Death in a Paradox

The Second Chapter

The Second Chapter

~~~

Augustus

I guess I get lucky, since Meredith is letting me say this part. She's told me she doesn't want to say the action or anything near it, but she'll have to sometimes. Things we miss can be filled in with the few relevant entries from Annabella's journal (it's all boring science stuff.)

Annabella has this really uncanny knack for getting in trouble in the worst times for the worst reasons. She once got a detention for reading her book upside down, breaking her pencil too many times by sharpening it, not finding a partner for group projects, and anything else that's unusual. Most teachers don't like her because she's in Doreen on a scholarship, and Doreen costs a lot. At least a few hate her for continuously correcting them. Some teachers don't like her because she wears combat boots. She's really just too lazy to change them after combat sessions.

Those silly yet awesome leather combat boots with light blue frayed laces, a piece of duct tape, and a super glued sole (even though she can fix them with magic, I think) got her in trouble with Professor Betlain-Saitela, who seems to pick on Annabella on the worst days possible.

"Miss Eltiise," she said, "detention."

Annabella's head whipped up from her essay. Annabella, despite being a trouble maker, is too good at charming teachers that she's not trouble. She pulls off the poor orphan with no parents look perfectly.

"Yes, professor?"

"Your shoes."

"Ma'am, I am aware of my shoes," she replied, fully serious. Someone laughed and the evil Professor shot them a look. That was enough to shut that person up. I saw it was Landager, Annabella's number one fan.

"They are not suitable. The female dress code clearly states 'During class times, students are to wear a color coded uniform of the school colors; purple, green and black. Girls must wear a purple blazer or cardigan, a white or cream blouse underneath, a knee length green or black colored skirt, and either tights or knee socks – preferably white. Suitable shoes must be worn, and accessories must be discreet.' Those are not suitable shoes. Can you not afford better ones?"

Annabella went red in the face. She may be the smartest, but she's definitely not the richest. She's saving all of her money for a nicer knife, not stupid shoes that can be fixed with duct tape. Teachers can be ignorant.

"If you cannot provide an answer, I'm sure you'll think of one while organizing the books, today after your classes are over," Professor Betlain-Saitela sighed angrily. Annabella was shocked. I, of course, had to be an idiot. Meredith says I'm amazing at it.

"That's not fair!" I yelled as I stood up from my chair. My chair fell over. That was sightly embarrasing, but I stood my ground. I swore I'd take Annabella shoe shopping soon enough, even though I'm a guy and I hate shopping.

 "Mr. Maxwelby, you can join Miss Eltiise today after your classes are over also. I'm sure that with your meager grades and lack of intelligence, cleaning things will be a great job for you. Try not to flip over your chair while you're attempting to act heroic."

No one laughed. I'm not the smartest, but I'm paying for Professor Betlain-Saitela, so she should shut up. Without me, she wouldn't have a job. Maybe she should think of that.

That's how Annabella and I got a detention on the worst day possible because that day, we were trying out the Time Spear on humans after a lot of preparation.

The preparation couldn't be repeated, or we'd die. Thank you, Professor Betlain-Saitela, for trying to save our lives.

~~~

Meredith

On the worst day of my life, Annabella and Augustus got a detention. I, of course, had to get them out.

I was in Annabella's lab, which I think I should mention is her enlarged dorm. She's got loads of stuff in here that she might patent to make some money. In here, you can find anything from hair lengtheners to poison antidotes.

The problem is the clutter.

I squealed as I nearly toppled a jar of something scary. I looked at what I had in my hands; it was some blue liquid with a swirling eyeball. The eyeball floated for a second and then looked straight at me. If it was attached to a body, it would have been narrowing. I shrieked and put it on the counter it was supposed to be on.

Annabella said red.

It was supposed to be a thin jar with a silver top, with a little chip near the bottom. When I found it, I was supposed to take some sugar with me to the Proffesor Betlain-Saitela's classroom, add it to her coffee, and viola. She should suddenly become confused and agree with any idea I suggest to her.

"Eww," I whispered and bit my lip. My face was in a grimace and I breathed deeply as I looked at the container. No chip. I think I was holding pig blood, if the label was correct. Pig blood with mold in it.

The problem was I couldn't find that thin jar, and Annabella needed to get out of that classroom. The newly named Time Spear was in the corner, covered in a special cloth to contain any rouge magic sparks. I wished it was easier to time travel. I'd tell Annabella to switch her shoes. It hit me.

It may cause a paradox, but so what? It was four thirteen.

I grabbed the spear and thought of my location. A hot bolt of pain later I opened my eyes.

The clock now said eleven thirty-seven.

I was the world's first known time traveler.

It was horrible. I fell on my knees and puked right there in the middle of Annabella's dorm. I shivered and got a horrible fever, but it disappeared so fast it hurt. My eyes teared up and my head seemed to burst. I was thrown across the room and hit a shelf with glass. When I fell, my hands were cut open by the glass. Red dripped from my fingers. I held my hand up.

It healed instantly.

I got a sudden crazy thought. I grabbed a knife from a half broken table and slit my hand. The blood began to gush, but it just gushed back in seconds later.

Immortality?

Possibly.

This was simply amazing, or so I thought.