Note: Thanks to TRDowden1 for help with the ending!
If you have a chance, please leave a review, thank you.
Dear Mom and Dad,
As you can see, I'm still alive and okay. I know we talked, but Jennifer thought a letter will reassure you. I know we didn't really discuss what happened, so I thought I should do it now. Just, don't blame Duke, okay? It's not his fault, and he needs us (Jennifer, me, and even Reinette) so he'll not feel lonely.
Did you get the announcement that Paige and Nathan are getting married? If we're invited, can we go? I know it's in Haven, but I know we'll be okay. I know everyone will prevent any supernatural disasters from ruining the wedding.
So, this is what happened when you heard I went missing . . .
Ch. 4: Future's End
The first thing Todd was aware of was the sound of the waves against the shore. Then he felt raindrops hitting his face.
'Wet . . . cold . . . humiliated . . .' Reinette's voice said in his mind. 'Lost . . . scared . . . Todd!'
Todd slowly blinked his eyes opened to see storm clouds and rain. He became aware he was lying on his back on small beach, and he was wet. He sat up, trying to recall how he got here.
'Todd!' Reinette called out as she came over to him, also soaking wet. 'Unhappy! I'm wet!'
Todd wiped his damp hair from his eyes, going over what he remembered: the treasure map, Tobias and Ezra, when they found the treasure, a thinny opened . . .
Todd felt like someone punched his heart when he realized what happened: he and Reinette had fallen through the thinny.
Todd immediately got up and looked around. It looked like Maine, but that didn't mean he was in Maine.
'Uncomfortable! Still cold and wet!' Reinette complained.
Todd shivered; he knew standing in the pouring rain will not help his situation. He had to find out where he was and how to get back. He looked at Reinette.
"Stay with me, Reinette; we're going to find somewhere dry," Todd said.
Reinette agreed, but every time she took a step in the sand, she stopped to shake a paw to rid herself of the wet sand, thus she lagged behind, slowing down Todd. Todd then decided to carry her and Reinette was fine with that.
Todd didn't know how long he walked, but he saw a diner ahead and walked to it. He told Reinette to be still and quiet as he hid her underneath his windbreaker. The rain had lessened itself from torrential downpour to a steady drizzle and he hurried inside to the cozy warmth of the restaurant, holding Reinette close to his body.
The bell dinged on the door as he swung it open, and Todd's sneeze got everyone's attention. For a second, everyone just stared at him, but soon a waitress walked over to him.
"You poor thing! Let's take you back and warm yourself up!" the waitress said, whose nametag read Millie, and hurried Todd into the back and into a small break room.
"Now go and sit down," Millie said, showing Todd a chair. "I'll be right back."
Once Todd was seated, Millie left. Todd thought it was safe, so he let Reinette poke her head out, but she got out and sat on the table and began to clean herself. Before Todd could get her, Millie returned with towels and coats. She saw Reinette and sighed.
"Of course the lost boy has a pet," Millie said and wrapped Todd up in the towels and coats. She then handed Todd some smaller towels. "Those are for your cat. Keep her in here, out of the kitchen, and the boss won't throw you out."
"Thank you," Todd said, both grateful and relieved.
"Now I told Hal to fix you some warm hot chocolate and some soup . . . better make it two," Millie said, glancing at Reinette meticulously grooming herself. "It's probably ready by now; I'll back. Um, anymore surprises I should know about?"
"Not that I know of," Todd said, trying to smile and Millie smiled back and she left.
Todd then got Reinette and began drying her, until Reinette squirmed herself free.
'I can dry myself,' Reinette said and went back cleaning herself where she left off, but Todd got her and began drying her again.
"You'll dry quicker with my help," Todd said as he dried her. "And remember to be quiet. If you want to say anything, just say it to me."
Before Reinette could say anything, Millie came back carrying a platter with a cup of hot chocolate and two bowls of soup, one smaller than the other.
"Hope you don't mind marshmallows," Millie said as she placed down the hot chocolate and a bowl of soup. She then placed the smaller bowl next to Todd and he let go of Reinette so she could have her soup.
"Thank you," Todd said and took a sip of the hot chocolate.
"You can repay my kindness by answering some questions," Millie said as she sat down next to him. "Like who are you and why aren't dressed for the weather."
"I'm Todd Beale-Grant, and she's Reinette, my cat," Todd said, and as he thought how to explain his situation without causing suspicion, he tried the soup. "I-I was on a ship with her, and there was a storm, and we fell overboard. I woke up here. Um, where am I?"
"On the edge of a little town called Haven," Millie said.
Todd mentally cheered. At least Haven existed wherever he was, but he still didn't know it was his Haven.
"Where're your folks?" Millie asked as Reinette was done eating and went to a heating vent and started cleaning herself.
"In Delain," Todd said, then it struck him he should call his parents, but then remembered Tobias and Ezra took his phone. "I-I was with relatives on the ship. I lost my phone in the ocean. Is there a phone I can use?"
Millie deeply sighed. It was then Todd noticed the small Guard tattoo on the side of her neck. "Look, Todd, you seem like a good kid, but something's seems off. We have a tradition in Haven to call the police if someone turns up and something's off about them, so I'm going to do that before someone else does. Hey, it's better that you know it's me than some other person."
Todd nodded, understanding, and Millie looked a little surprised, but soon she smiled.
"Well, maybe things will turn out all right. I'll let them know to pick up some clean clothes as well, okay?" Millie said and left.
While Todd waited, he dried and cleaned himself, and enjoyed the warm soup and hot chocolate. If Nathan came, he could tell him what happened, and he could let Duke and Jennifer know that he's okay.
Reinette was done cleaning herself when her ears perked up and she looked at the door. 'People are coming. Voices seem familiar, but different.'
Millie came in with two police officers. One was an older man in a Haven PD jacket, and the other was a younger man in policeman's blues, carrying a bag.
"Hi," the older man said as Todd stood up. "I'm Chief Wuornos."
Todd's eyes nearly budged out of his head as he gawped.
"Nathan?! What happened?!" Todd exclaimed.
"How do you know my name?" Chief Wuornos asked.
Todd blinked his eyes in confusion. "It's me, Todd, Todd Beale-Grant. Don't you remember me? Is this a Trouble?"
"How do you know about Troubles?" Chief Wuornos asked, a bit sharply, giving Todd a suspicious look.
"I was there. I saw them and experienced the Troubles with everyone else. Why do you remember Troubles and not me?" Todd asked, getting worried. "Wait, if this is a Trouble, is yours back? Can you feel anything?"
Chief Wuornos looked a little shocked, then he looked at his fingers and bent them.
"Dad?" the younger officer asked, looking at Chief Wuornos.
"I can still feel, James," Chief Wuornos replied, and once again, Todd gawped as his eyes grew twice his size.
"JAMES?! You're James?!" Todd exclaimed. "You-you're a baby! I mean—the last time I saw you, you were a baby."
"Kid, I was a baby 25 years ago," James said with a tiny grin.
Todd lost his balance for a moment when he heard James's words, and Reinette jumped onto to the table, looking at him in concern.
"I'm in the FUTURE?!" Todd exclaimed.
"I think we should go the station and discuss this further," Chief Wuornos said, his tone now kind.
"You want to change before we go?" James asked, placing the bag on the table.
Todd just nodded back and Reinette rubbed Todd's hand.
'Feel better, Todd,' Reinette radiated, and everyone heard her. James walked up to Reinette.
"Did the cat just speak?" James asked, looking at Reinette.
"Reinette!" Todd scolded and Reinette gave him an innocent look.
'But I know them and they know me!' Reinette protested.
Chief Wuornos and James looked at Todd.
"Um, yeah, I'll explain her as well," Todd said.
After Todd got into clean clothes, he thanked Millie again, and left the diner with James and Chief Wuornos. As they drove, both Nathan and James were busy on the phone, but some sort of future technology prevented Todd from hearing their conversations.
In truth, Todd was a little disappointed when he saw the Haven police station; it was like he was Marty McFly and traveled to the real 2015, not the one he went to in the movie. There were some remodeling and he saw devices that looked futuristic, but nothing impressive. What he did noticed was the stares the other officers were giving him as he walked inside and found himself holding Reinette closer to him.
Chief Wuornos lead him into his office, still in the same area. Inside, waiting for them, was an older woman, and Todd recognized her as Paige, but older. He was a little confused; he thought Paige didn't aged.
"You must be Todd," Paige said, getting his attention. "I'm Paige Wuornos, and this must be the cat James told me about."
"Um, yes," Todd said as Paige studied him. "Her name is Reinette."
"Why don't we all sit down?" Chief Wuornos suggested and they agreed.
Once they were settled, Nathan looked at Todd and he explained his situation. While he was talking, Reinette left Todd to find another comfortable place to take a nap. When Todd was through, Paige handled him a glass of water.
"Do you remember him, Paige?" Chief Wuornos asked and Paige shook her head.
"None of my other selves recognize him," Paige said.
"You have your memories? I mean . . . from your other . . . selves?" Todd asked.
"Yes, I exchanged my extended life to gain back my memories," Paige said, smiling kindly at Todd.
"But why don't you remember me?" Todd asked. "You do believe me, do you?"
"We do believe you, Todd. This is Haven after all," Chief Wuornos said with a brief smile before he became serious. "We don't remember you because none of us had met you before; things went differently here. I killed Duke, and he never came back. Jennifer sacrificed her life to stop William, and is buried at sea with Duke's ashes."
"They're . . . dead?" Todd choked out, trying to hold back his tears. Paige placed a comforting hand on Todd's.
"Todd, you know you went through a thinny, things went differently here," Paige said. "What happened in your reality, didn't happened here: You never came to Haven."
"But why?" Todd asked. "Wait, did the Void attack Haven here?"
Before anyone could answer, there was a knock at the doorway, and they saw a young man with brown hair and eyes, wearing a medical coat.
"Stan said you called me, Chief?" the man asked.
"Yes, Dr. Harker, come in," Chief Wuornos said, and the man entered. "Todd, this is Dr. Harker; he's going to run some tests."
"Why? You said you believe me," Todd asked.
"We . . . do, but we need to be sure," Nathan said.
Todd was going to protest Nathan's answer, when he remembered how Duke described Nathan and what he saw with his Nathan, and soon understood. They probably want to make sure that he's really who he said he is and not an Aether construct or from Paige's reality.
'Testing to see if I'm human is probably the only thing Haven has that's high-tech,' Todd thought as Chief Wuornos was now busy on the phone and James and Dr. Harker were talking.
Wait, Harker . . .
"So are we still seeing the game on Saturday?" Dr. Harker asked James.
"Sure, I'll let you know if anything changes, Aaron," James answered.
"Aaron?! Aaron Harker?!" Todd gawked, standing up to get a better look at the now grown Aaron. "You-you're—"
"Do I know you?" Aaron asked.
"I'll explain," James said. "I'll escort him and the cat."
"Wait, James, what about your lunch date?" Paige asked.
James slapped his forehead and got out his phone. "Thanks, Mom. I better call Jean."
"Jean? As in Jean Mitchell?" Todd asked, astonished.
"Um, yeah, how did you know?" James asked.
"I know Jean from my world! I can't believe you're dating Duke's daughter!" Todd said.
"Jean is Duke Crocker's daughter?" James asked his parents.
"Can't talk now, son; I'm busy on the phone," Chief Wuornos said, and turned his chair around.
Paige smiled weakly at her son. "I'll explain later."
"So you know me from your reality?" Aaron asked, finishing up his tests on Todd and Reinette.
"Yeah, I stayed with Gloria for a while," Todd said and glanced at James, who was talking on the phone. "Most of my time was spent babysitting you and James with Gloria."
"You babysat us, I mean, the us from your reality?" James asked when he was done with his conversation on the phone and Aaron ran his tests.
"I mostly watched over you guys when Gloria was busy; she taught me how take care of babies, even how to change your diapers . . . um, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that," Todd awkwardly added when he saw the looks Aaron and James were giving him. "Is, um, Gloria still around?"
"I'm sorry, Todd, but Gloria passed away last year," Aaron said in a sad tone, and Todd's face fell. Reinette rubbed Todd's hand to cheer him up as she purred a little.
"Got a call from my mom; they want us to take him to the Grey Gull," James said.
"Oh, I already ate at the diner," Todd said as he stood up.
James laughed. "Heralds members use the Grey Gull for meetings."
"'Herald members?'" Todd asked as he picked up Reinette and followed Aaron and James.
"It's a group of people who looks out and protect the Troubles," James explained. "It's based off an old group called the Guard, except we're not that . . ."
". . . Extreme," Aaron said and James nodded in agreement when they reached his car. "We call ourselves Heralds in honor of The Haven Herald, the newspaper run by one of the last leaders of the Guard."
"Vince and Dave Teagues," Todd said after he settled himself in James's car. James and Aaron looked at him. "It's . . . odd . . . how similar your reality and mine are, yet so different."
'Maybe that's why I can't stop feeling sad,' Todd thought while he looked through the window as James drove off. 'This Haven is so much like my Haven, but there's so much missing.'
Even the Grey Gull remained the same after 25 years, Todd noted as he got out of James' car and went inside. There was group of people already there, gathered around long table. Todd recognized the older versions of Dwight, McHugh, and Vickie. There was one woman with blonde hair wearing business attire and another woman with long dark hair done in a braid that snaked down over her shoulder. There was something familiar with the woman with dark hair to Todd and soon he figured out why.
'She must be this reality's Jean,' Todd thought and found out he was right when he saw James greeted her.
Chief Wuornos then asked everyone to sit down and called the meeting in order; Paige said it was okay to let Reinette run around and Todd did that. As Chief Wuornos asked Todd to explain his story again, Paige took out a ball of yarn for Reinette to play with.
"Nathan, we know almost anything could happen in Haven, but we also know some people like to manipulate us," Dwight said when Todd was done talking. "How do know he isn't a genetic experiment from William?"
"He could even be a creation from Croatoan," Vickie commented, glancing at the blonde woman, which earned a glare from Dwight.
"Which I asked Aaron to run some tests on him," Chief Wuornos said, then looked at Dr. Harker. "Aaron."
"I ran his DNA to the DNA we have on Duke Crocker," Aaron said, passing around papers. "He is definitely a relative to the Crocker family. So, um, congratulations, Jean, meet your 20th removed cousin."
Jean stared at Todd, who awkwardly smiled and waved at her.
"What about the cat?" McHugh asked, as Reinette carried the ball of yarn to Todd and dropped it at his feet.
"She's a real cat," Aaron said as Todd threw the yarn and Reinette chased after it.
Jean came closer to Todd and looked him over closely.
"I was told I was the only surviving Crocker," Jean said to him as Reinette returned with the yarn. "How come I've never met you before?"
"I've have the answer," the blonde woman said, and moved closer to Todd. "I'm Elizabeth Hendrickson, I work with—"
"Lizzie?! Is that you?!" Todd blurted out.
"So you know me as well," Elizabeth said.
"Of course; the first time we met you dragged me off to play Lizzie the Lion-Hearted," Todd said. "Um, I was Todd the Temperate."
Elizabeth looked a little shocked, then smiled a little.
"You really did know me when I was a kid," Elizabeth said. She then pressed a button on her phone and the others' phones beeped. "I just send you the information. Todd . . . you should read this for yourself."
Elizabeth handed Todd a device that looked like a tablet. Todd's eyes grew wide when he read what was on the tablet as he felt his heart froze.
Amongst the victims of the shootout are . . . Roland and Susan Beale, and their three-year-old, son, Todd . . .
Todd dropped the tablet on the table, as shock overtook him. Now everything made sense.
"I'm . . . dead," Todd said in a somber voice, getting everyone's attention.
"Todd, would you like some time alone?" Chief Wuornos asked in a gentle tone, seeing Todd's face.
Todd slowly nodded his head and Dwight escorted him to the back; Reinette followed them.
Todd gazed out into the ocean as he wrapped his arms around his knees, thinking over the information he read in the news article. Reinette was rubbing his legs and purred, trying to cheer him up, while Dwight watched over them.
'I'm dead, well . . . not really me . . . the me in this dimension,' Todd thought as he studied the rays of sunlight shining in-between the clouds and stroked Reinette. 'This is why no one remembers me; they never met the me from this world. Without me, Croatoan's back-up plan wouldn't have worked, and Duke remained dead. I still don't know if the Void tried to invade this reality, but Jennifer wasn't brought back to life as well. I don't know what happened to Reinette in this world, but . . . I don't exist here.'
"How are you doing, kid? Do you need more time?" Dwight asked, breaking Todd from his thoughts.
Todd shook his head and stood up. "I'm . . . not all right, but it looks like the meeting can't go on without me."
"Well, yeah, the reason we were called together is because of you," Dwight said with a small smile, making Todd smile back.
Reinette followed them back inside and sat next to Todd as he and Dwight went back to their seats.
"I've talked to Paige, and we're fine if you want to live with us," Chief Wuronos said.
"I think I have some of James's clothes stored away that you could use," Paige said with a tiny smile.
"Wait, what are you talking about?" Todd asked, confused. "Aren't we going to look for that device that send me here?"
"Todd, we don't know if that device exists here," Chief Wuornos said. "It could be just a waste of our time."
"But we don't know unless we look!" Todd protested.
"Even if we do, we don't have the resources," Mc Hugh said. "Too many people would ask questions."
"So that's it? You're giving up on me? I'm supposed to live here from now on?" Todd asked. "You care more about Haven than me!"
With that, Todd bolted outside, ignoring the protests of the others, as his eyes filled with tears. No one noticed Reinette had slipped out as well.
Todd hadn't really gotten that far. He actually ran upstairs to where Audrey's old apartment was; Duke said Todd could go there if he ever he wanted to get away from Gloria, and it was just luck that the extra key was hidden in the same place it was in his reality. Even though he was angry that everyone refused to help him get back home, he could only sit on the floor and cry his eyes out. Even when his parents were in a coma, he never felt this alone before.
'But you're not alone,' Reinette told him, as she rubbed him and purred loudly. 'I'm here, Todd.'
Todd blinked away his tears and hugged Reinette as he wept again.
'I'm never leaving your side, Todd,' Reinette said. 'As long as I live, I will always be by your side.'
Some time had passed until both Todd and Reinette heard the door opened, and someone entering.
"Todd? Are you in here?" Todd heard Jean say in a kind voice. "Look, can we . . . can we talk? I'm not going to bring you back to the Heralds. In fact, no one is mad at you; you will not be punished. If you don't want to talk to me, just say so and I'll leave you and will not tell the others."
"How did you know I was here?" Todd asked, peeking his head around an old sofa. Jean turned around and smiled as she walked closer to him.
"When I came back to Haven, people would share stories about my dad," Jean said and sat down next to Todd. "They told me about his tricks and habits. I had a feeling he shared some of his secrets with you, so I thought: 'how would my dad hide?' and came up here to find the door unlocked."
Todd found himself smiling at Jean, but then he sniffled a little.
"I want to go home," Todd said as tears fell from his face. "I don't belong here."
Jean put her arm around him. "Todd, it may look like we're doing nothing, but we're going try to find a way to bring back to your world; just not immediately. I know you miss your family and friends, but please be patient."
Todd's response was to wipe his nose on his sleeve.
"You know, if you like, you could live with me," Jean said, causing Todd to look at her. "Us Crockers have to stick together."
Todd couldn't help but smile back.
"Whenever you're ready, let's head back," Jean said.
"Not now, okay?" Todd said.
Jean just nodded back and let Todd rest his head on her shoulder.
After a while, Todd felt he could talk to the Heralds, so Jean escorted him and Reinette outside and he saw that everyone went out looking for him.
'Even though it seems they are uncomfortable leaving Haven unguarded, they do care about me,' Todd thought when they saw some of the Herald members fuss and express their concern over him.
Everyone then went back inside to continue the meeting, but then Chief Wuornos signaled everyone to stop.
"Dad?" James asked.
"That door wasn't opened before," Chief Wuornos said, indicating the door to Duke's office. "Dwight, McHugh, James, cover me."
The men nodded and drew their weapons and carefully entered the office.
"Turn around! Hands up!" Chief Wuornos ordered and Todd heard someone yell surprise.
"Shessh! Why do I always forget you're going to that?" a man's voice said.
"Duke?!" Chief Wuornos exclaimed.
Curiosity overtook Todd, and before anyone could stop him, he headed for the office and peeked through the opened door. He saw Dwight, McHugh, Chief Wuornos, and James pointing their guns at a man who looked like Duke, but not quite.
"Duke? Is that you?" Dwight asked.
"Not really, but you're close, though," the man said.
"We're not in the mood for games," McHugh said.
"I'm not playing games," the man said. "I'm giving him a chance to figure it out."
"Who?" James asked.
Todd studied the man; the dark hair curled around his face, and the start of facial hair on his chin. There was something familiar . . .
Todd realized who this man was.
"You're . . . me," Todd said, entering the room.
The man smiled. "That's right."
"You're . . . Todd?" Chief Wuornos asked. "How . . .?"
"Can I explain without guns pointed at me?" the man . . . Adult Todd asked. "Plus, the others might be worried right now since they hadn't heard from you in a while."
Chief Wuornos and the others put their weapons away and they left the office. Todd could see the shocked and confused expressions of the other members of Herald, and even an audible gasp.
"Duke?" Paige asked, coming closer to him.
"I'm sorry, but I'm Todd," Adult Todd said. "I'm not from here; I'm from his reality, from his future, which is your present."
'Confused!' Reinette yowled out.
'It never did make sense, dear,' a new voice said, which made some people jumped because the voice sounded somewhat like Gloria. Soon an old Siamese cat walked out from Duke's office and sat down next to the bar. Todd walked over to the old cat and studied her.
"Is that . . . Reinette?" Todd asked.
'Why are you acting so surprised, boy? I told you I'd never leave your side,' Older Reinette said and chuckled.
"Yeah . . . the Pellucid Aether also extended her life and slowed down her aging process," Adult Todd said, awkwardly, as he rubbed the back of his head. "Better let Dad know."
Todd nodded and Reinette went up to her future self and sniffed her.
'Hi, me!' Reinette cheerfully greeted while she purred and rubbed Older Reinette's chest.
'Hello, myself,' Older Reinette said, and licked Reinette between her ears, purring. "I was so beautiful when I was young.'
"You still are," Adult Todd said, smiling at Older Reinette, causing her to chuckle.
"Todd . . . the grown up one . . . what are you doing here?" Chief Wuornos asked.
"Right, I left it in Duke's office," Adult Todd said. "Be right back."
Adult Todd jogged back into the office and soon returned carrying the armillary sphere.
"That's the device that made the thinny!" Todd exclaimed as Adult Todd placed the armillary sphere on the bar counter.
"It is, but this one is from my time," Adult Todd said.
'Wasn't there something else you were supposed to do?' OlderReinette asked.
"Oh, yeah, thanks for reminding me," Adult Todd said and took out his phone. He then went over to Chief Wuornos and took a selfie with him.
"Cool; I still got James in the background," Adult Todd said, smiling when he checked his phone.
"What was that all about?" Chief Wuornos asked.
"It's proof," Adult Todd said, and looked at Todd. "As soon as Nathan . . . the one from our reality . . . hears what this device can do, he'll want to destroy it, saying it's too dangerous for anyone to have, but when he sees this, it will be enough to convince him to leave it alone."
Chief Wuornos opened his mouth to protest, but then closed his mouth. "That would be something I would do."
"But how do you know it would work?" Todd asked.
Adult Todd smiled and walked up to Todd. "Because I was you and I experienced everything you're going through right now."
'Still confused!' Reinette yowled out.
'Don't worry your pretty head about it, and relax,' Older Reinette said, and laid down and Reinette joined her.
"You see, Todd, the reason you're in an alternative future is that each ring has a function," Todd said, indicating the rings of the armillary sphere. "There's one that points to what dimension you want to go to, another one control which time period, another chooses where are you going land physically, and so forth."
"Which ring controls what?" Paige asked.
"What? And ruin my fun figuring it out?" Adult Todd said, grinning at his younger self. "Oh, yeah, there is a randomizer button; that's what Ezra bumped into to activate the device. The rest . . . I'll leave it up to you to find out."
"So . . . is this going to take me home?" Todd asked and Adult Todd nodded. "But . . . what about you?"
"I'm using the device as well . . . just back to my place and time," Adult Todd said. "I have to wait an hour or two after you, that how long it takes to recharge, in fact, it's recharging right now. So, while we're waiting . . . hey, Jean, could you help me print out a photo?"
While they waited for the device to recharged, Adult Todd took it outside. Paige took this time to ask for someone drop off Todd's other clothes in a bag.
"It's better when the device is used outside," Adult Todd explained. "Sometimes, furniture gets broken when a thinny opens inside . . . oh, hey, does anyone has a pen and paper?"
Paige handled him a pen and a pad. "Is this important to you? Because I need to give this to me . . . Todd."
"Why?" Todd asked, as Paige shook her head and Adult Todd gave the pen and paper to Todd.
"You're going to need them to write down the symbols where the rings lined up," Adult Todd said. "DO NOT lose the paper, Todd, it's very important you keep it with you and NEVER throw it away."
"Why?" Todd asked.
"Let's just say it will help you and me in the future," Adult Todd said as he took out a familiar looking piece of paper and Todd smiled at his future self, understanding.
"Wait, if you knew Paige was going to give you . . . me the pen and pad, why did you ask her?" Todd asked.
Adult Todd shrugged. "Hey, Mom always said to be polite."
"Yeah, you're right," Todd said and smiled.
Todd then went around to say farewell to the people of this reality, and Paige handed him the bag.
"We'll meet again, in 25 years," Jean said after their hug, and gave the photo of Adult Todd, Chief Wuornos, and James, and he placed it in his the pocket of his jeans along with the pen and pad.
When Todd was ready, he went over to Adult Todd.
"Um, is there anything else I need to know about the future?" Todd asked.
Adult Todd smirked at his past self. "Can't give away too much about what happens, it will ruin the surprises, but . . . perhaps I can share a couple of things that could be helpful."
"Yeah?"
"First . . . just be there for Duke; he's going to need a lot of support," Adult Todd said. "Also, don't feel stressed about being a godfather."
Before Todd could ask, Adult Todd began moving the rings on the armillary sphere, and Todd concentrated on where the rings lined up as he took notes. When Adult Todd was done, he tapped the top of the armillary sphere, and a second later, the small sphere in the center glowed and a beam of light shot out and created a thinny.
"Ready, Reinette?" Todd asked his cat as he picked her up.
'No,' Reinette said. 'But I want to go home.'
Todd smiled and looked back at future Haven and its people one more time. The adults said farewell and wished him luck.
Todd picked up the bag that held his clothes, then looked at the thinny and let out a deep breath. He then jumped into the thinny.
The first thing Todd was aware of was someone touching his cheek and saw Reinette rubbing his face. He sat up and realized it was nighttime and he was at the dock where Duke moored The Cape Rouge. Todd picked up Reinette and the bag, and walked to where The Cape Rouge was, and was relieved to see it still there. Surprisingly, the gangplank was down, but Todd was just glad he had a way aboard The Rouge.
'Smell food, smells yummy!' Reinette said once they were onboard he put the bag away. Todd concluded that Duke and Jennifer must be in the kitchen.
He found a cooked meal but the food was untouched on the dishes. He then saw Duke and Jennifer, sitting on a small couch, looking out at the ocean. There was an opened bottle of wine on the circular table next to them, and also two glasses of wine. Duke was holding Jennifer close to him, and Todd could hear them crying.
Before Todd could move, Reinette jumped out of his arms and went over to Duke and Jennifer. She then jumped on the sofa and meowed, getting their attention. Duke and Jennifer stopped crying and looked behind them to see Reinette, then Todd.
The two adults immediately ran to Todd and encircled him in hugs as they babble and muttered endearments to each other. Reinette circled them, purring as the humans cried tears of happiness.
When they finally broke apart, Todd saw that Duke had stopped crying, but his eyes were red, and Jennifer was still weeping.
"Todd," Duke finally said and swallowed. "How did you return?"
"I'll tell you over dinner," Todd said and wiped his nose. "It smells great."
Duke nodded. "Better set a place for you."
However, when they turned around, they saw Reinette, on Jennifer's chair, her front paws on the table, helping herself to Jennifer's dinner.
"Reinette!" Todd exclaimed.
Reinette stopped and looked at them.
'What?' Reinette innocently asked.
Everyone had to laugh.
During dinner, Todd explained his adventure through the thinny and his encounter with his future self. Duke informed Todd that Ezra and Tobias were arrested by the local authorities, but they didn't find out who hired the two men. He told Nathan and the others what happened and Dwight said he'd ask some members of the Guard to look into Ezra and Tobias. Duke then contacted Todd's parents and informed them what happened to him, and Todd said he'll talk to them after dinner.
After dinner, Todd Skyped his parents, showing them that he was alive and well. They didn't really talk much, it mostly muttering endearments and crying in relief and joy. Once Duke was sure Todd's parents weren't going to sue him for child endangerment, they contacted Nathan and Haven.
Just as Adult Todd said, once Nathan saw Todd was safe, he told Duke to destroy the armillary sphere. Todd then took out the photo and showed it to Nathan, which silenced him, then relented and said to keep the armillary sphere safe until they found a place to store it in Haven. Dwight said the Guard was still looking into who hired Ezra and Tobias.
Afterwards, Todd was exhausted from talking, crying, plus traveling to an alternative world, so he headed to bed.
Jennifer went to check on Todd one last time before she joined Duke. He was sitting on the couch, looking over the other items they found in the treasure chest with a pensive look on his face.
"What's the matter?" She asked as she sat down next to him. She glanced toward Todd's bedroom door. "He's asleep, I checked. Talk to me," she murmured, kissing his face. "Is it about . . . what happened to you after Tobias shot you?"
Duke gave her a quick nod for his response.
"We never had a chance to really talk about . . . what you did . . . to save us; we busy trying to find out what happened to Todd," Jennifer said. "What did happen to you, Duke?"
Duke told her of his conversation with the woman in his vision, all while Jennifer sat there with her mouth agape.
"What did she mean a 'great peril?' Is there something out there like the Void?" Jennifer asked when he was done.
"I don't know, all she said the items will help Todd and I find what we need . . . whatever that means," Duke said and picked up the copy of Rudyard Kipling's Captains Courageous.
Duke knew the story well-he'd had to read it in high school, but had enjoyed so much he'd read it a few times since. Its title had been taken from a ballad "Mary Ambree"-When Captains Courageous, whom death could not daunt-the story was about a boy who had been washed overboard a steamship and was rescued by fishermen off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, and becomes a temporary crew member of the We're Here.
"Someone chose this book well," Duke remarked.
"Why do you say that?" Jennifer asked.
"Some of Haven's founding families came from Newfoundland, Crockers among them," he informed her, thumbing through the book, glancing at the pages.
Duke reached the back of the book, and then noted that the words We're Here appeared in glowing letters on the back inside cover, and he saw that the paper had been clumsily glued down. No-re-glued. Something was under the book leaf.
"Another map?" Jennifer whispered.
"No, it's hard, like metal," Duke muttered.
He made an incision in the flyleaf, and retrieved what looked to be a small coin, and he held it in his hand.
A glowing white light appeared, and he was standing outside a small house, with hundreds upon hundreds of doll heads, hanging from trees, tied to the branches, nailed to them, resting on the ground, some smiling, some crying, all with their eyes glowing, casting an eerie light over the whole place.
Ahead of him, he saw a huge ancient tree, its branches laden with doll heads, and he could hear Jennifer calling to him, "Duke! Duke!"
He opened his eyes to find her leaning over him, her face anxious, her eyes teary. Todd was behind her, clearly woken up hearing Jennifer, looking worried.
"Are you okay?" she half-sobbed. "You just—I don't know. You just tensed up, and you seemed to be having some kind of seizure, Duke," she told him. "And your eyes were silver!"
"Is it . . . is it . . ." Todd muttered.
"No, I don't think this has anything to do with you and the armillary sphere," Duke said, slowly sitting up. "It has to do with the treasure we found."
Duke somehow managed to get himself onto the couch. "Get some hot chocolate for Todd, Jennifer; he needs to know what happened to me as well."
