Finding Destiny

Chapter 9 - Parallel Universe

Amber's P.O.V

"Amber, are you okay?" I felt a gentle nudge.

I groaned softly and my eyes fluttered opened, meeting Parker's concerned ones. At first, I had no idea what had just happened. I could only stare into his beautiful, deep, brown eyes, confused.

"I'm okay." I replied quietly.

"You zoned out for a minute. I thought you fainted. " He said, his voice troubled as he offered me his hand.

I was on the metal floor, scrunched up in the corner of the noisy machine that now made a low humming noise as it finally rested still. I accepted his hand as he pulled me up.

"Was it really a time machine like I thought?" Joy asked, fiddling with the bracelet on her arm.

"Why don't we find out?" Parker asked, straightening up and reaching out to try opening the door..

"Wait," I rested my hand on his shoulder.
This was the first time I'd ever really made physical contact with him, other than maybe a couple times he shook my hand in church and of course, just now when he'd helped me up. I was honestly starting to like it. "This is ridiculous. There's no such thing as a time machine. The creeper is probably still out there."

"Don't guys carry pocket knives or something?" Joy asked, crossing her arms. "At least that way, we'll have some sort of defense if we need it."

"No.... Not all of them."

"I have pepper spray." I offered.

"Should we even open the door?" Gray asked, searching for any cracks he could peek out of but not finding any.

"Let's do it," Parker replied, punching a button on the keypad.

Suddenly, the computerized voice spoke again. "We thank you for your trip through the machine of curiosity. Let it be noted, you will not be able to return through this machine for three days time in the alternate universe in which you've arrived. Please enjoy your stay as only a couple of minutes will pass in your own world. Let it be known, however - this does not prevent others from coming from your world while you're still here. Also, be sure to remember your password to get inside. The password is - Destiny.

With that, the machine opened automatically, steam coming up from the doors making me cough. Light blinded me temporarily as I exited the doors cautiously, warmth meeting my face.

I rubbed my eyes, focusing on what lied beyond. When it registered what exactly I was looking at, my jaw dropped.

We were no longer in a dark, secret lab room. Instead, we stood in the alleyway, in the middle of a city, something similar to New York City. The air was warm and humid and clouds were starting to cover the afternoon sky in which the sun currently shone brightly. Hundreds of people were walking down the streets, past store windows and tall skyscrapers. If one wasn't careful, they could easily get lost. In all the bustle, nobody seemed to notice us, or the invention in which we came.

"I CALLED IT!!!" Joy gasped. "Did I not call it??"

"It's not a time machine, Joy." Parker sighed. "It's different.... Unbelievable nevertheless."

"So, what are we supposed to do now?" Gray asked as he set foot out of the machine. He leaned against one of it's doors as his pale, blue eyes scanned the city. He hadn't said very much at all and I started wondering if he was in shock.

"We're going to try and get this machine to take us home after we find some sort of way to defend ourselves," Parker replied, sticking his hands in his jean pockets and fishing around for some sort of money. "All I have is a couple dollars. Do they even take this type of money here? We aren't even sure this is the U.S."

"We could ask someone," I replied.

"No, let's just go into that antique shop over there." Parker said, pointing to a shop called 'Kate's Antiques' that was conveniently right across the street from us. "Then we can find out if there's anything unique about our currency here."

"I have a little more money to pair with yours if we need it. " Gray offered, handing him a five dollar bill.

Parker took it and put it in his pocket.

"Let's go," we followed as he led the way across the street, avoiding small puddles and oncoming cars.

As we reached the other side of the street, I took my backpack off of my shoulders and fished inside for my phone. When my hands felt the smooth screen, I pulled it out.

I trying cutting the screen on, but all it would do is blink. I looked up and saw Parker holding the door for me. He nodded at me.

I smiled and walked inside. He walked in after me and the little bell rang.

"Hi, welcome to Kate's antiques! How can I help you?" a blonde woman who I guessed was in her mid-twenties, greeted us as we walked in. Her hair was in a ponytail and her voice was slightly obnoxious. "How can I help you kids?"

I tensed a bit. It was a pet peeve of mine when people that weren't much older than me used the term 'kid'.

Parker seemed to dismiss it as he approached the counter. "What currency do you take around here?"

She raised her eyebrows and leaned on the counter, smacking her gum loudly. "What do you mean, what currency? You not from around here?"

"You could say that..." Parker replied. "Do recognize this money?" he carefully uncrumpled one of his dollar bills and laid it on the polished wood, Washington side up.

An angry look crossed over the woman's face as she snatched up the piece of money, her eyes studying it furiously. She looked back up at Parker. "Who did you say you were again?"

Parker blinked. "I didn't. But I could ask you the same. Are you Kate?"

"I'm her daughter. Now leave before you get yourselves killed."

"What are you talking about?" Grayson asked.

"The last time someone brought this kind of money to this city was the last time any of us saw freedom. We're now run by a dictatorship. If you want to know more, you're not hearing it from me. Now take your money and get out!"

My hand was on the glass door, prepared to walk back to our only way home, when suddenly I stopped.

Whirling around, I bumped into Grayson. "Guys, we gotta go."

"That's what we're trying to do..." Grayson replied, trying to walk around me.

"No, I mean..." I froze as I peeked out the window and saw the one thing I dreaded.

The man who had stared at me evilly from outside the door of the Machine of Curiosity...was staring at me now, from right across the street.

I'm so torn between making this a suspense book, a mystery book, a fantasy book , A thriller and a romance book. FOR THE LOVE OF HARRY, HELP ME..............BUT YEAH VOTE AND COMMENT :3