NINE TIME MACHINES: Do you want to undo your entire life on planet earth?

CHAPTER 60

I pop five pills down and run to the safety of my beloved rooftop. The tears beat me to it. I barely pass the final step when they breach their perimeter and race out for a massacre.

"Oh, God!" I scream at the top of my lungs. "Just kill me! Take me! I'm done! I'm finished."

That's when I see them, the invisible people who choose now to make themselves seen, people from the hospital windows next door; people from Stocatta Embassy; and a priest about to ring the midday bell. How is it that I never knew they existed before today? And why is everyone crawling out from their shadows exactly when I need them to disappear? But what I really long to know the most is where my shadow is, the one that visits me without warning? Is it hiding in the mirror with my other self? Or is it preparing a speech for my unanswered questions? My eyes search out the spies again. There's nothing between us except the ledge and the four walls that hide the stairs, but can do nothing to shield me.

The only place left to hide is inside myself; just blank everyone off and sail through the world like I do the corridors at night. If only my other selves will move over for me to find solace. All I need are a few minutes till darkness falls. Then I can parade like a vampire; mark my territory on unsuspecting souls and ignite them with ancient blood that will return to dominate one and all. That kind of power is what I need to make everyone bow down. I chew on that thought until the night pulls its covers up and snuggles in. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm not some blood-thirsty vampire on a control mission. I don't have ancient blood running through my veins. I'm just me – Mary Pethiel, and I need my bed right now.

But when I pull on the door, it's locked. And it makes no sense shouting for help because I'm not supposed to be up here in the first place. Or am I? Perhaps I should get used to this.