Here we go…
O.G.
Erik practically ran to his wife upstairs. Not even thinking about the noise he was making, not that he could hear over the frantic pounding in his heart. Christine was deep asleep when Erik shook her shoulder hurriedly. "Christine! Christine! Wake up!" his voice was high from panic and shook with each word.
She stirred and blinked groggily up at him. In all their years of marriage, she had never seen him so panicked. She shot straight up and asked "What's wrong Erik?"
She watched him pace the room, pulling on his shirt sleeves stammering "I-I Lab… I Was- The Water- Ch-arles…"
She stood and pulled him to sit on the bed, holding his hands still and looking into his skeletal face. When he said Charles her heart really began to race. "Erik? Breathe… Tell me what happened."
He swallowed and squeezed her hands to steady himself. He looked at her and said in a terrified whisper "I was in the lab, and I went to get some water… Charles snuck down stairs and picked the labs lock… Christine, just- I was working on… I was working on Alchemy, testing my mother's old book. And when I got there, the lab was destroyed and the book was open to a spell that… That could take the caster a hundred years into the future."
She looked shocked to say the least "Are- are you sure Erik? That- That is insane!"
He nodded solemnly and stood, pulling her to her feet, "Come look, it… It seems to have worked."
She ran down with him and as they passed, a sleepy Gustave peaked his head out. He saw his parents terrified race down the stairs and quietly followed, wondering what on Earth his more mischievous brother had done.
Christine backed up against Erik and put a small hand to her mouth. "O-Oh GOD! My son! Where- Erik we have to find him! Why DID you leave that-that DAMN THING LYING AROUND!"
"I didn't! It was locked and-"
But he was interrupted by a small high voice behind him "Baba? What happened to Charles?" He was looking around in shock at what his brother had done.
Both jumped in surprise and turned to face him. Erik pulled him close and said slowly, trying not to scare him too badly "He… I was experimenting and he managed to… travel with one of my experiments by reading something he shouldn't…"
Christine looked at Erik asking "Erik, what do we do."
"We-" but before he could answer, Gustave interrupted again.
"We go after him. Using the book." He said nodding to the book which remained untouched.
Erik's eyes narrowed a bit at Gustave as he clarified suspiciously "No. I shall go after him. You and your mother on the other hand are to remain here."
Both naturally objected in unison with "Father/Erik! I am going!"
Both parents ignored Gustave's protest as Erik said "Christine, someone must stay with the kids? What if something happens to you?!"
She put her hands on her hips and stuck her chin out stubbornly "I could say the same about you! Hell Erik! You are in even worse shape than I and you know it! Missing a foot, a bad hip, not to mention a new land on top of having to wear a mask! Meanwhile I am a bit younger and am a picture of health. If anyone should stay, it is you!"
"Yes but Christine, I know how to navigate places like that. And I could never survive losing you, you know that."
"Like I could lose you. It would seem there is only one solution. We both go and leave Gustave- wait where is- GUSTAVE!" Christine said realizing her son had snuck over to the book and was now whispering the page to himself. He gave them both a stubborn look that had all the will and determination he got from them both before saying the last line.
Erik only had a second to realize what was about to happen and he shielded Christine with hi tall lanky frame as a silent white blast hit the room.
They were both knocked to the floor and Erik grit his teeth as he felt white hot heat burn his back. Then as quickly as the light occured, it vanished, leaving the room with their other son.
Erik rolled off and looked at her, instantly asking "Are you okay?"
She nodded and noticed his clothes and back that were completely burnt off "Erik! Your back-"
"Will be fine." He said, wincing whilst standing. He looked at the damn book and said "We must follow now, and quickly. Just… Just let me change. Don't worry about my back." He said already going to the door.
He knew it was bad but did not care right now. No, instead he quickly threw on a shirt and pants, not even caring if it was improper. There were tears of pain in his eyes as he through on a coat as well, but he ignored it all. Determined to rush to at least get Gustave.
He slipped his mask on as he hurried down. He was out of breath at this point as he took her hand and went over to the unmoving book. "Are you ready? Are you sure you want to come?"
She looked on with only concern and determination as she nodded. "Yes. And you?"
He only gave a curt nod before holding her hand tightly and looking towards the book. His voice reciting the script flawlessly. And when the last line was said, there was another bright light and they were gone.
Erik woke half crushing Christine again. He instantly moved off as she was stirring too. The moment they were actually awake they looked around and Erik et out a sigh of relief when he spotted Gustave leaning against a wall, apparently disorientated from there travels. Immediately both parents rushed to their son and pulled him close.
It was Erik who broke free first to say "I am beyond glad you are alright, but the moment we are home you are in so much trouble for doing that…"
But to his surprise Gustave merely shrugged "I had to come. He is my brother after all."
Christine only shook her head "I swear the two of you and your loyalty… Wait Erik. How are we getting home?"
His eyes widened at her question. He had been in such a panic he had forgotten to get the reversal spell! He gulped as he said "I-I don't know… I suppose we will have to find the book… But first we-CHarles. We need to find Charles."
The others nodded and began looking all over the alley. Only now noticing the difference between the two times. Especially the metal carts that seemed to fly by the end of the alley. Had Erik not been so preoccupied he would have loved to investigate it.
Naturally it was Gustave who found something. Both parents hurred over to their son, half sticking out of a pipe. Moments later Gustave crawled out with a now slightly dirty house slipper that was unmistakably Charles.
Erik looked down with worry at the small shoe "It is a sign. A bread crumb… Something must have happened, you know he would never leave this…"
They turned to the streets as Christine said "Well… We must search further out. The whole continent if we must… But we have to find him…"
Erik nodded as he looked at the show again. In a horrified whisper he added "They must have taken him for his… His face… He left his mask… O-oh god…" He said as images of his own childhood came to mind. Of being treated less than an animal for his face. A face his son had inherited…
Christine took his free hand and tilted his chin to look at her strong blue eyes "We will find him Erik. I know we will."
And in that moment he could only believe her words were true. They would never stop until he was found. Never…
Holding Gustave and Christine both, he led them out of the alley and into the twenty first century.
O.G.
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