The Time Hopper

Return To Consequences

First, we stopped off at the hollow tree near the beginning of time, and I grabbed as much money as I thought we would need to cross from the Tir Na Gog to the sanctuary. I considered taking the gun I had once gotten and left it there, never used, but I had no idea how to use it and I was honestly more likely to hurt myself than anyone else. Besides, if it came down to violence we'd probably already failed in our mission. Once we'd gotten everything, Riley and I looked at each other with grim determination. He took my hand, and we traveled to the Tir Na Gog for what we hoped would be the last time. We arrived in the meadow, as per usual, and turned to each other. 

"Right, do you remember the cover story?" I checked. If he didn't, after all the times we had gone over it and recited it, then we really were screwed. 

"Of course I do. I've also been thinking, you can't be keeping a hold of the book and me all the time. It makes you look like you're ready to run, and it'll make Mr Consequences suspicious." He reasoned. I chewed on the inside of my cheek and nodded, knowing it made sense even if it made me uncomfortable. 

"Yeah. I guess. Stay close though, just in case. But not so close it seems suspicious. Just find that sweet spot of standing close to me-" I began to stumble through, Riley held up his hand to stop me. 

"Sadie, it's going to be fine. You just need to stay calm and act natural. Can you do this?" He checked. I nodded, though I felt like my eyes told him that I really wasn't sure that I could. 

"I mean, I don't have much of a choice. Mr Consequences will be able to tell that we just entered, and if we vanish and come back in a month he'll have even more questions than he already does. So, yeah, lets go. The sooner we convince him, the sooner we can find the others and get out of here." I muttered, turning and walking resolutely towards the forest and the winding path that would take me to him. Riley fell into step besides me, taking my hand and squeezing it in silent support before letting go as the trees thinned and we found ourselves stood by the wooden pier. Mr Consequences, was, as ever, sat on the end, staring out over the lake and not even looking over his shoulder as he heard us approach. 

"Sadie, we all believed you dead. Come, sit with me." He bade me in a calm voice. I pushed down my nerves and walked across the creaky pier to where he was sat, while Riley perched a little closer to land but still near enough to reach me in a few seconds if the need arose. I just needed to act like the old Sadie, the one who had very little respect and no fear. I sauntered up to him and plopped myself down next to him, studying his boring face for any trace of suspicion at me. 

"Yeah, I thought I was dead for a second there, too. But, uh, they didn't manage to get Riley, and Dr Omega helped us out. But, uh, he was attacking me, when they rescued me." I explained, half hoping he could put me right before I stabbed him in the back, though I'd have to keep him out of my head to do it. 

"Yes, I can see that he managed to injure you. Unfortunately, I doubt anyone other than Obsivian himself could close up that wound. I know little about his magic, certainly not enough to undo the damage done by it. How long were you with him?" He asked. 

"Like, a day? There weren't any windows. It felt like a day." I guessed. "He kept trying to convince me to join him. When I didn't shift from the 'blanket stubborn Sadie no' approach, he tried to crack my mind open like an egg. And then Riley shot him and we all ran away. I would say ask Dr Omega, but I think the timelines will have removed his memories. Though that was the day his daughter died, so I suppose he'll remember most of it aside from me and Riley?" I guessed. 

"I see. It's been over a month since you left. Where have you been for the last few weeks?" He asked me, tone blandly curious, not like he suspected that I knew what he was up to and was back to steal the rest of my kin out from under his nose.