INTERCAMBIO DE TIEMPO (Written in English)

Sad news

The lady was beautiful and yet scary at the same time.  She had scales running down her hands and by the sides of her face. Her Jade green eyes glistened in the light and gave her the appearance of a reptile. She looked like something from a fairy tale story, and yet not.

Emily gasped and quickly clamped her hands over her mouth when the lady tapped the walls with finger-like claws. It got worse when the lady began to run her fingers on it, scratching it.

" Please stop!!" Emily yelled with tears in her eyes as she covered her ears from the noise. " What do you want from me?" She asked.

The lady halted and stared at her. " I need you to give me something I want." She said and dashed towards Emily with an incredible speed. Her hand was on her neck, and her snake-like tongue caressed Emily's face and neck.

Emily's heart pounded rapidly and a rush of adrenaline coursed in. She instinctively threw a punch, which connected with the lady's face, pushing her head to the side. 

" Try that again and I'll shove your fist down your throat!!" The lady threatened and grabbed Emily by her wrist, hurling her across the room, and crashing into the sink.

Meanwhile, Charles walked through the hallway, looking for Emily. He knew she wasn't alright and that she had seen something back there at the practice. Walking through the hallway, he met a few students, either minding their business or staring at him.

He was confused as he had no idea where she must have gone until he heard a scream. It sounded distant and yet loud enough to alert some of the students. From the sound of it, he knew it was Emily and she was in the female restroom.

Some female students ran into the restroom, to find Emily passed out on the floor. She was bruised on the forehead and her knuckles were bloody. There were blood stains on the walls and most of the girls screamed in fright.

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In a shop that reads ' Dinosaur coffee,' a black-haired man in a black coat sat, staring out the window, into the street. The skies were brighter and the clouds had gone into hiding, perhaps they hadn't, maybe it was just the infectious happy energy the place brought that had captivated him. 

He smiled at how peaceful everywhere seemed to be. Car owners blaring their horns at pedestrians impatiently and people walking by the sidewalk with smiles on their faces. His fingers constantly rub the diamond-shaped necklace on his neck.

" Here you go, sir." A young waitress said, diverting his attention from the window. She gave a warm smile and dropped the cup of coffee on the table. " Enjoy." She added and walked away.

" Thanks." The black-haired man said, picking up the cup and taking a sip, before staring back at the window. His eyes flew at his wristwatch and he sighed. Looking up, he saw a young red-haired woman, walking toward him. 

"You know I thought you were trying to prank me but hey! here you are." The young lady said with a genuine smile and sat opposite him. " So what brings you to Los Angeles?" She asked staring into his dark blue eyes. She looked like someone in her twenties with brown eyes and fair skin. Her lips were thin and she had a few freckles at the base of her pointed nose. She wore a black jacket and black pants.

" Nothing, just felt like it's been long and I needed to see you again." The black-haired man said with a smile. He gave a glance at the window and laughed softly. " You know, It's weird that I need someone to talk to, about what's going on with me lately." He added and looked at her.

The young lady smiled and tucked a few strands of her hair, behind her ear. " Hey, you know you can trust me, right? " She asked and placed her hand over his.

" I do trust you, Martha." The black-haired man replied with a smile. " That's why I called you. I need you to help me figure out what's going on with me." He added and she nodded, withdrawing her hand.

" For the first time in my life, I feel so scared. I think I'm losing my powers Martha, and I don't know why. I tried to cast a spell, but it didn't work ,Martha, it didn't work...I just couldn't understand what...What." He stuttered as his breathing became ragged.

The young lady quickly held his hands again. " Hey Look at me... Look at me. it's alright now." She said and began to rub his hands. She gave a smile as he stared back at her. "  I may have powers too, but I'm not an expert and you should know that. you and I know who is, and will be willing to help." She told him.

He took in a deep breath and regained his calm composure. " I don't think she can help." He said and withdrew his hands. He ran his hand through his hair and chuckled lightly. " You know, for years she never looked for me. She never bothered to find out if I was fine or I wasn't. She cares more about that old bakery shop than she cared about me." He said and his brows furrowed.

" Don't say that. I bet she misses you every day and thinks about you..."

" How would you know that?" He asked her and stared at her.

" Because she is a mother." The young lady replied and faked a smile. " You know, I should probably ask you a question. Why did you leave?" She asked him.

" I left to create a world for us and you know that. I wanted you to be happy Martha, I wanted you to have that life you've always wanted." He replied, staring into her eyes.

" That was eight years ago. Eight damn years and you never bothered to check up on me. Every time I wake up with the thought of finding you close to me, only to realize I was reaching for something that was away from arm's reach. Eight years felt like hell to me and you know what's worst?" She asked, with tears in her eyes. " It's the fact that I'm constantly reminded of you no matter how hard I try. I kept seeing you on television and hearing all about you, and what you've been doing. You may think no one knows, but I know why you wear that mask. You were not trying to hide your identity from the world but me. You probably thought it's best I forgot about you, and moved on." She said and chuckled lightly as tears fell from her eyes.

" Martha I'm so so sorry, that's why I stopped performing. I wanted to come back and see..."

" It doesn't matter anymore. Do you know I got married three years ago?" She interrupted and observed his facial expressions. " I got married to the love of my life, and we made our own family. We have a beautiful daughter named Eliza and a son I named after you, Mike." She added and wiped her tears.

The man looked quite hurt ." I never knew Martha. I never knew how much I hurt you and I'm sorry." He simply said and held her hand.

She chuckled again and smiled. " No that's fine, you have nothing to apologize for. I thought about it and I came to realize that your absence was actually what helped me find happiness." She said and stood up. " I just hope you find your happiness, Mike. I will be going now but I just want to tell you this..." She hesitated and looked at him.

Mike stared back at her with regret written all over him. "  There is still another chance of fixing something you broke. Go mend your relationship with your mother. She loves you and I can tell because she's your mother." She said and walked out of the coffee shop.

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Propping herself up, Emily looked around her environment. She felt a splitting headache and it felt like a bell was rung close to her brain. She cried out in pain while holding her head. 

" Hey sweetie you need rest." Her mother said and walked toward the bed. She placed her hand on her ( Emily's) shoulder but was shrugged off.

" Stop touching me," Emily said and tried to walk on the floor. Her feet felt like they were stung by a thousand needles and she winced from the pain by her sides. She sat on the bed, with her hands grabbing the sheet. "Where am I and How long was I out for?" She asked with much difficulty.

" You are at the hospital and you've been out for two days, sweetie." Her mother replied, standing behind her.

" Did they find anything wrong with me?" She asked again, with her head lowered and her eyes staring at the tiled floor.

" The Doctor said you are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) ." Her mother informed. " Sweetie, they are going to send you to an Asylum." She added and Emily's fists clenched.