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 shoulder, 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
I 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, and 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. 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. 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 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.
"What is this place?" I asked, my gaze shifting
nervously as the towering edifice loomed ahead of us. With a smile, she
gestured toward it and said, "That's where we're headed, Birdie,"
before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.
"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, the stunning gold edifice towered 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 else, 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. 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. Melanie
quickly snatched it and shoved it into a durable black storage bag, that she
had pulled from her messenger bag and then tossed it back inside. Without
wasting a moment, she took my hand, and we
bolted out of the room, only to find ourselves face-to-face with two Greys.
Melanie fired her
pistol, managing to stun one of them, but the other was hot on our heels as we
sprinted down the corridor. “Jack, locate our quantum time manipulators and guide
us out of here, like, right now!” she yelled. Just as Jack activated the
transport, we vanished just in time. The building-initiated lockdown
procedures. If he had hesitated for even a minute longer, we would have been
stuck inside, and who knows what kind of trouble we could have found ourselves
in. “I don’t think we should’ve done that,” I mentioned with a worried look on
my face as we trekked back to the ship. I asked her, “I thought the quantum
time manipulators would transport us into the ship?” She did not respond. We
were close enough to spot the ship in the distance. I spotted Jack dashing down
the ramp, quickly making his way toward us. Melanie turned her head and caught
sight of the Greys materializing just a few feet away. We dashed toward the
ship while Jack drew their attention by shooting at them. As we raced forward,
I felt a sharp pain as something struck me, causing me to fall. With a swift
tug, Melanie yanked me up by the arm, her fingers dancing over the controls of
the quantum time manipulator, and in an instant, we found ourselves
aboard the ship. Jack sprinted back to the ship and wasted no time, inputting
coordinates and steering us back to Earth. As we touched down in a deserted
lot, he activated the cloaking mechanism, but I remained paralyzed, I softly
said, “help me.” There was something wrong with my body, I couldn’t move. Melanie
looked at me with concern, assuring me, "Trust me, I’ll make this right,”
she said with urgency in her voice. I was taken aback when she unexpectedly
reached for my phone and called Mr. Smith. His voice boomed through the
receiver, filled with anger. "Don't waste your breath telling me your
location, I can track you down," he snapped. Melanie sighed heavily. Her
frustration evident, "Birdie, I’m truly sorry," she said, her eyes
glistening with unshed tears.
(This is an excerpt from Chapter 14-Book 3.
Images are for the reader's entertainment)
