CHAPTER 14
We got to the university just in time to meet with Professor Mills. Sam and I went in while Maggie and Dean waited outside. The professor was a stocky man with a nice full beard and a jovial round face. He shook our hands emphatically, invited us to sit down, and asked what he could do for us.
I explained that we were writing a novel that dealt with parallel universes, and we wanted to discuss prevailing theory on the subject so we could make it plausible in our book.
He seemed delighted to help, and asked if there was anything specific we'd like to know. I said, "Well say you have two universes that have a lot in common but not everything. Say that history and world events were basically the same, but that some people existed in both worlds and others didn't. Also, one world had some creatures and objects that didn't exist on the other world. Now say some people accidentally "fell" into a portal to the other world, and were looking for a way to get back. Realizing that this is obviously a fantasy or sci-fi novel, what can you tell us that might help us make our story at least seem possible?"
The professor sat back in his chair, put his hands together at the fingertips and looked off into space. He said "Hmmm," and then seemed to be lost in thought for a few minutes.
"Well, he said," there have been a number of these types of stories written, of course, and people can do basically what they want with such types of fiction. But there may be a few ideas I can throw your way."
"That would be great," Sam said, smiling.
"Well, first of all, in a scenario as you describe, I would say that the prevailing theory would be that anyone who exists in both worlds could not travel to the other one. Also, if major events are basically the same, there would probably still be individual differences. Even on a individual basis. So say, for example, that I lived on both worlds. I might be a professor of history on one world but of science on the other. I might get a promotion on one world a week or two before I got one on the other. So in general, events and people coincide, but not exactly if you get my drift."
"Yes we do, and that makes sense, thank you. But I have a harder question for you," I said with a grin. What would you say about the idea that on one world a set of people were real living human beings, and on the other one they existed only as fictional characters, say as in a novel or on a TV show."
He looked startled for a moment, then interested. "Now that is an intriguing question. I would have to say though that such a parallel universe could really only exist in the mind of the author, at least as far as present conjecture goes. The concept as you present it, I would think, would be out of the realm of possibility."
Sam then asked, "Professor. Let's say the portal was found, and the people who came through could get back. Other than having a replica on the other planet, what would stop people from the new world from going through to the old one?"
"According to parallel world theory, nothing. But most fiction I've noticed sprinkles a bit of magic into the mix. Who created the portal? It could have been made for specific people. Or it could have magic on it that prevents certain people from going through. Usually, whoever put it there had some purpose for his or her own ends. It could be a powerful magic user, or maybe even a god or other powerful being." Then he lowered his voice conspiratorially, "Don't tell my colleagues, but I'm a fan of the fictional genre." He grinned at us.
Sam and I looked at each other. After a little more discussion that was interesting but not helpful to our situation, we thanked the professor and took our leave.
When we got back to the others they were leaning against the car, and Dean was on the phone. When he hung up he looked at Sam and said, "Cass needs us."
"Oh wow," exclaimed Maggie excitedly! "Can we meet Cass?"
"NO!" they both shouted together.
We looked a little stunned at that and then Sam said in a much nicer tone, "We don't want anyone to know about you yet, it's not safe. People around us get hurt or worse. Dean, what are we gonna do with them? What does Cass need us for?"
"He didn't say but he said it won't take long. Let's take them to a room and call Cass to pick us up."
We found a nearby motel and checked in. "Please don't go outside," said Dean. We shouldn't be more than a few hours."
We went to our side of the connecting rooms and listened as closely as we could at the door. We heard sounds and muffled talking and then nothing. We laughed at how silly we were being and then went and sat on the beds.
"Katie," said Maggie. "We need to decide what to do about home."
"I know," I said. "What are our options?"
"Well, we could just never go home again."
"Is that what you would really want to do?"
She looked sad. "No, I guess not really," she said.
"Then we have to figure out something to tell them and nothing comes to mind that makes any sense."
"We may just have to tell them the truth."
"And you think they would buy that? Seriously?"
"Well, they might have to. They already know we just disappeared from the car. They have to believe that, so how hard can it be for them to believe the truth?"
I thought about that. "Yeah, you have a point. But what about the cops? Surely they have all been out looking for us."
"Well," she said thoughtfully. "That depends on what they told the cops. Do you think they actually told them we just disappeared out of the car?"
"Good question. Hopefully they didn't and that would solve that problem. We can make up a story for the cops."
A few hours later the boys came home. We told them we need to go home and talk to our parents. We said we wouldn't be more than two hours in case they needed to take the car.
When we went through the portal this time, our parents were in the car again going somewhere. Dad saw us in the mirror and yelled out. Mom turned around and exclaimed, "Girls!"
Dad pulled over to the curb. "What the hell is going on?" He yelled.
Mom told him to calm down and then looked at us for answers. "Mom," I said, "Dad, this is going to be hard to explain. Something out of our control took us to another universe." I said.
They stared at us. "It's true," Maggie said. "And we didn't know how to get back until now."
"Apparently there is a hidden portal here in the car. Watch," I said." "Take me back to the Impala," I said. Back at the Impala I counted to 10 and went back home. "See?"
They looked at each other in puzzlement.
"That's crazy!" Dad said,"
"Maybe so," I said, "but you're seeing it for yourself."
After about 20 minutes or so we had them at least believing if not accepting. They did not like it when we told them we were gonna go back again. We asked them to drive us to our apartment so we could get some things. While we were gathering up stuff quickly, we watched the last episode of Supernatural.
There they were, helping Cass. We thought it was cool to see exactly how they had done that. Then later in the episode they went to get the First Blade, and then on to kill Abaddon. We got upset as we watched how Dean didn't tell Sam that Crowley warned him to abort the mission. We watched him kill Abaddon, for once and for all, and we watched how the blade was making him act. We also saw how upset Sam was at once again being lied to and manipulated.
"Oh my God!" said Maggie.
"We need to do something, tell them about this so they can be prepared," I said.
"Definitely, let's get back."
We hurriedly grabbed our stuff and went back to the car. "Mom, Dad," I said, "we need to hurry back. We promise we will come home as soon as we can. Please just tell people we were lost without a phone or something." We got in the back seat and blinked ourselves back to the boys.
When we got back we knocked on the door to be let in. They asked how it went and I said, "They are shocked but accepting for now."
Maggie said, 'We went by and picked up some personal stuff, and we watched the last episode. We actually watched you interrogate that guy for Cass," Maggie said smiling. "It was fun."
"I'm never going to get used to that," sad Dean.
"Was that all that happened in that episode?" asked Sam.
Maggie and I looked at each other and frowned. "I guess so, said Maggie, that's all I can remember."
"Yeah me too. I guess that was all that was important. It does seem kind of short though."
We went in our room to put away our things just as Dean's phone rang, and he told Sam, "It's Crowley."
THANK YOU for reading. Please leave a comment if you liked this story, as it helps keep me motivated to create more :)