Author’s Note: So things have been crazy I’m almost done with the semester and I’m going to try and get some more parts written so I can post regularly. I hope everyone is staying safe during this time. Virtual hugs to everyone. Here is the long-awaited part 5!
I wake to one German Shepherd and three cats surrounding me. It’s the middle of the night and the only one awake is Al. “Hey, why are you awake?” I whisper trying not to wake anyone else.
“I’m keeping watch. Some of the fences are broken and we’ve heard wolves nearby. How did you sleep? Any more nightmares?”
“Luckily, no nightmares but I don’t feel rested. I don’t feel as if I can sleep anymore though.” At the look, she gives me I add, “I can try for some more in a little bit. I’ve been sleeping a lot.”
“I suppose you’re right. It makes sense you moved us through time a little bit more than you had to. A neighbor saw Randy and asked where we had been…” she hesitates as if unsure whether or not to say anything.
“What do you mean? How long were we gone?” She looks unsure.
“I don’t know we should ask Randy in the morning. I just overheard part of Randy and Danny’s conversation. When you tell everyone about Adult Robert we could ask?” She looks pensive. “I’ve looked outside. It doesn’t look like four tornadoes just passed through. It looks like there has been regrowth.”
When she mentions Adult Robert it makes me realize that I’m not so sure that was Robert. He spoke… differently. He didn’t use contractions. I suppose when he grows up he won’t call me sissy anymore but I imagine him speaking more like Randy. “We have a lot to talk about it would seem.”
As Al turns towards back towards the doors, keeping watch, I think about what happened in the last few days. First, four twisters turn up out of nowhere. There was nothing on the radar or predicted in the weather. We haven’t been having lots of back and forth warm and cool fronts. Then, I can move through time supposedly or maybe it could be I was moving time forward while we were staying in place. I suppose it could go either way. Depending on how much time we have moved through. This is an odd development. Allegedly I can also move my mind forward through time and talk to my baby brother as an adult. I’m a little tempted to try now but I can tell I am not up to my full strength. I look around the shelter. Why are we still staying in the storm shelter? Unless the twisters destroyed the house and this is all that is left. If that is the case why do the shelter doors still shut?
“Sissy you’re awake,” my thoughts interrupted as Robert slams into my side. “I was worried you wouldn’t wake up again.”
“Really? You think you’d get rid of me that easy?” I kiss him on the head. “How long did I sleep?”
“Three days.” Woah three days? That must have been a lot of power I used. I ruffle his hair.
“Well, that explains why I am so hungry. Let’s fix some breakfast.” I go over to our makeshift kitchen area to make breakfast.
The rest of our group wake up as the smell of the bacon I’m currently cooking wafts through the shelter. Robert is to the side holding the plate with the rest of it. I hear Randy walk up behind me. “Figures you’d be the one that cooks our entire bacon stash.”
“Reportedly I’ve been sleeping for three days so I deserve a little bit of bacon.” For effect, I take a slice off the plate and crunch down. “I’ve got some things to tell everyone once we’ve settled down for breakfast.”
“And I have some things to tell you and Al.” Randy ruffles Robert’s hair. “But first it’s been three days since we’ve had a proper meal due to you slacking off,” he winks at her, “So we’ll have some breakfast.”
“Oh, sorry to burden you pore soles with the task of cooking.” It somehow feels comforting that we can tease each other like this. Despite what had happened. “I heard I moved us a bit more than a few minutes.”
“I told Danny to let me tell you,” he curses under his breath.
“Relax, Al overheard you.”
“Al was asleep though. I’m not trying to hide anything from her.” He runs a hand through his hair. “I just wanted to tell everyone at once.”
A hand reaches around for the bacon plate. “So let’s hear it then. How long have we been missing Randy?”
“Wait what do you mean missing?” Robert asks cluing into the conversation around him.
“Rita moved us not in space, Robert, but through time as well. And it wasn’t just a few minutes.”
He stops and looks at Danny, uncomfortable. I’m impatient, “What Randy spit it out!”
At the same time, Robert is still on my new development of powers. “What through time!.”
“We’ve been missing for six years, Rita.”
“Oh.” Well so much for staying under the radar of the registry.