Doan Time Waver

1. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-0-9905624-1-2
Verlag: Daniel Doan
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 258 Seiten

A story of tampering with fate and its consequences. Delivering the message that everything happens for a reason and the belief that life will fall into place regardless.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Doan, Daniel

Leseproben

1 Meeting the Doc MY NAME IS Blake Dawson, and as of right now, I have become the most promising student in my senior class at Cristo Rey High School—Cristo Rey for short. I didn’t become the best because I was naturally gifted in the head, and definitely not because my study habits were above and beyond. I was at the top of the education pyramid because simply, I can travel back in time. How it came about is a long story: it all began on a Friday. It wasn’t just any Friday; it was test day in history class. And I was late. First, the alarm didn’t go off. Second, my car wouldn’t start. It was countless blocks to school, at one of the busiest times for New York streets. The sidewalks were crowded with the hustle and bustle of people striving to make a living in the city. The air was damp from the morning moisture but the twenty-first century smog eclipsed that dawning tranquility. I hurried along, grumbling with one eye looking out for human obstacles and the other on my broken watch. The outer casing was cracked—don’t recall how it happened—but the digital numbers still showed up fine. I pulled in a deep breath, realizing that I had about ten minutes before my first class started and I was still about fifteen blocks away. My mood plummeted further as the idea of a marked down test slowly pitted itself in my stomach. Stomping my feet with every step, I lost sight of the road and almost bumped into someone. He stood there looking at a tree, waving his arms like a maniac. “Get down here.” He sounded like he wanted to yell but kept his voice at a perfect volume. “Don’t you just sit there and purr all day. I have plenty of things to do.” The tree held particular interest to the man. At first, I didn’t see what he was looking for, and then I caught a glimpse of a wagging tail. I inched closer and a cat came into view. A small one, white in color and it seemed to enjoy teasing its owner. I skidded to a stop and wondered why the man didn’t climb the tree and grab his cat. It wasn’t that big of a tree but then again, the branches looked unstable. The man looked to be over the peak in years. Gray hairs sticking out like needles in a cactus. His outfit was a three-piece suit, slightly wrinkled and oversized but well groomed, nonetheless. I glanced down at my watch again and sighed. I was late already, so there was no harm spending a few minutes helping this man. The cold air stiffened my hands so I blew hot breath into them. The rush of heat tingled my nerves and gave my fingers feeling again. “Sir.” I stepped in. “I’ll get the cat for you.” He smiled and nodded. I stretched my arms over my head and grabbed a handful of branches. Once my grip felt secure, I hoisted into the tree. The rough bark scratched against my skin and the moisture in the air didn’t help with getting a strong foothold in the wood’s pockets. It took a moment to reach the cat, which chose to remain still and wide-eyed, surrendering to its imminent capture without a hint of hostility. I curled one hand around the cat and brought it down carefully, dropping it into the man’s arms before patting the dirt off my clothes. “There you go, sir. Have a nice day.” I turned to walk away. “Now wait a minute, son. I think you deserve some compensation.” The man stroked the cat in his arms. “What’s your name, young sir?” He spoke as if he belonged in an earlier time period. I turned back. “Blake, Blake Dawson, sir.” I mimicked the man’s politeness. “Well Blake, my boy, people here call me Doc Primo. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” This conversation was dragging. But I didn’t have the heart to stop the old man. “Yes sir, quite the pleasure.” He laughed. “So Blake, shouldn’t you be in school right now?” “Well, yeah, I’m running a little late,” I admitted sheepishly. “I should probably get going.” As I turned and paced away, the cat dropped from the man’s arms and trotted by me, brushing against my leg and purring with joy. Doc Primo trailed and picked up the cat again. He must’ve caught sight of my broken watch because it served as the next conservation topic. “Now Blake, how are you supposed to tell time with all those fracture lines cutting across your watch?” I shrugged. “Well, I guess that explains why I’m late to class now, doesn’t it?” I was growing agitated. I didn’t care if I sounded rude or not now. “Time is a tricky concept, isn’t it? Such an abstract idea, yet everything revolves around it. It’s like an intangible master, chaining all of us to its will. Wouldn’t you agree, Blake?” “I guess. Sure.” “What do you think of time travel, Blake?” I thought for a moment. “It would be a useful tool to have,” I replied simply. He smiled as if that was the answer he was looking for. “Now, what would you say if I could bestow this power onto you?” His eyes skewered mine as if he wanted to peer into my soul. “You helped return my precious pet, the least I can do is offer you something in return.” “What are you talking about?” I asked, confused. “What would you say if I can give you the power to go back in time?” “That would be great.” A part of me wanted to make a run for it, thinking he was some crazy old coot, but the other part wanted to stay and find out what he meant. “Stick out your wrist,” the doc commanded. “What?” I said, startled once more. “Stick out your wrist. Your watch is broken, right?” I did as he asked. His hand moved in one swift motion over my wrist, and before I could question what he was doing, my watch had been completely repaired. I couldn’t believe it! The shock from his magic ran up and down my spine. But yes, after the initial jolt, on the side and next to the time adjustor was a small red button, and on the glass casing that previously sheltered the logo now read: Time Waver. “H-how did you do that?” I stuttered, unable to comprehend. “I fixed your watch.” I trapped his gaze and I knew he was serious. “What does Time Waver mean?” I wondered, my eyes narrowed. “And what’s with this red button?” “Time Waver is just a name. It holds no importance. But, on the other hand, that red button there is what allows you to travel back in time.” “Go back in ti—” “Yes, but be warned…every second you go back in time is three minutes that is taken off your life. Use this tool wisely, don’t abuse it unless you want to die prematurely.” He ended on that ominous note. I backpedaled. “Wait, so are you saying I’ll die if I use this?” “Everyone dies at some point, Blake. This watch just makes you die sooner… in technical terms.” “Then why would anyone want to use it?” “I never said you had to. Only use it when you want—or need—to.” Those words rattled me. It felt as though I had all the power in the world but was shackled down. It was like forbidding an eagle from flapping its magnificent wings. “So how do I use it?” I asked. “Good question.” The doc nodded. “That red button acts like an alarm. The first time you press it, the display screen should reset to 00:00. Adjust the numbers to the exact time you want to travel back. Remember that p.m. and a.m. are relevant. Once you’re done, press the button again and it will toss you back in time.” My eyebrows rose instinctively as confusion and suspicion masked my expression. “For example,” Doc Primo continued, “it’s about 8:15 right now. If you press the red button and set it to say…6:15, you will travel back to that point in time. Understand?” I nodded slowly, understanding now. “How far can I go back in time?” “Seventy-two hours.” This time I nodded. “That’s three whole days,” I said to myself. Then a fear struck me; if I go back in time, would that mean there will be two of me? I decided to ask. “No, Blake, there will be no alternate reality. Time is linear, so you’re moving on that line back to a previous point.” Doc Primo stopped and thought for a moment, probably figuring out a simpler way to explain things. “The watch will transport you to the same exact spot you’re in depending on how far you go back.” I tried to wrap my head around the concept. “So you’re saying if I press the red button and set it to…let’s say…3 hours ago, around 5 a.m., I would be transported into my bed?” “Precisely, and wearing the same clothes you were wearing at that time.” “Would I know I went back in time?” He chuckled, obviously enjoying my bewildered state. “Yes, you will retain all knowledge and information from the time and place from which you traveled.” I smiled. I didn’t know if I was starting to believe him or not, but the idea of actually going back in time was enough to get my blood racing. “How many times can I use this power?” I said thoughtfully. Doc Primo gave out a small...