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CHAPTER FOUR
Corrine stumbled forward, picking up the book that had fallen to the floor when Josie had vanished. Vaughn stood, gaping at the spot where moments before Josie had been. Slowly, he stepped up.
"What just happened!" Corrine demanded, holding up the book in her hand.
"She … vanished?" Jovee said, looking uncertain.
"But where did she go?" Vaughn cried.
"Well how am I supposed to know?" Jovee demanded, stepping back to Finley.
Corrine turned to Finley, her eyes full of fire. "You said Jovee had something to finish up – was this it? Did she do something to Josie?"
Jovee narrowed her eyes. "I didn't do anything, and Finley talks too much."
Lucas is gone! Marshall cried in Corrine's mind.
So is Josie. Something tells me those future kids are behind it.
Douglas is here. He's in as much of a panic as me.
Get Z and come down to the Science Lab. We have a few things to discuss with our 'visitors'
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Z looked around the room quietly; taking in everything he'd been told. He frowned, before turning to the trio from the wormhole.
"So let me get this straight," He said slowly. "You three are from several years in the future, and are a part of a new science club, which I still teach. Weird things are still happening at Blake Holsey, and the wormhole opened up, pulling you three through. Now Finley told Marshall and Corrine all this yesterday, but made them promise not to tell anyone else. Today Jovee and Douglas got in a fight, Corrine, Josie, and Vaughn overheard, stepping in. Jovee made a comment about Douglas' father which sent him over the edge, and he stomped up to Marshall's room, where Lucas sat reading a book. Lucas then proceeded to vanish from sight, as did Josie downstairs. Corrine then accused Jovee of being behind Josie's disappearance, and somehow contacted Marshall to have him bring Douglas and me here, although no one saw Corrine do anything to get in touch with him. Do I have it all down so far?"
The group before him nodded their heads.
"Well we have quite a situation on our hands, then," Z said slowly. "Jovee, do you know what happened to Josie and Lucas?"
"Nothing that wouldn't have happened on its own," The girl said.
"Where are they?" Corrine demanded.
"They're fine!" Jovee insisted, looking angrily at the dark-skinned girl.
"Jovee, where are Lucas and Josie?" Z demanded.
Jovee rolled her eyes, looking away as she muttered something under her breath.
"What?" Vaughn asked.
"Another realm. Chillax, they're both fine. They'll find their way back out eventually."
"Did she just say Chillax?" Marshall asked, an accusing look on his face.
"I picked it up from Z," Jovee countered.
"Yea, Z says stuff like that all the time," Douglas pointed out quietly.
"I do?" Z asked, looking uncertain.
"What about Josie and Lucas?" Corrine asked.
"What about you two?" Douglas countered, pointing at her and Marshall. "We all know you've been keeping a secret, so don't get started on us."
"Corrine, is that true?" Z asked.
Corrine hung her head, glancing at Marshall out of the corner of her eyes. "Yes. Yesterday after your class – when we bumped heads – Marshall and I sort of developed a … telepathic bond."
"Really?" Z asked, looking interested.
"Cool," Vaughn said, and for a moment everyone had forgotten about Lucas and Josie. Then Marshall frowned.
"How did you guys know about that, anyways?" He asked.
"We're from the future? We know everything about you? Get it yet?" Jovee asked.
"Look, we all know the story. Josie and Lucas get out of it just fine," Finley spoke up, meeting everyone's eyes. "And they get out of it without your help. Face it, you can't really help them, they can help themselves. Now that everything's been taken care of, we can work on your problems."
"What do you mean?" Corrine asked.
Finley sighed. "There was a pretty good reason why the energy in Blake Holsey gave you two the power to read each other's thoughts. You just need to figure it out. And there's also a reason why Josie and Lucas were sent to the shadow realm – by that same energy. They'll figure it all out, too. Focus on your own problem for now."
"Cryptic. You're beginning to sound like the janitor," Marshall said.
Finley simply shrugged.
"Fine," Corrine said. "Come on Marshall – we're going to search for information on mind reading."
Does she have to be so bossy?
Do you have to be so Marshall?
The two left the room, leaving Jovee, Douglas, Finley, Z, and Vaughn.
"I'll do some research on other planes, then," Z said slowly. Then he moved out.
"Vaughn, you're coming with us," Jovee said.
"Me? Why me?" Vaughn asked with surprise.
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Lucas knocked firmly against the walls for the fourth time. In the background, Josie threw her arms up in annoyance.
"Now will you tell me what you're doing?" She demanded.
Lucas rolled his eyes. "I'm testing the durability of the walls. Trying to conclude if we're actually in a house or … somewhere else."
"And …?"
"I'm almost sure we're in a real house. I'm just not sure where," Lucas replied.
"Not helping."
"What do you want me to say, Josie?" Lucas snapped, turning to look at her.
"How about you have a good idea as to what's going on?" Josie suggested.
"Now why should I be the only one to try and think of something," Lucas asked. "I don't even know why we're here. Let alone how to get out."
"Maybe it was the wormhole," Josie suggested, looking around with her hands in her jacket pockets.
"I didn't see the wormhole open up and bring you here. No, this is something else. Something Blake Holsey related."
Josie seemed considerate. "Well," She said slowly. "Maybe we should just make the best out of this place while we can. You know, while we wait for the others to come get us."
"That's a good idea," Lucas said, moving along the corridor. The two fell silent, taking their new surroundings in, before Lucas turned to Josie.
"So … what should we talk about?" Lucas asked.
"We could talk about why you didn't tell me the black hole stuff you were looking for was for Vaughn."
Lucas winced. "Yeah ... you found out about that?"
"I saw the papers sticking out of Vaughn's books," Josie admitted.
"I would have told you, but Vaughn asked me not to. I just thought that maybe if I got it done quickly, I wouldn't have to think about it again," Lucas said.
"I guess I understand," Josie said quietly.
"Are you mad?"
"I was when I thought you were -." At that Josie looked away. "I thought you were helping Victor."
"You know I'd never help Victor. He's the enemy," Lucas said.
"I know, I know. But I wasn't sure. It just seemed like you – I mean, with being so secretive and everything. I guess I just get ahead of myself sometimes."
"Don't we all," Lucas agreed. "Is that why you were avoiding Vaughn?"
"Did everybody notice?" Josie asked.
Lucas chuckled. "No. Marshall told me. So … is it?"
"No," Josie said. "I just … for so long I really thought I liked Vaughn. Now I'm not too sure. Think I'm just being nervous?"
"Maybe," Lucas said softly. "Or maybe you only like him as a friend."
"I think it's a little more complicated than that," Josie said slowly. Then she started laughing. "How about we just forget this whole conversation, then. I think we should explore while we can."
Lucas shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
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Jovee closed the door behind her, before turning around to look at Vaughn, Douglas, and Finley. "Alright, so why didn't you tell Z about your blackouts?"
Vaughn shrugged. "It isn't anything important," He said quickly, turning to Douglas. "Why were you so mad yesterday?"
Douglas let out a huff before turning away from the group, walking over to the window and ignoring the group behind him.
Finley frowned at his friend, but knew better than to approach him when he was being moody.
Jovee raised her eyebrows. "We need to focus on these blackouts you keep having, Vaughn."
"If you were so concerned about them why didn't you mention them in front of the others?" Vaughn demanded.
Jovee shifted her feet around nervously. "You think I wanted to get into any more trouble with Corrine? She thinks I'm behind Josie and Lucas vanishing – which I'm not! Which she wouldn't have thought if somebody here had kept their mouth shut. What happened to the 'we have to get home' speech, Finley? You tell them anything else that could completely mess with our future?"
"Of course not," Finley hissed. "You think I'm stupid? Besides, they already suspected we were from the wormhole. In fact, before Josie and Lucas left everyone but they thought we were from around here."
"We weren't that obvious," Jovee said.
"Weren't we?" Finely demanded. "Between you and Douglas I'm surprised they didn't figure everything out!"
"Guys!" Vaughn said, holding his hands up and stepping between the two. "I don't think it's a good idea for everyone to fall apart. And for what it's worth, I trust you guys. Give the others some time and they'll come around."
"Only you would try to pretend everything's hunky dory," Douglas grumbled. Vaughn looked back at him with a look of puzzlement, and then shook it off.
"Something tells me we're all going to need to stick together. No more arguments. Now, how do we fix all this?" Vaughn asked.
Jovee looked at him uncertainly. "Well, from what we remember from the story, it all takes a little … lesson. On all parts."
"So Lucas and Josie have to learn a lesson wherever they are, I need to learn a lesson … somehow, and Corrine and Marshall need to learn something. Hey! Are Corrine and Marshall finally going to hook up?" Vaughn asked.
Jovee's lips quirked. "Now how could that constitute a lesson?"
"Back on track. You've been having the blackouts since yesterday, right?" Finley asked, stepping up.
"Yeah, right after I got that paper from Lucas. Wait! The paper!"
"What about it?" Jovee asked, looking confused.
"It was on brain disorders. Lucas said one of the main focuses in the report was about memory loss, and I started having these blackouts right after I got the paper," Vaughn exclaimed.
"You think they're connected?" Finley asked, glancing at Jovee, who also had a look of puzzle on her face. Finley raised his eyebrows and shoulder in an 'it could happen' manner.
"What? That's not what happened in your time?" Vaughn asked.
"Nobody ever really told us what caused the memory loss. Just what the outcome was. Nobody could really remember," Jovee explained.
"Enough fooling around," Douglas snapped. "We need to get to work. We've done the best we can; now we can go home."
"We can't leave Vaughn on his own here, Douglas. Everyone else is too busy to help him figure it out," Jovee said.
"They wouldn't be too busy if you hadn't fixed the dates on Josie and Lucas going to the shadow realm! Face it, Jovee, you timed all this!" Douglas snapped.
"Come on, Vaughn was right. We can't afford to fight right now. And Jovee's right – we can't leave Vaughn on his own. If we help him along we may be able to go home faster," Finley said.
"Why should we help him?" Douglas asked, looking Jovee in the eye. "Pearsons are the enemy."
"You know that's not true," Finley said quickly.
"It isn't?" Vaughn asked, sounding slightly happy.
"They're my enemy," Douglas countered, now looking darkly at Finley. "I was wrong to think otherwise."
"Okay, I'm sensing some tension here," Vaughn said, trying to lighten the dramatic mood that had fallen on the group.
"More like some … unresolved issues," Jovee said with a sigh. "Look, maybe it's time somebody go find the janitor. He always knows what to do."
"Don't tell me the janitor's still weird in the future," Vaughn said.
"Wouldn't ya know it," Jovee said, forcing a smile.
"Isn't the janitor supposed to find us if he has any useful information? You know, like pop out of nowhere and give some cryptic message that doesn't really make sense at the time it's given, but when you get there, it's actually useful?" Finley asked, with a grin.
"Well Mr. Janitor is going to have to deal with me looking for him whether he likes it or not," Jovee snapped, stomping out of the room.
Douglas sneered in her direction before turning away, while Finley looked apologetically at Vaughn. "Hope you don't mind being stuck with me for a little while."
"Eh …"
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Josie tilted her head to the side, trying to look upside down. "O … kay. This is just weird."
Lucas nodded his head in agreement. During their exploration the two had discovered that this house wasn't like a normal house at all. It went on and on, each room filled with more things out of the ordinary. They'd seen a room filled with suspended water – fish even swimming in it, a room filled with back to back couches forming a pyramid, empty rooms, rooms with strange paintings, doors that led to nothing, and now this. The carpet seemed to be made of candy wrappers, the walls had cups glued on to them, and on the ceiling was a giant table scene. There was a table, chairs, food on the table – it was all set for anyone who could manage the climb on to the ceiling and sit upside down.
Both Josie and Lucas tilted their heads to the side, studying the unusual structure of the room.
"I feel like we're in a museum," Lucas finally said.
"I feel like we're in the twilight zone," Josie answered. She walked across the floor, purposefully avoiding the way the carpet crinkled beneath her.
"What are you doing?" Lucas asked.
Josie plucked a cup from the wall with ease, and looked at it. She was shocked when it automatically filled.
Lucas had to blink a few times in surprise, before he approached her. "What's in it?" He asked with fascination. Josie reluctantly sniffed the concoction, before grinning.
"Root beer," She replied. "Just what I was thirsty for." She went to take a sip, but Lucas pulled the soda from her, looking it over. "Is there a point to taking away my drink?"
"It could be something meant to hurt you," Lucas replied, not noticing as Josie rolled her eyes, stepping closer. She pulled the cup away, tossing Lucas an annoyed look.
"Do you have to be suspicious of everything?" She asked, before downing the drink. Both stayed still for a moment, and when nothing happened Josie gave Lucas a smug look. "See? Nothing. Why don't you give it a try?"
Lucas reluctantly pulled down a cup for himself. "Nothing's happening."
"Think of something to drink," Josie suggested.
Lucas did so, and blinked twice as the plastic cup filled with hot chocolate, not even burning his fingers. He took a sip, and then grinned also. "It worked!"
Josie smirked, her hands on her hips as she looked around. "I wonder ..." She mumbled, bending down. Lucas waited as she managed to pluck a wrapper out of the seemingly endless carpet full. She held it up to her face, looking it over. Her eyes widened in delight as it shifted in to a piece of bubble gum.
"Now this I can get used to," She said, putting the stick in her mouth and standing up. "What do you say we see what else there is around here?" She didn't wait for him to answer before she darted out of the room. Lucas stared at her in surprise, as she poked her head back in.
"Are you coming with me?"
Lucas shrugged. "Sure." He finished down his drink and then quickly followed Josie, the whole time pondering how long he and Josie were going to be there … alone … together.
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Corrine was staring at the computer before her, searching the web on the idea of mind reading, when it hit her. She looked at Marshall out of the corner of her eye, confusion settling on her features. At the moment the mind reading had seemed to settle away, but both knew it would be back. In some ways it would make things easier, to communicate secretly, but when each were consumed with their own thoughts it had been difficult.
"Marshall," She said.
He looked at her, surprised. "Yeah?"
"How is looking up mind reading going to help us?" She inquired.
"Eh …" He seemed uncertain, searching for an answer before shrugging. "It probably won't. I just figured you wanted an excuse to leave the future people."
"I did," Corrine admitted. "I just kept thinking of what happened to Josie and Lucas."
"Me too," Marshall replied. "But I also trust Finley. If they say Josie and Lucas are okay … then I believe it."
"I know," Corrine said. "This whole situation is just really weird. I mean, weirder than Blake Holsey weird."
Marshall shook his head. "It's all just a bunch of bad timing," He said, giving Corrine a reassuring smile.
He looks so cute.
Marshall grinned. "Thank you."
Corrine quickly groaned. "It's back again."
"We'll just try to ignore it," Marshall suggested. I don't want to ignore it, though. This is fun. What kind of person in their right mind wouldn't want to read someone else's thoughts? I've been wondering … Marshall quickly stopped his train of thought when he noticed Corrine's raised eyebrow. She can read my mind. Right.
"This is getting frustrating," Corrine thought and said at the same time.
"Think about the fun we could have with this, though." Think about all the stuff we could find out about each other, black mail each – oh yeah.
This is getting out of control. Could he just concentrate instead of trying to make all these jokes? Corrine let out a frustrated sigh, while Marshall just looked annoyed.
If she thinks I'm so immature – I'll show her.
I never said that I thought you were. "Marshall," Corrine started.
"I'm going to go check on … something else," Marshall replied. He snatched up his books and quickly moved out of the room, leaving Corrine to watch him leave, catching a drift of his last thought, Why can't she just see that I -. Then the connection was snapped again and Corrine was alone with her thoughts.
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Jovee shuffled down the hall, her arms crossed over her chest, a scowl on her lips. "Stupid janitor," She mumbled. She absently kicked at a loose stone in the basement floor. "Never even makes sense, anyways." She wandered further down the maze-like halls just allowing herself to blow out some steam. She admitted out loud - to no one - that she had gone too far in that fight back there with Douglas. She was well aware of the thin boundaries between the two, and Finley was right … she had crossed a line. She knew she owed Douglas an apology, but she wasn't ready to give it, yet. She may be bossy, maybe even a little hot headed, but she had respect for other people – no matter how weird. Her Dad had taught her that, and it was something she would stick to. She was still mad at the short boy for his comment about her father, but hers was much worst. Once Douglas was back to his usual self, she'd apologize. They just both needed some time.
"What are you doing down here?" The voice was so sudden, so unexpected, that Jovee jump.
Without turning around, she said, "Alright, spill."
"Spill what?" The janitor asked.
Jovee looked back at him. "Don't play dumb. I know you have some advice on this whole situation."
The janitor moved closer, pushing the broom around a little. "Now which situation would that be? Did you, or did you not help to create much of this mess."
"I was only trying to help Douglas," Jovee said, leaning against the wall.
"Were you?" The tone, to Jovee, sounded accusing.
Jovee narrowed her eyes darkly at him. "Of course I was."
"There was nothing else?"
"Maybe a little curiosity, I suppose. But I did do all this for Douglas."
"Did you ever stop to think of the consequences you could be putting on the time stream?" The janitor asked, still not looking up.
"There wasn't exactly time to think. The wormhole was open, we were in it. It was best to take control of the situation before we were snapped in to some time frame that could have caused further trouble," Jovee replied sharply.
"What if you weren't meant to come here? Things always happen for a reason - what makes you think you could change that?"
"It was a rash decision," Jovee admitted. "But we could have done a lot more damage. I get that we weren't meant to be here -."
"Now I didn't say that," The janitor interrupted.
"So we are supposed to be here?" There was no answer. Jovee glowered unhappily. "Could you ever give a straight answer?"
The janitor stood up, looking her in the eyes. "Shouldn't you be with your friends?"
"I came here to get an answer from you," Jovee said.
"I don't have the answer you're looking for," He replied.
Jovee pursed her lips. "Not even a silly cryptic message?"
The janitor looked her over. "Go to your friends, Jovee. There isn't much time," He finally said. Then he turned away and began to sweep along the corridor.
Knowing not to push, Jovee grimaced. "Well how is that supposed to help?"
She rolled her eyes, looking to the ceiling. After a few moments her eyes lit up, and she darted away.
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Vaughn, from behind Finley, studied the computer screen. "There has to be some way to reverse this. I can't go the rest of my life blacking out?"
"Why not? Heather Burgman has lived her whole life with the blackouts. Besides, you and I both know it won't last forever. You just need to find the right way to reverse it," Finley replied, not taking his eyes off the computer game, his fingers moving swiftly over the keyboards.
"Oh, Vaughn said, sitting back. "Well who's Heather Burgman?"
"Just a girl in my grade," Finley said, distractedly. Douglas moved to his side.
"Let me on."
"No."
"I have an idea," Douglas growled.
"Are you calm? Relaxed? Did you take all your pills?" Finley joked, already moving to get away from the computer screen.
"Funny," Douglas said, quickly replacing his friend's spot in the chair. He pulled up the internet, and typed a few things in the search engine.
"What are you doing?" Vaughn asked.
"Helping you. Or trying to, at least. In any case, I'm researching brain disorders on the internet."
"Alright then," Vaughn replied, stepping away.
Finley moved to the front of the room, Vaughn following quickly behind him. "Is he going to be okay?"
"As long as Jovee doesn't come into this room anytime soon? Yeah, he's mellowing out," Finley replied.
"What exactly did Jovee say about his Dad?" Vaughn inquired.
"She told him his Father wasn't coming back," Finley replied.
"What happened, exactly?" Vaughn asked.
"Umm … I probably shouldn't discuss these things with you," Finley replied.
"Well did his Dad leave him or something? Or is he just there but not there?"
"No, no, his Dad was a great Dad. And one day – last year – he just sort of vanished. It's complicated, and not exactly something I should be sharing."
"Oh," Vaughn said.
"I've got it!" Douglas called at the same time as the door opened. Jovee glanced around as she closed the door quickly behind her. She quickly caught each eye, before finally catching Douglas'. Guilt instantly flashed across her face, but before she could apologize, her head turned back to Vaughn.
"Is everything okay here?" She asked.
"Yeah, everything's fine," Vaughn replied. "Douglas was just trying help us find a way to reverse these blackouts."
"Oh," Jovee said.
"What's going on? You looked worried when you came in," Finley said.
Jovee let out an angry grunt. "That stupid janitor. He made me think something bad was going to happen to you guys."
"The janitor?" Finley repeated incredulously.
"Yeah, he told me 'go to your friends, Jovee. There isn't much time'. You know, I never figured the guy to be a liar," She said. "Weird, yes. But a liar?"
"Maybe he was just looking for an excuse to get rid of you," Douglas suggested quietly from the computer.
"Hey, no fighting," Vaughn said as Jovee looked across the room.
"Look, Douglas, I'm -."
Just at that moment the wormhole opened up. Douglas jumped up, moving over to the wormhole just as Finley and Jovee were doing.
"Should we go through?" Jovee called.
"Of course! How do we know the next time it will open up?" Finley countered. Before anyone could go through the wormhole, however, someone appeared, the swirling vortex closing behind them.
Douglas' eyes widened in disbelief. "Grams!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms around her.
Vaughn stared at the woman with surprise. Did Douglas just call her his grandmother?
