Tuesday, 11:02pm
It's been quite a long and frustrating day working on those time machines, considering we don't even know what to use it for yet. I sit silently at the counter, scrolling through facebook, with faint noises from the tv. I only pay attention to my phone.
ON PHONE:
“When you go to dinner without your dog😂😂😂”
“How to fix holes in ceiling”
“Recent flooding in Florida!”
“Brothers be like: 😂”
“I be like ‘omg, I got so much to do’ then lay down 😂😂”
I notice something familiar. I decide to look more into it.
“A CASE LIKE NO OTHER!
Possible suspects for the killing of Cathy Sanders have now been found. Finally, in twenty five years, policemen were able to gather information.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Nearly twenty-five years ago in California, LA, near 264th street, a girl was found dead on the road. The time of death is unknown, but around 2:00 am, January 8th, 2000, Cathy's body was reported to the police. Policemen have been searching through cameras, blood, DNA and any traces to find the culprit. Police believe Cathy was run over due to the severe marks on her face and injuries on her limbs. Some theories about this case say that the police got lazy and stopped working on it for a while. Maybe that's why it took them so long to even find a suspect.
THE VICTIM
Cathy Sanders is a 23 year old woman who worked as a waitress at “El Toro Mexican Bar and Grill”. Her family describes her as a sweet and loving girl. Her mom says, “She was always trying to help someone– no matter what she was going through.” We can all agree that Cathy Sanders is definitely someone who doesn't deserve what happened to her.
*insert pictures*--”
It's my case. Everything matches. The situation, the place, and the girl I saw. Why is this resurfacing 25 years later? Did it really take them that long? You might be judging me right now, but I promise I didn't do it on purpose. Trust me. It was pitch black, one of my headlights was broken and I was only 17. When I was driving, I decided to run this red light, because in my 17 year old mind it should be okay since no cars were around, right? Well, no. The only reason I even wanted to do it was because it was almost past my curfew and I didn't want to get in trouble. As I ran the red light I felt a bump. It startled me, so I got out to see a girl laying on the ground with blood in her mouth. I had no Idea how to react. I just started to panic, and then I left. I have never told anyone about this. I don't want anyone to know I did this. It would change the way they view me. I might even go to jail. I think for a moment, and then I realize I work with time machines. I can just go back in time and advise myself to not run any red lights, but I cant let the others know. I'll need to tell them I'm using it for a different reason, like maybe to give myself some advice for the future. It's not like I'm lying. I will be giving myself some advice. The advice is to just not run any red lights.
….
Wednesday 7:51am
Peter: Hey boss!
Roger: Hey Pete.
Peter: Do you have any ideas for today's schedule?
Roger: Yeah, about that, I know what I want to use the machine for.
Peter: Really, what for?
Roger: I'll tell you once everyone arrives. In the meantime, can you look over the machine for me?
Peter: Yeah. On it.
In order for me to go back in time, the machine needs to be in perfect order. So while Pete is looking over the machine, I need to check all of the technology connected to the machine and input information along with coding like the date and stuff. Wait, I don't know the date. I know the year, but do I know the date? Shoot. I can't just time travel to a different date where nothing happened. Then it hits me. The news article. I quickly search up the article I found on facebook. “The time of death is unknown, but around 2:00 am, January 8th, 2000, Cathy's body was reported to the police.” If the body was reported on January 8th, it must've been before that. “Hey Roger,” Mark and Jess said. I turn around from my desk. “Oh hi, are the others here yet, we need to discuss something important.” “No not at the moment,” Mark said. “Alright.” So, after thinking for a while, I made the conclusion that the date had to be on January 7th. I vividly remember seeing the movie ticket from being traumatized and I'm sure it said the 7th. There's no way it was on another date. As for the time it should be around 11:00 pm since that's when I remember the movie ending. I get up out of my seat to check on Peter to see Roy and Henry already here with them.
Roger: Is Manny coming?
Roy: No sir, he couldn't make it.
Roger: Well he should have told me. Dumb bastard. Anyway, you know how we needed a reason to use the time machine?
Everyone: Yeah.
Roger: Well, I have one.
Henry: Oh, really? What is it?
Roger: I want to go back in time to give myself some advice.
Roy: Really? That's your reason. Don't you think you should pick something that actually matters.
Roger: It matters to me. No matter what you say, I'm going to do it. You can't say no to me.
Roy: Okay then. Whatever you say.
Roger: Go help Peter and Jess, so we can get this started.
Roy: Alright.
Roger: Okay Mark I finished the computer coding, all we need to do now is test the machine after it's checked.
Mark: Alright then. So we're just waiting for Peter, Jess and Roy, right?
Roger: Yep.
…
“Okay, we're all done, we can test it now,” Peter said. What I have to do now is input a random date onto the computer, and teleport a random object to that date to see if it works. “Okay, I brought a test apple. Let's get this started.” I put the apple in the machine with the band to transport it back, close the door, and press the big green button titled “Transport”. After a few seconds we open the machine door. The apple disappeared, which means it works, but can it transport back? I go on my computer and connect the signals from the band to the machine. After a few seconds I reopen the time machine to see the same apple in its same condition which means it successfully works. Now it's my turn. I input the exact date into the computer and mentally prepare myself.
Henry: Okay, you ready boss?
Roger: Yes, I'm ready. Let's just get this over with.
Henry: Okay, I'm gonna close the door.
Roger: Okay.
The machine is in the shape of a cylinder and in the color silver. I stand there straight, with my heart beating. This really is a serious thing, and I hope it's all worth it. “I'm gonna press the button!” I close my eyes for a quick second trying to pretend I'm not in a time machine. We've never transported a person before. I open them. Woah. I'm in the movie theater parking lot. It really worked. I don't see myself though. I should be coming out any second. I stare for a moment, and then I see myself walking to my car. This really is trippy. What do I even say? I try not to think about it. Now he's getting closer to his car. Here goes nothing. “Excuse me son, um, you don't know me, but I wanted to advise you to please be careful on the road and do not run any red lights or stop signs. It's dangerous around this kind of time. You don't know what could happen in the future.” I said. He looks at me weird. I was very shy growing up, so I know how he feels right now. “Um, okay thank you sir.” He said. I leave as soon as possible. I can't believe I did it. I close my eyes and press transport back on my transport band. I then open them to be back in the machine. “I'm back!” I yell. Henry opens the door. “So how was it?” Henry asked. “It went perfectly. He wasn't even that scared, I hope.” “You didn't mess anything up, right?” Roy asks. “No, definitely not.” There's no way I could have caused anything bad. Hopefully he even listened to me.
Peter: Um guys…
Roger: What?
Peter: Why is there so much fire outside?
Roy: You said you didn't do anything bad!
Roger: I didn't!
We all run up to the big windows at the front to get a better view of what he's talking about. “Woah, no way. You had to have done something.” Mark said. “I swear I didn't. I just told myself to be careful and then I left! There's no way I could have caused this.” “Well it wasn't here before you went back in time,” Roy said. “There's something you're not telling us!” “I swear I'm telling the truth! Let me just turn on the news.”
Jess: Guys! I just checked my phone and some girl named Cathy Sanders burned down some buildings. This whole thing is wild.
Henry: No way.
Roger (*walks closer to Jess and whispers*): Hold up. What did you just say?
Jess: Some girl burned down a few buildings.
Roger: No, what was their name?
Jess: Um let me see… Cathy Sanders. Why?
Roger: Shoot. Um. There's something I didn't tell you Jess. I don't know how to say this, but when I was younger, I was coming home from the movies around 11:00 pm. I was already late past my curfew, so I rushed home by not stopping at any stop signs or any red lights. Then at this one red light, I accidentally ran a girl over and her name was Cathy Sanders.
Jess: Wait what?
Roger: I killed a person who was planning on setting the world on fire. I should've never gone back in time.
Jess: So really you killing her was a good thing?
Roger: I guess so.
Jess: You need to fix this.
Roger: There's no going back now.
Jess: You need to try! We're trapped in here and it's all your fault!
Roy: What are you guys talking about?
Jess: He killed the girl who started this fire.
Roy: What?
Peter: What do you mean?
Everyone stares at me with confusion. Words can't even describe how guilty I feel. I should've just told them what I was doing. “He went back in time to stop himself from accidentally killing someone, but he ended up saving someone who had evil intentions.” Jess said aloud. What am I even supposed to say? “So this is your fault?” Henry asked me. I couldn't speak. I just stared at the floor. “You're going to fix this, right boss?” Pete said. “I'll try, Pete.” “Okay then, hurry up and fix this.” Roy said. “I'm going to.” You could hear the flames, and people running away. It almost felt like the end of the world, and I need to fix it. “Henry, I'm going to need your help.” “Okay, coming.” I step into the machine and wait for a few seconds. Now I'm back at the movie theater parking lot, but this time it's different. I can see myself already talking to myself. What does one even do in such situations? I can't risk anything bad happening again. I contemplate for a second, and then I teleport back. “Can you open the door, please?” I ask Henry. He opens it, and I walk out. “So, you fixed everything right?” He asks. “No. I can't. I already changed the timeline.” He doesn't say anything. He just stares. “I didn't know this would happen.” I say. “You know, I could possibly die. My wife's going to be wondering where I am. My children are going to be worried. My mom will be heartbroken.” “I'm really sorry.” “I might not make it.” You can tell Henry is really freaking out on the inside. “I thought I was doing something good. I'm sorry.” “Sorry will never be enough. I'll be dead.” Roy walks in. “Are you guys almost done or what?” Roy asks. “He said he can't fix it. He ruined us.” There's a long pause.
Roy: We should've never trusted you.
Roger: How would I have known she was going to do this?
Roy: You didn't even tell us, Roger!
Roger: I didn't want you to think less of me.
Roy: How dumb can you possibly be? You know, did you even try to fix what you started or did you just give up right away?
Roger: I didn't give up. You know how this works. I can't risk my present self also seeing my present self. We studied this.
Roy: I can’t even look at you the same.
Henry: I'm going to check on the others.
They both leave. I understand how they feel, but I had good intentions. If I'd known this would happen, I'd never do this. I regret everything. I really do. I go back to the room. Everyone looks so worried. I listen to the tv. “The fire seems to be closing in. Stay inside and stay safe. This fire could last a while.” Roy was right. I am stupid. I have to witness my friends suffering because of me. I look outside. All I can see is flames upon flames growing higher and higher. As I stare, thoughts of guilt fill my mind. If only I knew.
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2 comments
A compelling story
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Wow this story really kept my attention. Well done.
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