8

Chapter 44

David awoke in a cornfield; at first…he couldn't remember anything.

He slowly sat up in the dirt…glancing about; he scratched his head confusion.

He pursued his lips…words on the tip of his tongue.

He quickly whipped his head around…then slowly got his feet.

Golden rows for miles and miles.

David began to slowly walk…fallen stalks crunching under his boots.

He looked down…flabbergasted by the sight of it.

He furrowed his brow…picking up the stalk.

He examined it with his eyes…eventually letting it slip out of his hand.

He continued walking…his pace slowly increasing.

David glanced up; the sun beat down on him…its rays scolding.

He covered his eyes with his hand…squinting in the blinding light.

He glanced about again as he began into a spirited sprint.

The scenery remained the same; he began to feel a bit panicked.

There was nothing else as far as the eye could see; it reminded him of a corn maze he'd gotten lost in when he was a child.

He shouted and shouted for help…until…

His father came and helped him.

David started running faster and faster.

"Ughhhh,"

He whipped stalks from his face as he ran; he slapped away mosquitoes from his hands.

He squinted; he saw an opening in the distance.

He felt a wave of relief; he ran faster and faster.

It got bigger and brighter by the second.

David tumbled out of the field…and fell over himself.

He sat there for a moment catching his breath…propping himself up with his knuckles.

He slid on to his behind sideways…looking down at the grass.

He plucked a few blades…tossing them into the air carelessly.

After a few moments of rest…he got to his feet.

When he saw where he was…his eyes turned to saucers.

He was home.

"Hello?" David shouted into the front foyer.

He took a few steps inside…letting the screen door slam behind him.

He stood there for a moment…looking about.

"Mom? Karen?"

The house was dead silent. Except for the creaking of floorboards under his feet.

A look of confusion on his face…David poked his head into the kitchen.

He spotted something underneath the table; he moved closer and knelt down to take a look.

It was the plate he'd shattered.

David did move for several minutes; his heart skipped a beat at the sight of it.

"What?" he muttered.

He picked a piece up…and studied it.

His hand started to shake; he dropped the piece and shattered.

He furrowed his brow…feeling even more confused.

In the distance…he heard the sound of feet pattering over the floor.

"Hey!"

As he got to his feet…he heard the screen door slam again.

He moved with swiftness out the door.

He paused on the porch.

He scanned the yard; he spotted a figure in the distance.

"Hey you!" he shouted…pointing.

The figure ran across the field and slipped into the barn.

David barreled forward…the wind whipping at his face.

He nearly stumbled and fell…but caught himself using his momentum.

He reached the barn.

He threw the door open with all of his might.

It creaked with every movement.

He paused again…looking into the pitch-black atmosphere.

He saw no on; he took a few steps in.

"Hello?"

He roamed about…glancing here and there.

He saw no one.

He started to feel panicked.

He dove into the pile of hay…crazily digging through it.

He was knee deep when he heard another creak.

He whipped about…and spotted the figure dash out the door…hitting the punching bag on their way out.

"Stop!"

This time he didn't stop; he followed the figure…hot on his heels.

In the light…he looked just like a red blob.

David followed him onto the gravel road; they both ran and ran.

The gravel crunched under their feet.

David stumbled and fell; his hands and face were cut up from the rocks.

He leapt to his feet…the stranger now at least a mile ahead.

David was out of breath…and exhausted.

But he resumed his hunt.

The figure eventually veered off of the road; David followed suit.

He stopped for a moment; all he could see was a path surrounded by tall grasses.

"Come back!"

He started to walk slowly forward…glancing from side to side.

At the end of the path was a small hill; at the bottom of the hill was his favorite dock.

In the distance…he could make out two figures.

"Hello!" he shouted…sprinting towards.

He waved his hands in the air…but they didn't seem to notice.

"Hello!"

He reached the entrance to the dock.

It was a man with dark hair…close to David's age…if not a little older.

And a little boy…also with dark hair.

They both seemed very familiar.

David's heart started beating faster; his palms got balmy.

"Hey! Did you see anyone come by here?"

Neither acknowledged him.

David tried to walk closer…but he was stopped.

"Hey…I need help!"

He started feeling panic; he banged at the obstruction.

Like an invisible wall.

"Help!"

Then the man and the boy turned around.

"Oh my god!" David cried.

It was his childhood self…and his father.

Saul put his arm around the young boy…and smiled down at him.

It was a warm and genuine smile.

David felt his eyes watering.

Saul knelt down in front of the boy.

"Did you have a good time, kid?"

The younger David smiled and nodded himself.

"Good," Saul said chuckling a little. He poked the boy in his chest playfully.

David felt a tear streak down his chin.

"Daddy…will you pick me up?"

Saul looked down at the younger David.

"I don't know…you're getting awfully big," he said with a sneaky grin.

"Pleassseee…prettttyyy pleassseee,"

"Oh, alright,"

Saul picked up the younger David, grunting. He hoisted him up onto his shoulders.

"There ya go!"

David felt tears streaming from his eyes; he collapsed onto the ground on his knees.

"No," he whispered.

The pair started walking…and passed right through David.

He didn't seem to notice.

He fell on his face…wracked with confusing emotions.

"Dad," he whispered.

He laid there for sometime…until he heard a rustling in the grass.

He slowly lifted his head; he turned to face the noise.

He saw the figure slip out and run.

David leapt to his feet…his face filled with anger.

He tackled the figure…and pinned him to the ground.

He flipped him over…then fall backwards.

A look of pure shock on his face.

It was himself.

David looked down at himself; he was wearing his uniform.

The man before wore a flannel shirt and a pair of jeans.

Exactly what he wore before he joined Starfleet.

"David," his other self said.

David stumbled backwards and onto his feet.

"No," he said anxiously.

"David…please,"

"No!"

David started to run in the opposite direction.

He fell again…tripping on a root.

"David,"

This time it was a different voice.

It was the voice of Carl.