Cascades of Time (Chp 8)

Chapter 8: New Acquaintances

(Location: Phoenix City, random house in the Residential district, Time: 11:30 a.m.)

Sarah tied her blonde hair into a loose ponytail, as Guardiwar looked on.

“You don’t understand I need to see the police about what happened last night.” Informed Guardiwar. Sarah simply shook her head.

“I see no reason to do that. As far as the police are concerned everyone died. It needs to stay that way. You going and telling them will do nothing.” She replied in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone. “I know that seems absurd to you. The truth is that an entire mansion, along with three hundred odd people, was burned down and not one person saw anything. Or so they say. In other words no one cares enough about others anymore. If you go out and reveal yourself, the attackers will come back and finish you off, before the police can even do anything. I bet there are people out there who saw what happened last night, but they are too afraid to come out and say the truth.”

“But I can’t just do nothing…”

“I am not saying do nothing. Tell me what happened and I will investigate. It is my day job… sort off. I am like a crime fighter… except I don’t do it legally. As in, if the government found out, they would bust me.” Sarah said rather sheepishly.

“What are you talking about? I don’t have time for this. How can you go against the government?” stammered Guardiwar.

“Oh honey, get over it! The government; who cares what they think? People once trusted the government. Then along came World War three followed by four and five. And only one hundred and fifty years ago World War six happened. The South Pole got completely melted. Canada is no more and need I mention why Africa is only half the size it used to be. Plus there are barely any islands left, at least not many of the old ones. It’s the forty first century. Times have moved on. I am not the only illegal crime fighter. There is a whole network running through the world. Why, sometimes the government even takes advantage of this network.” Informed Sarah.

The door opened and Oni walked in naked. He yawned clumsily. In his hand he had the book titled ‘Cascades of Time’. “Hey Sarah, why is there a random book next to me? I thought I’d find you. Do you know how disappointed I….  Oh, hey there little girl. Who are you?”

“Oni, you dumbo. She is not even twenty one. And you are naked!” roared Sarah. Oni quickly made a hasty exit. But Guardiwar got up to stop him.  

“The book, I must have it. It’s what they came for.” Guardiwar stumbled forward. Sarah raised her left eyebrows. She wanted to know more. Guardiwar gave up trying to hold it in. She told Sarah everything about the night before, starting with the fire to the men in black armour who were searching for her book. She also told Sarah how it had arrived in the post only more than a week ago. 

“Wow, looks like these guys are big shots. I will get started right away. Oni will get dressed and then look after you. Don’t worry he is a crime fighter too. I need to go and talk to someone. I will be back before lunch so don’t ya worry.” winked Sarah as she walked out of the room.

(Location: random street, Time: 12:00 p.m.)

Max was walking along the street, studying a tall building in the distance, when he saw it happen.

A young woman walked out of a shop and was making her way to the bus stop. Max thought she looked very attractive. He became lost in his daytime fantasies, when a van drove up and stopped in the middle of the road.

Men in black armour jumped out of the back and readied their guns. Max jumped back into reality. He recognised those men. They were the same men who had kidnapped Crystal. He was sure of it. He looked at their target and realised, they were about to kill the woman, who was only just turning around. She was going to be too late.

Before the men could pull their triggers he had his gun out and he fired a bullet at the first man. The bullet bounced off his armour. His target missed but he still managed to stop the men from killing the woman .They were now facing Max and were changing their targets. The woman screamed as she realised her predicament.

Max didn’t give anyone any time to react. He bounded forward firing his gun at random. He knew the men would not be damaged yet they could not help but shielding themselves slightly. Max smiled. It was human instinct to do such a thing. That move gave him enough time to approach the men up close. Of the three present, one realised Max’s intention and tried to move in, to intercept him.

But Max simply leaped into the air and landed next to the man. He grabbed his head and twisted hard. A crack resounded. Max took the man’s rifle and jumped back. Before the other two men could ready themselves he fired the rifle at the van. One of the men laughed, as if Max’s attempts were useless. But Max knew what he was doing.

Finally, the shower of bullets pierced deeper. The van exploded. The men were sent flying. One of the men survived. He turned his gun on the woman and tried to finish her off. But Max was ready for him. He took out a knife; he had strapped in his trainers and threw it. The knife lodged itself in the armour’s weak point- under the arms. The man screamed. Max bounded forward once again. But before he reached his destination, the man took out the knife and drove it into his own throat. Max watched as the man retched on the floor and withered away into the next world.

Max made his way to the woman. She seemed shaken as if she was going to collapse any moment.

“Hey, are you alright?” asked Max.

“Oh my god! They were trying to kill me. Oh my god!” the woman fretted.

“It’s okay. Hey tell me your name? Where do you live? I can drop you off or something. It’s alright. They are gone now.”

“Oh dear me, where are my manners. I am sorry I never got to thank you. My name is Nicole. And please do help me get home. Actually, if you don’t mind I would like to go to my friend’s house. I will get better protection there.” replied Nicole as she slowly collected herself.

Max happily obliged. The way he saw it, he had achieved two things in one. Whoever this woman was, the men wanted her dead. Since they had failed now, they would come back later. That meant sticking with her would get him closer to them. He was on the way to finding Crystal. And on top of that he was going to see more of this woman, who he had been fantasising about, only a few minutes ago.