Erik cursed as his foot landed at an odd angle, sending a wave of pain up his body.
He was still trying to get the hang of time travelling. The only chance he had had of escaping the mob after Christine left had been to use the machine he had been working on for a long while.
It hadn't been his most levelheaded decision, and he knew it. Jumping into a prototype without testing. He should have died. But he hadn't.
That had been two months ago for him. He had hopped from time to time, trying to find Christine, or someone that had descended from her. He wasn't sure what time he in, but it was probably the farthest into the future yet. Last time he had ventured far, women had started to wear pants, and that had been a shock.
Now he was in a city. He didn't know which, but the people mostly spoke English. His mind started to think in the language in which it was surrounded, and the thoughts that came at him weren't pleasent.
You shouldn't have come this far.
He started off in a random direction.
You're never going to find her.
He pushed through throngs of people, ignoring the odd looks he was getting.
What did you expect? She never would have loved you.
One girl ran right into him.
"Watch it." He snarled, but regretted the action immediately, the girl was looking at him with some sort of fear, the kind that he had seen all to much in his life.
"Here" He grunted, offering a hand, and helped her up.
"Thanks." She said, brushing herself off.
"My pleasure." He said, while his thoughts raced. I shouldn't have talked to her, I should have just run away, I stand out to much as it is.
"Maybe you wouldn't stand out so much if you didn't wear a mask." She said thoughtfully, "But I'd much rather that you stayed here and helped me up. I don't come here that often... You know, sometime I might wear a mask, it would be easier..." She trailed off, and put a hand over the bangs that covered half of her face.
"Ha." He said mirthlessly, "It makes it harder, and besides, why would you want to wear a mask? What do you have to hide? You're not like Erik."
"I can guess you're Erik? Besides, it can't be that bad..." She said, and quickly snatched the mask off of his face.
Erik recoiled, expecting to see fear in her eyes, but only saw understanding.
"I'm sorry", she said quickly, handing back the mask, "I've never been the patient kind, and I was curious, I should have thought..."
"NINA!" came a call down the street.
"Oops." Nina giggled, "That would be my dad, I probably shouldn't have spent that much time talking to you."
She turned to go, but thought for a moment, "And here, you wanted to know why I'd wear a mask?"
She lifted her bangs, and Erik saw puffy red flesh, covering her eye. It was covered in makeup, but the deformity was clear.
She left, and Erik turned to follow the young woman, but the crowd got in the way, and he knew that moment of understanding was one of the few he might get to face, in any time.
I read Every Crooked Pot a few years ago, and I didn't like it. At all. But the characters in it were fascinating, to say the least. So, I was wondering if Nina, who is the main character (The entire story is about her learning to accept she's different, and to grow up) met up with Erik, what would happen. So don't yell at me for making a "Marie-sue" seeing as she is an actual character. This takes place on the way to one of her doctor's trips when she is about sixteen.