New York, 1925:
Something about those eyes of hers….
There's something about those eyes… The way she looked at me just now.
I was unconscious to all of this and completely forgot about the red stone I was holding in my hand. But if I hadn't been wincing my eyes shut and had been paying attention, I would have watched the stone literally melt through my skin, creeping up my left arm and all the way down to my heart. It was painless but horrifying if you're aware to the fact. Then, on my left wrist just like Miles sported before me appeared the number "10" in the form of a solid black tattoo. I wouldn't notice it for some time to come, but it was there from the very beginning.
The air swirled around me in a cyclone motion. Both my arms raised to cover my eyes from the onslaught, only cautiously lowering as the wind dissipated. Slowly, slowly they fluttered back against the breeze, which was still blowing strands of hair onto my face. I was suddenly faced with this blinding light emanating from in front of me, and I looked to see a figure standing mere inches away from where I was. My eyes winced a bit once more, adjusting to the light, and when I finally got a good glance at him, my heart felt like it was going to burst. Acting entirely on impulse, on animal instinct, both my arms shot out before me as this gigantic, overjoyed, totally relieved smile blossomed across the whole of my face, reaching well up above my eyes.
Miles! Without saying a word, or realizing that I hadn't spoken, I sprang towards him prepared to wrap him in an embrace. It's him! My beloved, he's right here in front of me again. I can't believe it! Miracles really do exist. But I already knew that; meeting him in the first place was a miracle- he's a miracle. And I have him back; he's come back to me. Oh, thank you god. Tears began to form in the corners of my elated eyes.
Thank you so much…..
But my elation was cut short when, to my utter shock and bewilderment, he stepped out of the way. He actually got out of my way as I reached for him. This resulted in me plummeting to the ground, landing harshly on my chest. My head whirled back around to find Miles, my boyfriend, staring down at me with an equally dumbfounded expression. He was looking at me…. and not in the same way he used to. He was also wearing the similar style of clothing he had been in when we first met. I didn't start putting two-and-two together until I noticed next that we weren't the only ones in room. There I laid in the middle of what appeared to be a warehouse floor with a bunch of men surround me and ogling me with just as much confusion as Miles. I blinked around rapidly as my mind dived into a tailspin. W-Where…. Where the hell am I?! Who are these people?! And why is Miles acting like he doesn't recognize me?
The men, who looked a lot like battered thugs, began conversing amongst their perplexity. "Who's this?" "Where'd she come from?" "I didn't see her slip in. Did you let her inside?" "What?! Me?! Course not! I've never seen this girl in my life!" "How'd she find us? No one is supposed to know where our base is." A lot of them started talking at once. Miles was one of the only few who wasn't blathering on, still gawking down at me with a total lack of understanding…. and suspicion. I think that's when the panic really set in- like bad.
No….. This can't be happening! He doesn't recognize me; he's forgotten who I am! And that's just the start: where am I?! Forget about New York; this didn't even look like the twenty-first century! This warehouse was huge but old- like really old. Picture broken down giant iron gears and that nostalgic smell of black oil everywhere. The floorboards were all wooden, nailed- yes, nailed- into the ground. The building itself was made of old red brick, the kind that keeps the heat in through the summer and cold through the winter. I'd never been in a place like this in New York; I didn't know any were still standing!
So let me get this straight: I've somehow been transported here, to wherever "here" is, to my boyfriend who doesn't even remember me? Not to mention all the scary-looking guys currently encompassing me….. Oh my god…. Oh my god! My hands rose up to grasp the sides of my head. This is bad! There's a very good chance this won't end well for me! What have I done?!
Some of the men's heads tilted in even more confusion as they passively observed my breakdown. One of the men pointed to me while looking to Miles. "You know her, boss?" Boss?! Did he just call Miles "boss"?! But a glimmer of hope suddenly filled my soul as I peered back over to him, hoping, praying that he might recall who I am. Those hopes were swiftly dashed, however, when Miles frowned, lowering his head a tad. "No, I've never seen this broad before in my life."
My eyes widened, my breathing became erratic. He doesn't remember me….. He doesn't remember any of that time we spent together! How can this be?! I wished to see him, and here he is right in front of me. So why doesn't he…? Without thinking first, my arm desperately stretched out in his direction and my jaw dropped open to call out to him. Tears were flooding my cheeks. My mouth opened, but no sound came out…..
I couldn't say anything.
And that, right there, was when it all hit me like a lightening bolt; I suddenly understood everything for the first time ever. Again on instinct, both my hands lifted up to my throat as I jerked back in shock and terror. My voice! I've lost my voice, just like Miles had. I see it; I understand now. This is exactly what happened to him when he came to see me, and I bet it had something to do with that stone…..
That stone! Right, of course; how could I have forgotten?! Mr. Turkentine said that it disappeared during the prohibition era, and now I know why. Miles used it to come see me! That's why he was dressed the way he was and didn't understand modern technology- he's not from the modern age! When he wished to return to my side, the Wishing Stone granted his wish….. and brought him to me to a time before I met him. That's why I didn't know who he was; he time-travelled to a time before I personally knew him!
That was his wish! He made the same wish as me! So we actually had met before…. somehow, and he used the stone to come find me again. And now the exact same thing has happened to me in reverse- I know who Miles is, but he has no clue who I am. He hasn't met me in his timeline yet!
The wish also comes at a price I see now too: your voice! Terrified, my eyes rolled down to my left wrist, and I felt like vomiting upon seeing the number "10" tattooed there. My gaze went from being insanely wide to winced shut as I began to shake my head back and forth, my hands covering my gasping mouth.
I can't speak! I can't talk anymore! The Wishing Stone took my voice, leaving me with only ten deliberate words left. I can only say ten words in this reality, and then I'll never speak again! I'm going to be mute for the rest of my life! This isn't happening! This isn't happening!
All the men present didn't know what to make of me, some random, oddly-dressed teenage girl having a mental breakdown in their warehouse. I began crying, pulling at my hair and screaming soundlessly into the void, totally not caring who was witnessing my episode. Their faces began to contort with concern.
"What's wrong with her? She alright?" "Looks like she's in hysterics or something." Hysterics?! Oh, as if this wasn't already bad enough, I almost forgot- I had no rights in this century! Women couldn't even vote yet! And forget about the police helping a voiceless, jean-wearing, short-haired girl from Brooklyn. This was a nightmare! An absolute nightmare!
I think some of the bystanders were growing impatient, their expressions hardening a little. "Hey, you! Girl! Snap out of it! Snap out of it, I say!" "Who is she? Could she be a spy from a rival mob?" "Mmmmmmm, most likely. Why else would be she here? Only Spidermen know where our den is." "Well then, shouldn't someone grab her? We can't let her escape." One of the men growled, balling his broad hands into fists. "Get a hold of yourself! What's the matter with you? What'd you come here for?"
That did the trick. My eyes shot open again and my arm stretched out for Miles one last time, tearing still streaming down my face. "Miles…..?" I heard myself consciously say, intentionally informing the men that I could speak- kinda. The number on my wrist changed, not that anyone else took any notice. Miles, for his part, enlarged his eyes as his foot slid back a tiny bit while all the others glanced to each other puzzled again. "Miles? Who's Miles?" "I don't know no Miles. Hey, bitch! You got the wrong gang, stupid!" He hollered out my way. I didn't care; my stare was still desperately locked onto my boyfriend, who turned his head away after a minute tisking dismissively to himself.
"Will someone grab her?" He huffed, and this big, brown, bready guy came over to take hold of my right arm all of a sudden. I found myself being lifted off the ground and scarily to my feet as he dangled me there. The man gave me a once over, also grunting to himself in the process. "What's your deal? How'd you even find this place?"
Course I couldn't reply but gawk at him with the largest, most frightened eyes. My eyes winced when he gave my arm a punishing squeeze. "Oh, gonna keep quiet, huh? Well, no matter; we'll get it out of you soon enough." Another, more lanky man approached his side, studying me more sympathetically. "She's a pretty little thing. Too bad she's a rabble's spy." The man holding him gave him a whack to the ribcage, shooting him a glare. "Back off! You know the rules: no women in the den. Spy or not, she has no business here." "Ow, no need to be so sore; I just wanted a better look. There's something odd about this broad, queer… Heh, look at this; she's got something around her neck," panic and rage filled my bones as this creep lifted his fingers to touch my promise key. Suddenly incensed, my teeth grit together as I yanked my neck back. No, don't you touch that! It's all I have left of Miles- my Miles. It still represents my promise to him, and I'm not about to break it! You hear me? Hands off!
But my attempt to get it out of his grimy hands were in vain. He blinked to me a tad startled before turning his attention back down to it curiously. Both men were inspecting it now while the other held me tight. "M.M.? Those your initials or something? And "06"? Hey, this may be valuable; it's got a ruby on it," the lanky guy exclaimed out loud.
"What did you say?" Miles froze in his steps, his frame spinning right around. His face wore one of shock and perplexity as he marched quickly over to us. "Let me see that," both men backed down, releasing me as Miles stood beside me. I rubbed my wrist in mild agony before gazing over to him. I'll admit, and I'm not proud of it, that I blushed- actually blushed a little- when I saw those gorgeous eyes of his staring back my way. My heart skipped a beat, and I was reminded why I made my wish in the first place. All the love, all the adoration and respect I had for him came flooding back in an instant. He looked identical to my Miles….
Just as breath-taking.
The moment of bliss was immediately over once he reached over coldly to take hold of my necklace. After getting a good view of the key, he flashed me a monstrous frown. I found myself being hoisted up by the collar of shirt, my feet leaving the ground this time. My teeth ground together in pain, my face winced in stunned fear. Miles glared daggers into me; he'd never eyed me so harshly before.
"Where'd you get this?" Obviously I couldn't reply, instead dangling there like an idiot. He grit his jaw together in anger. "I asked you a question! Where'd you get this key?! Did you have a copy made?! Answer me!" My face winced even harder; my neck was starting to hurt. As if to add insult to injury, he gave me a shake by the collar, forcing my limbs to move slightly. "Talk! I know you can! Tell me where you got this!"
Still nothing. Miles's expression- and grip- finally relented when both my hands came up to grab hold of the arm pulling on my shirt. I had barely caressed his skin when he sighed, dropping me back down at his feet. After glaring red-hot daggers at me for another minute, he turned to a few of the men standing by, who flinched at his attention.
"Take her down to the pit. Do whatever you have to to get her talkin'." "U-Uh, yes boss! Come're you," and once more I was hoisted up by both arms this time, being dragged to a foreboding set of stairs at the back wall. Wait, where are they taking me?! The pit? I don't want to go down there! I desperately glanced over my shoulder and back at Miles as they all but dragged me down those first few steps. Curiously, Miles too was looking my way, with less hostility presently. He was looking at me…. but not smiling.
I couldn't understand it. How could this guy and my Miles be the same person? Perhaps he changes, grows softer over time, but this man wants nothing to do with me. But then…. I guess I was sorta the same with him when he first came to my era. I just never imagined that the man I loved so much…. The person dearest in the world to me…. was the leader of a prohibition New York mob! That explains why he was so good at hand-to-hand combat; you'd have to be for this profession. And to become a gang leader at such a young age too…. He's one of the youngest in the room upstairs.
My eyes lowered a tad as I continued to stare in his direction, not looking away until he was fully out of sight. What should I do now? Should I care about that? Prohibition gangsters were real terrors back in the day. This is the first time I've wondered if Miles has actually killed someone before….. But no, I should give him the benefit of the doubt for now. He did wish to come to me that first time we met, meaning that at some point he must grow to love me….. as I love him. Actually, by that logic he loved me first; it's his love for me that spurred on this whole situation.
That doesn't matter anymore either. What does matter at the moment is my staying alive and un-assaulted by all these mobsters. I don't know when and if Miles will fall for me again, but there are more pressing matters that need attending to. This isn't what I wanted; I wanted my Miles. I wanted to see my Miles again… And hopefully someday I will, but for right now I've got to deal with these blood-thirsty goons and their tyrant of a boss.
And that tyrant of a boss was my beloved boyfriend in another life.