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

CHAPTER 111

Now I'm alone on a moving bus. I look out the windows. The day has become night and the trees' leaves are glowing runes that seem to keep the bus on track. I shift myself around and place it in the middle of the aisle then remove the lid. There are nine copper coins inside. Intuition demands that I take them up. I put them into my pocket. The four sides of the box immediately fall flat. Now the seats disappear and I'm in a white room. I look around me. The trees are gone too. Everything is white and blinding. The only things out of place are the man dripping in black oil and the large red snake in his hand. I step back in fear as he approaches.

"How can I help you, dear?"

"Just stay back," I reply. "Don't come any closer. And keep that thing away from me."

He caresses his red friend. "You mean this little guy?"

Suddenly, this little guy is around my neck and in one of my hands. I let out a terrible scream.

"Calm down, dear." He puts his hand over mine. "Now tell me. How can I help you?"

"Who are you?"

"I am Andromalius; number seventy-two in the line up."

"What line up?"

"Of those who can do special things."

"Oh." I look him over, oil dripping all over the place.

"Would you be more comfortable if I clean up a bit?"

"Doesn't bother me," I lie.

"Still, if we're going to be good friends, I'd like to do my best to please you."

"Like, I said. I'm fine with how you look. Just please yourself. I don't care either way."

"Nonsense!" he says, and the oil dries up. "That's what we're here for; to please."

Now he's just a pitch black man who seems to be one with his clothes.

"So," I drag the words. "What are you special at?"

"I punish thieves and return the loot."

"You punish thieves?" I say beneath my breath.

"You need not worry." He takes the snake away. "I'm not counting Ruby. Just the big stuff."

"Big stuff? Just how big exactly?"

"Cars. Houses. Money. Jobs. Whatever was stolen from you, I can get back."

"Anything?"

"Yes, anything."

"Anything tangible? Or other things too?"

"Seems like you have something tricky in mind."

"How about lives?"

"I'll need more information than that, my dear."

"When my mother died, I lost everything!"

"I won't bring her back if that's what you're asking."

I think about it for a moment. "No, I don't want her back."

"Then what exactly do you want, child?"

"I want what I lost after she died."

"And that would be?"

"I lost my home; my self-respect. I lost who she made me believe I was supposed to become."

"Hmmm. Well, I'll tell you right now. This changes the game a bit."

"What do you mean? I thought you could bring back anything stolen?"

"I can and I will. But just how badly do you want this? What are you willing to do to get it?"

"Anything. I'll do whatever it takes. Just take me back in time and fix this."