CHAPTER 10

"The future?"

"Do you have a hearing problem or do you just like repeating everything you hear?" The old woman sighed and shook her head, "Yes, I repeat, the future. Now let's go."

Malone's eyes were open but he couldn't tell what he was looking at, all of his senses were confused. He couldn't tell up from down, right from left, he couldn't hear or smell anything. He was blind in almost every sense of the word. The only thing he was sure of was the tight grasp he had on the older woman's hand.

Suddenly the ride stopped and all of his voided senses came rushing back to him at once. He felt unbearably hot and the air was so shallow he couldn't draw very many breaths. He looked around and he saw a barren land, with hills and nothing but dirt. He could see the area was volatile as he saw that there was fire shooting up out of the ground. But the most important thing he saw was a pterodactyl flying over head. Granted, it looked a little different than usual, but as far as Malone knew, flying dinosaurs existed no where else.

"We're still on the plateau, aren't we?"

The old woman grinned and let go of Malone's hand. "You could say that."

"What's that supposed to mean? Why are we here?"

She started walking and assumed that Malone would follow, which he did. "I gave you the opportunity to see if given the chance your past love with Gladys could be rekindled. We both saw that this was not the case. Now I'm going to let you see something else that might make you want to change your mind."

"I don't know how many times I have to tell you this, I love Veronica. Nothing you show me will change that."

"Oh really?" She chuckled. "Why don't you take a look over your shoulder." She nodded her head in the direction and Malone followed her gaze. He had to pinch himself because he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

He saw a damaged air balloon, the prototype that Challenger had been working on these past few months, which Roxton, Marguerite, and Challenger seemed to be working on repairing. He was about to call out to his friends when he stopped himself.

"Should I even bother?"

The woman smiled warmly at him, "No, they are not able to see you. I'm only giving you this small glance so you can see what you need to see. However," she turned and pointed towards a tarp, "I think you will find it better if you go in that direction."

As he started walking towards the tarp, he wondered what could be waiting for him there. What was the reason for him being brought to this specific place in time, and then he saw her. She was lying in the shade with a calm look on her face. She was a little paler than usual but she seemed in good spirits. He smiled and started to walk a little faster until he reached her. He wanted to reach out and hold her and talk to her, but he had to be content to be an observer. The one time his task fit his job description as a reporter and he wished he didn't have to only sit back and watch.

Malone sighed and looked up as he heard footsteps approaching. Both he and Veronica reacted to the steps and waited for the person to come into view. Malone stared in shock as he came face to face with himself while Veronica smiled at his company.

"You better pay attention, this is what you came here for."

After managing to tear his gaze away, Malone glanced up at the older woman and was not surprised anymore by her sudden appearance. "What am I supposed to be waiting for?"

"Just listen and you will see."

Malone watched himself hand Veronica a small book and watched her face light up as she excitedly flipped through the pages. His face grew a smile as he saw Veronica give his other self a hug. "I'm starting to like this already."

"Ssssh!" The older woman hissed as she pointed back at the couple.

Malone quickly turned back to the scene taking place before him.

"Thank you Ned, with all my heart."

"You know there's nothing I wouldn't do for you."

"Yeah, I do know."

"It's just I haven't always known where we stand."

"I think we both know that romance doesn't last, but friendship can." Malone's smile immediately disappeared from his face. A slowing apprehension was quickly growing as he saw where the conversation was heading.

"So, we're okay?"

"Yeah, we'll always be okay. You're a part of my life. You always will be."

The rest of the conversation was lost to Malone while he was trying to process what he had just witnessed. He barely registered watching himself get up and walk away or Veronica as she started to read through the book. All he could think of was what she said. Romance doesn't last. So she doesn't love me, at least not in the way that I love her.

"Well, Mr. Malone, I think you've seen all that you've needed to. Has any of what I've shown you changed your mind?"

Her voice broke Malone out of his thoughtfulstate. "What? No, I'll always love Veronica. That future me said exactly what I would have said right now. If Veronica doesn't love me, I can't change that, but I will always be happy to just be her friend. As long as she's in my life, I will be happy."

The older woman smiled and reached for Malone's hand. "So you have no regrets then?"

Malone's face grew a far off look, "Even if what you showed me happened tomorrow, I still wouldn't have any regrets. I wouldn't change my relationship with Veronica for anything."

"Well, then I guess we're done here." The woman let go of his hand and Malone realized he was back in the passageway of the cave. "Goodbye Mr. Malone, and remember, life always throws you challenges. Some you overcome and some you don't. But everything that happens makes you who you are, and that's the important thing."

Before he could even try to say anything, the woman vanished before his eyes. He looked around and had a feeling that she could still hear him. "Thanks for everything." He scoffed and muttered under his breath as he picked up his gear, "I don't suppose you could have shown me the way out of here."

TBC

A/N: Thank you for those of you who are reviewing, I'm glad to know that you are enjoying the story so far. There are only a couple more chapters left so stay turned.