Chapter 31: Stop the Time

Year 2030

[KIA]

"How did you both get out of the car?"

This is about the tenth time the police have questioned us. Dad's car was out of shape, but fortunately the truck driver survived, although he was seriously injured. The giant trailer truck overturned. I don't understand what really happened. There were two or three other cars that also crashed in this accident, but I don't think there were any fatalities.

"It happened fast, Officer. We just jumped out of the car and ran here as fast as lightning."

Yeah, as fast as lightning, literally.

"But that doesn't make any sense," says the policeman, confused.

"Steve, the alcohol level of the truck driver is 70%," says a female police officer who runs up to this police officer named Steve Bronson.

Mr. Bronson sighs and shakes his head.

“Record everything and detain the truck driver. We'll take him to the police station. And have you called the fire department?”

Firefighter? But nothing seems to burn.

"Yes, a few minutes ago," replies the policewoman.

"So are we under arrest?" asks Dad.

Mr. Bronson smiles pleasantly. "Of course not, you guys are just victims. But there's a chance we'll call you guys again if there's any further problems. But.. Maybe not, so don't worry."

Dad turns to me, smiles a little and takes his cell phone from his pocket.

"Ramon, are you busy?"

Dad is calling Ramon, one of our closest friends, but I can’t hear an answer there.

"Could you pick me up at 12 Road? When you see a big accident, well.. that's where I am."

I hear Ramon's voice screaming a bit, until Dad takes his cell phone away from his ear. I giggle.

"I'm fine, Ramon. Don't worry. Come quickly. I'll tell you everything later."

Dad puts his phone away and hugs me. I rest my head on his warm chest.

"You have to tell me, Kia."

"I only found out a few months ago, Dad."

Daddy listens to me carefully, without answering.

"I was in the room, and I was painting," I continue. "I accidentally knocked my oil bottle, and I spontaneously screamed 'Stop!' while holding out my hand, hoping the bottle would stop and not fall."

"And the time stopped," Dad mutters.

I nod. "And the time stopped. I took the oil bottle and returned it to the table. I didn't know what to do next, then I learned to experiment with other things."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I was gonna tell you, but I had to make sure."

"And you can now control time, as you wish?"

"I've just learned to stop time and bring it back to normal, Dad.. That's all. I don't know what else I can do. But, I feel my ability is getting stronger, Dad. I don't even need to say 'Stop' anymore."

"We need to find out what else you can do."

"How?"

"Actually, Kia.. I don't know. I didn't even have any expectations that you inherit your great grandmother's magic. I don't even know how it's even possible."

I sigh. Dad has told me many times about my great-grandmother, and I have seen some magical wonders in the forest several times. And Mom... I believe Mom is still alive in the white rose that Dad keeps in our bed room. The white rose never dies. I know that in my family there’s some kind of magical traits, and I'm also curious to know what other abilities I have.

"But I'm so proud of you, OK? You're incredibly awesome, and we'll figure this out together," Dad continues.

I hug him and smile, relieved.

Ramon comes in about 10 minutes, and he rushes to us and immediately picks me up onto his arms and pats Dad on the shoulder.

"What happened?"

“The accident happened.”

"But you..." Ramon doesn’t finish his sentence. "Kia, are you okay?" he asks me gently.

"Safe and sound," I reply.

Ramon looks at Dad closely, he seems to be trying to think of the possibilities. Dad always says Ramon is his most genius friend, and I believe him.

I’ve been silent while observing this excitement. Dad knows Ramon is trying to guess, but Dad remains silent.

"Who has the power to stop the time?"

Dad and I are both wide-eyed. Ramon immediately guessed correctly!

"How do you...?"

“Who? You? No.. Not you,” Ramon doubts that Dad did that and he then turns to me. "You Kia? You can stop the time?”

I nod.

"Oh my God."

Dad shrugs. “I just found out today too, Ramon.”

“This is incredible.”

I snap my fingers in front of Ramon's face and I ask Dad to take me over from Ramon’s arms so I would move into Dad’s. I’m 9 but I’m still small and people still love to hold me in their arms.

Then I wave my hand again slowly.

Ramon is confused to see me on my Dad’s arms.

"And you get to choose who participates in your stopping time thing?"

I nod and grin happily.

“I want to see it, Kia. Please do it again,” pleads Ramon.

I wave my hand so Dad and everyone else stops in time except me and Ramon. I hold out my hands for Ramon to remove me from Dad’s arms.

"Put me down, please, Ramon."

"OK."

Then I snap my fingers and everything goes back to normal. Dad smiles when he sees me standing on this green grass without him noticing it.

“So that was my first time, Ramon. My time's gone for a second.”

Ramon sighs and shakes his head. “Amazing, Justin. That was..Amazing.”

Dad and I look at each other.

"Are there any casualties?" Asks Ramon.

“Mostly are badly injured,” Dad answers while looking at the crash site which is still bustling with victims, police and spectators who have started to arrive.

I hear a siren.

Is that a fire department, or an ambulance?

“It's getting more crowded here. Please just take me home, would you?”

“They don't keep you here? You free to go?”

"Yep."

The three of us walk towards Ramon's car, while seeing many people passing by around the accident site. The fire department truck has arrived, followed by an ambulance. I'd love to see them working together to clear this accident, but we have to go.

We've got into Ramon's car. He turns the car and reverses direction, because the road is completely closed for the accident. We pass a warning sign and there are several policemen standing guard along the way. Luckily there aren’t too many cars here, so the road is not completely jammed.

“I need to tell you something,” says Ramon. “Do you remember the girl I told you? Morla?”

“Morla? Yes, I remember,” Daddy replies.

Who is Morla?

“She can help you. She has the power to stop the time, too."

"What?"

“We're kinda close, lately. She showed me her power with time like several days ago. She can stop the time, jump to the past and the future."

"Are you serious?" Dad asks, glaring in disbelief.

"Yes."

"I thought my family members are the only fairies left.. Or magicians, or witches, or whatever they call it."

“Maybe Morla is one of the descendants that your mother told you.. I mean your grandmother? She said there were some other fairies left but she never had any contact with them, didn't she?”

“Yes. It's possible.”

“What's your grandma's name? You never told me."

“Ygritte. Ygritte Ashford.”

Ashford. I remember Morla mentioned that name.”

"So she knows my grandmother?"

“I believe so. Let me take you to her right now, and you can ask her yourself."

Morla. I have never heard of the name, because Ramon and Dad have never told me about her, and Ramon has never taken her to our house.

Maybe it's Ramon's new friend. But did she really know my great-grandmother? Can she teach me some other magic?