Out of Time (Collectors Cross-Over)

Chapter 10

Emily – Alternate

"And then he did what?" Brody P. had his phone out, and it was on speaker.

"Do you remember when we were like in third grade, and everyone was at my house, and Emily fell in that mud puddle?" I recognized my brother's voice coming from the phone. But, it wasn't my Sean, it was Brody P.'s.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah!" Brody P. started laughing. "She started stripping at the back door and Molly was walking behind her picking up clothes through the kitchen."

"Yeah, it was like that, but it was Nate," Sean couldn't control his laughter. "Picture it, I get to their bathroom, and there he stands, in all his glory, cutting his hair."

"Pics or it didn't happen," Brody P. was trying to hold it together, I could tell.

"Check your phone, Sam just took one," Sean was still laughing. I liked that the other Sean had the same sense of humor my brother had.

"Oh, fuck!" Brody P. started laughing again.

Ian couldn't resist and looked down at the screen. "He had long hair yesterday?" Brody P. nodded. "Damn, he did that to himself?"

"Apparently," Brody P. finally got it together.

"Oh, sure, asshole, laugh it up," Nate's voice came through the phone now. "He's leaving out that Emily got hurt at practice."

"She's fine now though, right?" Brody P. seemed to sober up.

"I'm totally fine," that must be what I sound like. I kind of stiffened and only Ian noticed. It was weird before, seeing the other Brody, hearing everyone else, but to hear me. That just freaked me out. "Sean took Nate to get a haircut, and when they got home, I was here. After that, we were fine."

"Good," Brody P. actually smiled. "Is your dad there yet?"

"Yeah, and Carl is just getting here," Emily seemed to be in total control of that situation. "We're going to keep you guys on speaker so you can hear, ok?"

"Sounds like a plan," Brody P. actually nodded at the phone, like she could see him. It was kind of cute.

Brody P. talked to his side for another minute, then my Brody came on the line. I tried hard not to cry, but I was so happy to hear his voice. He sounded good, which made me happy.

Charles, it was weird calling the other version of my father by his given name, came on the line, and we introduced ourselves to him. He sounded just as warm as my dad, but slightly more knowledgeable and powerful. I'd never admit that out loud though. Carl, the demonologist that Charles knew, introduced himself to us, and said it was a real pleasure to talk to me and Ian, and wished there was a way to meet us, and it had been an honor to be able to meet my Brody.

Before Carl started talking, I looked over at Brody P. and decided to ask for more stories about his home. After hearing about what Nate did yesterday, I wanted to hear more about them. Hearing their voices also made them more real for me.

Carl outlined all the herbs that were needed for the spell. I wrote them down, then grabbed my laptop I'd brought down with me. I wanted to shoot off an email to my dad so he could cast the spell here as well.

Dad,

According to their demonologist, we need these herbs: Pipsissewa, lucky hand,

Eryngo, thyme, and dandelion. Oh, and sand from the hourglass of Chronos. I'm still getting the actual spell.

Love you!

I kept refreshing my email as I was taking notes for Dad. I wished he could have been on the call. It would have made things easier.