Timeless - Mark Tuan

Chapter 32

Mark

"Just go and rest for now, Mark." Bam says, looking at me with pity as he sighs. "You're exhausted. And your friend doesn't look like he could make any more trips for a while." He turns to Jackson who's hurling his guts out near a tree. 

"When are you coming back?" I ask him. I've drained all my energy with the continuous trips we've made. I see that he is, too. Although I am thankful that he gave in to my wishes, I still feel disappointed that I wasn't able to do anything but annoy Annie more. 

"I'll be back as soon as I can." He tells me, before smiling weakly and walking towards his car parked at the side of the road. 

After dropping Jackson off, I head straight to my parents' house. I park in front and linger inside the car longer. Only when the lights in front turns on and I see dad take a peek from the front window, that I step out and walk to the door. 

"Dad," I hang my head low, "sorry for last time."

He smiles, pulling me inside the house. "So, are you sleeping over?" He asks, rather excited. "I need someone to drink with anyway. Have you eaten yet?" I hear mom in the kitchen, fixing the utensils they've used for dinner. "Mary!" He calls her, "your son is here."

She doesn't answer. But, I see her head turn around for a short while before going back to the dishes on the sink. 

After a few glasses of whiskey, my dad goes up to their room to retire for the night. Mom must've gone up ahead since I don't see her anywhere. Even with my tired body and the effect of the alcohol, I don't feel like I could go to bed just yet. 

I head to the back door and out the yard. Unlike in London, it's still warm here. I take off my thin jacket and hang it on my shoulder, sitting on one of the benches near the pool. 

A lot of thoughts run through my mind. Thoughts of Annie and what she could be doing or even thinking after seeing me. Thoughts of what I should do next, how I would see her again since Bam is away. I also have thoughts of me ... of being like this. How my mom and Gillian have hid it from me for a long time. How they have hid it from my dad ... How I'm doing the same to him. Maybe it's better for him not to know. What would he think when he suddenly finds out that he's surrounded by witches and warlocks? 

My eyes get caught at the shed across the pool. I get up and head towards it. I turn on the light and head straight to the entrance of the basement behind the old cabinet. With what little energy left in me, I light the room up. I've never really explored the place before. Ever since the time I caught my mom and Gillian talking down here, I never thought of coming back. 

It's wider than I think. Maybe it even goes under the house. There are lines of shelves on two sides, full of different bottles and books. In one corner is what looks like an altar. I shiver at the thought of what my mom or Gillian do in there. There are candles lined on top of it and ashes of what they might've burned before. 

A really thick, old book grabs my attention. It's resting on a separate table near the altar. I open it and the first portrait that welcomes me is mine .... It looks like me. Gillian standing right beside me. 

Wait ... it's not me. An image of me in a study suddenly appears in my mind. I am holding a framed portrait of a man that looks like me. This man.

Luke!

I turn around, surprised at the voice. However, there's nobody in the room but me. Luke? The clothes they're wearing are something that would fit in the time Annie is in now. Could this be Gillian's husband? 

There are other more pictures in the following pages. That last one is of me and my parents. It's the same portrait we have hanging on the wall in the living room.