A GIFT OF TIME

Episode 7

Tanya led me and my brother into a library. I never would have thought they've got a library in their home. Right in the middle of the small library were tons of books and right across the books was Tony back rested on the wall where a fashion lamp was right on top of his head. If he lift his whole body and stretch to his very length he was likely to hit his head.

"The language was alien like you've said. It only had one data on it throughout the whole internet. I translated it online and downloaded the language concept. Those aliens seem to have been to earth before but their existence was completely removed from history except language" Tanya explained bringing from a reading table a laptop which had a picture of an ancient book on it.

"Cool" my brother muttered sarcastically completely shaken by the news. He just wish we didn't go any further in this and no more proof to prove I was right but with every step, we only moved closer to the truth.

"I have bad news" I finally announced and Tony was forced to look at me from where he sat.

"they might be coming a little earlier than usual-

"I think we all figured that part out" Tony pointed and I sighed.

"You probably didn't figure out they'll be coming in a week" I informed and he frowned.

"Are you sure about this, you could be wrong to calculate it like-

"You have got to believe me Tony. My mom watched the news with the same headline my dad had watched a week before everything went frenzy. We have to increase our pace in the preparation for them. I texted Nick on my way here. He should be here any minute" I announced and Tony frowned completely disgusted at the thought of having Nick in his home.

"As much as you don't like him Tony, you have to work together or we'll all be dead before you know it" I advised and walked over to Tanya and Charlie who seem a bit distracted by themselves than the work at hand. Did I sense some chemistry between those two? This is not the time to give your brother whiplash Claire. I mentally scolded myself before calling in Tanya.

"Tanya, do you think you can figure this out? It was from my recent dream" I revealed giving my phone to Tanya to figure out the mutterings from my dream. After a while of trying we were finally able to have it in English.

It reads 'He will come, you can not let him take your world. In your hands will the deed be done. I will help, I'm with you but I want or need a medium " we read as if reciting.

"This clearly doesn't make any sense. Who is coming? What deed? What's the medium? " I frowned at the translation.

"Why does every clue lead us right back into confusion?" my brother asked not helping the frown on his face as well.

"I have absolutely no idea Charlie" I muttered letting out a frustrated sigh.

"I think he was referring to your mission to save the world. It want to help for some reason which is unknown to us. And he kept warning us right from the first message that someone is coming. But the someone in the text still remain unknown" Tony gave his opinion and I sighed. It was the most reasonable explanation we've got. We were still lost in our thoughts of trying to figure out what the two message implies when we heard footsteps coming along the hallway that led to the library. It was the maid who brought Nicholas and Brian. They don't look too good.

"Hi" Nicholas greeted walking over after the maid had left.

"Hi" we all greeted back.

"You said there was something you needed to tell me" Nicholas started and I caught Tony scoffed at the corner of my eyes.

"The alien ship is coming earlier than planned" I informed.

"How early?" Nicholas asked and I sighed.

"a week" I muttered timidly.

"This is some crazy information you have for us early this morning" Brian frowned. Obviously annoyed. Can't blame him.

"Guys, I think I've got another clue" Tanya announced and fortunately got all of our attention.

"I think what the Alien meant in the first message was, they figured out it was trying to help and knowing we might stop them. They decided to show up a little earlier" Tanya observed and I sighed.

"That sounds like the most likely explanation for it" Charlie supported.

"Whether they planned to arrive earlier or not. The good news is... We know they are coming. We'll have to prepare for them" I declared a little more confidently. But to all of them I was the crazy one.

"You made it clear we didn't stop them in your earlier life. We got killed. And you still want us... Some bunch of teenagers to stop some crazy aliens?" Brian asked and for once Tony supported.

"Yeah it's crazy. No s**t" Tony muttered in support of Tony and with every other expression I could tell they all supported Brian.

"Why don't we try to warn the UN government perhaps. I mean...

"Okay. UN government some crazy aliens is gonna show up in a week and it's gonna kill us all. I'm telling you because I died and come back, please protect us" I sarcastically sputtered and they exchanged looks.

"That sounds like some pretty straight s**t to believe" Tony mumbled.

"But what other choice do we have?" Brian asked with his brows furrowed in a frown.

"Well, we can just sit down do nothing until the aliens rip our head offs." My annoyance was quite obvious now.

"We cannot stop them but we have to try. Just like you all tried in my past life. All of you all knew that there's a chance we might die in the camp. Nicholas and Tony, two of you run the camp and you were never scared of death. You would go out everyday even with the predators hot on your trails but you'll come back unscathed with food for the whole camp. I came back for a reason people. And I approached all of you because we were together back then. It's pretty impossible for me to just pick any random person. You were my g**g, my team, my crew, my best buddies and partners. Why are you afraid now? " I asked studying their expression closely.

"That's a really good speech you got up there. I ain't gonna lie to you. I'm afraid. I'm scared and I feel I could s**t in my pants but we got no choice either. Can't take any f*****g chances of letting those motherfuckers take away people I love. So, I'm willing to give this goddamn thing a shot. Where do we start? " Tony rap rap tone got me chuckling.

"I'm on too. After all it's my sister's biz, I have no choice " Charlie cackled and I smiled.

"I'm in" Tanya's voice got me smiling. It took a while before Nick finally decided. He'd been staring at Brian for what seem like eternity, it was like they were having a silent conversation.

"We're in" Nicholas finally joined in and I smiled.

"Thanks... All of you" I heaved feeling a heavy weight got lifted of my chest. I've got my team. Now we need our toys like Tony used to call it.

"Tony can I get a pencil and a huge drawing paper?" I finally broke the silence that had lingers since they all agreed to join in the fight.

"O..okay" Tony stuttered a little surprised by my request.

"Tanya, have you got any large table." I turned to Tanya and finally got them wondering what I was up to. Tanya pushed the working table to the free center of the library and also got me a stool to sit on. Tony came along with the drawing paper and a pen. I sighed and closed my eyes allowing the flashes of my previous life to come to me. I had been so curious about the technology. How they had survived in the camp. It always got me bewildered. Got me wondering. One of the reasons we had survived at survivors camp was because they managed to get electricity set up. Once electricity go off. It'll be hard building the repulser. All of them watched as I completely and offhandedly drew the prototype for the repulser. I didn't forget to label every part. I couldn't help but smile at myself as I recalled how Nick had told me the names of every single thing in the machine. It was magical and yet scientific. I straightened my neck at intervals as I felt I was going stiff. It took me an hour to more to perfectly put down the diagram off my head.

"Wow" Tony muttered immediately I put down the pencil.

"How did you-?" Brian wondered and Charlie snickered.

"She's got a perfect memory. That's why she was intelligent" Charlie filled in for me.

"This is the sketching of that machine you guys built that powered the camp. It might be hard because you were all in your finals when you built it. I don't know if your younger version can get it right but I hope you try. You built it when there was no electricity. And with electricity, I'm sure it won't be that hard. But the only problem we're gonna have is supplies.

"Don't worry about it. My dad works at car manufacturing company and owns a junkyard. It won't be hard" Brian chuckled somewhat excited. I scoffed. Finally something excites him.

"Nick, Tony, Brian" I called their name in accordance to how they stood right in front of me.

"You three built this together. In Harmony. Your three brains was working together" I emphasized studying them.

"What's you getting at?" Tony asked.

"She's trying to tell you three that you have to work together and not kill each other before the machine is complete. I can completely tell you're not very much fond of each other" Charlie enumerated in again and both three sighed throwing nervous glances at each other.

"I'll try-

"You cannot try, Tony if you don't want to get us all killed, you will work together " I insisted my lips pressed such that they sense my level of seriousness.

"Got that " Tony finally let out before Brian and Nick exchanged looks.

"Maybe telling you this might work, back in the camp you used to say it was a miracle you all get along. But it started when Tony saved Nick's sister Nicole from getting eaten by a predator while Brian and Nick in turn help Tony getting out of a pit-

"I fell inside a pit, doesn't sound very much like me" Tony muttered drawing attention to himself.

"Sorry continue" he urged on getting glares from everywhere.

"Maybe that might work if you both see each other that way. Just believe that you owe each other a favor. Maybe that'll work" I suggested and the three sighed.

"Okay" Nick said with a smile that made butterflies dance in my tummy but I tried not to look unaffected and continue.

"We need guns" I announced and Tony almost fall of his feet in shock.

"Nick taught me how to shoot back in camp" I briefly turned to Nick who exchange curious glances with Brian.

"Okay, guns. How do we get guns?" Tony asked his hand trembling at the mention of the name.

"I can arrange that" Tanya's voice increased the tension.

"Tanya you're not-

"This ain't for s**t Tony. It's for our survival." Tanya cut Tony short. Instantly got me wondering what grudge Tony had with guns because back at camp he really never carried a g*n. Except it's extremely necessary.

"What do you have against guns?" I found myself asking.

"I ain't see what you mean" Tony voice came subtle and timid.

"You always refused to hold a g*n back at camp too. You prefer to be just behind the computer keeping the camp in check" I relayed and Tony sighed.

"It's kinda personal for me" Tony despondently replied.

"I think that no more" Tanya scoffed.

"Tanya" Tony frowned at her statement. I was starting to think it was a family related thing when Tony prove my hunch right.

"He was still our papa and he deserve some respect Tanya" Tony scolded and Tanya snickered.

"Oh really? Not my fault he can't protect himself-

"Tanya!" Tony snapped but Tanya merely ignored him.

"I think we should leave you two to sort it out " I muttered finally stopping their brawling.

"Tony, we're not using guns the bad way but we need it to protect ourselves okay?" I assured and he nodded. I stood and heave a heavy sigh.

"We will need a working space" Nick declared meeting my eyes.

"I can create one. I used to have a workshop in my dad's auto garage. He let me use it all the time" Brian smiled and Nick nodded.

"We're gonna work there?" Tony asked sounding displeased as at the idea.

"You have a better choice?" Nick asked tempted to roll his eyes but he refrained himself.

"Nah you're right. We'll just use his workshop" Tony renounced and I smiled. At least they were making progress.

"You all have my digits don't you? You can always call me if you have questions. I'm going to look for more clues. Tanya I'll call you if I find anything" I said finally turning to Tanya. She nodded with a light smile and finally turned to head to the door but the sudden but familiar pain that erupted from my chest got me stopping in my tracks.

"Claire" my brother's came trailing off as my vision blurred. I didn't see anything but I heard everything. It felt like I was walking through space or falling through an endless pit. I found myself right back where I had picnic with my parents. I saw the alien looking right at me his face sullen and expression despondent. But he wasn't looking at me. It was something behind me. I turned to see a huge figure of the little alien.

'Hahum' he muttered several times before he started to talk and all of a sudden I found myself back in the Thompson's library. I was covered in sweats and I was panting like I'd just run a cross country race.

"you okay?" Nick's worried voice got my sense adapting to the environment completely. Tanya wasn't with them. She was right in front of the computer scribbling stuff I guessed I jade said as a result of of me blanking out.

"You said 'humans, I sense humans. Are you still communicating with them. They can not stop us. We will have this world. And I will rule' I believe your little alien friend was trying to show you who was coming for you" Tanya concluded and I sighed.

"He's ugly" I declared and I saw confusion written all on their foreheads.

"The alien, his sight wasn't something to behold" I said brows furrowed in total seriousness.

"But this is my world. I wouldn't let him take it" I concluded before heading out.

"Looks like that's decided" my brother Charlie added joining me outside. We walked over to our car and moved in to get our asses home.

"I think your heart weakens anytime it tries to pass a message" my brother breathed. Face calm and voice despondent. His eyes couldn't hide his fear though. He was scared was for me and I could tell.

"It's a price I have to pay. Please don't say any of this to the team. It will taint their hope" I pleaded to my brother who merely sighed in response. We had just got off the car and walking to the porch when I met Danny seating in the woven basket chair which. Decorated our front porch.

"Danny" I called surprise to see him. He sighed in relief to see me and walk over to me.

"Have you been waiting?" I asked too shocked at the thought.

"It was important" he declared and I nodded feeling guilt wrap me up.

"Come in" I urged moving inside and Charlie joined us after.

"Can I talk to you? Private?" he requested and I felt daze for a minute.

"O..okay. We could use my room" I suggested and head upstairs and straight to my room after walking the hallway.

"So, what is it?" I asked sensing his nervousness as he was balling his fist and clenching his teeth.

I hope he wasn't about to confess to me. He seem too nervous. I thought studying him nervously.

"Why was Nick, Tony and Brian with you in the hospital?" he questioned and I frowned.

"They are my friends" I sounded like it was so obvious to tell.

"But I don't remember knowing you" he said and I paled.

"How do you mean Danny?" I asked feeling my heart race. His eyes slowly changed and I almost freaked.

"what the f**k!" I cursed backing away from him.

"This chart on your wall, the writings in your pad. I went through everything. It's you Claire" he sounded relieved and happy.

"Can't you see, it's me... Nick" his voice was calm and soothing. He sounded very genuine and tears laced his eyes. No it can't be.

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