The Door to Tomorrow

Aftermath

I set the wooden chest down on the porch and hastily knocked on the front door of my house. While I waited for someone to answer the door, I thanked all nine gods for the major life altering experience I just had. Even though I had just suffered a great amount and took part in ruining other's lives, I changed as a person and actually found my purpose in life.

While I was reflecting, I heard the door opening. The person who opened the door was my mom. She nearly fell over when she saw me.

"Mommy!" I wept and wrapped my arms around her.

"Chuck, what happened to you?" she sobbed. "I'm glad you're okay. We've missed you so much."

Cheryl and Morgan ran to the front door once they heard the commotion.

Morgan ran into me and cried aloud while giving me a hug. He rambled about how he hadn't left the house in weeks and how my long absence made him feel physically ill. I apologized profusely and kissed his forehead in attempt to calm him down.
In response, Morgan vowed that he "would never let his 'brother' disappear again".

While Morgan and his mom were speaking to me, I noticed that I was covered in mud. Some of the dirt had even transferred onto everyone's clothes. The sight of the mud reminded me of the treasure I acquired, and I suddenly dragged the wooden chest inside the house, surprising my family.

"Where did you get that?" Morgan inquired, shocked.

I lead them all to the dining room and opened the chest there. "There's so much I need to tell you guys. I guess I should start with this." Trembling, I reached inside the box and showed my family the picture of me and Grandpa.

"Our mom took that picture," began Cheryl. "What is it doing in there...?"

"Grandpa left this stuff somewhere for me to find," I admitted. Everyone looked at me as if I had lost my damn mind.

"Wait...can you explain what's going on here?" Cheryl asked while holding onto the picture from 1976. "Where have you been all this time? Soma?"

Before I gave an actual answer, I pulled out the photo album and turned to a picture of Joseph. I set the book on the table for the three of them to see, and I pointed to Joseph's young face.

"I met Joseph out there. He was the one who told me that Grandpa left this somewhere for me."

"What? You met Joseph? He hasn't spoken to us or anyone we know in, like, twenty years. We were friends with him when we were younger, but when our dad disappeared, he kind of disappeared, too," Mom elaborated.

I knew they'd be surprised. They had never mentioned Joseph to me in the past.

"What did he tell you?" Morgan was apparently eager to hear about Joseph, whom he had never heard of.

"Well, before I tell you what he said, I need to tell you what happened to me," I paused and sighed. "I couldn't come home on time because I was kidnapped–"

"Oh my god!" Mom gasped nearly jumped out of her seat. Cheryl had to catch her.

"Everything is okay, now, Mom! F-For me, anyway." I cautiously explained how things went in the Facility. Of course, I couldn't tell them that I was a murderer, or anything like that. I shuddered at the very thought. And I didn't dare mention that I was in love with Joseph since he was Mom and Cheryl's childhood friend.

I told them that EverStar kidnapped me, along with five kids, and I mentioned the virus, as well. I reluctantly brought up the fate of the kids, but I made sure to include the fact that they would make it home someday.

Mom and Cheryl knew the company was in Joseph's hands, but they were astounded when I told them he was the one who trapped us. I assured them there was a purpose to the whole thing, though. That was when I explained who Joseph and I really were to each other. I told them that I was supposedly the Auxiliary and that Joseph was my future friend's son...they didn't believe me at first.