“Don’t tell me. You’re my Charlie, all grown up.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Still don’t like that name, I see. Are you feeling all right?”
“I-I don’t know. I was dizzy for a moment. You’re alive.”
“Yeah, why are you so surprised?” His father sat down next to him.
“When things change in the past, it takes time to catch up. How is this possible? I watched you die.”
“Oh my, is that what happened? Charles, I am so sorry. I put my pain before yours and,” he began to say.
Charles stood up and began yelling at his father before he could say another word. His anger was still in full strength. He could not let it go. As his body was going through more changes, he felt dizzy again. He watched his hand vanish, return, and then disappeared altogether.
“What the Hell?” His father jumped away from him.
“Yeah, this is what happens when you change the past. Who was it, Dad?”
“It doesn’t matter. I saw the light, son.”
Even though he was feeling weak, Charles jumped up and yelled at him. “It does matter!” He dropped to the floor. The room spun around him again, and he couldn’t see anything. What was happening to him? Had the past changed that much? Or did one of his younger copies get killed? Shit, he hadn’t thought about that. Now he was angrier than he was before. He wasn’t expecting Marcus and Ryan to be able to fight back. They were cornered. They should have been dead already. As the realization of him about to die, punctured his brain, he picked himself up and attacked his father.
Charles wrapped his hands around his father’s neck and squeezed as hard as he could. He needed his life back to where it was.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Marcus emptied his clip on the last copy. He watched him fall to the floor. Another version of Charles dropped to his knees as Marcus changed clips in his weapon. He began acting weird. Marcus just assumed he was begging for his life, but he began listening to what the man was saying.
“He killed my father and he looked just like me. He was the one who had asked me to come here. I charged at him, but then found myself standing here. How the Hell did I get here?”
There was a flicker within him. It was like he was there and then he wasn’t, but returned a half second later. Marcus looked at Ryan—he wasn’t paying any attention. He was too busy shooting in the other direction. “Ryan, stop!”
Marcus looked down and knelt over Billie. He yelled out to Ryan again. “Something’s happening. We need to leave this place,” he said as he gazed into Billie’s eyes. He could feel something was about to happen that was worse than major. He didn’t know how to explain it but if they stayed where they were, Pandora’s box would be wide open and life as they knew it would cease to exist.
Ryan ducked next to them. “What are you talking about?”
“You said you saved his father. Right?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, we need to go back to that day. I’m serious. Something is about to happen right now. We don’t have time.” He needed to break the rule this one time in order to save lives. He couldn’t think about what would happen if they failed. He didn’t want to think about what would happen to him. He had to act now. The ground began to shake fiercely. Was this a time quake?
He watched Ryan pull off the gadget that made him travel through time as the ground shook. Ryan set a time and date, returned the unit back to his arm, and the three of them flashed through time. Marcus was sick to his stomach when they appeared in the house. He stood over Billie as he had in the fountain. He looked down to make sure she was okay. As he looked up, he watched Charles attack his father.
This was the exact time his father had originally committed suicide. That meant the Charles of that time was about to walk through the door. Seeing his future self, killing his father, would set him down a different path—something worse than he had taken before. Seeing himself as a killer would make him a killer at a much younger age. Marcus had to stop that from happening.
The door opened. Young Charles walked through the door and saw them. Marcus could see something in the young man’s eyes when he saw his father. “Get off of my dad!” Everything happened in slow motion as Charles charged toward the older version and his father. Marcus looked at them, then at the young man. He knew if they touched, it would cause a reaction that would be felt through all times. Once it reached the end of time, it would reverse, breaking everything down in destruction. That was what the time quakes were. This had already happened and now he had the chance to stop it from happening again. He didn’t think about it, just reacted.
Marcus ran in the direction of his father and the Charles he knew. His leg was weak from the wound but he didn’t feel any pain. The adrenalin had him all charged up.
With one hand, he knocked Charles down, breaking the hold he had on his father. With the other hand, he pulled the younger copy away in a twisted motion towards the sofa. Marcus and Charles landed on the oversized cushions.
By the time Charles hit the floor, he was almost gone—fading into nothing.
Chapter Forty
By the time Billie stood up, Marcus and young Charles were landing on the sofa. It happened so fast; she didn’t have time to react. She watched the older version of Charles disappear, fading away like he never existed. She looked over at Ryan.
Before she could speak, the room began to shake fiercely. It felt like an earthquake, but as everything shook, some of the things in the room began to fade away like Charles had. Then they returned, slightly changed, and disappeared again. The fluctuation occurred a few times before the shaking ended and everything solidified. Billie felt nervous and scared as she witnessed this occurrence—not understanding what it was.
When she realized she was now on the floor, she tried to stand, but she couldn’t move. Something had her pinned down and she couldn’t see what it was. Nothing was there. Her mind became fuzzy. It was like memories were coming and going, all at once. Things she thought she knew, no longer were there. But yet, she remembered it happening. She wasn’t sure which was more terrifying—this or seeing death stare her down.
She looked at everyone, who was also knocked over. Their faces revealed the same shock she felt. Or was she just confused?
Ryan was the closest to her. The injury she had given him earlier was gone. Had she shot him? Or was that just a dream?
Then she looked at Marcus and the younger Charles. They were on the sofa so she didn’t get a good view of them, but there was something different about them too. Charles didn’t look angry anymore. And Marcus, he just looked hot as ever.
And the old man—Charles's father. He was sitting in a chair and his eyes had no life in them. Was he still alive? Had they saved him?
Billie just sat there, watching these men. She tried to figure them out, but her mind was still going over the memories. Where the old memories were, new ones were appearing in her mind. She remembered laughing with Charles, having cook-outs with him, and visiting this house when she was just a kid. But this was the first time she’d ever been there. Her head began to pound as if a marching band was stomping their feet in place. Each member, hitting their instrument in unison. She pulled her hands up to her head and held onto it as she screamed out. What the Hell was going on?
She heard someone calling out her name. She looked up and everything went silent. The noise in her head—gone. The flashes of memory—stopped. The pain—non-existent. It was like a bad dream. Marcus’s face came into view and his hand was out-stretched for her. She lifted her hand and touched his—it was real enough. He gently pulled her to her feet.
“What just happened?” she asked, still feeling like this wasn’t real.
“That was a time quake. Are you all right?” Marcus asked.
“I don’t know.” She gazed into her hands. They were shaking harder than the room danced just a moment ago. She tried to stop them but they just wouldn’t obey her command.
“Billie?” Ryan asked. She turned and faced him.
He appeared to be concerned. She didn’t understand why.
Marcus and Ryan approached Billie. They each placed a hand on her shoulder as another time quake shook through the room. This one wasn’t as harsh. They weren’t knocked off their feet and Billie kept her eyes open, watching things vanish, appear, then vanish again. Marcus’s watch, being one of the items. When it returned, it was different. It was made of a dull metal with a slight polish. The wide structure covered his forearm, wrapping it in one piece. She’d never seen anything like it before. It didn’t look like it would be able to tell time, there was nothing on it. Just a smooth flat metal. She couldn’t even tell where his arm was. It was like the piece replaced it.
When the quake ended, she began to feel okay again. Her brain hurt. She had convicting memories swimming around in there. Memories that weren’t hers but yet they were because she could feel it, and her old memories that felt like never happened.
“Billie,” Marcus said.
“What happened to your watch?”
“Oh, shit. That’s never happened before,” Ryan said as he looked at Marcus’s arm.
“I have new memories. Does that mean Charles is gone?”
“Hey, I’m standing right here,” young Charles said.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it,” she told him. She felt good enough to walk over to him and hug him. “I’m a little confused right now.”
“Why’s that?” Ryan asked.
“I don’t know if I’m his big sister or he’s my big brother.” Billie began to smile.
“What?” Charles’s father asked.
This must have been the first time he was hearing that. She regretted asking.
“I’m sorry, maybe we should go.” She backed away.
“I have a sister?” Charles finally asked.
“Tom, I think you and Charles need to pay your ex-wife a visit. Maybe if the two of you go together, you will be able to handle this news better than Charles did the first time around,” Ryan said.
“Yeah, I think you might be right. If my boy has a sister, he’s going to do right by her and be a good brother.” Tom looked at Charles as he said it.
Charles nodded as he revealed a toothful grin. Billie smiled back at him.
“We do need to go. You two take care of each other,” Marcus said. They shook hands and Ryan set his device so they could return to the year 2022.
When they returned to the mall, they looked for Ray but he wasn’t there. Billie felt bad, but she started to think that maybe this never really happened, which meant she never officially met him. Even though the memory was fresh in her mind, there was no evidence of anything bad happening at that mall.
Chapter Forty-One
Marcus called a taxi, since he had no idea how to make his new jewelry work. He wasn’t even sure what it was or what it did. But his watch was gone.
When the driver picked them up, he announced the address as he climbed in. They arrived at the bureau location. At least, that hadn’t changed. Billie and Ryan waited in the bank’s lobby area as he headed inside. For some odd reason, he couldn’t find John. He asked the receptionist as he waited to turn in his report of the events.
“Didn’t you hear?” Her voice was soft and sweet.
“Hear what?”
“John and a group of other agents were taken into custody. They were time pirates, Marcus.”
“You’re shitting me?”
“I am not. Scout’s honor,” she said as she held two fingers up and her hand over her heart.
“Wow. I would have never guessed.”
“Honey, he had us all fooled. Anyway, the Director will be here momentarily. Did you fill out all of the paperwork?”
He looked at the papers in his hand. “Every last paragraph. All my ‘i’s are dotted, crossed all the ‘t’s.”
“You’re a doll.”
He was about to answer, saying thanks when they were interrupted by a short, fat guy. Marcus took one look at the man and knew who he was. He went by the name of Captain Smitty when he was given the job of detaining Ryan. Had they made him the top dog when they altered the time? He could not believe it.
“I look forward to reading your report, Marcus. You deserve some time off; you’ve been working too hard. I’m heading back to the year 2244. I’ll read the report during my travels. Take this device. Come home, when you are ready. Here’s one for your partner as well—if you two want to work together again.” He handed Marcus a black device as Marcus handed his paperwork to him, crossing their hands over each other. “We’re shutting down time travel, so these devices are only good for one jump.”
“I understand, sir.”
“I need to take the girl home. We’re going to stick around here for a few days.”
“That’s fine. Take however long you need. You both deserve it.” He pushed his hand out.
Marcus looked down, smiled, and shook his boss’s hand.
He turned around and left the bureau station. Billie and Ryan had questions, but Marcus wasn’t ready to answer them just yet. He called another taxi and they headed out. According to Billie, her home was still standing, so the taxi took them there. It had Billie confused. Marcus had to explain why they weren’t affected by the change in the timeline. All agents of time travel could travel through time without being affected. It was one of the perks of the job. Of course, they had to be on duty. Vacations were not allowed on the agent’s dime and could not be traveled under false pretenses. The top dogs would always find out.
Marcus and Ryan walked Billie to the house, then they stood on the front porch for a little while.
“What are you planning to do?” Billie asked as she swayed on her feet.
“I’m thinking of retiring and staying here in 2022. The air smalls better here.”
“Really?” Billie asked.
He smiled. “Yeah, but I didn’t say that.” He held his finger up to his lips.
Billie nodded with a smile.
“What about you, Ryan?”
He looked at her and smiled. “I honestly don’t have a clue. I haven’t thought far ahead.” He laughed, making them laugh.
“Listen, you two are welcome to stay here with me, if you want to. I have the extra space and could use help with getting that back door fixed. After what happened with Charles, I don’t want to risk being trapped in this house again.”
“We got you covered,” Marcus said.
“Fine, it’s settled. You’re staying here.” She turned around with a smile on her face. She opened the door and the three of them entered the house.
Just as the three stepped into the living room, a man appeared. He was wearing a dark suit with black shiny shoes. It was like he was dressed to go to the Opera, dressed in his finest. Marcus’s metal bracelet, or whatever it was, began to warm up at the same time the stranger appeared before them.
“Marcus? Ryan?”
They looked at each other, said yes in unison, and waited for the man’s response.
“We need your help.”
“We?”
“Yes. The World Bureau is in trouble and you’re the men who can make things right.”
“You’re from the future?” Billie asked.
“Yes, I am, little lady. Billie, I presume?”
“I am. We just beat a guy who traveled through time to kill me. Can this wait?” she asked.
“Oh, that’s why I’m here.” He quickly added, “oh, no, you’re not in danger, Billie. Someone important has gone missing and the three of you are related to this case. Billie, I’d like you to come along as well if you’re okay with that?”
Marcus and Ryan looked at each other. They smiled.
“Well, I won’t be retiring anytime soon,” Ryan said.
“Me either. You got yourself some agents. What’s the job?”
“You need to find Charles Ramsey. He holds the secrets to these time quakes. If we don’t find him, t
ime will be ripped apart and you know what will happen to this planet.”
“We do.”
Nothing else was said. The time quakes were not going to destroy this planet. Marcus was going to make sure of that.
To be continued...
About The Author
Amber, aka A.R. Grosjean, is originally from a small town south of Decatur, Indiana, called Monroe. She lived there until her junior year of high school. It is there, when her writing journey began. At the age of 11 years old, she began writing. It was only one year after she attempted suicide, something that was a result of being bullied. Amber thanks God the attempt failed because she learned why she had to endure the pain and abuse—it was required for her to go through this pain in order to become the woman she is today. And the writer she was to be.
Amber met her husband, Jack Grosjean, aka Billy, and they were married in 1996. He was her first and biggest fan. He encouraged her to write and be herself. They later had 3 children and are now grandparents. Today, Amber lives in Fort Wayne with her husband, and continues to write. She is constantly growing to become better at what she does, giving others the mental freedom to escape from their own pain.
Check out A.R. Grosjean’s other books
Series…. (available upon this book’s release)
Peterson Estate series….
Murder Through Time (World Bureau Legacy Book 1) Page 19