Chapter 116

The scene is someone's car. It's a late eighties sedan and smells of fast food and sweat. The backseat is covered with assorted garbage: broken CD cases, old towels, candy wrappers, batteries. If we look out the sort-of-clean passenger window, we can see the pretty girl embracing the young man goodbye. His companion is already half in the car, anxiously tapping his foot on the pavement. The stiff one stands on the porch awkwardly.

And as the car finally pulls away and we look to see the young driver of our car, we see a smile cross his face. But it's not a smile of happiness...it's a smile that chills the spine and causes the stomach to inside-out itself. It's a smile that, once seen, can't be unseen.

Chapter 115

"Steve, this is ridiculous!" Jen said, following him out the front door. Blake had already loaded his bags into the trunk and was ready to go.

"Jen. Listen. This is something we need to do. We're past the point of where what we thought we knew makes sense. We're being...guided. And I'm being guided to Africa."

"Steve, how are you going to pay for a plane ticket to Africa? They're ridiculously expensive."

"I got it," Blake said. "Money's not a problem."

"What? How can you say that?"

"Jen, one of the things we learn about where I come from is the Super Bowl. Culturally, it's more important to know the Super Bowl winners than any of your presidents. So I placed a bet or two..."

"See, Jen? Things are good. I'll call you when I get there."

Chapter 114

"Steve, what's going on?" Jen said, following Steve into his room.

Steve paused, folded T-shirt in his hand. The bag he was packing was already half-full in the time it had taken Jen to finish her conversation with Humbot.

"It's the dreams."

"The what?"

"I've been having these dreams - Blake has too, I can tell. There's a man, and he's in trouble. There are hyenas, and, if someone doesn't help him -"

"So we're going to Africa?"

"No. You're staying here with Humbot."

"Why?"

"Have you been having the dreams?"

"Not that I can - "

"Then you aren't meant to go."

Chapter 113

"What are you watching?!" Blake was nearly frantic.

"I don't know," Jen said, "some nature show?"

Steve's face had drained of its color. Without saying anything, he slowly turned to Blake. A brief look flitted between them, and then an almost imperceptible nod. Steve turned up the volume.

"...the brown hyena is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. They hunt in packs, and..."

"Africa," Steve repeated. He got up and went into his room.

Blake had also left the room.

"Humbot, what's going on?"

"They've been sharing dreams, Jennipher. And their dreams feature these hyenas. And so they're going to Africa."

"Africa?"

"Sub-Saharan Africa, to be precise." And Humbot fell silent on that point.

Chapter 112

Blake and Humbot came through the door, still a little frustrated by their unsuccessful day. Jen and Steve were in the living room, watching a nature show, and turned to greet them (and maybe because the beef sandwiches smelled delicious). Jen's hair hung loose and looked amazing with her baby blue shirt. Steve was distracted by her, but ultimately tore himself away in time to grab a sandwich.

"So," Jen said, between bites, "what's next?"

"What do you mean?" Blake said.

"What she means," Steve said, "is what do we do now? Where do we go? How do we achieve this mission?"

"I don't really know. Priority A number One was to make sure you two were safe. We were hoping you'd have some clue as to what to do next."

"We don't."

"Oh."

Blake buried his face in his hands, running the heels of his hands down his jaws, a technique he often used to relieve stress. A technique he had used too often in the past few months.

"Blake?" Steve said.

"Yeah?" Blake looked up - and saw something that made him forget his stress.

Chapter 111

Blake and Humbot were not happy. The service at the local Papa John's had been so bad, they had eventually given up and gone somewhere else. Blake pointed out that Jen probably wouldn't want pizza because of its association with the Colonel. They picked up roast beef sandwiches and headed home, half an hour later than they wanted to.

Chapter 110

Light filtered in through a crack in the ceiling. The dust motes danced thickly above the writhing mass on the floor. The smell of shame hung in the air like wet sulfur. Old and broken furniture lay scattered across the floor, occasionally shifting with the movements below.

And just when the mind would dismiss the mass of creatures on the floor as rats, they began to form up. Biting each other with razor sharp teeth, creature after creature climbed over each other, forming a vaguely human shape. It limped to the closet (door askew) and crammed itself into a suit, shoes.

The creature (composed of other, smaller creatures) grabbed a sheet of what appeared to be parchment off the broken vanity. Slowly, it dipped its head toward the parchment, until it became apparent that it was not parchment - it was, in fact, human skin. The human skin of a man once known as the Colonel.

And so, with that, the Creature prepared to meet its leader.

Chapter 109

Blake and Humbot were, at the time, outside of Alligretti's Pizza, looking for any clue toward where they could find the Colonel. Blake wasn't at a hundred percent - he had hoped that with the kids saved, his nightmares would stop, but no. Humbot was off following a trail of what could have been blood or sauce from a drippy Italian Sausage sandwich.

Blake sighed. Five years in this time. They had done what they needed to do, but it didn't feel done. And, as his preschool teacher, Sergeant Bagley, had said, if something didn't feel done, it's probably because it wasn't done. Granted, that had referred to bathroom behavior, but the principle was the same.

"Let's go, Humbot. We're not finding anything on this guy."

"Sounds good, Blake. It's been a long time, anyway."

"I just wish we knew more about this Colonel guy."

Chapter 108

How do you wake up the girl who is your destiny? Steve wondered as he watched Jennipher sleep. He considered talking, but it seemed like such an indelicate way to wake up someone so...important to him. He considered and quickly dismissed kicking the couch. And it wasn't the tranquil sleep of Snow White, so kissing was out of the question - it was just a normal girl, asleep on the couch of a time-traveling soldier sent back to save mankind - from what, he hadn't said.

Briefly he considered throwing a bucket of ice water on her - a smile came to his lips as he imagined her reaction, but then he immediately felt guilty. Drenching your one true love in ice water to wake her up seemed wrong, too. Still, there were worse decisions to make then how to wake someone you cared for.

Steve reached out, slowly, and gently rubbed Jen's back. She stirred and he almost stopped.

"Jen - time to get up. It's almost noon."

She opened one eye and smiled.

"Was I grinding my teeth?" she asked shyly.

"No - you grind your teeth?"

"Sometimes."

Steve smiled again. "I find it amazing that you aren't perfect."

Jen groaned. "I am so not perfect."

"We'll worry about it later. Come on. Let's find something to eat. Blake and Humbot went out early this morning."

Chapter 107

Blake was restless. The dream had come back, stronger and more realistic than ever. Sometimes he envied Humbot, for his dreams of electric sheep or whatever he had. Nothing about the pack of - Blake shook his head. Not tonight.

Chapter 106

Jen couldn't sleep. Blake's couch - while comfortable - was not her bed at home. She had left a note for her parents when she went home to throw some supplies into a bag, but still worried about their reaction. And their safety, when she allowed her mind to wander.

Blake's house didn't sound right. Jen realized she was used to the familiar sounds of home that had become subaudible - things she heard without hearing them. The sound of her ceiling fan and computer monitor. The train horn at the crossing by the Little League field. Even her father's trips to the bathroom.

She kicked off the sheet and got off the couch. Maybe Blake had some Yogi Tea to help her get some rest.

Steve didn't seem as worried. At least, he had no problem falling asleep in the recliner in Blake's living room. Jen passed him on the way to the kitchen and smiled. Now, without the threat of destiny hanging over their heads, it was easier to think about him.

Sadly, there was no tea to be found in Blake's kitchen. Jen settled for a glass of water and headed back to her room. As she passed Steve again, he seemed to be struggling with something. Jen approached cautiously, hoping it wasn't something serious.

Steve was dreaming, that much was obvious. He was moving his right arm in circles like he was digging. His legs kicked feebly under the blanket and he was almost whimpering. Without realizing it, Jen was standing over him. A drop of condensation on the outside of her glass trickled down, paused, then fell onto Steve's face.

He woke immediately, startled.

"Are you okay?" Jen said, concerned.

"Yeah. Just a weird dream, I guess."

"We've had a weird day."

"Yeah. Yeah we have. What are you doing up?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"You should try. Any sleep is better than no sleep."

"I know. Have a good night, Steve."

"Night, Jen."

Jen headed back to her room and closed the door. She set the glass of water down and laid down on the couch. Somehow, knowing she was in this with Steve made it a little better, and she fell asleep without a problem.

Chapter 105

With a great effort, Stares-At-The-Sun pulled himself to his feet. He had done what was asked. As to healing...that wasn't up to him. With effort, he began shuffling to shelter, allowing himself only the slightest hope for aid. If it would be his death, there were far worse ways to die.

Chapter 104

Jen and Steve followed Blake to his car. The plan was to head back to their homes, get some supplies, and then move in at the hideout while Humbot did some research on the Colonel. Jen stopped short when she realized what kind of car Blake had been driving.

"A black Audi? Were you the ones following me?" she asked, on the edge of hysterics.

"That was us," Humbot said. "Did you get Blake's flowers?"

"Wait, those were from you?"

"Yes," Blake blushed, "Humbot was driving and got a little carried away."

"It's true," Humbot said, "I am a bad driver."

Chapter 103

The room was furnished with a deep couch, dark green and inviting. Jen sat on the edge of the couch wearily and looked up at Steve, who was pacing the room.

"We've seen some strange stuff tonight, haven't we?" she opened.

"I knew something was off when Liz's mom was nice to me."

"What do we do, Steve?"

"I don't know. We have a psycho trying to kill you, this guy claiming to be from the future - with an android who speaks hypertext - and a mysterious...something driving off the psycho. Your ex-boyfriend is probably dead in Flower Gardens, and the prom afterparties are starting and Gar is going to wonder why I haven't met them at the bowling alley."

"Are you seriously concerned about your afterparty?"

"No. Just talking without thinking," Steve said absently.

"Here's what I think," Jen said, "I think we have no recourse but to trust Blake."

"Blake Blakesly."

"Yes, Blake Blakesly. We think he's crazy, yes, but we KNOW what his psychosis is - the Colonel, on the other hand, is apparently a psychopath. With glass-exploding powers. Who is not even trying to help us." Jen was at a loss. The couch was, however, ridiculously comfortable.

"So you're for putting our trust in Blake Blakesly?"

"Considering the alternative is to be killed by the Colonel, yes."

Chapter 102

Jen had to admit - as far as hideouts went, Blake and Humbot had a pretty nice one. From the outside, it was a kind-of-run-down suburban home. The inside, however, was full of luxurious decor. High-end electronics dominated the room in which they rested. Humbot happily served her and Steve some hot chocolate while they listened to the (frankly ridiculous) story of banishment and time travel, of an absurd military theocracy government, of a mine collapse...it was too crazy to not be true.

"...and that brings us to tonight." Blake concluded.

"Wait a second," Steve said, "what about the purple nurple? Explain that!"

"Of course," Humbot said, "that was the test."

"What fricking test?"

"Steve, remember how I said we didn't know where to go until the newspaper article about you being a star scholar? Well, a few years ago - right when we got here, in fact, we thought we had located the star scholar. I mean, that's what the Reverend-General sent us back for, among other things. So we found an astronomer, as that seemed like an obvious choice, and gave him the test. He failed and died during the test. We left town for a while and then came back to set up shop and wait."

"Wait - you killed the astronomer with a purple nurple?"

"It wasn't intentional, Steve. We're not here to hurt people. We're here to help people. All people."

"Riiiiiggggght. Jen, can I talk to you in the other room?"

Chapter 101

"Where are you from, Blake Blakesly?"

Blake laughed off Steve's question and turned to his companion. "Humbot - is the coast clear?"

The other figure walked back to Steve and Jen. "I will make no weather jokes, Blake. We are safe for the moment."

"Wait, did he just speak in hypertext?" Jen said.

Blake sighed. "He did."

"What is going on here?"

"I'll be happy to explain, but we need to get you to a safe place."

"We're not going anywhere with you!" Steve said.

"He's right," Humbot said, "not until we test you to see if you are the one."

"Test? What?"

Without another word, Blake walked over to Steve and grabbed both of Steve's nipples and twisted.

"Ow! You son of a-"

"It's okay," Blake said. "He passed the test."

Chapter 100

The sound of the Colonel advancing on them struck Steve and Jen dumb with fear. His footsteps crashed in the night, coming down the hill from Flower Gardens. Then, from another direction.

"Thank goodness they're here! Quick, you two, follow me!"

A light shone from the forest to their left. At its appearance, the Colonel's footsteps quickened, sliding a little on the hill but growing louder by the second.

Weighing her options (in a fraction of a second), Jen grabbed Steve's hands and they took off toward the light. Two figures were in front of them, sprinting as well as they could through the tangled overgrowth. The Colonel's steps burst into a run behind them, thundering. Trees shook and dirt geysered from under his feet.

Without warning, the four being pursued came into a clearing. One of the figures tripped and went sprawling through the tall grass. Jen and Steve skidded (like the cartoons, Steve thought) to a stop to help him. The other figure stopped unnaturally quickly and spun around.

It was then that Steve noticed the sound of pursuit had stopped; not because the Colonel had given up, but because he had caught them.

His face looked terrible under the feeble light, with shadows like writhing creatures just below the surface. He laughed - a cold, high, dark laugh, and Steve knew it was over.

"Jen? I just want to say I l-"

And a ray of sun EXPLODED into the clearing, staggering the Colonel. Steam rose from his skin, and his shrieks were unworldly as he fled back in to the darkness of the forest. Steve looked back, blinking to clear his eyes, to see Jen helping the fallen stranger up.

"Hi. I'm Jen, and this is Steve. Thank you so much - I don't know what - who he - what he is..."

"No problem. I'm just glad we got here when we did," the man said, wincing as he put weight on his ankle."

"How did you guys know where we were?" Steve asked.

The man smiled and turned to his companion, still a few yards off. "That's a long story."

"We've got time, man."

"Okay, okay." The man looked Steve up and down, judging him. He stuck out his hand. "My name is Blake Blakesly. I'm here to help."

Chapter 99

As Steve hurried through the forest, dodging hanging branches and stumbling over protruding roots, he heard the sound of someone else crashing through the underbrush. He stopped short.

It's funny, the way the mind works. Time slowed down, and part of Steve's mind noticed that he was back on the bomb shelter. The place where he and Jennipher had seen their future. Another part of his mind knew with certainty that it was Jen crashing through the forest. And a third part of his mind was certain it was something that would kill him. And finally, a small part of his mind had dropped into his gut and was screaming for him to run and never look back.

Steve stood his ground, waiting for whatever (It must be Jen) was coming to kill (or be saved by) him. The trees cut off most of the moonlight, and the ground was darker than the lowest level of hell. The only light, feeble in the overwhelming darkness, was Steve's flashlight. He raised it and saw Jen, panting, come into the clearing.

"Steve! We've got to run!"

"What's going on, Jen?"

"The Colonel! He's after me!"

"Who's the Colonel?"

"We've got to go!"

"No! Not that way! That's to Liz's house!"

"Where do we go?"

They paused, staring at each other. If this was their destiny, it was a lousy destiny.

Chapter 98

The Colonel reached through the window, the shadows flickering on his hands, making them ripple intensely. Jen shrieked, trying to scramble backwards over Kevin's bloody body. The Colonel's hand moved steadily closer, unceasing and fixed in its pace.

"Come on, princess."

With a heavy grunt, Jen kicked at the Colonel with all of her strength. His hand, momentarily diverted, smashed against the dashboard. Jen took advantage of the moment to finally get Kevin's door open. She somersaulted backwards onto her feet, planting and spinning with an agility she didn't know she possessed. Quickly, she sprinted into down the hill and into the woods.

Behind her, the Colonel sneered, and followed her into the dark, dark night.

Chapter 97

Steve swept the backyard with the flashlight. When Liz's mom had handed it him, he had a momentary urge to put it to his forehead and shout "I'm a unicorn!," but it passed. There didn't appear to be anything amiss - the pool cover was securely on, there were no signs of animals or intruders - just a chill in the air that seemed wrong. Unwittingly, Steve shined the flashlight into the trees and was painfully reminded of Jennipher Semmes.

His heart dropped into his stomach. Tonight was supposed to be their destiny, and here he was, skipping prom to comfort a woman who hadn't even liked him before he complimented her brownies. He could picture Jen at the dance, in a navy blue dress, her hair spilling down her shoulders as she danced. Her smile lighting up the room - and really, there was no way she couldn't be prom queen. A vision of her attacking him with a fierce hug after coming down from the dais. And maybe, just maybe, at the end of the night, a soft kiss. Her lips tasting like breaking glass. Her breath like - wait! Breaking glass?

Steve bounded over the chain-link fence and headed into the woods.