Timeless {ON HOLD and EDITING}

Chapter 3

Charles' POV:

I was wrong about one thing; I actually was going to be getting an ample amount of sleep. All of a sudden Dr. Klausen was worried about my health. He let me leave the lab for about 10 minutes everyday so I could run at least two miles. I also got to pick up some desserts from the bakery, and I got to go to the butcher for fresh meat of my choice! "Why do I need to be in shape?" I asked Klausen. He stepped away from the chalkboard and turned towards me, "Going through this hole will have impacts on your body like if you're in space. You have to stay in good shape so your bones won't deteriorate, and so your muscles stay healthy, too."

This is pretty exciting, but leaving Anne for even just a little bit makes me feel terrible. "Doctor Klausen, when will I be coming back?" As soon as I asked that question, all heads in the room turned towards him. Pretty much all the scientists were in our lab because of how important this experiment was. "Charles, I think you'll need to sit down to take this." I obeyed and found a chair to sit in as he began to explain. "Charles, you won't be able to come back. We might barely be able to send you into the future, and coming back would be even harder. I'm sorry that you'll have to leave your fiancé." I looked down and felt the weight of my world falling on my shoulders. "Anne isn't my fiancé; I never got the chance, or money to ask." The room fell silent, and I was a bubbling mass about to explode on the inside. I tried to keep calm, but the tone in my voice was harsh. "If you knew I wouldn't be able to come back home, then why didn't you tell me?" I looked into Dr. Klausen's eyes, and I could see fear and sadness mixing in them. "Harrison, I didn't just realize this until today. How much power and force needed to create this hole is much too great. I'm certain that just doing this once will have enough power to shutdown this whole city." I stood up and started heading toward the door, "Why even do this then?" I realized I still had my belongings in the lab, so I went back to get them before leaving.

Klausen started to approach me, "Now Charles, don't make any rash decisions ba-" I turned around quickly and balled my fists, "NO, don't even TRY. You can't just expect me to give up my life here to 'further the progression of your field.' I mean what type of BULL is that?" I grabbed the rest of my things hurriedly and turned back around to all the scientists. All these smart minds, and yet they don't have one bit of morality to care about the lives of others. I shook my head and looked at Klausen, "You're welcome for the idea, and just like how you said you needed time to think and make a plan for this," I stretched out my arms and looked around the whole room trying to indicate that I meant the project, "I also need time to think about everything." With that I walked out and only had one thought playing through my mind, and it was about Anne Marie.

I went to my apartment to freshen up and put away my things. When I went back out, I saw William once again, perched on the fire escape. "Hey Will, you got a cig?" He turned and once he realized it was me, he smiled. "Ah Harrison, you know better than anyone that I stopped smoking! Ever since Alice came into my life that is." I smirked at the mention of his wife, "Oh of course, Alice is a beautiful dame! Who wouldn't stop smoking for her?" I got the reaction I was hoping for, and William turned around, his face serious. "Don't talk about my girl like that, or I'll just go over to Annie's house and-" I stopped him in mid-sentence, "Don't you dare finish that thought, I was just joking goodness don't turn into a wet blanket!" I patted his back, and in mere seconds we both started laughing, but William stopped to ask me a question, "Wait, why are you here? You should be working! You know, bringing in the clams so you can become a married man like me!" I chuckle, but then I explained what happened at the lab. I didn't tell him that we were time traveling, but I did tell him that I was forced to choose between work and Anne. "Are you going to tell her about it?" He seemed genuinely interested. "As a matter of fact," I checked the time on my watch, "she's about to get out of work!" William smiled widely, and I stood up. He slapped my back as I started to run away. "ATTABOY! You go chase the girl of your dreams! DON'T GO NECKING HER! BANK'S CLOSED!" I heard him laughing, and even though no one knew he was yelling out those words to me, my face grew red. I didn't stop running after I left our street, and I wouldn't stop running until I saw Anne.