Near The Truth

Chapter 6- His Past

Jack was still meditating and Brian was waiting for Greg to speak. The doctor took a deep breath.

 "He started this experiment with you 5 years ago, but, Marc and I, we know each-other for 15 years. We have done so many things together. I first met him in a physic project and I admired his passion. We have met a lot of times to discuss science since then. He always wanted to know the 4th dimension, but he wasn't serious at first. He was 18 after he finished the high school. I was a well-known doctor since. His marks were all "A", but his family couldn't ensure him a good university, because of their economic problems. Marc was their own child. They were also too attached to each-other, so his mother didn't wanted Marc to leave. Well, they had lived here, in Princeton, but his mother was a housewife and his father worked as a cooker in a simple restaurant. So Marc came to me and asked for help. I gave him a house and the funds for the university." 

Brian's anger was disappearing slowly. Jack woke up from his "daydreaming" and was hearing Greg's story. The doctor continued. 

"He was so happy and I wanted just that! Every day, he told me that he would work hard to give me the money back, even though I told him not to care about that. This experiment thing . . . It all started just before he began university. The unexpected happened. His mother died of food poisoning. His father couldn't believe he let that happen, so he left the city and started to live a nomadic lifestyle after her burial. His location is unknown still today. Marc's feelings were crushed.He couldn't stop crying, so I came for help. I told him to forget the past, but he couldn't. Marc told me he wanted to make an experiment when his life would be better. He told me he had also a big reason for that 4th dimension experiment." 

Brian reacted fast. 

"Don't tell me! So he wanted this experiment, so he could . . ."

 Greg didn't let him finish the sentence. 

"To turn back in time and keep his mother alive. I told him it was nonsense! But he never listened to me about this thing. After he finished university, he gave me the money and said to me never to give him money again. When he started working for this experiment with you, he told me not to interfere. I met him just before he met you 5 years ago. He had changed. He was smarter and told me his biggest dream was to explore the 4th dimension and not to revive his mother. But he would do that, if he had a chance." 

Jack said his first word after all this time. He was looking at Marc. 

"So. he had such a bad past. I wonder what he is thinking now." 

Brian seemed quiet, but doubt was still in him.

 "But, wait. You told me you know how he reacts in those situation. What do you mean with that?" 

Greg didn't want to answer that question.

 "I can't say that. Marc told me never to tell that story to everyone."

 Finally, Brian was calm enough to stop asking. Greg wanted to change the topic so he checked his computers again. Suddenly, he found something strange. 

"His right foot! It looks like there is no blood there!" 

The scientists were shocked. Jack jumped from the place he was sitting. 

"No, wait! What does that mean?"

Greg couldn't find the answer.

"I don't know! His foot seems fine, but the computer shows no blood there. There, it looks like, there is no foot at all!" 

. . . 

The day had already passed. It was 00:30 P.M. Jenny was home, but she couldn't sleep. She was thinking about Marc and his role as a father. She also imagined herself rising a child. Her head was hurting. Jenny then remembered the letter Marc had left in the table.

 "Brian looked very serious this time." 

Immediately, she felt very bad. She took her phone and called Marc. Jenny was scared when she realized, she couldn't contact his phone. Her head started to hurt more. She could barely walk to bed. After 20 minutes she was lying in the bed, but still couldn't sleep. She then thought to contact Jack. She knew him since she was in University. Jack's mobile phone started to ring. In that confusing situation, Jack didn't know if he should check his phone or not. It continued to ring. Jenny was now both irritated and scared. She called Jack's number again. Brian was watching Jack's reactions. He was staring at Marc's foot. Brian approached Jack,

"Answer that phone! At least, at least shut it down! We have important things to discuss here!" 

Jack checked his phone. His face became yellow and his hands started to shake just a little. The doctor wanted to know the reason. 

"Who is it? Someone from your family?" 

Jack was not speaking. His eyes were moving fast, looking in different locations. Brian touched his shoulder.

 "What is it? Something wrong! Tell us!" 

The phone stopped ringing. Jack gulped. 

"It's . . . It was Jenny!"

 Brian left quickly from Jack as if he was a ghost. 

"Oh shit! Why now?! It is the worst situation ever!" 

Jack didn't know how to react, while Greg was watching them curious. 

"What should we do now? What if she calls again?"

 "I don't know! Tell her we are still working!" 

The phone rang again. Jenny couldn't stop dialing. Jack, finally answered.

 . . .

 Anton was listening to Allan's words. 

"I guess I need to start from the beginning."

 "Yes, I think so." 

"You don't know your age. So, you are 30. I am also 30. We have been friends for 23 years." 

"23 years? That's a lot!"

 "Yes, it is. I feel quite bad that you don't remember anything. But anyway, our families had good relationship between each-other since we were children, so I knew your family very well. Both your parents were scientists. My parents were both doctors."

 "Damn it, I don't remember anything! Wait.  Were?" 

"They were both killed by a terrorist group that attacked Princeton 4 years ago."

 Allan started to feel bad.

 "My parents died too. I think, you can't feel bad for them, but I do."

 "I am really sorry. I don't know what to say."

 "We had good lives. You worked as a lawyer and I worked as economist. We were also there, when they attacked. They came so fast! We were all gathered for Christmas, your family and my family. My love, was also there. They bombed every house." 

Allan's eyes were now looking at the ground. 

"Fortunately, you and I were preparing some food upstairs so the bombs didn't reach us. But, everyone in the first floor was killed!" 

Anton's eyes looked like they entered another world. Allan continued.

 "The terrorists came in the second floor. They took us by force to their camp."  

^AchingThoughts^.^