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

CHAPTER 119

Then their singing becomes the collective nudge that lands me in an orange room.

"You like leading from the bottom up, do you?" she says, but it is almost impossible to hear her.

"Don't tell me," I say and stand, dripping in blood. "You're Raea."

"Mary, Mary, Mary. You mustn't listen to stories. Strangers tell lies."

"Someone should've told me that before I let you drag me up in the sky."

"Let me?" She laughs heartily. "You humans don't let us do anything."

"Oh, get on with it! I'm not in the mood. Just give me the damn test."

"Careful now, Mary," Raea warns. "Keep this attitude up and Fantum won't play nice."

"Another one of your weird friends?"

Raea burst out laughing. "I'll be sure to pass that along."

"Like today."

"Okay, as you wish." She points to the wall. "Want to see a neat trick? Wipe your hand there."

I hurry over to the wall and drag my bloody palm against the orange. The rest of the blood flees from my body then suspends itself midair, pieces of a map trapped in each drop. I try to connect the lines and letters as it moves towards the wall. But the only name I make out, before it splashes and penetrates, is Marc's.

"What did you see?"

"A map. Why? Didn't you see it?"

"Didn't anyone tell you?" Raea smirks. "It's for your eyes only."

"Well, I guess I'll just have to keep what I saw to myself, then."

"Hahaha." She wags her finger. "Fantum is going to have lots of fun with you, I can tell."

"I can hardly wait. She's beginning to sound like fun."

"You'll get there. Just four more to go and she'll be all yours. In fact," Raea says and dips her hand into my pocket. "Why delay? It'll be my pleasure to help you get there quicker."

She presses the coin into my right hand and points me toward the newly cut out door.

"Just like that, it's over?" I ask confused. "I thought this would be harder."

"Go on. Fejj is waiting. Don't worry. I already told her how...fun...you are."