From beyond the bounds of time and space, my immortal
arrived. His warmth enveloped me, igniting my heart's embrace. Our lives
intertwined, a bond so profound, no other soul can match his grace.
An excerpt from A
Time Traveler’s Companion
Book 3
Chapter 14: The Jungle & the Red Jewel
I had just finished my class on campus when I spotted Melanie
leaning against my car. “What are you doing here?” I asked, my tone laced with
suspicion, while glancing around to ensure Mr. Smith wouldn’t see us talking.
“Relax Birdie, I’m just here to invite you on
a trip to another planet,” she replied playfully. I leaned back against my car,
exhaling deeply.
“I’m not sure about
this. I don’t want to deceive Mr. Smith; it could really hurt him. If he finds
out I’ve been spending time with you, I can’t even imagine the fallout,” I
admitted. She rolled her eyes, “True, he can be intense, but we can keep it
under wraps,” she said with a mischievous grin and a wink. I couldn’t help but
smirk, shaking my head as I sighed again.
“Okay, but just this once because I really
need to concentrate on my studies.”
We headed home, and
mom was already there, but dad was still at work and my brother was hanging out
with his friends. I told Melanie to quietly go upstairs and that I would join
her in a bit. The door that goes out into the garage is located on the opposite
side of the hallway and mom can’t see who walks upstairs so she didn’t see
Melanie. “Is that you, honey?” mom called from the kitchen. I froze
halfway up the stairs. “Uh, yeah, mom,” I replied. “Can you come here for a sec?
I need to have a word with you,” she sounded serious. She walked to the
Livingroom, sat down, and I joined her.
“Sweetheart, you
would let me know if you were having sex, wouldn’t you?” I was taken aback, my
jaw dropped. “I realize you’re 18 and will turn 19 in just one month, but I was
really hoping you’d tell me if you were…”
I interjected, “Mom,
I’m not,” then I hesitated, I did not feel comfortable lying to her. She let
out a sigh, “I guess you are having sex then,” she shook her head, and her brow
furrowed in disapproval. She can tell when I'm not being honest. She didn't
even need to ask; her suspicion was enough, and my hesitation just confirmed
it. "How did you find out?" I asked, clearly irritated. She hesitated
before responding, "I was bringing some clothes up to your room, and when
I placed your shirts on the bed, I saw a notebook peeking out from beneath your
pillow."
"Oh
no, Mom, you didn't." My forehead creased, and a look of discontent shadowed
my face. I sighed heavily, shaking my head in disbelief. Standing with my hands
on my hips, I glared down at her. . “I regret having to
say this, but I’m relieved I glanced at your diary. You would have never
mentioned about having sex at all to me, but I was hoping you’d talk to me
about it.” I interrupted, saying, “Mom, that diary is personal; how could you
invade my privacy?”She replied, “To ease
your mind, I only read the section about the Pill and how Leila’s sister
provided it to you. You could have shared this with me, and I could have helped
you with the prescription. You’re 18 and it’s really not a big deal.”
“Mom that’s not the
point, you looked in my Diary, it’s private,” I said, feeling very disheartened
with her at the moment. My cheeks burned with anger as I faced my mom, who had
also stood up, with her arms crossed. "Alright, but I need to know who it
is," she pressed, eager for answers. If only she had flipped to the next
page, she would discover it was Mr. Smith, and the discussion would’ve taken a
different turn. I let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of my frustration.
"Mom, I really don’t want to talk about
this right now," I said, starting to walk up the stairs. But then I
paused, spun around, and added, "I’m not going to be like you; I won’t
make the same mistakes you did." The look on her face showed that she was
genuinely floored by my words. “Wait a minute young lady, what do you mean?”
I turned around to
face her. “You’ve always said you don’t want me to end up like you, but I don’t
think life was so bad. My childhood was good, you did a good job in raising me
but don’t ever go digging into my private stuff,” I paused. “I won’t get
pregnant, okay.” I rushed up the stairs and into my room, leaving her behind. After locking the
door, I imagined she had retreated to the kitchen for a glass of wine, her
usual remedy for distress.
“What’s going on? I heard an argument,” said Melanie,
standing by the window with her arms crossed. She glanced at me, her expression,
curious.
“It’s nothing,” I replied, and she raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing? It didn’t
sound like nothing, but I guess it’s not my place to pry.”
Her attention drifted
back outside, as if she were waiting for something or someone to appear. I
flopped onto my bed, I exhaled. “Does your silence mean you won’t join me?” she
asked.
“No, I want to come,”
I responded, wanting to get away for a while especially after the argument I
had with my mother.
“Well, there’s a jungle planet where we can do
some exploring. If there is any danger at all we can zap out of there in a
heartbeat,” she said, reassuringly.
“Okay, I really hope Mr. Smith doesn’t catch
wind of this because I have a feeling, he’d be pretty livid if he found out.”
Melanie laughed, gave me an eye roll, and plopped down beside me on the bed.
She wrapped her arm around my shoulders, making the moment feel a bit more
relaxed.
“Don’t worry little Birdie, we’ll be back before
he comes to visit you again.” I scoffed and smiled, “Let me get my backpack and
dress for the occasion.”
I slipped on my
olive-green button-up shirt, my jeans and packed some essentials into my
backpack, including a flashlight and battery charger for my phone. I paused and
realized that I had the phone that Mr. Smith gave Leila, and I put it into my
backpack. I combed my hair up in a loose ponytail and looked at the time--it was
2:35pm and exhaled. “Let’s go,” I told her. She secured the quantum time manipulator
to my wrist and grasped my hand. As I opened my eyes, I witnessed us passing
through the wormhole. We found ourselves aboard a sleek black starship, its
metallic surface reminiscent of the monolith but it was an actual ship. A wave
of nausea hit me, leaving me feeling disoriented.
“Are you alright, Birdie?” I nodded and
flashed her a ‘thumbs up’ as I collected myself and let out a sigh. She
chuckled, saying, “You’ll get the hang of it.”
As she slid into the
pilot's seat, she made herself right at home. The ship isn’t particularly
large; it features a control room packed with all the navigational gear needed
for a smooth journey, and a cozy mid-section that boasts a small table
alongside a booth that’s reminiscent of those found in RVs and trailers. Curiosity
piqued, I asked, “So, is this your ship?” She grinned back at
me and clarified, “It actually belongs to a friend of mine.”
A man stepped out from the rear of the ship;
his collar casually flipped up. He sported a dark navy-blue coat that reached
his knees, which was left unbuttoned at the front, revealing an ivory cotton
shirt underneath. The coat featured medium-sized gold buttons that added a
touch of elegance to his look. There was a holster strapped around his waist,
but the gun was noticeably absent from its place. His captivating blue eyes
locked onto mine, pulling me closer. With his short, light brown hair slicked back,
he exuded a charming yet mischievous aura that suggested he might be a heartbreaker.
Curiosity piqued, I found myself asking, "Who are you?"
“I am Jack, milady,” he replied, taking my
hand and planting a kiss on it. I couldn't help but giggle, glancing at
Melanie, who rolled her eyes and shook her head. “She’s with me, Jack,” she
interjected. Jack shot her a playful smirk, raising an eyebrow and said, “I
thought I was your only companion?” he chuckled lightly.
“So, that’s Jack,” I thought to myself. He settled into the passenger seat beside
Melanie, leaving me to occupy the third seat in the back. His American accent
mirrored that of Melanie's, creating a familiar atmosphere. I have no doubt
that she will share more details about him one of these days. I asked Melanie,
“Since you have access to this ship, why not return home?" It was a valid
question, yet she merely cast a fleeting glance my way.
"Birdie, I want to go back, but it's not
that simple."
“Oh, I see,” I responded, feeling that there’s
something else she hasn’t told me.
“Buckle in,” she said. Jack let out a “Woohoo,”
as we lifted off. Jack tapped a few buttons on the control panel, and in an
instant, we shot into light-speed, plunging through a mesmerizing wormhole. It
was absolutely amazing! I was completely in awe. We arrived on a planet covered
in a dense jungle. “The ship will be hidden, and I’ll input the coordinates
into our quantum time manipulators to return us to the ship or as close to it,”
Melanie stated with assurance. Jack asked her, “So, you won’t need my help on this
mission?”
Melanie shook her
head, saying, “We’ll manage, Jack. I know the location of the temple, and
I’ll call for you, if
necessary,” she comforted him and placed her hand on his shoulder, he then
kissed it. I couldn't help but think, "What a flirt."
He pressed Melanie
once more, asking if she was certain she didn't want his assistance, but she
firmly maintained that everything would be fine. Jack and I shared a worried
look, our concern unmistakable. As Melanie and I disembarked from the ship, I
noticed the weapon holster she had slung around her waist. She adjusted her
brown leather messenger bag, which she wore diagonally across her chest, and
retrieved a scanner from within it, meticulously surveying our surroundings.
"Everything seems fine," she
remarked, tucking the scanner back into her bag with a satisfied nod.
Meanwhile, I placed my backpack on the ground beside me and pulled out the
insect repellent, applying the cream generously to my arms and any other
exposed skin, but not on my face. Melanie chuckled at my cautiousness. I
expressed my reluctance, saying, "I really don't want to be bitten by some
unfamiliar exotic insect," as I explained my reasoning.
"Let's move,” she grabbed my hand, and we
began to walk toward it. The jungle was thick with
an array of foliage all around. The environment felt ominously threatening,
however there’s a certain peace and tranquility about this place. I took a deep
breath. The aroma of exotic flowers and plants lingered in the air. It’s safe
to assume that there are Alien beings on this planet too. Approaching the
building, I was struck by the stunning gold edifice towering in front of us. Its architecture seemed
otherworldly, reminiscent of a scene from a science fiction film. The structure
featured several balconies, and the windows were tinted. "Melanie, what's
the real reason we're here?" I questioned her.
"I'm on a quest for
something,” she paused and added, “I figured you'd be thrilled to join me.” Meanwhile, a nagging worry lingered in my mind
that Mr. Smith could find out about our little escapade, and anxiety started to
set in. As
we made our way down a faintly marked trail, Melanie
activated her scanner, which led her forward. Suddenly, a clicking noise echoed
behind us, and I turned to see a massive insect that looked like
a bizarre hybrid of a praying mantis or something staring at us. Stunned, I
stumbled back, unable to move.
"Melanie!"
I yelled, and she quickly grabbed her pistol, firing at the creature, it
collapsed. My heart raced. "I really don't think bug spray would have
done the trick," I thought, exhaling in relief.
"Looks like I need to teach you how to
handle a weapon," she said, pausing for a moment, "Or maybe Mr. Smith
should teach you." She rolled her eyes,
adding, "You can't always be a damsel in distress." I nodded in
agreement, and we pressed on with our mission. I paused to grab my water bottle
while Melanie pulled out a canteen from her bag. We took a rest for a minute or
two, then we walked onward.
“We’re getting close to the building now so, take
my hand, Birdie." In no time, we were inside, much to my dismay. I can't
shake off my negative feelings about this journey; it feels risky and
uncertain. I have the phone Mr. Smith gave me, and if necessary, I’ll reach out
to him, but I know there will be consequences for being here with her. My eyes
flicked nervously from side to side as we cautiously navigated the hallway. Suddenly, we caught sight of an alien that looked like
a Grey, but it was taller—perhaps around five foot ten, though I couldn't be
certain. I let out a quiet gasp, “Melanie, look,” and I pointed. We quickly
ducked behind a corner, managing to avoid detection as the alien walked by,
seemingly preoccupied with a device in hand, speaking into. Once he was gone,
we reached the room, and we came across a locked door. “What should we do now?”
I asked. Melanie retrieved a scanner like the one Mr. Smith possesses and then
she positioned it near the lock, allowing the device to search for the code to
open the door.
The door clicked and
slid open at last. We stepped inside, and the dim room lit up, showcasing
various artifacts, each protected by a forcefield. Melanie had her sights set
on one specific item: a medium-sized red crystal. As we got closer, I couldn't
help but be captivated by its beauty. "Is this the one you're after?"
I asked her. "Absolutely," she replied. "Just give me a moment
to remove the forcefield, and then we can have a closer look." She pulled
out another gadget and switched off the forcefield.
"You need to pay attention," she
said, with urgency in her voice. “The moment I remove the crystal, the alarm
will sound, and we must act quickly, or we'll be trapped inside the building.” I
stared at her in shock and exclaimed, “Wait, what!” Instantly, as the shield
dropped, and she raised the crystal, the alarms erupted.
(This was an excerpt from Chapter 14 Book 3.)
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