2 Chapter Two

2013

Pulling into a small motel, Michael quickly paid for their room, and made his way inside.

"So what gives? I thought we were heading to my old location, at the run down apartments?" the boy said, setting his pack on one of the beds.

"Um… honestly I'm not sure. Something led me here." He looked toward Graham, as he watched him confusingly.

The boy sat on the bed and asked. "What do you mean something led you?"

Sitting across from him, he stated. "Well, you know how you obviously have a gift?" the boy nodded. "So do I. The one that directed me here is basically what I like to call 'led by instinct'. I make my way to certain places driven only by instinct, and then I find some reason as to why I'm here."

"So, then, what do we do now?" Graham asked, puzzled by the change of plans.

Smiling at him, Michael said. "Well I believe we wait."

"Do you at least know what we are waiting for?"

"Actually, no I don't." He chuckled. "I know it seems weird but this is how my gift works. Every time it has worked out, so just be patient, and trust me."

"Do you at least have some small idea how long we have to wait,…or...a clue...,even an idea as to why we are waiting here?"

Sitting up he could see the boy's impatience, Michael answered. "I do have an idea as to what's happening in our situation that can help a little."

"Could you fill me in?"

"Um…yea….it's just….." shifting his position, he looked at the boy and stated sternly. "Ok, so, after everything you've explained, we don't know exactly what you can do….correct?"

Graham nodded.

Relaxing, Michael said. "Ok, so this is what I gather so far. From everything I was told before I met you, your mom…Alice…, went back in time and basically erased you, creating an alternate timeline. You are in some way a life giver, which I don't know exactly what that means but you were able to keep yourself alive therefore helping create that alternate timeline. Now somehow we are streaming two timelines. Do you kinda understand so far?"

"Somewhat." The boy replied.

"Ok…continuing…so my guess right now is your mom is trying to recreate you, and she's jumping through different timelines trying to remember. The problem so far that I see is, well…" shifting again Michael asked. "Remember the special girl I told you about?"

Thinking about it, Graham nodded.

"Good. Brianna told me for some reason you were born eighteen years in the past. So from what I can gather your mom may be trying to recreate you, and, it's not something she can do because she would actually have to travel to the future, considering you were born in the past, you would've originally been from the future. So she met Alex your father in the future, basically right now, she is traveling with no clue as to where she is supposed to travel to. In doing so she risks disrupting the timeline further by trying to recreate you, which you never were erased to be recreated…but she doesn't know that either…."

Watching him, the boy looked lost.

Michael continued. "Ok, I have been trying to put scenarios in my head as to some of the outcomes…, if your mom continues, she may run into someone she thinks is your father, sleep with them, creating another child that would not have existed and thus creating another timeline. Or she could even change something that had a huge impact on her life thus creating a timeline from that." Running his hand through his hair, he finished. "You see I don't know, with this there are so many possibilities and outcomes…. I just don't know."

Graham sighed. "Yea it sounds like it…Jesus…" Looking toward the window he asked. "So what's up with the planet thing in the sky, because I'm guessing since there's no worldwide panic there's not a lot of people that can see it."

"So you see it to? I wanted to ask." Michael said. "According to April, Brianna's mom, that's the contradiction. Because we are streaming two timelines it…" Depending on you, this could be the beginning of the end. Remembering what she said he cringed. "Okay you know what…, no matter what it could end badly, that's what that is just a big bad omen. Let's leave it at that and focus on what we have to do. Now as to the reason we are here, I'm guessing I will be given some clue as to our next destination and how to find your mom, we just have to trust that's what this is about."

"So do you know what we have to do yet?"

"Not yet….but I'm sure it will come to light soon." Laying back on the bed, Michael finished. "For now, let's just get some rest, because I have a feeling that relaxing, for us, is going to be few and far between."

Michael watched as the boy made himself comfortable and grabbed the remote off the stand. The room was small but accommodating. With two beds, a small table and two chairs the place was meant for a small stay but could also house you in the event the stay was longer. Although the orange décor was enough to make sure anyone rush through whatever their plans, and leave as soon as possible. Once the boy settled in, Michael laid his head back and closed his eyes.

Accustomed to the makeshift world, he watched as the cherry blossoms fell around him. Turning in a semi-circle he made out the area as that of Green Peter. Looking up the sun glistened beyond the trees and he could feel the stinging as he tried to focus on the orange orb. As the small pink flowers continued to fall, he could feel every petal when they touched him lightly, and fluttered to the ground. Before becoming too mesmerized by the sight he turned full circle only to find Brianna sitting on a stump with one single pink rose. Twirling it in her fingers, it reminded him of the time he first peered into her ability.

"So, I'm guessing this is that grand entrance you talked about." He chuckled.

Smiling she said. "Yup."

"I can see why you like it." Making his way to the small girl, he asked. "So, I'm also guessing you're the reason I headed to a motel instead of straight to a broken apartment."

"Correct again Beastman." She said, placing the rose on the stump, she proceeded to make her way around him. Looking up at him she continued. "You already have the room, stay there until around five in the morning okay?"

"Why?"

Holding her hand up to silence him, she said. "I'm not done. At five a.m. sharp, go to the front of your jeep and pull out the tracker that was placed underneath the front bumper on the passenger's side."

"Wait a minute." Confused he asked. "When was a tracking device placed on my car? Who's tracking us?"

"You're getting ahead of yourself Beastman." She said silencing him. "Once you get rid of the device you won't have to worry about him catching up to you. For now."

"For now? Who's him? Now that you made it clear it's a guy."

"I don't know who he is exactly, he eludes me. He placed a device on my mom's car too." Walking back toward her stump she picked up the rose and began twirling it once again. "I know he's a bad person, I just don't know how bad."

"Ok, so there is a bad guy after us? Why?"

"You know why, and if you don't, you soon will. Let me tell you what I do know though okay?"

Sitting in front of her stump, Michael watched as the girl continued.

"At some point in time he caught onto the contradiction that's now taking place. He also managed to figure out key players, he probably knew before you ever went to Green Peter. He's managed to elude me and my time keeper."

"Tenille?" he interrupted.

Smiling at him she continued. "Yup. That means he's able to move through or around time, I'm not sure." Looking at him more sternly she continued. "Now listen carefully Beastman, we are sure he has many abilities, most people are limited by what they can do within the same categories. Like John and his use of fire he can only do things that pertain to fire, with the exception of the subliminal opening that he used to access Alex."

"I know, that's why I showed him…."

Intervening she said. "Let me finish. This man has many abilities, he's very dangerous. He can not only utilize his own gifts but block other peoples, which makes him practically unstoppable. The best thing you can do for now is avoid him okay?"

Michael nodded. "So, after this, tomorrow, I head to the apartment, correct? Or am I destined to head somewhere else?"

"You can head to the apartment, but you won't find Alice."

"What's the point then?"

"Graham has clues, heading there will help his memory. You have to remember Beastman, he doesn't remember everything that he could, that would help you."

"He was like ten, what all could he remember?"

"Enough to help." The girl smiled at him. "Trust me Beastman, helping Graham's memory is going to be a lot easier than tracking Alice."

"What's that mean, and how the hell am I supposed to track someone who's maneuvering through time?"

"Let's start with this." Placing her rose to the side she continued, grasping it tightly in her hand. "Keep in mind that, it's like you said, Graham was ten years old. Alice will be looking for a ten year old. The apartment is a key, when Alice remembers where it's at. Graham is eighteen now, when you run into Alice she will be skittish about who Graham is, you also have to remember he doesn't look like her Graham. Once you do run into her, you only have one opportunity, if she travels that's it."

"Great, what the hell does that mean?"

"For now that's all the information I can give you..., but this won't be the last time we talk." Placing the rose down, the girl placed her hands behind her back and stated. "Now wake up Beastman."

Jumping to his feet Michael looked around the small room, outside the window, the night had settled in. Graham was fast asleep laying on his side facing away from him. Reaching for his phone he looked at the time.

4:00 a.m.

Although it didn't feel like it had been that long in the makeshift world Brianna controlled, the time said everything. She must've somehow contorted time. He didn't feel tired so he had to guess he was ready for the day. Sitting back on the bed he watched whatever had been playing on the T.V., just to pass the time.

Plan of action: he would allow the boy to sleep for an hour longer, remove the tracking device, and then go about with his original idea. After all, Brianna did say this would not be the last time he saw her.