “Follow me.”
Walking next to him, holding hands, I tried to decipher what was what, but there was no telling. A bunch of shapes in different sizes, predominantly in white, gray, and green. Zack stopped in front of a mirror, putting his bracelet under a sensor. The mirror dematerialized, opening a view of a dome shaped room. I gasped. Zack stepped aside, allowing me to enter first.
“Incredible,” I said, looking at the dome ceiling open mouthed. In the center of the room was a large bed, and the dome over it seemed to be some kind of display creating a 3D artificial environment. Zack typed something in his bracelet, and the entire room's scenery had changed. When we entered, the oversized bed seemed to be in the middle of a field, surrounded by trees and flowers, but now there was a starry night above it, and a small waterfall running in the background.
Zack draped his arm over my shoulders, and typed again. The scenery transformed into something I knew too well—into my room. I looked at him in awe.
“I programmed it to show your room the last time I was here,” he said, placing a kiss on the top of my head. “I thought it might buffer the shock.”
“You thought right,” I chuckled. “I mean, that living room over there. Not alluring.”
“It can also be whatever you want it to be,” he grinned. “I just didn't activate it.”
“Wow,” I breathed. “So those boxes...they're nothing until you make them into something?”
“Aha,” he started toward the bed, pulling me along. He sat down, and placed me between his legs, leaning his head against my belly. “I imagined you being here, you know.”
“When?” I ran my fingers through his black hair.
He looked up at me, his eyes glazed over as if his dream had come true, then said, “When I stole you from Ethan,” and chuckled.
“Oh, that's kinky,” I snickered. In one swift move, he knocked me down on the bed, and stretched beside me, running his fingers down my arm.
“It's not! I just had a head start,” with a shameless smile, he reached beside the bed, took out an envelope, and spilled its contents between us. There was a picture of me, and a bracelet. “This one is yours,” he said, locking the bracelet around my wrist.
I felt a stab, “Ouch!” I cried out, then frowned, saying, “Why does everything from the future cause pain?”
Zack chuckled, “Because everything connects to your nervous system. It has to go through your skin,” he cocked a brow, and I frowned.
“Does it come with a user manual?” I asked, smoothing my finger over the bracelet, wondering how it worked.
“Yes. Me!” His lips found mine, ending my interrogation. He took my arm, the one with the bracelet, and pinned it above my head, then climbed on top of me, not breaking the kiss. Eagerly, I welcomed his body by pulling him closer with my free hand.
All of a sudden, the music started playing, and the scenery of the room changed into millions of colors mixing together in various shades and nuances. Zack stopped kissing me for a moment, and breathed against my lips, “Those are our emotions.”
Colors spiked up, reacting to my emotion of surprise. Like a child in a candy shop, I couldn't stop looking at them. It was enchanting. Zack's chuckle brought my glance back at him. He searched my eyes for a moment, and then wild desire took over, consuming us. The room reacted by displaying a rhapsody of colors and tones, exciting us more than ever.
I reached for Zack's shirt, pulling it out of his pants, but he stopped me by saying, “We have to go back.” My disappointment was immediately mirrored on the dome by darkening the colors, and changing tones to d-moll.
“Damn! It shows everything,” feverishly, I glanced around at graphical representations of what was happening inside of me.
Zack cupped my face, and kissed me one more time, then said, “Only when we want it to.” He pointed at my bracelet, “I turned it on because I wanted you to experience this. It doesn't have to be like that every time.”
I bit my lip, “But I want it to. Every time.”
A devilish grin flashed across his face, and he bit my shirt, growling. “You're killing me,” he cried out, colors around us going wild. I giggled, knowing it must have been lust.
~*~
Back in my room, my time, I stood above my body, feeling nothing whatsoever. I didn't care anymore. Temporal guards were my destiny, and I was ready to do what was necessary. There weren't many people that got the chance to experience the future, for their life to mean something more, and it was foolish of me to consider the alternative. Whoever was the Grand Architect of everything had a mission for me, and who was I to stand in its way. I glanced at Zack. He was smiling, and studying me the whole time.
“Feeling better?” He asked.
I sighed, and then said, “Yes,” wit
h a wide smile. He spread his arms for me to get into his embrace. I locked my arms around his waist, and placed my head on his shoulder. Happiness boiled inside of me, and his warm arms around me were the anchor I needed. I felt safe. I felt centered, and whole.
“Bracelet stays on,” he tucked my hair behind my ear to get a better look at my face. Those charming green eyes, encircled by dark blue band were gazing softly at mine. I reached for his face, and smoothed my palm down his cheek. He shuddered, and grabbed my hand as I was about to remove it, then placed a kiss on the soft of my palm. “Let me enjoy this moment for a while,” he said, his eyes beaming. I pressed my body tighter against his. His sincerity undid me every time.
~*~
Chapter #19
“Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.”
–– Aristotle
Sophie couldn't stop looking at my bracelet. Every five minutes, she'd take my wrist, and meddle with it, then sigh wistfully. Ever since I told her all about Zack's room and the emotional display on the dome, she became impatient. Neither of us knew if Ethan had the same tech in his room, but she made me promise I wouldn't ask Zack about it. She placed all bets on that, and hoped that she'd get a glimpse of his true emotions. For her situation, it would be the making or the breaking of her. She needed to be able to trust him more than anything. One way or the other, she was determined to find out how he felt about her before making her emotions known. That made me nervous. Sometimes it's better to not know. He might be feeling the same, or he might be warming up to her. If neither of them were ready, it might create a void between them if it was too soon.
We met with Ethan and Sophie in her room. The three of us in that other realm, and Sophie the only one left it the old state of being As soon as we appeared, Ethan took Sophie's wrist, and sighed out loud, “Nothing yet.”
Sophie grimaced, snatching her wrist back, and exchanging long looks with me.
“Did I tell you how I found Zack?” Ethan changed the subject.
“No,” I replied, getting comfortable on Sophie's bed. “You've never said.”
Ethan chuckled, then said, “The opposing side sabotaged his cryobox because they knew he'd lose his memories and go straight to you,” he motioned my way. “They know how mind works, so they also knew he'd find Sophie in the hospital records, and that it would ultimately lead all of you to George.”
Sophie and I gasped, staring at Ethan, then Zack, open mouthed.
“I told you our enemies were smart,” Zack said to me, smiling.
“Yeah, but––” I didn't finish, because Ethan continued.
“I was scanning field disturbances for any sign of their efforts, and found a glitch! You can imagine my surprise when I saw Zack and you two working for the opposing side,” Ethan chuckled.
“What?!” I shrieked.
“Oh, yeah!” Ethan said, “That was their plan. If it weren't for me, you would have changed history through George.”
“Crap,” I commented.
“Brilliant plan,” Zack chuckled.
“How can you admire them? They almost killed you,” I stared at Zack, eyes wide open. “We almost killed you,” my voice broke.
Zack reached for my hand, “How can you not? It was a devious plan, but nevertheless an intelligent one. Complex and almost undetectable.”
“I agree with Zack,” Ethan chuckled, “They almost outsmarted us!”
Sophie frowned, and said, “You two are completely crazy! If they had succeeded, you wouldn't be here talking to us. You'd be dead!”
“True,” Ethan said, “But they didn't. It's the thrill of this game! The only weapons we have in this war are our brains.”
“Then we're screwed,” Sophie chuckled, pointing at Ethan's head.
Ethan's brows knit, “C'mon, Soph. I know you like busting my balls, but I'm a pretty smart guy.”
“He's one of our best,” Zack said, proudly. “His quirkiness is what gives us the edge.”
Ethan glared at Zack, then corrected him by saying, “My creativity is what gives us the edge!”
“What happened to George?” I interjected, worried about him. He was a nice guy, and I kind of liked him.
“We don't hurt people, Ly,” Ethan snorted. “Both George and Sophie's shrink know what they knew before they met you. That's all.”
“He removed what could have changed history without damaging them personally,” Zack explained. “You'll learn to do that soon.”
“George wasn't a threat all by himself, but his research based on your data would get into the wrong hands after his death, and that would have change everything,” Ethan added.
“You see, both sides are highly intelligent, so our side has to study the ripple effect situations like George create in order to know what will change history. It's never easy or obvious,” Zack chuckled.
“But it's fun,” Ethan chuckled, as well.
“Okay,” Sophie said, “Now I know why you needed us.” I darted my look toward Sophie. She smiled, and said, “You're looking for crazy people!”
Zack and Ethan burst out laughing, then Zack squeezed out through laughter, “Not true.”
“But you have to be somewhat unusual,” Ethan chuckled, edging closer to Sophie.
She glared at him, then said, “That's another word for crazy.”
Ethan's face got serious all of a sudden, “Coo-coo is another word for crazy. Intelligent, open-minded, creative, and beautiful is what I see in you,” he said, staring intently in her eyes.
Sophie started squirming in her seat, her cheeks got all red. Zack and I didn't know where to look. It was a private moment they were having, and we needed to get out of there quick. Zack cleared his throat, and typed into his bracelet, sending us back to my room.
“That was awkward,” I said, when we arrived, laughing.
“Yeah,” Zack confirmed, also laughing. “Ethan sure knows how to drop a bomb!”
“Do you think he––” I didn't know how to put it. Loves her?
“Oh, yeah! He's obsessed with her,” Zack chuckled.
“But is it temporary obsession until he gets what he wants? I'll kill him if he hurts her!” Thinking how Sophie was fragile concerning Ethan, I could feel anger rising in me.
“Ethan is many things,” Zack waved his hand, “But he won't hurt her.”
“How would you know?” I shot him a stern look, “It's not like we can choose when to fall out of love.”
“I've known Ethan my whole life. Believe me,” he snorted, “He's met his match!” Zack took my hand, and pulled me toward him. Placing his palm on the small of my back, pressing me tighter against him, he brushed his knuckles down my face, saying, “Much like I've met mine.”
His soft gaze seared me from the inside, and my lips found his in a blink of an eye. My match, that's what he truly was in every sense of that word. It would have been a perfect moment if Zack's bracelet hadn't interrupted us. He looked at it, and said, “Ethan’s on his way over.” That sentence wasn’t over, and Ethan was standing in my room.
“Wasn’t my room off limits?” I glared at Ethan.
“It was,” Zack said, also grimacing. We both glanced at Ethan for explanation.
“Sophie kicked my butt,” Ethan said, bowing his glance, repentantly.
“And that makes it okay to come here?” Zack snorted, draping his arm over my shoulders. “Do I need to kick your butt into stone age to the make a point?” Zack winked at Ethan, preparing his foot for the kick.
“Ly, domesticate him, would you?” Ethan said, grinning, and I chuckled.
Zack took my hoodie that was draped over the chair, and threw it at Ethan. “Go!”
Ethan successfully deflected the blow, “Ten minutes. Outside,” he said to Zack, and disappeared with a cocky smile.
“I have to see what he wants or we'll never get rid of him,” Zack said, kissing my temple.
I smiled, and picked up my hoodie from the floor, saying, “I'll get Sophie on the phone to see w
hat he did.” As soon as Zack was gone, I took my cell, and dialed Sophie, tapping my fingers on the table while it rang.
Just as I was about to hang up, I heard Sophie answer with a harsh, “What?!”
“You okay?” I said, cautiously.
“NO! The creep had no business dropping that on me,” I heard her sigh.
“Do you want me to come over?” I offered, not knowing what else to say.
“What's the point?” She snarled. “You can't make him take it back,” she snorted.
“Why do you want him to take it back?”
“I don't know,” her voice lowered. “He's pushing me, Ly. I don't want to be pushed!”
“So you did the right thing. You kicked him out,” I said, wondering how that must have looked like.
“You've gotta help me ground it that other realm,” she switched the topic.
“How? Should I call the exorcist?” We both chuckled, and I knew she'd be fine.
~*~
Ever since we forged a plan about Antarctica, I started showing big interest in chemistry and further education. My parents were glad to see that side of me again, but knowing it was all an act made me feel dirty. Now that my frequencies were grounded, and there was nothing standing in my way, I had to follow through. Zack and Ethan drafted a perfect cover letter, ready to be mailed from Antarctica, informing me that my paper got me a dream job. It was an offer no-one in their right mind would refuse. Indefinite funds, accommodation, a private lab, and probable further education completely sponsored by Antarctica's research team if my findings proved to be right. Of course, with future knowledge handy, we wrote a paper in my name that had all the relevant info to get the job, but not enough to change history.
The real offer from Antarctica didn't have all the perks Zack and Ethan had worked into the one my parents would see. They only offered a chance to come and work for them in their lab, the rest was a result of Zack calling in a favor from one of his contacts. That person wired funds to Antarctica asking to provide all other perks, but to leave him anonymous. He presented himself as a huge philanthropist with great faith in my research. A load of bull!