Timeless - Mark Tuan

Chapter 24

Arnisa

"I have to get some things in my house." I tell Jinyoung as we prepare for the ritual. "Anyway, isn't Jackson back yet?" I look around, noticing the absence of the boy. He's been out for hours. He left early in the morning to somehow try to talk to Mark. Although there's a slim chance he'd listen, we still have to try. 

"No." He shakes his head. "You can't go out alone, Arnisa. Not now."

"I'll take Mae with me." I tell him. There are things we need for the ritual that Jinyoung doesn't have in his house. Besides, I want to be alone for even just a while before we go on with this. 

"I'll go with you." He says. 

"And leave me here?" Lady Ealasaid raises a brow. "I can't do this alone. Just give her the keys, will ya? It's still early anyway." 

Going back in time is something I've never done before because of it's complications. There is a big possibility that we won't be able to come back. We have to be careful on what we do so as not to disrupt the existence of each and every one of us. 

It takes three witches to complete the pyramid. Jinyoung and Lady Ealasaid volunteered to do it with me since they've lived the longest and they have the least to lose. 

"Annie? Can I ask you one thing?" Mae is looking at me from where she's seated at the passenger seat of the car as I drive silently. 

"Huh? What is it?"

"Have you ..." she hesitates, looking straight at the road then back at me, "Have you, perhaps, thought of just dying?"

"What do you mean?" I glance at her, furrowing my brows in confusion. 

"I mean, have you ever felt that living this long isn't worth it?" She shifts her body, lifting one foot on the chair. "For centuries, have you ever thought of killing yourself?"

Have I? Of course I have ... many times before. Especially when I saw Cedric and Benedict die right in front of my eyes. When the closest people to me grew old and turned to ashes. If I had the option of killing myself, I would've done it already. The problem is, I don't. I'm cursed and I would stay this way until the spell is taken back. "Why'd you ask?" I ask her. 

"Don't you feel lonely?"

I do. All the time, knowing that the people I care for would leave me when time comes. I blink my eyes several times, preventing the tears that are starting to well up at the brim of my eyes. 

"I .. just ... " she continues, "Would you be coming back after this?"

I give her a weak smile. "Of course I am."

"Would we still see each other?"

I clear my throat at that, not knowing how to answer. 

She goes on, "If you successfully stop the curse from ever happening, what reason would you have to still live this long?"

That is actually one of my worries. 

"Wouldn't that mean you can't come back anymore?" Her voice becomes softer. "If that's the case, would that mean you wouldn't have found me?"

I slow down, seeing the traffic light changing to red, and turn to face her. I cup her cheek with my hand, "Then you will be my reason for coming back."

Tears are starting to flow down her cheeks and I wipe them with my thumb. "How would you know? You couldn't predict the future. What if you die when you're young? What if you met someone who'd love you and you promise to live and die together? How could you possibly see me coming from hundreds of years ago?" Her tears are coming out in streams and rivers now and I have to go back to the wheel for the light has changed back to green.