A Time Traveler’s Companion: excerpt from Book 3 Chapter 14

 

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.

 "This time, I need to be careful," I continued. She chuckled and gave a slight shake of her head. She suggested we link our devices, and in an instant, we found ourselves 100 yards away from an unusual building. This was no typical structure; it appeared to be crafted from gold and featured a peculiar architectural design to it. "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, 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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