by Jason Wilcox
Lowering her hand, she took a deep breath. “I don’t really know what to say. I mean, I knew you had some things to explain, but I didn’t expect your explanation to have parts that seem so unbelievable.” She looked at Caden. “You say you’re a secret agent and your agency can stop time. Stopping time! Do you know how ridiculous that all sounds?”
“I didn’t think it would sound ridiculous,” Caden responded with a look of confusion on his face. “A little unbelievable, sure.” He bit his lower lip. “Either way, I’m telling you the truth now. Truth that I’ve kept from you for so long, and I apologize. The agency demanded secrecy. And don’t act like you didn’t have some idea that I was doing secret things; you had to’ve seen the signs.”
“I believe you to an extent, I guess. It’s just hard to fathom. It sounds like something out of a science fiction novel. I mean stopping time, being a part of a secret organization, your director possibly being caught up in evil things, and Matt blowing up your corporate office. I had actually figured you were doing secret missions for the government, not a secret agency. And about you having to keep it a secret from me, I’m mature enough to understand that, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”
“But it’s hard to believe?”
“Well, yeah,” Bridget said. “What if I told you the same information? Would you believe me?”
Caden nodded. “It’d be hard to believe. If it helps at all, we can turn the radio on and see if the news is reporting any of the information I’m telling you; they’re probably digging information out of the rubble as we speak.” He leaned forward to turn on the radio but stopped short.
“No,” Bridget said, “we’re close to Mom’s house. I believe you, I guess. It’s just shocking. I really don’t want to talk over the radio. I just want to talk with you.”
Caden paused for a moment in thought. “There’s something else I want to talk to you about before we get to your mom’s house.”
“I’m not sure if I can handle anything else,” Bridget sounded a little stressed. She began rubbing her temple again.
Caden took a deep breath. Bridget was the only one he felt would understand everything. If not, she would at least have empathy. After finally expressing so much truth, he felt pressure to keep going. “I’m scared I’m losing my mind. I keep seeing, even interacting with, demonic creatures and they seem so real. I’m not sure if it’s from some experiment they did to me, or if I’m just going crazy from post-traumatic stress. I see them one second and the next, they’re gone with no evidence that they were ever there.” As Caden finished, they pulled down the small gravel road that led to Elizabeth’s house.
“What do you mean exactly?” Bridget asked. The rocks from the gravel road could be heard underneath the tires and clanking on the undercarriage of the car.
“Well,” Caden began, “it was happening whenever I would take a nap or when I came out of one. But the last couple of times have been when I’m fully awake. At first, I tried telling myself they were just dreams, but now I’m really starting to think I’m losing it. And I wouldn’t be the first. They had another guy named Steven lose his mind after he had gone into stopped time.”
Bridget pulled up to her mom’s house and put the car in park. The headlights from the car lit the front of the house.
Bridget looked over at Caden. “Even though you’re telling me a lot of information and I’m feeling overwhelmed, there is one thing I know for sure. I love you, and no matter what, we’ll get through all of this together. I married you because I love you, and I’m not going to let some secrets or hallucinations keep me from what I finally have.” Bridget smiled and took his large, warm hand.
Emotion flooded Caden. This was what a true relationship was, unlike what he had seen growing up. Bridget is here for me, and she isn’t letting these issues get in the way of our marriage.
“I love you, too,” Caden said as he leaned over to kiss her, wanting to be as close as possible. His hand touched her soft cheek, and he ran his fingers over the back of her neck. The second their noses touched, Caden heard a loud crack followed by a popping noise from the windshield. Bridget was thrown back into her seat and she struggled to scream out in pain, only making a gasping noise. Caden’s reflexes took over; he pulled Bridget down and ducked over her.
He quickly felt for his Dead Time switch and pushed the button. Nothing happened. He hit it again and again and again, but nothing. With all of his strength, he slammed it against the dash. It must’ve been damaged when the large demon had thrown him against the wall. There was no more time to waste; he had to take care of Bridget.
Adrenaline pushed through Caden’s body. The warmth of Bridget’s blood covered his hands as he found where the bullet had entered her chest. With as much pressure as he could muster, Caden pushed on the wound directly over Bridget’s heart. He knew she didn’t have long if he didn’t act quickly.
“Please don’t let me die. I don’t want to die,” she pleaded. Her tears dripped on his arm as she gasped for air.
Caden pushed harder on her chest, but it was no use. The blood was rushing too fast, and he couldn’t stop it. He knew there was nothing he could do for her. Her quiet whisperings, her pleading, her heavy breathing and crying came to a stop. Bridget’s lifeless hands slid down his arm. Her eyes, those dark brown eyes he adored, glazed over.
He couldn’t move. His body was paralyzed.
Death was no stranger to Caden. He had faced it many times in his job. In times past, he had always known what to do, but this time he was useless. He held Bridget’s lifeless body. Choking back his tears, he slowly began to release his grasp. He was soaked in her blood. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat but there was no saliva. Slowly he kissed her on the cheek. It was still warm.
Caden felt like he was going to explode. There was so much he wanted to tell her and do with her, but now it was too late. He laid his forehead against hers and quietly whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I failed you.” Tears welled up in his eyes and slowly made their way down his cheeks. “Please forgive me. This is my fault.” He should have stayed vigilant; he knew there was a chance they could’ve been followed. He squeezed his eyes shut as tightly as he could while the warm tears kept flowing.
Reality of his situation began to sink in and his anger flooded him, pure rage. The sniper wasn’t going to stop with just Bridget. Lying low, he reached between the front seats and unzipped one of the side pouches of Bridget’s suitcase. He pulled out the handgun he had taken from the security guard. Another bullet shot through the glass almost clipping him in the head. Stuffing from Bridget’s seat flew into the air as the bullet tore through it. The sniper had moved toward the right of the car.
Getting into a better position, Caden opened his door and dove into some bushes that surrounded a large tree. A bullet ripped into the tree trunk. The sniper was extremely close, closer than Caden had expected. He didn’t move. He just sat there in silence, ready to spring into action at any moment.
A very quiet snap came from about five to six feet away. Caden dove to his left and then shot in the direction he heard the twig snap. Each shot rang out along the coastline, getting lost in the crashing of the distant waves. Caden’s shots seemed to follow the rhythm, even after he ran out of bullets. He kept pulling the trigger, clicking away as he took his last step to the bush.
Lowering his gun, Caden could make out a body limp in the foliage and a large sniper gun on the ground. He took hold of the man’s black coat and dragged him out. The sniper, who Caden didn’t recognize, was a very young man, probably in his mid-twenties. Moving quickly, not knowing if there were others, Caden searched him and found another handgun, which he took and tucked into the waist of his pants. With nothing else of use, Caden dropped the body to the ground and spat on it. He had black clothing, just like Matt’s men. Did Matt do this?
He went to turn, to see if there were others, but couldn’t. Too much anger filled his mind, clouding his judgment, and he kicked the
man one last time as he yelled at the top of his lungs.
Slowly, Caden turned, and walked back to the car. He ran his fingers through Bridget’s hair. That shot was meant for him, not her. Guilt rushed through his body. This is my fault. Bridget is dead, and it’s my fault. Whoever did this was out to kill me. It couldn’t have been Matt. Caden froze for a moment. But Matt was the only one who knew where I was headed. I told him where I was going before I left.
Caden took a deep breath. If his training taught him anything, it was to think through each situation. He needed proof it was Matt. Don’t jump to conclusions.
Before the pain could really sink in, headlights glared in the rearview mirror. He lovingly swiped his hands across Bridget’s eyes, closing them finally to the world. The dirt road crunched beneath his feet as he walked toward the car that was coming at him. Rage and hate flowed through his veins. There was no subduing it this time. He wanted revenge on everyone who had a part in Bridget’s death. He hoped whoever was coming down the drive was involved.
A light breeze blew through Caden’s hair as he walked. Caden thought about the Dead Time switch on his arm and was angry. If it had only worked earlier, Bridget would still be alive. The car came to a stop while Caden tore the Dead Time switch off his arm and tossed it to the ground. Everything went silent. Puzzled, Caden looked over at where he had thrown the switch. It had fallen into a small puddle on the side of the road. He walked over to the puddle and picked the switch up. The shadow he had created from standing in the headlights stayed as he moved away.
A strange feeling went through Caden as if he were being watched. He looked behind him but saw nothing.
He quickly turned his attention to another rustle that came from the other side of him. He thought he saw something move in the tall grass past the bushes, but that was impossible—time had stopped. Pressure built in his chest. I hate this place. The car still sat to the side of him, eerily silent. Trying to shake off the feeling, Caden thought of Bridget and anger filled him once more. He tightened his fist around the switch. Why couldn’t it have worked before?
A loud scream rang out from behind Caden, then another from the left, followed by something hitting him in the leg, knocking him to the ground next to the car. Using the strength in his arms, Caden threw himself back to his feet, but there was nothing to be seen. He crouched low and looked under the car. A dark creature screamed in his face, grabbed his arm, and tried pulling him under the car.
A blow hit him in the back as another scream sounded. Claw-like hands grabbed his arms and legs. The flesh of the creatures was uncomfortably cold. A voice called out to him through the screeching and scurrying.
“Mauldrin,” the voice hissed and then something sharp tore into Caden’s back. His body went limp. He tried to fight, but he could no longer command his body. Sharp rocks in the gravel tore against his face.
Another voice hissed. “Why isn’t he gone yet?”
Something was said in response, but Caden couldn’t understand. The darkness made it hard to tell if his eyes were open or closed. Breathing became burdensome and difficult. Darkness seemed to move through his veins and take over his body, but he could feel some type of power in his chest that somehow slightly strengthened him. Suddenly a bright flash came from a short distance away, straining his eyes. Feeling seemed to rush back into his body, and he quickly realized the flash had blasted all of the dark creatures off him. The creatures screeched in pain.
Caden made an effort to stand up, getting to his hands and knees first, but stopped when he saw a man standing a few feet away. A brilliant light glowed all around the man, making it hard for Caden to look at him. The man held a staff; purple electric shocks zapped around the bottom of it.
The glowing figure quickly slapped his staff down on the Dead Time switch that Caden had dropped on the ground, smashing it to pieces. He took a step closer, standing over Caden. With one quick move, he grabbed Caden by the neck and lifted him in the air. Caden tried to look at the man, but time started again, and he fell to the ground. Waves crashed once again, and the engine of the car idled by him. The man was gone, along with the dark creatures.
The car engine turned off and Caden reached to the back of his neck where blood dripped out. Pain shot through his back as he touched the spot where the Dead Time chip had either been damaged or taken out.
Hearing the car door open, Caden rolled to his side. The driver stepped out, and Caden took a couple of steps back, staggering. The man emerged like a dark shadow.
“Who are you?” Caden asked while trying to control his nausea. His legs and fingers trembled from the attack in Dead Time.
“How ya doing?” the man asked as he closed the door. Caden recognized the voice but wasn’t sure where he had heard it before.
“Who are you? And what are you doing here?” Caden asked. He didn’t know if the man was there to kill him, but he drew his gun ready to attack if needed.
“Boy, you sure have some spit in you, don’t you,” the man said. “I’m honestly surprised you’re still standing after such an attack.”
Confused, Caden just stood for a moment. Was he talking about the attack in Dead Time or the sniper? The man took a step closer. Domblin? It had to be another hallucination.
“Either way, we need to get you out of here,” Domblin said.
“You’re a hallucination. I’m talking to a hallucination.” Caden shook his head. He felt like giving up after everything that had happened. Having another hallucination was a breaking point. He couldn’t handle his mind doing this to him anymore.
“I’m very real,” Domblin said with a big smile. If he weren’t a hallucination, it would’ve been a strangely comforting smile.
“So what are you doing here?” Caden asked, still unsure if he was really just hallucinating.
“I’m actually here to get you to a safe place. I need to get you out of here and soon.”
Maybe he should just shoot him; he would find out quickly if he were hallucinating. But on second thought, if he was real, he probably shouldn’t kill him right then and there. Caden tried to analyze the situation the best he could. Either Domblin had to be a hallucination or the person behind Bridget’s death had sent him.
In the slim chance that Domblin was real and worked for whoever killed Bridget, he could be used as a tool. Revenging Bridget’s death would become easier. “When I’m done with what I need to do, you can take me to your safe place. Until then, you make one wrong move, I’ll kill you-”
“We don’t have time for these games,” Domblin cut him off. “I’m worried about your safety.”
“You’ve had a fair warning,” Caden said pointing his gun at him. His head was beginning to hurt from the idea that he might actually be standing on a dirt road talking to himself with his deceased wife in the car, with who knows what bad guys headed his way to kill him. Possibly they were already there hiding, waiting to get off a good shot.
“Caden, please. I know you don’t trust me, and you shouldn’t. But look at all that has happened.” Domblin glanced over to his car.
Caden’s jaw began to tremble. Bridget. He could hear her gentle laugh in his mind and smell her sweet perfume. And those brown eyes had sparkled with so much life. He clenched his fists. “I don’t have time for you…” He muttered as he walked back to the car.
He gently pulled her out. Her body was limp in his arms. Domblin stood with his forehead crinkled. If he was there to kill Caden, and not a hallucination, then he might as well do it with Bridget in Caden’s arms. But Domblin made no aggressive moves, and Caden didn’t care. What is Elizabeth going to think when I have to tell her of Bridget’s death?
Elizabeth! Caden’s eyes widened.
As he walked up the dirt path to Elizabeth’s house, Bridget’s frail arm swung back and forth. The front door was cracked, and Caden paused for a moment, knowing it wasn’t a good sign. He pushed it open with his knee. And there she was, Elizabeth, sitting in her recliner with a bullet hole in her he
ad.
Caden carefully laid Bridget on the sofa and took a step back, leaning against the wall and sliding down to the floor. He couldn’t hold back his tears. The pain was just too unbearable.
Elizabeth had been watching the news before she was shot. It was still on. The news flashed pictures of SDS members with words underneath that authorities wanted them. Most of them had died in the blast, but there were still some out there. They showed pictures of James, Robert, Matt, and then his face flashed on as well.
The TV screen changed to the nation’s capital where there was a massive mob. The army was doing its best to protect the large capital building, but the uprising was huge. Before the news anchor could say a word, they cut to the President.
The president looked ill as sweat dripped down his face. Black tape wrapped around his mouth preventing him from saying a word. Justin, the man who had tried to kill Caden, stood next to him with a gun. His black suit was evidence that he had used Dead Time to get access to the President.
“Now, Mr. President,” Justin said, “it is time for everyone to hear the truth about the terrible things you’ve been doing to the people of this nation. And our group shall lead the revolt to tear down the government of this nation and rebuild a new one. I’m going to tell the world the evil things you’ve done.” The president rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“Caden, we need to go,” Domblin said calmly. “We have to get out of here now. I’m worried for your safety.”
Closing his eyes for a second and tuning out Justin’s ramblings on the television, Caden debated whether he was going to answer Domblin. Since the man hadn’t attacked him yet, Caden was almost positive it was definitely a hallucination. With everything going on around him, what did it hurt to answer? Besides, what if he was wrong and Domblin was real. It was hard to care. The tremendous amount of emotion Caden felt left him numb inside. “Do you think I care what happens to me right now? And if you think I’m going anywhere with you before I bury my family, you’re wrong. You’d have to kill me first.”