Intermission // Van McCann

13. The Void

"¿Qué? Repite por favor," Iván spoke up. His eyes were so wide they were practically bulging out of his eye sockets.

"He's in a place called 'The Void,' a place where time does not exist," Professor Hayes repeated.

"No no no, not that part. The sentence after."

"There's nothing you can do to save him?"

"Sí, that's the part. But what?! Van just said he'll make it out alive. So which is it? Is he gonna die or is he gonna live?"

Professor Hayes turned to face Van. "He's going to make it out alive?" he questioned and Van seemed to shrink back, losing his confidence.

"Well...yeah! Ren went to the future and saw him, right?" Van questioned, passing the baton to me.

"I didn't see him but it's implied, right?" I said, starting to doubt myself. "I didn't physically see Bondy alive but The Bond Lab was still called The Bond Lab and Van was bringing him his birthday gift. That has to mean he's alive, right?"

Oh shit. What if I interpreted things wrong? What if The Bond Lab was still named The Bond Lab in his memory because we didn't have the guts to change it? What if the gift that Van brought was some kind of offering to the dead for his birthday? My mouth fell open which caused Van to worry.

"Oh fuck, he's dead isn't he?" Van asked, pushing his hair back. I stayed silent, not knowing how to respond. "So what exactly is 'The Void?' What's it like there?"

"There's nothing there like the name suggests. Even time doesn't exist there," Professor Hayes explained. "He's most likely unconscious, wasting away. It's only a matter of time before he dies."

"Is there a way to go to The Void to bring him back?" Van continued.

"I'm afraid not. You can replicate it but that would mean losing another person in the process."

Van stayed silent, thinking. After a few minutes of silence, he spoke up. "What if I'm able to write something that can replicate The Void but also have something in place to bring the person back?"

"That's going to be very difficult, Van. Even I don't know how to do that."

"But we can try, right? I'd rather try and fail than give up on him like that. I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Will you help me, Professor?" We all looked at Professor Hayes and that only made him more nervous.

"Of course," Professor Hayes answered. "And don't call me 'Professor.' Call me Robert."

"Not a chance," Van talked back. "Calling you Robert is like calling me mum Mary. It doesn't feel right."

Professor Hayes began smiling. "Suit yourself, then. It's been a while since I've done research on The Void. Let me take a look at the books again and I'll be in contact. How does that sound?"

"Sounds great. Thank you."

We packed our stuff and made our way for the door. We kept the time machine on just in case Bondy was able to come back on his own, but based on what Professor Hayes told us, we knew that wasn't going to happen but that didn't stop us from being hopeful.

Iván walked off and waved goodbye while Professor Hayes, Van, and I continued walking in the same direction.

"Ren, I couldn't help but notice the ring on your hand. I just wanted to say congratulations," Professor Hayes spoke up.

"Thank you Professor," I said shyly. I could feel my cheeks warm in embarrassment. Iván and Bondy knew about us being together but I wasn't sure if Professor Hayes knew. I looked at Van to see if we should tell him and Van nodded his head. "Van and I are getting married." Professor Hayes stopped walking all of a sudden and I ran into him. Van pulled me back to see if I was okay.