Chapter thirteen
John started typing numbers into a small keypad as he drove.
"Pay attention!" Sarah reached across and turned the wheel as they almost hit a tree.
"Sorry!" John yelled back. They gained speed.
"We're going to fast!" Melanie yelled.
"We're not going fast enough," John muttered.
"We're going to crash!" Melanie screeched.
They disappeared in a burst of blue. John stomped on the brake and they were all flung forward in their seats.
"Where are we?" Melanie whispered. They were in complete darkness. John turned off the car.
"Back in 2008," John said, "Hiding down an alley."
A flash of blue light appeared at the end of the alleyway. Justin's car drove off.
"Good," John said, "He didn't see us."
They waited a few minutes then John started the car again and pulled out into the street. He drove to the hotel. Sarah noticed that it was dark outside. When they had left it was still full daylight. When they returned to the hotel room Alan was waiting for them.
"You've been gone for six hours," he said, "I didn't know it took so long to go for a drive."
"Sorry," John said, "I didn't have time to change the time in the time machine."
Then John explained how Justin had chased them.
"I hate that kid," Alan said.
"Look who you're calling kid," John ruffled Alan's hair.