Chapter Nine: Family

“Warner!” I heard my mother scream my name.

Wait, what? My mother?

“Mum? Is that you?” I jumped from the bed and stared at my room. It was a pretty plain place, with just a mattress thrown on the ground and a study table. But it was mine.

“How? How am I back here?” I asked aloud, but no answer came.

“If you don’t come down this instant, I’ll make sure you run errands every day for a week!” My mother threatened from downstairs, and I ran down, my heart hammering against my chest.

“Mother? You’re here,” I jumped into her arms and began to weep, ugly tears running down my face. I didn’t think of looking cool then; that was the absolute last thing on my mind.

“Are you fine, Warner? Did you eat something bad? What’s wrong with you?” My mom looked at me with concern, her warm green eyes more beautiful than any gemstone I’d ever seen.

“Nothing is wrong, mom." I love you. I love you a lot. And I’m sorry.” The words came spilling out of me, and I didn’t bother to hold them back. I had a second chance, or was it a third? How many people had that?

“Hmm, you might be running a fever. Grace! Come here and see if your brother is sick.” My mother called for my little sister, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But little Grace stepped on the landing, chewing a piece of gum.

“Has someone suddenly decided to become a mummy’s boy? That’s not a good look on you, by the way,” young Grace said, her demeanor one of casual indifference. I left the arms of my mother and jumped into hers, hugging her with such intensity that it surprised even me.

“You’re right, mother; he’s definitely sick. And it has to be terminal.” Grace joked, but she didn’t push me away.

“I don’t know, Grace, what if your brother has been lonely and we couldn’t see it?” My mother tried to rationalize my actions, but I knew she was just trying to take the blame again.

“I’m sorry, mom." I’m sorry, Grace. I’ve been an absolute douchebag to everyone. I promise to fix that,” I said, still hugging Grace.

“You can say that again,” Grace quipped, and I smiled even through my tears. Seeing my family again, it felt like I’d been given a priceless gift.

“Grace! You shouldn’t talk to your brother that way,” my mother chided, but I truly didn’t mind. If it were me before, I’d get all huffy and lock myself in my room for an indefinite period, with my mother bringing food to me.

I wasn’t just a brat; I was an insufferable one. I had no idea how they could cope with me that way. But they loved me, even when I couldn’t see it. How was I so blind to the kindness that lived around me? How couldn’t I see it for what it was?

“Forget the groceries for now; maybe we should do something together as a family. Your brother is feeling under the weather, so would you like to go run errands on his behalf?” Mother was talking to Grace, but I butted in immediately.

“No, please. Give me one or two days, and I’ll get the groceries. Just don’t let her go on my behalf.” I knew I sounded desperate, but when my mother told Grace to go instead, I had a vivid recollection of the crash, and a shiver went through my body that had nothing to do with the cold.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you, but you know you can tell me anything, right? I’m your mother, but I can also be your friend if you’d let me. Is it drugs? Women? Talk to me.” The worry lines creasing her forehead were causing almost physical pain to me, but I couldn’t tell her what happened because I wasn’t sure she’d believe me.

I couldn’t even believe it. And the only consolation I had was that if I had returned to the moment in time before I went shopping for groceries, then I wouldn’t have gotten into an accident. And I wouldn’t mess up the lives of Elijah and Rebecca. They’d be with their families and not have to worry about me.

The time slipper. Who would believe such a ludicrous theory?

“Something happened, but it’s not something I can tell you now. I promise it’s nothing that severe,” I added in haste, seeing the look of concern that she and Grace shared. I was lying through my teeth, but it was because I needed to protect them. I needed to step up this time.

“Okay, I’ll believe you. But remember, we’re your family. Whatever happens to you concerns us. And no matter what you’re going through, we can go through it together, as a family.” As she said that, the faces of Elijah and Rebecca flashed through my mind, and I pulled her and Grace into a hug again, my eyes tightly shut. I didn’t want to face the world, even though I knew I had to.

I couldn’t escape it even if I wanted to, and I couldn’t make light of my situation even if I wanted to. According to what Rebecca and Elijah said, the “voice” activated after a traumatic experience, and that gave rise to new abilities. I didn’t bother going outside to see the world I was used to; there’d be enough time to do that later.

I needed to keep a hold on my family to make sure nothing happened that would destroy the tranquility that we’d formed. And I was going to protect our peace, even if I didn’t know how to do that yet.

I wasn’t going to give up, no. And if Anukai were to ever return, I needed to be ready. To face the darkness and come out on top. Because that was the only way to survive.

I needed to evolve.