The Nibiru Effect

Memory 101

It's time. Time for me to forget about time travel. Time for me to forget about Avalon and the threat she made. Time for me to forget about all of this insanity. It's time for me to go home.

Kara, Jonn, and Kidd are gathered around me as I take one last look at my surroundings. Atlantis is a beautiful city. I'll miss it, but I'll never forget it.

"Goodbye," says Kidd.

We hug, and he takes advantage of this to whisper something into my ear.

"Don't forget our deal."

Once I'm reunited with my mother, I will no longer need the time travel ring she gave me, so I will hand it over once I have safely returned to my time. Jonn and Kara don't know this. They think they're accompanying me so we can say farewell.

"Don't worry," I whisper back. "I won't forget."

"I'll always remember you," I say once I pull away.

"Me too," he says. He's smiling, but I can tell he's sad. So is Kara. Only Jonn seems unaffected by our impending separation.

"Ready?" he asks. "We don't have all day."

Kara shoots him an angry look but says nothing.

I chuckle. I'll miss their fighting. I'll miss a lot of things about them. But what I will most of all is Kara. More than once I considered staying in Atlantis, but I knew I would forever regret it if I did. My desire to meet my mother—and possibly my father—is what has pushed me to overcome my limitations time and time again, and I can't bear the thought of passing up such an opportunity. After years of fantasizing, I'm finally going to be reunited with my parents.

"I'm ready," I say as I twist the first triangle. I take a deep breath and rotate the second triangle. It clicks into place. They now form an hourglass symbol. It's identical to the one on my wrist. I still don't know what it means, but I suspect that will change once I meet my mother.

I wait for the ring to activate. It doesn't. Nor does the portal appear. In fact, nothing happens. My heart starts beating faster as I realize what this means. I try activating the ring again, but nothing happens. I try a third time before finally accepting the truth.

I'mtrapped inthe past.