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I found a local pub, and since it looked as if he were cold I gave the man my coat. Shocked by my kind gesture, he pried away his matted locks, and stared. "Tell the man what you want." I knew the cook, Stone and I befriended him after Stone got into a fist fight with one of his bartenders. Offered Stone and I job, of course we declined. But Stone still dedicates some of his nights to make sure that everything goes a bit more smoothly. Liquor, irrational men, and drunken men don't tend to mesh well. It took the man a moment, but he made up his mind on a special, didn't cost me much. It was free. So I found a place to sit in the harshly dim lighted area. Somewhere away from the multitude, so he wouldn't get the constant stares of disgust. He looked terrible. Inhaling his food within seconds he leaned back into his chair exhausted. "Thank you ma'am." Swallowing the numerous lumps etched in my throat, I nervously set my folded hands on the table and spoke lowly. "Who are you? And how did you find me here?" Burping grotesquely loud, he darted forward meeting me halfway at the center of the table. "Why, I'm the gatekeeper of time ma'am. And you're the one that found me." He took the glass in front of us, and began to drink pleasantly. "You scared me, so I ran away with your belongings. But, I found you this time, I'm glad I did, you're dwindling away as we speak. Your spirit can only survive so long without its designated vessel, you're dying. If you aren't already dead Grant Everly. See when you fell, you hit a large wooden block, internal bleeding is a dangerous thing did you know? But all should be well, that tracking device on your phone is something special, humans are so clever these days. Now what was I saying? Oh! Yes, you're dying, and I am here to take you back, or if it is your request you may stay here. Well you can't stay, well until you completely pass on in your time. Then you will fade completely here. You're in a coma in a sweet hospital, as your family hovers over you in hope, would you like to see?" Before I could muster an answer I was no longer in Martin's pub, I was....home. Not particularly my house, but my time, and Eliza was sitting in a chair with Abby, holding her hand as she cried tiredly. "What was she doing in that place? Why would she go alone...I should've been awake, I should've told her to stay at home. I can't lose her, she's really the only person I've got." Snapping me back to the pub, I looked around me a bit frightened, "Just a sneak peak, I can't keep you there for long, rules. But that is besides the point Grant, you have a decision to make, in the meantime, do you have any questions?" Gloom towered over me hungrily awaiting for my declaration of defeat. Forcing my eyes to look at him, he smiled warmly, "Is Stone in my time?....I-is it possible to see him again?" "Now that isn't my profession ma'am. I cannot tell you of such things, I wish I could. Say, you've met a friend here?" Nodding in sadness I ran my hands along my shoulders anxiously. "I have." "People travel through time by accident, well mostly when I am not paying attention, I'm not human, but I have human tendencies. See when you chased after me, I was fairly scared, when I am scared I release a light, somewhat of a defense mechanism similar to that of a skunk. Wow I cannot believe I just said that. Moving on, it blinds my opposer to slow them down as I get away. But it also, gives them the opportunity to travel through time, yet that circumstance is rare, bringing you into the picture. You were at a place that had a historical sentiment, you had a name, and a place, things that drew you to this time. Which is why your spirit traveled, far, far away from your body. You were drawn to this specific era, and the longer you take to actually find your body, the larger risk you take in fading completely. In this time, as well as your own. I'm sort of catching a lot of grief from my boss, and he wants you back, or he uh.. well he wants you dead. Because you've sort of caused a rather large interruption in the space time continuum, things of that sort. But hey! No worries, time is...okay well time will never be on your side, time will forever be against you. Oh don't take that too personally, on the contrary, on to good things though. Thanks for the meal Grant." Clenching my jaw in a mixture of an emotional feat, I pushed myself away, and rose from my seat. "I will find him." "The clock is ticking darling, and it's your life." Running out of the building and into the street, I took a left and darted. The thought continuing to pass my mind. "Time will never be on my side....time will forever be against me." The statement was cold, yet in my luck... it was so very true. As I ran I tripped, and slid, my troubled mind couldn't focus enough to guide my legs where they needed to go. I was dying, I wasn't physically here, but how? How could I feel everything, touch, talk, be seen. This didn't make any sense. But I didn't exactly have the time to sit down and figure things out, I had to find Stone, I had to find him now. Remembering the route to the aviation mechanics shop, I continued maybe he'd be here, this was really my last hope. -------------- "Lilee, Tenga!" Slightly out of breath I crouched to my knees, trying to catch up. "Grant, wh-what are you doing here?" Concerned, Lilee sat a soft hand on my back and helped me to sit. Tenga giving me a glass of water, threw a dirty rag over his broad shoulders. He was tall like Stone, they were almost similarly built. His hair was long and curly, today he had it tied tightly behind his head. "Is Stone alright?" Tenga questioned, the sound of worry gilded strongly in his voice. Pulling my hair behind my ear I swallowed. "I-I came, because I thought he'd be here. I've been looking everywhere for him." My fear was creeping near, and I felt it, I felt it's daunting company, and it caused me to stand abruptly. Lilee frowned in uncertainty, as she picked up a few wrenches, and rested her hand on her hip. "I wish I knew where he had run off to Grant, but the truth is, I haven't seen Stone, since we got back. He didn't even show up to work today." Tenga sadly agreed with his sister, as he slowly took a seat beside me. "Look, wherever he is Grant, I'm sure he will be back soon. He wouldn't run away from you, I know that for sure." He attempted to flash a smile of reassurance, but I knew better. "Thank you Lilee, and Tenga but I've got to go." Time was against me, and I honestly didn't have much to spare. Chugging the remaining drops of water, I sprang to my feet. Running out of the shed, I dashed into the city once more, an effort to race against time, even though it was already way ahead of me. ------------------ Do you remember that night on Christmas? And how the cold froze us so tenderly, how the world seemed at peace, because you made it seem as if it were just you and I? I wanted to formally apologize Stone, for allowing time to take me from your side.
