“Before we do anything else, we should eat. We’re going to need our energy if we’re going to think of a way out of this.” Ami changes the subject from her mother’s health.
We file into the kitchen. Like a cohesive family, everyone begins to help. I head down to the storage and pick up a half dozen bananas and a few oranges. On my ascent back up the stairs, I hear a cupboard door slam. Ami is berating Agatha.
“Mother, you need to rest. She’s taking over you too much lately. Let us handle this,” she scolds.
“I’m the mother here, I should be taking care of you.” Agatha tries to retain control.
“I’m old enough to take care of myself and you! Sit!”
I watch Agatha reluctantly sit at the table. Ami’s concern is coming out as anger and Agatha is hurt. Though I’m cutting up the fruit, I keep my eye on Agatha. It appears as though she hasn’t had a decent night’s rest in a while.
Breakfast is fruit, scrambled eggs and toast. Eve gathers glasses, filling them one at a time at the sink. She stares out the window at the tribe on this side. Reaching over to bring her back to reality, I jab her in the side playfully. She jumps, letting out a little yelp.
“What are you thinking?” My eyes are fixed on the tribe also, but I glance at her from my peripheral vision.
“Just bad memories of large nomadic groups like this. Nothing I won’t forget about soon enough,” she says confidently.
We sit down to eat. The book Evalyn had been looking through is on the table near Agatha and I motion for her to push it to me. She does and I eat while flipping through the pages. I turn my attention back to the cave drawing she had originally showed us and notice something strange. There is another image of a cave drawing I hadn’t seen before underneath the first one.
In this new picture there is a depiction of a stick figure with its arms and legs spread out seeming to hover over many smaller figures. Spinning the book to Ami on my right point at it and quirk an eyebrow.
“What is that?”
“What?”
“That!” I point at the new picture.
“I…was it there before?” she asks.
“I’m pretty sure it wasn’t.” I shake my head.
Turning the book to Emma and Eve on my left they look at it and shrug. I stand up and bring it to Agatha and a look on her face confirms my suspicion.
“This picture is proof that even minimal interaction has an effect.”
“So what do we do then? Nothing? We’ve already started something. What is on the next page?” Eve asks and reaches to grab the book from me.
Snapping the book shut before she can flip the page I pick it up and hoist it under my arm. I shake my head while looking each one of them in the eyes.
“I think it’s best if we limit the number of eyes on the way history is unfolding, or unfolds. If each of us can see what changes, we might each try to affect the way things happen rather than just interacting normally.”
“Up until now we’ve just done what we thought was right. It’s probably best if no one looks at the book,” Ami suggests. “If we make a mistake and we see its full effects on history it could have negative effects on us.”
Moving to the door to the living room I turn and nod at Ami, “You’re probably right. I’ll return this book to Evalyn’s room.”
Can I use it to rid myself of the despair? Or maybe lessen it?
I’m gone but a few moments while I return the book to Evalyn’s room. Pushing the swinging door open to the kitchen I catch Ami mid-sentence.
“…can’t share any information about the future with the people we encounter.”
“They can’t understand us.” Eve scoffs.
“I’m not just talking about these people. I’m talking about anyone in general,” she snaps.
“Does it mean we shouldn’t tell people we travel through time?” Emma asks.
I interject myself back into the conversation while taking a seat. “I agree with Ami. We should keep the information of our time travel limited. I already asked Driesen to conceal his knowledge of us.”
“Set one ripple here and it could become a tidal wave later. If we save or don’t save someone, it will affect things. Because we’re all here we can assume nothing we’ve done so far has caused time to fold in to a paradox. But because we can change time it’s very possible.” Agatha’s knowledge of time travel is greater than mine. I have to remind myself that she’s been doing this a long time.
“Is it possible to meet ourselves in different times?” Emma asks.
“In our experiences so far, only one version of the house can exist in one set period so we’ll never meet ourselves,” Ami explains.
“So, I’ve been meaning to bring up a couple things. What can we do to stop the cycle? Can we get far enough away like the horse in the void and just hope for the best?” I ask.
“That sounds dangerous. Not only would obstacles be a problem, but the speed we’d be traveling if we got too far away would likely kill us on impact.” Agatha offers. “The horse was a unique situation.”
“What about Evalyn’s powers? Or something like it?” I scratch my chin.
“Well, Aunt Evalyn’s true potential of power was brought out on her deathbed: an act of desperation. To be able to muster that kind of power when not in a desperate situation would likely be as rare as finding someone with powers similar to Auntie’s,” Ami responds.
“There have to be others out there. Evalyn, me, Chase. We can’t be the only ones with some extraordinary ability.” I look around.
“There may not be a solution. Or if there is, we may not find it. Even after we’re dead and gone the house will likely continue on with Evalyn, possibly drawing in new tenants,” Agatha bleakly suggests.
“What if we found a way to set Evalyn’s spirit to rest?” Eve asks.
“Hello. Have you met Evalyn?” I joke. “Putting her to rest would be like trying to stop the world from spinning.”
“She heard that Rain. Expect retaliation later,” Agatha smiles weakly.
“Well since she can hear me,” I start speaking directly to her. “Evalyn, when you are researching, let me know if you find anything of importance regarding powers. Maybe we can find someone like us to help stop the cycle.” While there is no audible response, I assume she’s heard me.
My body feels restless, knowing the tribe is out there, possibly closing in, or maybe planning war. Standing, I pace the room, occasionally stopping to look out the window. The room is silent as we all seem to think to ourselves.
“I hope that little girl is okay.” Emma is the one to break the silence.
“He seemed serious. I’m hoping that he’ll forget about it after my display.” I run my fingers through my shaggy hair and scratch nervously.
“What if we set up a fence?” Eve asks.
“What if we invent the fence, you mean?” Ami asks her in a condescending tone.
“We don’t have the lumber,” I tell them. “And Ami’s right. Let’s not give the tribal people any more new ideas. As it is they’ve seen things far beyond their understanding and we might just be the inventors of stationary homes.”
“So, we just stay inside and do nothing all month?” Emma asks.
“As much as we can anyway. Tend the garden and do laundry, but keep our outside actions to a minimum,” I reply.
“That’s so boring!” Emma whines. “I hoped we could go on an adventure!”
Eve sighs. “Well, let’s do the chores now then.”
“Mother and I will take care of the laundry. Eve, Emma, you two can water the garden and pick anything ripe,” Ami commands and then looks at me. She speaks with a softer tone. “Rain, you can clean out the stable.”
We break away and set out to complete our tasks. At the horse’s storage, I retrieve the shovel and move the waste to the compost bin. During my trips back and forth I note that we’re completely surrounded by the camp, seeming to have materialized in the center of it.
While refilling the water trough I see their chief hasn’t moved. He is keeping his distance, but watching me intently. Seeing he’s staring, I avoid direct eye contact with him.
I wish I could communicate with them to tell them to just go about their daily lives and ignore us. I hope they don’t starve themselves standing there watching us.
Finished with my job, I head into the kitchen. I wash up while watching the women from the window.
I really need to resolve this situation. As nice as it is to have two beautiful women fawning over me, things between Ami and Eve are just going to escalate. If we can accomplish our goal of stopping the cycle, this will be easier.
Ami’s been there for me since I was wounded and I have grown extremely close to her. Is it wrong that Eve, as insane as she can be, is actually growing on me? I don’t mind her company. But if I keep letting her in is my mind going to change?
I watch the yard for a few minutes. The tribals watch from their village with intensity, keenly studying the women’s movement. Eve and Emma bicker in the garden and they begin to fight, but I can’t hear the conversation. Ami and Agatha ignore it to focus on the laundry.
Hmm. With another person, we’re going to need another line to hang clothes.
Feeling useless, I retrieve a soup pot and fill it with water. I set it on the stove and turn on the heat to a low temperature. I go downstairs to collect a frozen chicken from the deep freezer and various vegetables from the shelves. I’m heading back up the stairs when the kitchen door slams and Eve grumbles angrily.
Nearing the top of the stairs, the basement door has swung mostly shut. Before I can open it, Eve stomps through while taking her shirt off. She throws it into a wet mess on the floor with a grunt. I blush heavily. With her back to me I see her bare, freckled skin, covered only by her bra straps. I hold my breath, avert my eyes, and huddle against the wall.
Great. If she catches me she will assume I was spying and try to throw herself at me.
She huffs and I hear her move through the swinging door to the living room. Her footsteps are heavy on the stairs. I breathe a sigh of relief and return to preparing soup, as innocently as I can. While I’m cutting up vegetables on the island counter she reenters the kitchen, grabs the shirt and lobs it outside.
“Little wench,” she mumbles while glaring at Emma from the doorway.
I look over my shoulder and through the open door I watch Emma stick her tongue out at Eve. It provokes Eve more and she slams the door. She stands next to me with her back against the counter, her arms crossed. Looking over she squints her eyes in a questioning manner.
“Where did you come from?” she asks abrasively.
“What?” I play ignorant.
“I mean, I was just here. Where were you?”
I hold up a potato and stalk of celery. “Bringing up supplies from the storeroom.”
She looks at me for a moment longer and I fear she won’t believe me. But she returns to staring at the door and I’m off the hook. I try not to, but find myself looking at her more than I should. She notices. The wrinkles in her forehead disappear and her bad mood lightens. My eyes are quickly redirected to the vegetables again, but it’s too late. I’ve piqued her interest.
“What are you looking at?” she asks while scooting closer.
“Nothing. Just wondering why you’re not out helping.”
“Dirty little brat soaked me with the watering canister.”
“Oh.”
“It’s too bad you were downstairs. I had my shirt off in here,” she says seductively while sliding over a little more, bumping her hip into mine. “I could do it again if you want.”
“No. Keep it on,” I try to sound put off.
“With them out there, we have a chance to just be together.” She moves from the counter to my back and places her hands on my shoulders. “We don’t get that often.”
“Eve, this isn’t right and you know it.”
“Is it because of Ami? Why do you favor her? I am twice the woman she is and better looking.” She bends over and breathes on my neck. I feel her lips press against my skin.
My body fights my mind. A forbidden desire rises up and I feel the blood pool in my face.
“This…isn’t appropriate,” I fight the biological urges. “Eve, I won’t betray Ami.”
“She understands this is a competition, and I don’t play fair.” Her whisper causes the hair on my neck to stand on end.
Her arms wrap around me, her hands slipping up under my shirt. Pressing herself to my back pushes me to a breaking point and I fight to push away. She doesn’t take ‘no’ for answer and pursues me as I put distance between us.
Finding my way to the other side of the table, I use it as a barrier. She grins and firmly plants her hands on the table. Her toned arms hoist her up onto the table, crawling on all fours across it like an animal hunting prey. I back away only to be met by the wall.
“Rain, it could be just you and me against the world. I want you to choose me over her.”
“Eve, a relationship isn’t possible right now.” My words falter and betray me, and I give her a glimmer of hope.
“Right now? You mean you would choose me if she wasn’t here?”
“If it was just us, probably. But that’s the problem. Ami’s here and I…”
“She wouldn’t have to know. I could sneak into your room at night and we could be together.”
“No, Eve.”
She climbs down off of the table. Her vibrant red curls fall down her shoulders. My mind tries to tell my body to run while she closes in. It fails. Pinning me with her hands she brings her face close to mine and we’re a hair away from a kiss.
“Rain,” she whispers and closes her eyes.
The back door flies open and Emma lets out an ear-piercing scream. Before I can react, Eve spins to look. I’m hit in the face with something hard and heavy. My nose crunches. An onion meant for the back of Eve’s head falls to the floor, and I bleed profusely. I do what I can to catch the blood with my hands cupped together. I fail miserably as it pours through the cracks of my fingers.
“Look what you did to him, you little brat!” Eve yells at her.
“Oh Rain! I’m so sorry! I was trying to hit her!”
While moving to the sink I become light headed and stumble. Emma rushes to my side while Eve holds me up. Though I’m hurt and bleeding, they continue to fight.
“Don’t touch him! He’s hurt because of you!” Eve yells.
“This wouldn’t have happened if you weren’t being such a tramp. There are rules!” Emma matches her loudness.
“I didn’t do anything! I just provided him with the opportunity to kiss me! I wasn’t breaking any of the rules!”
Ami bursts in the door. “What is going on in here?”
She sees me hovering over the sink, bleeding all over. Ami joins them at my side. She shoves both of them out of the way and grabs my nose. Pinching near the top, she tilts my head back. I wince at the pain spreading through my face.
“What happened?” Ami asks me.
Emma and Eve try to tell their stories at the same time talking over each other. It’s a garbled mess.
“Eve was trying to kiss him–”
“She threw an onion at Rain’s face–”
“She was going to break a rule–”
“She’s an overbearing brat–”
“Enough!” Ami yells.
Ami grabs a white towel and plants it against my face. She places my hand on it and guides me over to the table. She makes me pinch my own nose while she disappears from my sight. I hear the freezer open and shut, and she returns with a bag of frozen vegetables. I move my hand out of the way so it can be placed on top.
“We established rules for a reason Eve, and I have no doubt you were pressuring Rain into something he didn’t want to do!”
“Didn’t want to do? He practically said when you were out of the picture he would pursue me openly.”
“I doubt it!” Em
ma’s voice is heated. “When I walked in, you were forcing him against the wall!”
They fight in a triangle around me, yelling in my ears and pressing themselves into me, arms flailing in accusing motions. Their voices intertwine.
This hurts. How do I get this to stop?
I close my eyes. A headache has already set in. My face is cold because of the frozen bag of food, making it worse. Their yelling is becoming too much. Before I can speak up, it ends as quickly as it started. Eve huffs loudly in defeat and stomps out of the room, slamming the swinging door against the other side of the wall. Quiet falls over the room. Ami and Emma tend to my injury. Ami removes the frozen bag while Emma removes the towel. Both gasp.
Must be pretty bad.
“So, big bruise? Crooked nose?” I ask in a nasal voice.
“This is going to hurt. A lot.” Before I can react, Ami grabs my nose in between her hands and pulls hard to the left. It snaps loudly and I can’t help but yell and reach for my face.
“Sorry, I had to reset it. Otherwise it would have healed crooked,” she places her hand on my forehead.
“I was in the middle of making soup before all of this.” I point toward the pot.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. I’m so sorry I hit you!” Emma clings to my arm.
“You couldn’t have known Eve would move. Don’t worry about it.” I try to smile but with the swelling it feels like my face is just stretching outward.
Emma takes over cooking while Ami continues to examine me. My nose has mostly stopped bleeding and I can feel it caking. She wets the towel in the sink and wipes my face gently. I wince, but when I open my eyes she’s gone, throwing the towel outside. Ami returns and lifts me under the arms. Following her lead, I stand and she helps me into the living room. On the couch, she sits next to me and looks at it again.
“The bleeding has stopped, but you need to take it easy. You lost quite a bit and it’s going to hurt for a while,” she says in a gentle voice. “I’ll bring you something for the pain.”
“Is it going to make me loopy like before?” I ask.
I have my answer when she snickers and heads for the kitchen. She’s gone for only a moment before returning to my side, handing me a familiar pill and some water. I take both, and struggle to sit up. Choking a little, I hold my mouth closed and manage not to cough it back up.
R.E.solve (Rain Experience Book 2) Page 21