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

CHAPTER 184

"See?" The serpent returns. "That wasn't so bad."

"Only because he was nice to me."

"They're not as terrible as people make them out to be."

"Who was he?"

"I see you've become one." It looks at my cloak. "Ask him all your questions. Not me."

"Okay." I sigh. "What comes next?"

"Remember when your bus kept breaking down?"

"Yes. Nothing ever works in Leer Island."

"Why is that?"

"What do you mean? Why nothing ever works?"

"Why'd your bus keep breaking down?"

"Hazel said it was because we need to be alone for some trips."

"Why didn't it break down today?"

"I don't know why. Maybe it knew I couldn't put off what I had to do for another day."

"Or maybe the time was right because you made the call."

"The call to die? That's what you people sit around waiting for? To kill us instead of help?"

"You didn't call us to kill you, Mary?"

"Yes, pretty much. I took half bottle of pills, remember?"

"You wanted the pain to end, not your life."

"Yet, here we are."

"Yes, here we are. And right on time too."

"I beg to differ," I correct it. "Look! Let's not talk about this anymore. I'm past that."

"Are you really?"

"All right. You could've come sooner. A lot of things would've been avoided. That's all."

"We only come when you've had enough, and you're ready for change."

"Like I said, let's change the topic. Tell me about the next throne."

"Its ruler doesn't like people who try to make the sun shine before it's good and ready."

"Oh," I say in realization. "I get it now."

"I'll meet you when you're done, then."