Chapter Forty-nine

Distant Thunder

Tom realized he was practically sleeping on his feet just about the same time he stumbled and crashed into the cave wall. Abraxas automatically reached out and steadied him, earning an annoyed glare for his reward.

"If we don't get out of here soon, Tom, I don't want to even think about the consequences," Abraxas said. "My mind is so tired of fighting off this Horcrux, I can't even think straight anymore."

"You've got to keep trying, Brax," Tom muttered through clenched jaws. "We can't be meant to die in here. The future is still waiting for us."

"You're he one who wants to change that future," Abraxas reminded him as he leaned against the wall to keep from falling over.

I will change it," said Tom stubbornly.

"Well, then don't you think it's time we got out of here? "

"Do you hear that?" Tom asked as he cocked his head to one side.

"What, more tapping? "

"No, it's not tapping, mate," he said shaking as he tried to Sprint forward on shaky legs. "I think it might be thunder."

"From inside a cave?" Abraxas asked skeptically.

"It is thunder," Tom insisted. "I can hear the rain hitting the ground outside. We've got to look for an opening. Come on, Malfoy, don't you want to find something to eat?"

"Now that would be something to wish for," he agreed tiredly.

"I'm going to wish for something much better than that," Tom told him as he scribbled through a hole he almost couldn't even fit in. The two young men stepped out into the storm and shouted triumphantly.

"Meant to tell you Riddle," said Abraxas with a grin. "You could really use a shower."

Tom tore off his filthy clothes and shouted, "I'd rather have a bath!"

Both of them plunged into the river and let it take them. They floated aimlessly for a time until they came to its mouth, then flung their wet bodies and their wet clothes onto the shore.

)0(

Tom startled awake when he heard a twig snap. Edmond Lestrange was hovering over him with a weird, glazed over look in his eyes.

Edmond laughed almost maniacally when his eyes met Tom's. "You're awake. Good. I've been standing here trying to work out what happened here. I can't tell if you were just swimming, or the two of you are completely shagged out."

"Shagged out?" Tom repeated irritably. "With Malfoy? Don't be crude, Lestrange. How did you find us?"

When Edmond did not immediately respond, Tom surged forward in a threatening manner, face pressed angrily close to his. "I said, how did you find us?"

"Surely you must know already," Edmond answered guilty. "The sensation is quite strong, isn't it?"

"You were supposed to be with Hermione, Lestrange," Tom reminded him.

"Yes, well we were trying to stop Dumbledore from making Horcruxes out of the objects you supposedly used last time, only somehow he has every memory of the future Hermione hoped to use. She didn't really know what the objects were, so she sent me to the future to find out. But now Dumbledore' s got the list, too."

"Better and better," grumbled Abraxas from where he still lay, eyes closed, on the ground nearby.

"I thought I Stupified you," Edmond growled, eyes wilder than ever. "You don't know how angry Dumbledore was hen he found the two of you missing, Tom. He's decided it doesn't matter who becomes the Dark Lord as long as whoever he is, he does the same things. This sensation really is strong."

"He's sent you to kill me, hasn't he?" Tom demanded, pushing the tip of his wand into Edmond's throat. His own eyes landed over as well, and he shoved Edmond backwards against a tree. "Hasn't he?"

Edmond took a deep, shaky breath. "He cast a compelling spell too, I think." Edmond muttered. "That's why it's so bloody strong. You're right, Tom. I am going to kill you. Kill you and take your place-"

"Avada Kedavra!" Tom shouted then, and Edmond's body flew backwards against the tree, making the truck crack under the force of the blast.

"Bloody he'll, Tom, you killed Edmond," Abraxas gasped.

"I did," he agreed with a slight smirk.

"Do you-do you think it will change the timeline?"

"Not enough to make a difference, unfortunately," he replied as he began to dress himself. "We're going to have to do something much worse to stop this. Much worse, indeed."