“Now we leave.” Vincent laced his hand in mine as we turned. We made it back to the palm wing without anyone stopping us. I stopped by the water cooler in this wing to drink another cup and have an excuse if someone asked about my wet shoes.
“There you are. Ready to continue your tour?” Haley’s petite figure came into view, wearing a black pencil skirt and cream-colored blouse. I may have jumped a tiny bit, then nodded.
“The recycling can is over here for your water cups, then we’ll check out your offices. This way please.” She waved us to follow her, and despite wanting to leave, I figured it would be more suspicious if we vanished in the middle of a tour.
When Haley dropped us back off at our offices after our hour-long tour, Vincent grabbed my hand, and we left this time.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Vincent
After jumping through time and the work at Terratrex, Emily walked straight to the shower, then changed into her pj’s and crawled into bed.
Music blared from Chasity’s room, but she never came out to check on her sister. I hadn’t seen adult Chasity in over a week. The divorce papers were delivered, but I hadn’t heard back from the lawyer if she’d signed it. I doubted she would. She liked her life. I however, did not.
“I’ll be back.” I leaned over to kiss Emily’s forehead. She nodded and mumbled something to which I agreed.
Making sure to lock the door as I left, I tucked her keys into my pocket after. I needed a moment to think. That’s when I found myself at the park. Our park.
The same park Emily was cued up to die in, in five days. In my time, Aemilia had been engraved on the memorial bench. Emily’s given name. She told me this when I asked about her sister’s interesting name. Their parents wanted names from their Italian heritage.
I didn’t have a clue how to stop her deathandstop Terratrex.
“Mind if I sit with you?” The younger Phillip stood with his hands in his pockets.
“Pretty sure you know what I’ll say.” He shrugged and sat down. I wasn’t going to turn him down anyways, and he knew it.
“How’s the mission going?” he prompted, and I sighed, resting against the back of the bench.
“Terratrex was responsible for that zoo incident. It’ll be the same satellite that burns the park on Terratrex’s big day. I don’t know how to stop it.” I’d gone back at night to look for information on the ship base the people controlling the satellite were on, but didn’t find any.
“They keep information on the big projects locked up tight. Only a select few know the location,” Phillip added.
“I don’t suppose you’ll tell me how I can defeat them.”
“Unfortunately, the future has stayed the same. Even if you try.”
“What would you do?” I instantly wanted to suck the question back in. I knew what he’d do. What he always said. “You’d bet on love,” I answered just as he opened his mouth.
“Saving her could change the world beyond repair.” My body sagged against the bench. “Or it could make things more balanced. Perhaps saving her was what you were supposed to do all along.” I gave him my best side-eye.
“Is that actually true?”
“It could be. I still see two futures, and you’re still walking the fine line between them. You’re the only one who can tip the scales, not me. Not Emily.” Great.
Phillip remained quiet as we sat in the park until midnight. The comfort of having someone know my predicament soothed the anxiety a bit. I still had time. Time was always on my side. I just needed to see things from another angle. Perhaps I missed something.
“Your power is not a curse, Vincent, but a gift. Powers like yours aren’t given to anybody. They chose you, and only you. You’ve done good work with the heroes, saved thousands of lives. If anyone can make the best choice for us all, it’s you.” He rose from the bench with his arms in the air to stretch.
“See you later.” He nodded, then walked to the exit.
I sat on his words for another half hour before leaving. I’d rarely considered my powers a gift. The burden of time was too much. Knowing that I may be able to save mega tragedies only to cause another. Just like my parents. I had the power to stop previous wars, genocide even. I wanted to, but I had no way of knowing the consequences.
As I walked back to Emily’s apartment, the temptation to drink hit me. But I made it to her building without making any liquor stops. Thinking hurt, and I wanted the pain gone.
I opened the door and locked it behind me, then strolled into Emily’s room. She hadn’t moved since I left. I released a deep breath as I took her in. So beautiful, so pure. The keeper of my heart.
After removing my boots, socks, pants, and shirt, I climbed into the bed beside her. She smiled as I gently placed my head against her shoulder. The connection between us soothed me. Within seconds, she rolled over to wrap her arms around me.
