Chapter Fifteen - Best Laid Plans

“How are we going to do that?” I ask him. If Katy has left me here to rot, I have no idea why she would come back for me. I can understand why she would want her own Nia but wasn’t I also her sister? How could she just leave me here? I thought Jake was trying to save the future and now I am beginning to think that Katy is just trying to destroy it.

“I don’t know yet.” The doctor says. “I’m going to have to give it some thought.”

“So you don’t believe I’m crazy then.” I ask.

“No. I don’t believe you’re crazy. But I can’t just let you go until we figure out a way to get your sister to come back. Also I’m going to have to explain your condition somehow. Of course if we are going to be eliminated by your sister I guess it doesn’t really matter.” He reasons.

“Yeah, I guess it doesn’t. Okay, I guess I can put up with staying here till you figure out what we should do.” I tell him. I really have no idea how to get Katy to come back and since I’m stuck here I really have no choice anyway.

I go through the rest of the day like I did the previous day. I ‘play’ in the ‘toy’ room. I refuse to eat dinner. I go to bed. I remembered that the doctor said they gave me some hallucinogenic drug while I slept. I didn’t really care if they did that tonight since the doctor knew everything anyway. Still before I fell asleep I wondered where I would wake up.

I woke up nowhere. I was standing on something that felt solid but when I looked down there was nothing. It was like I was standing on nothing. When I looked around I couldn’t see anything.

“Katy!” I screamed, “I know you’re here. Were you just going to leave me in the village to rot? Were you really going to eliminate me? Your own sister? How could you be so cold?” Katy appeared in front of me.

“Nia, I would never leave you to rot. What I am going to do is pick the future I want but don’t worry you’ll be there. Well, a version of you will be there.” She says.

“I don’t want to die. Please don’t do this.” I beg her but before she answers she disappears.

I wake up in the plain white room. I do the same things I did the day before except the doctor doesn’t see me. It really does seem like I’m left here to rot. That night when I fall asleep I anticipate waking up somewhere else.

I wake up in the assembly hall. I get up and walk into the kitchen area. Jake, Lisa and the preacher are sitting eating breakfast. I sit down and join them.

“You were right preacher.” I tell him, “I am still back where Katy sent me. This is all just a hallucination.”

“Now that you figured it out, what are you going to do about it?” He asked me.

“I don’t know. The doctor knows everything. He knows about time travel and he knows about Katy.” I tell him.

“What about Katy?” the preacher asks.

“She can jump between futures and she is going to decide which future she wants and get rid of the rest.” I tell him.

“Which future is she going to choose?” He asks me.

“I don’t know but I don’t think we are going to be in it.” I tell him.

“Well, I might not be in it but some version of you will be” He says, “and you won’t realize anything has happened.”

“It still feels like death though.” I say.

“But it will still be you and you will still be alive.” The preacher says again.

“Aren’t you afraid you might not be alive” I ask the preacher.

“I’m a machine.” The preacher says, “I’m not alive to begin with.”

I wake up back in my room. This goes on for several days. I do the same thing during the day and at night I wake up in different places. Then one day I go see the doctor.

“How have you been Nia? I apologize for not seeing you before now.” He says.

“Did you figure out a way to get my sister back?” I ask him.

“I think I have.” the doctor says. He takes out his watch. I don’t really remember anything that happens after that.

“Are you going to tell me?” I ask him when I remember where I am.

“I will tell you when the time is right.” He says, “You don’t need to worry. I can send you home now. Your parents have come all the way to the city to take you back.”

“Really? You’re letting me go?” I ask confused.

“There’s no need to keep you here any longer. I’ve explained that your memory is beyond repair. I have told them that you may remember in time but that you are not a danger to yourself or anyone else. I apologized that I could not help you further. They had to accept my explanation because I am an expert. I will be in touch when I need you.” He explains.

“Oh, okay. Thank you.” I say.

“You are very welcome.” He answers. They take me to a room where my parents are waiting.When my mom sees me she puts her arms around me. Tears flow from her eyes.

“I am so happy to have you back. I love you so much.” She says. It makes me feel guilty because I know I’m not really the Nia she thinks I am.

“I love you too mom.” I tell her back.

“Let’s go home.” Dad says. Walking out of the building I feel a sense of relief. I don’t understand why the doctor let me go but I’m glad to be gone. To celebrate we eat at this fancy restaurant in the big city before getting on our train to go back to the village. I sink my teeth into some steak and it tastes amazing.

“The doctor says you may never regain your memory” My dad tells me, “How do you feel about that?”

“I don’t know.” I say back, “I’m just taking it one day at a time. I want to get my life back.”

“We just want you to know we’re here for you” Mom says.

“I know mom” I can tell my parents have no idea what to say to me. I guess if I were in their shoes I wouldn’t know what to say to me either. I was mad at Katy. Why did she have to bring me here?

I actually fall asleep on the train. When we get back to my house. There are two beds in Katy’s room. I looks a lot like I remember it.

“Everything will be Okay. You’ll see.” Katy says. When I fall asleep I don’t wake up anywhere else but here.