Time and Time again

Part 3

Brian looked down at his feet but all he could see was mud.

But among the mess, Brian found himself staring at a face, which was stuck by fear and pain. Blood rolled off his cheek and swirled into the muddy water. His mouth was gaping but no words came out. He knelt down and held the poor man's head.

"You're gonna be okay" Brian whispered. The man began to take a breath, but when he started to choke and splutter, thick obscure blood dripped from the corners of his mouth.

"Tell my... girl that I..."

"What?!" Brain demand as tears of frustration rolled down his face.

"Tell her what?!"

"That I... love...her."

"What's her name?" the man's lips were dried and cracked with blood. His vision began to blur.

"Doris..." He croaked. His head fell limp and his eyes glazed over with a now lifeless stare. Brain looked into the car to see the old lady. He looked back at the man he held.

"What have I done?!" He thought.

The sky was a musky grey, a thick smoke would soon blow over and war would come to them. Brian pulled Doris out of the car.

"Come on, we have to hide"

"But what about that man?" She asked.

"What man?" Brian responded quickly.

"Oh, I guess I must be seeing things." Brain's eyes darted around, once again, he always felt guilty for his mistakes. They both laid down on their stomachs and wedged themselves under the car. The cold mud smeared their faces and oozed into their shoes. Brian lay very still next to Doris, he rested his head on this hands.

"I can't believe this is happening!" He called over the loud explosions that shook the car.

"I a few minutes ago, it was 2001, now we've travelled back in time or something" He was mainly talking to himself, trying to understand his situation.

"War," Doris mouthed, but probably yelled. "1939

WWII," She said. "Raymond! Ray might be out there!" she called with a realisation.

"No Doris, we can't, it's too dangerous."

"But maybe we could find him"

"I already have," thought Brian.

"Doris, we have to go back, we won't be able to survive here!"

He grabbed her hand and helped her out from under the car. Bullets zipped passed their heads and the rushed into the car.

"How do we go back? How do we go back?! Think Brian, think!" Brian fumbled with the cup on the floor, there was still some liquid left. He grabbed the wires and poured the last of the drink on them. There was a spark and a crackle, but that was it. Brian thumped his head on the steering wheel, which blazed the horn, at this very moment, a light flashed before their eyes and they spiralled back to a more familiar time. The loud explosions echoed to a silence. Brain was nervous to open his eyes. His nose scrunched up at the unusual smell of the air, he couldn't put his finger on, chemicals? Maybe.

He opened his eyes slowly, he looked out the window. They were back!

"Doris, you can open your eyes now, we're back!" Brain's heart dropped and he tried to swallow the lump in his throat but the empty seat beside him began to blur, as hot tears ran down his cheeks. He'd lost her, Doris was gone.