Many things don’t surprise me anymore. Ever since I was a little boy when I found out what I could do. I got my first date by going back each time till I said the right thing. I ended up growing facial hair way sooner than all the boys because of stunts like those. Life gets kind of boring when nothing surprises you anymore. But this mission I was sent on is bringing me a challenge I’ve never had to do before.
Paul and I sit in the aloha boat with the smell of fish. The first 5 minutes of us talking is the longest conversation we’ve ever had. I’ve known this man for years now but never really talked to him. He is hyper, I mean very hyper. When he’s talking he’s on his toes and waving his hands all around him. He begins to tell me he leaped way earlier than they asked. He was originally supposed to meet me in the front of the cafe. But he had been here for 2 weeks! He already knows Daniel and explained to me that the map I’m looking at is the location of a rouge submarine. He found this out by following Daniel around and stealing all his mail. But theirs a group of us navy personnel’s that are in on this. They left the task of giving the signal of “go” to Daniel. A local who has nothing but everything to lose. They promised him a large sum of money and a new boat. I chuckled when he said that. Such a little price for what’s going to happen. Daniel isn’t the real threat but the group from the navy is. He doesn’t know what ranking they are because we both are two oblivious young men who was given this stupidly over powered gift of time travel and know nothing else. You would think the government would give us some type of military training but they didn’t. Kinda just threw us in with the gators.
“So we were sent here to stop Daniel?” I ask
“Well that’s the thing. I think we were sent here to kill him.”
I look at him surprised.
“I think they would have made that clear.” I say
“All my paper said was to find Daniel Burks. You?” He had the same task as me?
“Mine said the same thing.” I get up from my sitting position and pace the floor. “I’m not killing a man”
“Well then we have to figure out how to stop him from sending the signal and have him tell his military friends he sent the signal off. Now how are we gonna do that?” He asks.
“Well that’s better than turning him into chum. Imagine if he disappeared? Those navy men would find someone else.” I reply.
“Well I don’t know man! Why’d they send us?! We don’t know what we are doing!” He says rubbing his hands through his blonde hair.
“Let’s just tell him the truth.” I say quietly.
“Are you crazy?”
“Well we know everything that is about to happen. And we can clarify how horrifying it will be! I think it will work.” I say.
Paul rubs his face with wonder pacing the floor.
“When?”
“Tomorrow. I’m scared I’ll age too much if we stay any longer.” I sigh.
“We can’t leap back dude.” Paul says.
“What do you mean?” I ask nervously.
“When I was 15 I traveled back to the 90s to watch my moms wedding from the bushes… well, when I leaped back I aged about 20 years….” It’s quiet.
My mom. I’ll never see my mom again?
“So we age by how far we leaped?”
“If we are the same. Yes.” Paul seems certain.
“Then why’d you leap?” I asked
“I went back to my apartment after I saw the paper… they grabbed me and locked me in that white room. They didn’t let me leave for 2 days.” Paul says looking at the floor.
“Wait. How old are you really then? You look like you are in your 40s.” I ask.
“I’m 22…” Paul sighs.
“Oh Paul I’m so sorry.”
“It is what it is. I don’t have any family in our time. That’s why I went back to see my mother.” He says cracking his voice.
“Fuck.” I plop my head into both hands.
“ but hey.” He pulls my hands away from my face.
“We can help a lot of people who lost a lot of time and we can help them.” Paul is right.
“Yea.”
We both spent the rest of the night talking about our family and kind of having a funeral for our past lives. Or should I say our future. We drank the rest of Daniel’s beers and laughed all night… the best that we could. We have to meet with Daniel once he get back.
About the Creator
Kira Viveiros
my grandfather told me growing up that everything has a story. Every building, person to a grain of sand. I have been writing ever since.
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Comments (1)
I am still intrigued by the premise that time jumping goes the jumper significantly. Such a smart concept to add to the plot. I feel like this was such a fundamental piece for what I assume will come next. This part really humanized Paul and Vince, for me! Can't wait to read more from you!