Forlot: A Girl Who Needs Her Space - Book Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Has someone's anger ever rubbed off on you? I can say that I have now. Karma's anger was rubbing off on me. Even if it was not, I could still tell. She was ticked. Her face was redder than tomatoes. Her hands were balled into fists so tightly that I could see their veins. I gently took her hand and rubbed it. I was afraid that her head would explode!

"Calm down, Karma," I said softly. "Relax. It is alright. Last thing that we need is for you to suffer a stroke or a heart attack."

My friend laid a hand on her chest and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Four more times. Then she opened her eyes and freed her hand. "I am not alright, Carmen. How can everything be alright when a villain is by us and threatening our friendship? We cannot listen to a word that he says. You cannot."

Eposis huffed. "Well! I am offended that you called me a villain. To think that I was giving you what you want. Everything that your heart desires."

We shifted our attentions back to him. I said, "Uh, why would a villain want to give us our heart's desires?"

"Look, you two. Just because I am after the watch does not mean that I am evil. I need it to save the world."

Karma crossed her arms. "You reeeaaally think that we were born yesterday, huh?"

He grinned. "You were not born yet. So no."

She looked at me. Was that fear in her eyes? "Carmen." She grabbed my wrist with the watch. "I am homesick. We should return home."

I pried her hand off my wrist and pushed it away. "Just a minute." I looked back up at Eposis. "How do I know that you are not lying about giving us what we desire?" I fiddled with the magical watch. "You want us on your good side so we will give you the watch."

He floated to us and wrapped his arms around us. "Let us make a deal."

Karma jerked away and nearly lost her balance. "I have learned from the fictional world - because we are in it - that you never - never - accept any deal. It can lead you to death. Or worse."

I adjusted my glasses. "What is worse than death?"

Her eyes widened. "Believing that inflation is fantastic. And that white privilege exists. And loving criminals."

"Who would love criminals?"

"The media. It cannot be trusted."

Eposis grabbed a bag of chips off the shelf. "Would you like to hear the deal anyway?"

"Go ahead," I said. "I have nothing to lose."

Karma threw up her hands. "Oh, come on!"

He chuckled. "I see that you miss your biological father - even though that he was never in the picture. But you want him to be married to your mom. And you want to be an only child. No brothers. Just you and your actual parents. That is why you travelled to this time period."

I nodded. "Wait. How did you know all that?"

"I am as old as time. I travelled through time in search of the watch. I know history! Hahaha!"

I glanced at my watch. Then back up at him. "You have been searching for my watch all this time?"

"Yes. And I have finally found it."

I hid my hand behind me. "I am still not giving it up."

"No need to give it up. I see how attached you are. You could not hand it over even if you tried. So I purpose a deal. A win-win."

I looked in his colored eyes. "Does it require me to give up something?"

"Oh, no. If I do not need to give up something...neither should you."

"So what is the deal?"

"I will give you the family of your dreams. A father and a mother and you. No brothers. And you three will live in your old town."

"You can make that happen?"

"Yep. I am practically the master of time."

"Then...why do you need the watch?"

"That watch can do things that not even I can do. More powerful than you realize."

"Cool."

"Not cool. If it falls into the wrong hands...our planet is doomed."

"It will be doomed if you have it."

"Not if I...add to the deal. If you are satisfied with your new and improved family, you can give me the watch. I promise to not harm you or your family."

"I thought that I had to give up nothing."

"Handing over your watch is your decision. You do not have to if you do not want to. I ask for one favor."

"What would that be?"

"After I give you your dream family, I will leave you an important paper. Do not lose it. It is a list of directions that you must follow exactly. No messing up."

"What do you want me to do?"

"You will find out when you get said paper. It is so easy that a bag of chips can do it." He popped open said bag and peered in. "Ooh. A prize is in here."

I looked at Karma before looking back up at him. "May I add to the deal?"

"Depends on what it is."

"I want Karma and her family to reside in my old town. Reside in the same neighborhood."

Eposis held out his hand. "Do we have a deal?"

"Carmen," Karma hissed. "Do not do it. Please."

This was my chance. The only chance that I might have to my dream. I would have my dream family and be an only child. My dad would be in the picture. And Karma would remain my best friend. I had to take this deal.

Eposis and I shook hands. "We have a deal."

"No!" Karma cried.

He dropped the chip bag and waved his hands. "Now it will not take long, Carmen. Just close your eyes."