DYING TO LIVE



A PpG 'alternate reality' fan fiction

By I am a good fighter


DISCLAIMER: Powerpuff Girls created by Craig McCracken and all characters associated with the show are owned by Cartoon Network


Story idea adapted from the novel 'Replay' (c) 1986 by Ken Grimwood


This story is rated PG-13




SIXTEEN

He came and sat on the edge of my bed, looking at me with concern. He appeared to be in his early 40's and in top physical condition; tall, with movie actor looks. He didn't have a single gray hair and his eyes made him seem to be smiling even when he wasn't. It was easy to see how he'd been elected. Except I knew he wasn't the President.

"Yes, Blossom. I AM the President. I defeated that OTHER GUY in the 1996 election and I've been President for almost three years now. And, Blossom, I'm the President because of YOU."

My mouth fell open. I tried to talk but nothing came out.

"Blossom, you and I are in the middle of something I can't explain. I'm not supposed to be President of the United States but I am. You weren't supposed to kill your family but you did. Blossom, when you did that, I knew I wasn't the only person in the world who was dying and reliving my life over and over again."

I jumped, pulling against my restraints. "You too? I-I'm not alone?"

"No. I know what you've been going through. I tried to reach you last time before I died, but in spite of my wealth and influence, they wouldn't let me see you while you were in prison. I never sent you any mail, fearing it might be opened and read by someone else. I couldn't take that chance."

I was stunned. But this man seemed so open and honest, and he had just said something no one else could possibly have known, or would have believed anyway. I remembered the visitor who came every day, for months. I refused to see him and I never did learn his name. Was it this man? I decided to trust him.

"That was my fault. They did open every piece of mail I got. I could have visitors, but I didn't want to see anyone. That was you who came to see me every day? I thought you were another one of those do-gooders trying to get me off of Death Row. Not that it would have mattered."

"I know. I tried to kill myself once, too."

"You did?" I was shocked.

"Yeah. It was dumb, too, because it couldn't work. Blossom, nothing's going to stand in the way of our deaths at the appointed hour. This isn't over yet, you know. But it may be over soon for me. I had to see you in this timeline, I might not get another chance."

"I don't get it."

"Blossom, let me ask you a few questions. You seem to be a smart young lady, I bet you've been keeping track. When is it that you die?"

"August 19th, next year, at exactly 1:17 in the afternoon. But, wouldn't you know that?"

"Well, I know for sure, now. You see, I always beat you to it, by eight days. August 11th, at nearly the same time, 1:20. Pretty amazing, how close we are. Could have something to do with it. Now, how many times have you died, and if you add up all the time you've lived, how old would you be?"

"Huh? Four times, and, let's see... I was six...I'm eleven years old, now!"

I'd never even thought about that! I'd been living for eleven years, when I added all my lives together. His words snapped me back to attention.

"No, right now, you're still six, and I'm still 52. When we die again, I'll be 53. Blossom, you probably won't believe this, but I think it'll make sense after I explain it. I've died four times, too. Blossom, the first time I died was 105 years ago."

"You're right, I don't believe it."

"One more question. Do you always come back at the same point in your past?"

"No, it's later each time, and...hey, I've lived almost double how old I'm supposed to be. You're older to start with, so the time you've lived would be at least double. It DOES make sense, even though it sounds weird."

He chuckled. "It's BEEN weird. Blossom, I am very impressed. But then, I heard of you Girls way back in my first life and you were always the leader and the smart one. Of course, by now your intelligence would be far beyond that of an average six year-old. Here's something that makes no sense at all. You existed in my first lifetime, although only during the last few years of it; and it ended over a century ago. Yet all of your lifetimes add up to only eleven years. How is THAT possible? Hmmm. Maybe the numbers don't matter. Maybe the only thing that counts is that we exist together at the same time."

"Hey, yeah. You called 'em 'timelines'. Except...you said you might not get another chance. Does that mean I might not, either?"

I was suddenly afraid. After enduring five years of this hell, and wishing that it would all just end, I suddenly got the feeling that the next time I died it would really BE my final, eternal death. It was what I swore I wanted, but now I wasn't so sure.

"I don't know the answer to that. We've lost time each time we've come back. Has your loss of time doubled each time, like mine?"

"Hmmm. The first time it was Christmas, in 1998. Then March 18th, June 8th, and November 19th of this year."

I did the math in my head. I had lost nearly 3 months, then 5 and a half, now 11. Yes, it was doubling. The next time should be 22 months, from December '98...

"I'm a goner."

"1965, 1970, 1975, 1985...2005. Me too. But we don't know what's waiting for us, do we? Can it really be any worse than this?"

"I guess not. I guess we have to wait and find out."

"Yep. Want to hear my tale of woe?" he said with a big smile.

He made me feel better, but I was still scared. "Sure."

"OK, I'll tell you. But I want to hear yours, first."

Just then, one of the Secret Service agents stuck his head in the door.

"Everything OK, Mr. President? You've been in here quite a while and..."

The President stood and drew himself to his full height, and in a loud, severe tone, said "Agent Riley, I will inform you when I am ready to leave. Is that clear?"

I flinched at the sudden change in this friendly, caring person.

The agent beat a hasty retreat out the door. "Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!"

The President sat back down and was instantly transformed.

"Blossom, you have no idea how much fun this job can be. Did you see the look on his face?"

I laughed out loud. Dear Diary, I hadn't done that since my second life, the one that had been so perfect.