The Time to Trust (Part 2).

"I think he was offended," David said in a guilty voice as he watched Sean climb the stairs, stomping angrily on every step, and disappear from view.

Elena put her hand on her husband's shoulder and kissed his cheek, "Calm down, don't worry." She turned her gaze to the table, where she had left her phone a minute earlier, and now it was empty.

Sly kid, she chuckled to herself. Hasn't changed at all. More precisely, he will not change.

"If Sean reacted this way to our refusal to take him with us, then I don't even want to imagine how mad Nick will be," David put several documents, passports, a small travel kit and two bottles of water in his backpack. It was the strangest travel kit he had ever packed in his life.

Even to work in the office, he took more things with him than now. And they were not going to the next store across the road, but to the neighboring mainland, thousands of kilometers away.

This thought came unexpectedly. Was it the fault of the alcohol drunk the day before, or Daniel's phrase, said as if unintentionally, but after Nick went to bed, the adults consulted and decided not to postpone their actions until the last day.

As they say, new year, new life. So why not start this new life from the first day?

According to Nick's information and what Amelia wrote, the energy flash was supposed to occur a few days after the new year - on the day when the sun approached the earth at its closest distance. Perihelion.

But this year has been unusual. In addition to the location of the sun, the rest of the planets lined up in a single chain, forming a parade of planets.

Mystics, psychics and astrologers vied with each other shouting what a unique phenomenon awaited the Earth. And that you need to take advantage of this event and make wishes or make a collage of dreams in order to nourish it with strong cosmic energy.

But none of them realized that for most of the inhabitants of the planet, this day was to be the beginning of their end.

The period of several thousand years, when a person ruled over the territory entrusted to him for use, was ending. And the human beings themselves rapidly brought this event closer with their actions and thoughts.

Everything has a price. Anyone who is not ready or does not want to take responsibility for their decisions, even mental ones, must be ready for the consequences of these decisions.

"Are you sure we won't need anything else?" David asked Marcus, who was sitting at a desk in front of a laptop and checking the latest data.

"I'm sure. Everything you need is already in place. But I hope we don't need it. What's the point in long preparations if you decide to go all-in?" Taubert raised his eyebrows and shrugged. He himself still did not understand how he agreed to this idea.

His plan has long gone not the way the man had planned, and one more step would hardly have changed the situation.

"I hope you understand what you are doing. I would not like to get into the media with headlines that the Anderson family was illegally in a foreign country, and even in government-protected territory," David grimaced. Even though he put Elena's passport and his own, but where in the documents will the stamps on crossing the border come from, if their "transport" was sitting at the table and drinking coffee and chewing a bun?

Marcus leaned back in his chair and stretched lazily, "Why do you think I took control of the top government? With a father-in-law like me, you can now live in the white house of any president as in a hotel, and he will bring you coffee in the morning. And no unnecessary bureaucracy with visas and entry permits," the man yawned.

David shook his head. Using a president of some country as a butler did not inspire him, but the ability to move to the desired location in a matter of seconds, get the job done, and return back before dinner was tempting.

Marcus unplugged the phone from the laptop and handed it to Armand, "Done. There are duplicate access passwords. This program will beep as soon as we are done. Simon will track the data from the base. If something goes wrong, take the kids and Lina and come down here," Taubert showed his brother a dot on the map shown on the display,

"This is the city library building. On the second floor, there is an entrance to the bunker. Everything there is ready for an autonomous life for twenty years. But I hope it won't come in handy."

"What won't come in handy?!" a harsh voice interrupted Marcus's explanation and everyone turned their gaze to the guy who was walking down the stairs with a quick step. Nick's eyes blazed with fire and his appearance was far from the man who was laughing and celebrating the new year ten hours earlier.

"Can you explain to me what the hell is going on here?!" the guy barked. It wasn't necessary to be a genius to figure out the situation.

Elena and David were dressed in light but comfortable sportswear, as if going on a hike. But the temperature outside the window was far from summer. Stylish sunglasses on the head of Marcus and a polo shirt would hardly fit the description of a winter wardrobe in New York or Boston. And something told Nick that they were clearly not going to Hawaii.

"Oh, Nicky, good morning! We thought you were going to sleep until lunchtime. No headache or anything?" Marcus broke into a tantalizing smile, ignoring the murderous streams of fury directed towards him.

"You! I knew that you did it on purpose!" Nick jabbed a finger in the direction of Taubert, but the latter only threw his hands up in an innocent gesture.

"Common, do you really think I would use such low-level tricks?!" Marcus said in an offended tone, and everyone present almost choked, so believable it sounded. Marcus continued, "I told you that you are still little to participate in adult games. Especially in the roulette where there is alcohol. And if you keep complaining now, next time go to bed at ten o'clock like Sean."

Nick clenched his fingers into a fist and lowered his upturned hand, though he would rather have it dropped on the jaw of one pompous twin whose face was now expressing genuine pleasure.

When midnight struck and the new year officially came into its own, Marcus suddenly said that such a celebration was too boring. Out of thin air, a roulette appeared on the table, on which stood glasses. Taubert suggested a game - truth or dare, and the one who refused to answer the question would spin the roulette and drink whatever came out.

Nick only now realized how stupidly he had set himself up. Following the lead of Marcus' sarcastic jokes, the guy had to either answer sensitive questions, the answers to which he would not have voiced even to himself alone in the shower, or spin the roulette wheel. And strangely enough, most of the glasses were with juice and light champagne, and only a few contained strong alcohol. And Nick had to choose them.

Damned Taubert! Even a complete fool would guess that Marcus was cheating! And he did it on purpose so that Nick could not wake up in the morning, and they would have fled without him.

"I'm going with you."

"No," Marcus snapped clearly, closed the laptop and stowed it in his bag.

"What do you mean, no? It's not up to you to decide. David-" Nick turned to his father, but David's face was serious and in complete agreement with Marcus.

"Nick, we discussed it and decided that you have to stay at home. You will help Armand and Polina. They will look after the children, and if something happens, they will transport you and them to a safe place. Daniel has already left for the clinic to prepare Rick for possible transportation. Besides-" David began to explain, but Nick interrupted him.

"Are you serious? I'm not five years old, David! I did not travel in time for this, to stay at home, guard the child and watch TV at the most crucial moment! The flash will be in three days, but you decided everything quietly and did not even inform me! So you gave me something to drink so as not to take me with you while I am sleeping blissfully?!"

Elena walked over to the guy, hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. Nick fell silent in surprise and lost his fierce fuse. "We conferred and thought it would be safer this way. For you and for Sean."

"Nicholas, listen," Marcus straightened up, his voice not a hint of his usual playfulness, "Your appearance has already changed a lot. So why not take a moment and change the rest? It is not clear from your memory how you ended up in that place. But if you are not there, then the situation will not be able to repeat itself."

"Don't take Sean then. What have I got to do with it?" The guy muttered displeasingly but began to understand the thread of logic in the words of Marcus.

"You are as unpredictable an element as Sean. He wasn't happy with the news either, by the way. I think he demanded taking him with us even more eagerly than he usually demands for chocolate, added David.

The child's behavior was unexpected. Sean was rarely capricious, but demanding was the first time. Especially David was alarmed by the ultimatum not to take Nick too. When asked why Sean was against Nicholas's participation in their trip, the boy could not answer and fled to his room, frowning.

"We decided not to wait for the right day and try to carry out the ritual in advance. If something doesn't work out, we will have a couple of days' supply to orient ourselves according to the situation," Marcus looked at his watch, "We will move out in ten minutes. Did you take the pendant and the knife?" he turned to David.

"They are in my study on the table. I'll pick them up now."

"Nick will bring them. Can you?" Elena stopped her husband and looked at the guy with a smile. "Bring them here, please."

Nicholas nodded his head and, lowering his shoulders, trudged to David's office. The kukri knife lay on the table on a velvet bag along with Amelia's pendant. Nick picked up the pendant and stroked the delicate pattern of gold threads with the pad of his thumb.

From the decoration came the power that attracted, beckoned, demanded something. Previously, he did not notice this. As if something had changed in the pendant. Or maybe something has changed in himself.

He didn't know how many minutes had passed, as he plunged deeply into his thoughts, until a voice brought him out of a strange trance.

"If you are asked to bring something, then disappearing for five minutes is not very nice, Nicky," Marcus went up to the guy, took the pendant from Nick's hands and the knife from thet table, "What are you thinking about? I asked you three times."

"Hmm," Nick himself didn't know what got into him. "I want to go with you."

Marcus knitted his brows and sighed. The next moment, his face relaxed, he put his hand on the guy's shoulder and quietly said, "Don't be afraid. I will protect them. Even at the cost of my life. Nothing will happen with Elena and David. Can you trust me?"

"You're asking like I have a choice," Nick chuckled.

"A person always has a choice, Nicholas. As long as he or she is alive. Here are just a few who think differently, and become the walking dead, imitating this life. Do not be like them."

Nick said nothing. He no longer knew if his actions were his own choice, or if he again did what Marcus wanted. After all, in the end, no matter how this reality differed from the one in which he lived, Marcus Taubert was the one whose opinion could not be ignored.

"I gave Simon an assignment to prepare all the media. If something happens, no one dares to blame your parents for something. We launched the MarcNet fusion system tonight. It will monitor most of the world's population."

"MarcNet?" Nick wondered, "Wasn't it launched in February?"

Marcus clicked his tongue, "You know, it's a little weird to hear about events that haven't happened yet, in such a tone that is a long forgotten story. But you're right. Initially, we planned to launch it in February, but tonight I gave the order to do it now."

"I see," Nick lowered his head and stared at the empty table. Marcus changed what was part of Nick's life so easily in a matter of hours that this reality was more and more different from his home. He suddenly felt like a stranger in this world.

But is that why he came here? Why are there such mixed feelings of sadness and joy?

"Nicholas, listen," Marcus squeezed the guy's shoulders and made him look at the man, "My company's developments are far ahead. We will be able to maintain the condition of your body as long as necessary. We will collect all the information that is in the scrolls. You and Elena will check it again. I can't promise it right now, but in a year, five years - I'm sure we can find a way to get you back. To the point where you can change something if you want it. I promise you."

Nick felt embarrassed. The hatred he had for this man evaporated. He did not know how different this Marcus was from the one in his world. Most likely, he was the same. Nick simply did not see it, as he saw the world around through the prism of his own perception.

If a person is not ready to look at reality through the eyes of another person, then he is stupid and blind.

"If I wanted to be somewhere, it would be here with you. Even if I'm not supposed to be here," whispered Nick, voicing desires, which he was afraid to admit even to himself.

Marcus grabbed the guy and hugged him so tightly that Nicholas could not breathe. "Well done, good boy," the man stroked the guy's head, and then ruffled his hair, "Everything will be fine. We are going to have so much fun here! I will teach you to create such illusions - you will be blown away!"

From this thought, Taubert felt such a warmth in his chest that the pain that had tormented him for two decades began to recede. Maybe for the sake of this insecure, but bright guy it is worth living in this world a little more? Amelia will understand and wait.

A few minutes later, they returned to the living room, where Elena and David were waiting. Armand and Polina exchanged glances, noticing the pleased look of Marcus, and smiled in return.

"Nicholas, keep an eye on my brother so he takes good care of my grandson," Taubert said with mock seriousness.

"Yes, sir," Nick rapped out.

"Are you sure the world will end in a couple of days? Your mutual courtesies scare me," Armand chuckled, noting how Nick became an affectionate kitten from a snarling lion cub towards Marcus. It is not known what they talked about in David's office, but they returned with a look as if they were keeping some kind of shared secret.

"Bring it down to your Peru, and I'll go and sleep some more," Nick yawned and stretched lazily, "Just don't be late for lunch."

David grinned as he watched Nick try to look indifferent. Even at twenty, the features of five-year-old Sean slipped in him. Or is it only in the eyes of parents that children always remain children?

Elena hugged the guy, and while David and Marcus were gathering their last things, she whispered in his ear, "Tell me, when you were in the corridor of time, did you see anyone there?"

Nick turned his head and stared into blue eyes, the radiance of which reminded him of the shade of one jewel enclosed in an ancient pendant. For some reason, his heart ached.

"Did he tell you his name?" Elena asked, as if she had already received confirmation of the previous question.

Her gaze was so penetrating that it seemed to Nick that the space around had disappeared, leaving only him and her.

"…Ren. …Taaren," Nick answered with his lips alone.

Elena closed her eyes, the air around her sparkled, vibrating in response to the silently spoken name.

"Ren, then. I thought so," she kissed Nick on the cheek and smiled, the boy's chest was squeezed by inexplicable melancholy. "Goodbye and see you, Sean Nicholas Anderson. I was glad to see you again, the last guardian of time..."

Clap!

Marcus clapped his hands, and the sounds of the surrounding space fell on Nick again. Elena stood next to him and looked at the guy as if nothing had happened. The woman winked, walked over to David and stood beside him.

"So, boys, girls! Kisses, hugs are over. If we have time, we'll grab some souvenirs from Peru," Marcus put his sunglasses on, and his lips showed his most seductive smile, "Don't miss your daddy," he blew a kiss, pulled Elena and David to him and the three disappeared from the room as if they weren't there.

Nick unfolded his palm, which he had been holding for several minutes. It contained a thing as a symbol of trust and promise. A chain threaded through two wedding rings, inside of which the inscription "I love you beyond time" was carved.