JB tried to sit still while he waited, but every part of him buzzed with anxiety. He'd chosen this particular time hollow because it had two separate rooms, which allowed the Poes some privacy to talk while he and Sam waited on a bench in the other room. But why were they taking so long? For a place where time wasn't supposed to pass at all, it sure felt like the minutes were flying by at lightning speed. Was Cira watching right now? If she was, would she yank him out? What would become of Sam and the Poes? What would become of time?
And what on earth was that irritating tapping sound?
"You did the right thing," said Sam in a soothing tone. She took hold of his hands and gently massaged them with her thumbs. The tapping stopped and he realized the sound had come from his own fingers drumming on the bench. "It'll be okay."
"That's interesting coming from you," he said. "Miss Oh-No-It's-The-End-Of-The-World."
"Um, it's Doctor Oh-No-It's-The-End-Of-The-World," said Sam, "and need I remind you, you were the one who actually said it could be the end of the world."
"The end of time," he corrected, "but you're right, it's basically the same thing. Which is why I don't understand why you're so calm."
She breathed a perplexed laugh. "I don't either," she said. "I just trust you."
"That makes one of us."
"Hey." She stroked his hands a little more earnestly. "You saved over thirty missing kids from history. I think you know what you're doing."
He closed his eyes and tried to imagine he was somewhere else…back in the courtyard with Sam, just the two of them and the fountain and the stars…
"Help me, please!" someone screamed.
Sam released his hands abruptly and they both stood and turned in the direction of the voice. Virginia was standing right behind them in her nightgown, holding the elucidators. Her small body trembled violently; wisps of loose black hair stuck to tear-stained cheeks. Poe was nowhere in sight.
"Mrs. Poe, where is your husband?" JB demanded.
"Taken," she sobbed. "Eddie released my hand for a single moment, and suddenly a man in a black hood appeared and they vanished into nothing!"
JB swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. "I'm an idiot," he said. "I should never have brought you here."
"Please, do you know where they might have gone?" Virginia begged.
"I have a hunch," Sam whispered with a dark expression.
"Where?" JB asked immediately.
"The park bench in Baltimore…"
His mouth went dry. "You don't mean the place he was found in your version of history, before he died mysteriously?"
"Yes," said Sam.
Virginia lunged at Sam and grabbed her shoulders, crying, "No, he mustn't die!" Sam stumbled backward.
"I will find him," said JB, prying Virginia off of Sam. She was so light and delicate, it was not difficult. "Sam will stay here with you and—"
"No!" Sam and Virginia protested in unison.
"I won't let you charge straight into danger all alone," said Sam.
"That's my job," JB reminded her. "I've been doing it for years."
"But I know way more about Edgar Allan Poe than you do."
Virginia slammed her hand on the bench and glared at Sam. "I beg your pardon, but Edgar is my husband. I should think I know him best." She turned her attention to JB and raised the elucidators. "Take me, Sir, I implore you." Poe must have taught her how to do a few things on the elucidator because she pressed a button and for the second time that day, JB and Sam were paralyzed from the neck down.
"It's not safe for you, Mrs. Poe," said Sam, wiggling her neck to no avail. "As soon as you leave this time hollow, you'll return to your dying state."
"I do not care," Virginia snapped. "I must find Eddie."
"You won't find him," said JB. "You have approximately two minutes left to live. That isn't enough time."
"Then heal me!" she said. "I know you have the ability."
"I'm sorry, I can't." He was so tired. All the running around and negotiating with people desperate to save their loved ones was wearing him down. Why did it always have to be so complicated? For once, he wished he could just say, Yes, I can help you. No questions asked. But if that was how he'd wanted to do things, he'd chosen the wrong career.
"You will heal me and bring me with you," said Virginia, "or I will find Eddie on my own."
"I just explained to you why that won't work," said JB. "You won't make it to him in time and then you'll be found dead somewhere outside of your home and time will be in even worse danger."
Virginia didn't budge, just puffed out her chest and said, "What's it to me if time is in danger? I will not sit and wait here while my husband is in harm's way. I offer two options: Either heal me and let me join you, or I will leave you here without your devices and likely die before I ever find my Eddie…" A fresh tear rolled down her cheek. "I know you keep all sorts of medicines in your magic bag." Her eyes drifted to the stuffer-sack that hung from Sam's elbow. "Tell me how to summon a cure from it."
"Please," said Sam. "Let's just talk this through first."
"If you will not help me in ten seconds," Virginia warned. "I will leave."
JB couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Mrs. Poe, you're making a terrible—"
"Ten," said Virginia, "nine…"
"JB, what do we do?" Sam yelped.
"…eight…seven…"
JB's heart raced. "Stop, Mrs. Poe, you can't do this!"
"…six…five…four…"
"Just give her what she wants!" Sam shrieked.
"…three…two…one…"