Edge of Time

by Susan M. MacDonald

  “At last.” The lights inside the undulating rip pulsed brighter for a moment then dimmed. The words rolled around inside Alec’s head.

  “Rhozan?”

  “Come closer. Join me.”

  The voice was enticing, but not strong enough to force him. Alec crossed his arms.

  “I demand you obey.”

  “No,” Alec said. “And you can’t make me.” He tapped the side of his head. “I have it. The genetic gift. I can resist you. So, piss off.”

  For a split second Alec thought it was ridiculously easy. But just as his brain reasoned that it couldn’t be that simple, Rhozan retaliated.

  The sound was so loud Alec fell to his knees. Riley screamed and dropped to the worn carpet, her hands clasped over her ears and her knees pulled up to her chest. The lights inside the rip grew to unbelievable proportions. Alec shut his eyes tightly, but the sickly yellow blazed into his retinas. It hurt. Badly. He curled into a ball. There was a sudden pain as something large and heavy slammed into his back.

  “Riley,” Alec yelled, trying desperately to concentrate despite the pain and the howling inside his head. “Watch out.”

  Something else hit him, this time across the forehead. He didn’t need to shove it away. The object moved by itself as a sudden category-five hurricane-strength wind tore through the living room. Papers flung themselves into the air. The furniture upturned and slid across the floor. Alec squinted into the maelstrom. Riley had flung herself over Darius, protecting his face with her body.

  A vase sailed across the room and smashed into the wall. The sofa slid several feet towards them.

  “Do something!” Riley yelled.

  What on earth could he do? He didn’t have an orb. He didn’t know how to stop Rhozan.

  “You will obey me,” Rhozan’s voice thundered through Alec’s mind.

  46

  Riley held onto Darius as tightly as she could, but it was a losing battle. The wind was impossibly strong and, inexorably, pulled Darius away. Something hit her shoulder and she grunted at the impact. The newspaper fluttered through the air and came to rest over her face, momentarily blinding her. She shook her head to dislodge the sheets. They flew across the room and directly into the rip. Then they were gone.

  If the wind got stronger …

  The Emissary sprawled lifelessly near the front door and Alec was only a few feet away. He was curled up in a ball and rocking back and forth, moaning. Only Darius knew how to overcome Rhozan and she couldn’t get through to him. The aliens’ weakness, the power of the orbs, the skill and knowledge of the Tyon Collective who had done this before, were all Darius’ knowledge, not hers. If she couldn’t wake him …

  She shook him again, ignoring the lamp that bounced off her shoulder and towards the rip. “Darius, wake up.” She leaned over his face, pressing her ear next to his lips. Please, let him wake up. He was barely breathing.

  The words formed inside her head with the beating of the rip’s light. “Come to me.”

  For a split second she actually wanted to, the voice was so commanding. Then she remembered. “I won’t.”

  “Come to me or the Guardian dies.”

  Riley clutched Darius’ shoulders even tighter as the demand grew stronger. Without Darius they were goners. “No.”

  “Then he dies.”

  Darius’ body jerked beneath her fingers. He was yanked forward, just a handspan, but closer to the rip. Icicles ran down Riley’s spine. She grabbed him harder and pulled back, but the force was almost unbeatable.

  “He’s mine,” Rhozan said. The words rattled off the inside of her skull, over and over. “You can’t save him unless you come to me.”

  Darius slid another few inches.

  There was nothing to brace against. The carpet gave only the slightest traction. She rammed her feet against it and braced for Rhozan’s next onslaught.

  It was worse. Darius slid closer to the rip, pulling her with him.

  “Darius, wake up. Help me!” Riley screamed. They were only about two metres from the sparkling cloud. She couldn’t let go. But if she didn’t, they’d both get sucked in. “Alec!”

  Across the room, Alec didn’t even seem to notice her plight.

  “Your choice, Riley.” Rhozan sounded pleased. “Either you let him go or you continue this feeble attempt to save him and I get you both.”

  The wind picked up in strength. Riley was nearly flattened to the floor. Her hair whipped into her eyes. The sofa overturned and slid across the floor straight into the rip. She ducked her head again as the contents of the closet near the front door emptied into the air and whooshed into Rhozan’s world. The lifeless body of the Emissary rolled along the floor and stopped abruptly as it came up against her back. She suppressed a scream.

  Darius was pulled another foot closer. The Emissary’s arms flung up with a sideways gust. She kicked at the body, desperately trying to shove it free. The wind pushed the corpse closer to her, wrapping the torso around her. Horrified, she twisted wildly and kicked again. She couldn’t suppress the scream that tore from her lips.

  The wind tore brutally at her, this time from the side, knocking her face-down onto Darius’ stomach. The corpse, its obstruction removed, slipped free and tumbled towards the rip.

  Wait. The Emissary had the orbs. He’d put them in his jacket pocket. With only seconds to spare, Riley leapt into action. She let go of Darius and lunged towards the corpse as it rolled towards the rip.

  She caught the edge of its jacket in her right hand. She held on as tightly as she could.

  Freed, Darius began to slide towards the rip.

  Heart in her mouth, Riley clawed for a better grip. The material of the Emissary’s suit began to tear.

  “No,” she cried in horror. Scrambling with an almost Herculean effort, she grabbed again.

  Something firm and round clinked under her fingers. The orbs. She almost had them.

  Darius’ shoulders slid past her.

  Another metre and Rhozan would have him.

  She tugged and pulled. Where was the opening to the pocket? Why couldn’t she find it?

  The wind rolled Darius over. Another foot closer. He slammed into the coffee table.

  She clawed at the suit jacket, but the wind was so wild it tossed the material around. She couldn’t get a proper grip. The corpse was about to be pulled into the rip. She couldn’t stop it.

  Only the overturned coffee table lodged against the kitchen doorway blocked Darius’ path into Rhozan’s world.

  “Darius!” she screamed. “Wake up.”

  The Emissary opened his eyes.

  47

  The wind stopped. Everything airborne fell to the ground.

  The Emissary lunged at Riley. His filthy hands scrabbled at her. His fingers grabbed her neck.

  Get the orbs. They were the only things that mattered.

  His hands tightened. She couldn’t breathe.

  The orbs.

  Her fingers found the edge of the pocket opening and plunged inside. She touched the warm glass. Yes.

  Tighter still. Glittering lights of asphyxiation under her eyelids. Desperate to breathe.

  Another inch and an orb slipped into her palm. The two other orbs clinked together. She grabbed at a second one, barely managing to clasp two in her small fingers.

  Could. Not. Breathe.

  Get lost, she thought with the last of her strength.

  The Emissary jerked away as if hooked by an invisible cord. His eyes closed, his body fell limply to the floor. Then, as the wind restarted with a vengeance, it took him and pulled him into the rip.

  Riley flattened herself to the carpet. The wind blew over her. She tightened her grip on the orbs. Hold me still, she instructed the Tyon power inside her.

  Darius, she aimed whatever power she had in his direction. Wake up. NOW.

  Darius groaned. He raised a shaky hand to his forehead.

  “Darius, we’re in trouble!” Riley yelled, her voice barely audible abov
e the tempest.

  Darius tried to sit up but was flattened by the wind. The gusts changed direction. Darius just grabbed onto the kitchen doorframe in time. His body swung around as, feet first, the wind pulled him towards the rip. The coffee table swung around and, now free of the door frame, slid straight for the rip.

  “Orb,” Darius gasped.

  Riley transferred one orb to the arm closest to Darius. His hand grasped the smooth glass.

  “STOP!” Darius yelled.

  Yellow lightning burst out of the rip. It hit the ceiling, slammed into the walls, pierced the floor. The carpet, only inches from Riley, burst into flame.

  She screamed.

  “You are mine.” Rhozan’s voice shook the walls.

  “No.” Darius panted. Fingers white, he could barely hold onto the doorframe, the hand aiming the orb at the rip. His body was pulled off the ground.

  Lightning barely missed him.

  “Alec,” Darius called. “We need you. For god’s sake, fight.”

  48

  Rhozan was inside Alec’s head. Alec had the smothering impression of something without boundaries. There was a towering intelligence, too, but it seemed strangely limited to Alec’s way of thinking. Glorified memories of games he’d played swirled around inside Rhozan, too. War, torture, winning, destruction: a veritable feast. Alec had never realized just how violent his beloved games were.

  He felt sickened.

  Rhozan thought the games were real. The first touch of Alec’s mind had stimulated a desire to attack, born of the belief that this planet was a banquet of violence. Alec’s own anger and sullen temperament had tipped the balance in favour of staying to invade.

  It was his fault. His temper, his predilection for violent games, his belief that he could solve his problems with his fists.

  It was overwhelming. Regrettable. Shameful.

  He sunk deeper.

  Rhozan’s presence grew stronger.

  Something sharp hit him across his temple. Again. And again. Penetrating his despair. He opened his eyes.

  Darius was gripping the door frame to the kitchen with one arm and in his free hand was a ceramic mug. Darius lobbed the mug in Alec’s direction and yelled.

  “Alec, fight him.”

  The porcelain smashed into shards inches from Alec’s face.

  “It’s my fault.” Alec could barely get the words past his lips.

  Regret. Wishful longing.

  “Change it,” Darius gasped. “He thinks it’s a game. Change the rules.”

  Alec mutely shook his head.

  Rhozan was pulsing now inside him. His skin burned with the assault. Soon it would be all over.

  “Step into the portal,” Rhozan instructed. “Come to me.”

  If he did, it would be over. Rhozan didn’t want anyone but him. The wild unhappiness inside him would feed Rhozan for ages. He deserved to die. It was all his fault.

  Despair. Shame.

  Riley screamed. “You can still win, you idiot. Don’t give up now.”

  “Ignore her,” said Rhozan. “I command it.”

  Riley’s face screwed up with anger. “I have an orb. Take it. Blow this sucker to kingdom come.”

  “No,” yelled Darius. “He’s too angry.”

  Could he? Was it possible to make up for all he’d done?

  Rhozan’s voice rumbled through him. “It is all your fault. You can change nothing. The game cannot start again.”

  Riley reached out as far as she was able. The orb glistened.

  “Take it,” she yelled against the screaming wind. “There’s no more time.”

  Time. Alec’s heart stood still. He knew. He knew.

  Doubt vanished. Without thought, he swung out his hand and connected with hers. Fingers wet with sweat scrabbled for the orb. For a horrible second he thought she’d dropped it.

  His fingers closed around hers as he pulled the orb free.

  Riley’s eyes widened in fear. “No,” she shouted, “Alec, don’t.”

  “No,” Darius shouted. “Don’t. You don’t know what you’ll start. Alec, please.”

  “Stop. I command you!” Rhozan roared.

  Riley screamed as the wind pulled her the last few feet before the rip. Darius let go of the doorjamb to reach her. Alec saw their hands connect in the split second before Darius was pulled inside the rip.

  Riley was sucked in after.

  They vanished.

  No!

  Alec had no choice. He couldn’t let Riley and Darius die.

  He threw himself into the rip before he could change his mind. Gripping the orb tight enough to almost break his knuckles, he focused every molecule of concentration on the task. He didn’t know how to make it happen, but he’d done it before. Take me back to when it started, he thought desperately, take me back.

  The howling inside his head increased in volume the moment he crossed over. Sensations unfamiliar and repulsive flowed over him. He kept his eyes closed. Whatever was in here he didn’t want to see. Concentrate.

  Rhozan was yelling “No” over and over, increasing in volume with every beat of Alec’s heart.

  Take me back to the beginning.

  Colours danced and swirled inside his eyes. Souls touched and flitted away. Peter, then gone. Strangers, then gone. Their essence mingled with his and left. Too many souls. Too many thoughts. Overpowering. Nauseating.

  Darius and Riley, his mom and dad, his brother, the kids from the bunker, everyone. He could save them all. Despite Darius’ concerns.

  Take me back.

  The power grew. The electric charge was building under his skin. Wild, uncontrolled power. His. He forced himself to stay focused. Felt his body begin to dissolve.

  Take me back.

  Someone grabbed his leg and didn’t let go. He paid no attention. Focused.

  The power increased. Just a bit more.

  Take me back … Make it work.

  The power hurt. Burned through him like a live electrical charge. His mind boiled.

  Rhozan’s scream rose to an impossible pitch.

  His resolve wavered for an instant with the enormous pain of it.

  Suddenly, the power exploded. In him, through him, outside of him. A conflagration of possibility and force, destroying him in one all-consuming instant of being.

  Then nothing.

  49

  Alec gave a massive shudder as his present self slammed into his previous self, merged and became one. Awareness hit him broadside. He was out of the rip. Back in his old apartment. But when? The vertigo hit the same time as nausea drowned him, a hundred times worse than the transport to Halifax. He groaned.

  He hardly noticed Darius and Riley winking into existence beside him; he was too busy retching and reeling. He barely had time to register the thought that he must have really done a number on the time travel thing to feel this incredibly awful when a sudden stunning blow across his chin momentarily focused his attention on something other than his churning stomach.

  He spun around with the force of the strike, his shoulder slamming into the hallway wall an instant before his forehead made contact. Temporarily stunned, he began to slide to the carpet, all thought momentarily stalled. Someone grabbed his upper arm in a biting grip and halted his descent. What the hell?

  A woman screamed.

  A familiar male voice yelled, “Stop it, now.”

  Alec was dimly aware of shouting, but the burst of pain in his chin drowned out any interest in what was going on around him. It took a moment before his brain began to function again. Who had hit him? Who was yelling? He blinked several times, trying to clear his fuzzy vision. The familiar tingle of Tyon willingness flitted across his skin.

  “Stand still.”

  The grip on Alec’s arm lessened somewhat and Alec braced against the wall to hold himself up. Man, did that hurt. He squinted into the semi-gloom of early evening in the dimly lit hallway of his apartment.

  Darius moved between Alec and his father, letting Ale
c’s arm go completely. Alec had never seen him so angry. The air crackled with tension.

  “There is never an excuse for a man to hit his child or his wife.” Darius took another step towards Alec’s dad. Despite the fact that Darius was a couple of inches shorter and slimmer, the bigger man stepped backwards, both hands in the air in front of his chest in an acknowledgment of defeat. The stench of sweat and booze oozed from Alec’s dad and tainted the hallway in a miasma of failure and misery. “You’re a coward,” Darius spat. “Just a stinking coward.”

  Alec shook his head to clear it. The sharp pain was already fading, although a steady throbbing was taking its place. The sickness persisted, but he pushed that forcibly out of his mind. He had to pay attention.

  Alec was suddenly pushed farther down the hallway as his mother shoved in front of him, barging her way between Darius and Alec’s father.

  “Stay out of the way, Marina,” Darius said firmly. His eyes never left Alec’s father. His muscles visibly tensed.

  “I don’t know who you are or how you got into my home,” Alec’s mom gasped, reaching out to grab Darius by the arm. “But please leave.”

  “Yeah,” Alec’s father snarled. “Get out. Whoever you are.”

  Alec took a shaky breath. There was no reasoning with his dad when he was like this. And besides, his dad had boxed in university and had a wicked left hook as well as at least twenty kilos on Darius. He had to stop this and fast.

  “Dad,” he began, his voice far wobblier than he would have liked. “This is Darius Finn. He’s a friend of mine and–” He didn’t get any further.

  “Wipe that grin off your face, you worthless little–” His father swung again, reaching for Alec with a closed fist that would have knocked him unconscious had it landed. Darius pivoted and twisted simultaneously with feline grace. He grabbed the moving arm and, using the momentum, flipped Alec’s father around and down. He landed on the ground at Alec’s feet. There was a distinctly horrible crack. His father gave a sharp cry. Darius let go.