Backwatch Lane

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Cody sucked in a deep breath. He was relieved to find himself laying in Ezra’s fancy bed. The room looked just as it had the last two days. Cody tossed the heavy, hand-sewn blankets off and shuddered at the sight of his long white nightgown. Before Cody could get dressed, the heavy wooden door swung inward.

“Good morning,” Miles said. “I did not realize you were still in your small clothes.”

“Morning, Miles,” Cody said. “What’s going on?” Had he dreamed the attack? Perhaps he’d drunk too much. “Did anything strange happen last night? I thought I was attacked by someone.”

“I believe your dreams have gotten the best of you, Ezra.” Miles smiled and pointed at the bureau. “Would you like help choosing your clothes?”

“No, thanks.” Cody pulled out a bureau drawer and leafed through the clothes.

There came a knocking at the door and a large black man peeked inside.

“Excuse me, Masters,” the young slave said. “Master Daniel told me to tell you breakfast will be ready soon.” He looked nervous and quickly darted out of the room.

“Déjà vu,” Cody said. “It happened exactly like this two days ago, remember?”

“I only arrived back from Tallahassee yesterday,” Miles said, his brows furrowed as he sat on the edge of the fluffy bed.

“But we went for a walk two days ago,” Cody said.

“Your fever must have given you the strangest dreams,” Miles said. He placed his hand on Cody’s forehead. It lingered. “I am thankful to appear in them.”

“What’s the date?”

“May seventh, of course.” Miles reached out, touched Cody’s hand gently, and kissed him.

This just gets weirder and weirder.

Cody gave in and kissed Miles back. He was a nice guy, and Adam’s grandparents weren’t even born yet. Cody finally pulled back, his lips tingling, and said, “We should get breakfast.”

“Right you are.” Miles grinned quickly and stood up. “After you.”

Cody confidently led Miles downstairs and joined Ezra’s family in the dining room as the table was set by the house slaves under Bartlett’s watchful eye.

“Good morning, son,” Caroline said. She wore several rings that matched a silver necklace.

“Good morning, Mother.”

“Feeling better, son?” Daniel asked.

“Much better, yes,” Cody said, trying to repeat the same conversation as before.

“What are your plans for the day?” Caroline asked.

The conversation continued just as it had two days ago for Cody. The only noticeable difference was Izzy. He clearly remembered her serving and clearing the table, but she was not there this time. Cody wanted to ask about her, but he didn’t want to draw any attention to either of them.

Cody chose to walk with Miles again down Backwatch Lane. They left the house and made their way past the fields. As they neared the slaves’ quarters, a commotion caught Cody’s eye.

“What’s that?”

“Looks like something in the slaves’ house,” Miles said.

“Let’s check it out.”

Miles looked doubtful, but he followed Cody to the corner of the field where a large shack stood. He heard angry voices and hurried over to investigate.

“What’s going on?” Cody asked. Three slaves inside quieted down immediately in deference.

“Mister Ezra,” one said, “we was just talking to Izzy here. She ain’t feeling so good.”

“This is insane,” Izzy said. “You’re all crazy!”

“Hush, girl,” one of the slaves hissed.

“You don’t quite sound right, Izzy,” Cody said. The young slave girl stood with her arms folded over her chest.

“My name’s not Izzy,” she said. “It’s Adam.”

“I think Izzy could use some alone time,” Cody stated. “Everyone out. Please.”

The slaves quickly hurried out of the shack. Miles looked inquisitively at Cody and asked, “What do you think is wrong?”

“You know, I should probably talk to Izzy in private. Why don’t you meet up with Martha and I’ll see you later on?”

“Are you certain?”

“Quite.” Cody nodded. Miles waited for a second before leaving.

“There’s been some mistake,” Izzy said. “I’m very confused.”

“Adam, it’s me. Cody. What’s going on?”

“Oh, Cody,” Izzy—no, Adam—said. She threw her arms around him. “I was so worried.”

“How’d you get here?” Cody asked, thankful but surprised.

“I followed you to the island to make sure you were okay. Hayden drove me. We found the other Demonic Survivors in a boat waiting for you.”

“And then you went to the center of the island?” Cody guessed.

“Right. Hayden and I found the prisoner you were trying to save, Rice. But he was alone. He said something about ‘choose your own adventure’, and then he shoved me into the fire pit.”

“That was my mode of transportation, too,” Cody said. “I’ve already spent two days here. But then, last night, someone attacked me. I thought I died, but then I woke up and it was the same day as when I first got here.”

“What do we do?” Adam asked.

“I’ve been trying to work that out. Since I died and started over, I’m starting to think that we can’t change the past. I think we have to figure out what really happened. It has something to do with Tanglewood’s origin.”

Adam stiffened at the mention of the demon who murdered his parents before asking, “So, you’re an upper class white guy, and I’m a female slave? How did those roles get assigned?”

“Just lucky, I guess. At least someone’s not going to kill you tomorrow.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“Aw.”

“You don’t know who it is?” Adam asked.

“No idea.”

One of the slaves entered the shack.

“Looks like Izzy is doing better now,” Cody announced loudly. “Can you see that she’s taken care of today? Uh, tell Bartlett I said so.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll speak again with you later, Izzy,” Cody said. He winked as Adam sighed.

Cody left the shack and stepped wrong on the gravel pathway outside. His ankle gave out on him and he crashed to the ground with a howl of pain.

Adam and Miles rushed to his side.

“Is he all right?” Miles asked, helping Cody back up.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Cody said. He took another step but his ankle couldn’t support him. “Ouch.”

“I think it’s sprained,” Adam said.

Miles turned to one of the larger slaves and ordered, “Help me bring him back inside.”

* * * *

Cody was carried back to his room where Ezra’s parents and grandmother checked on him. Miles sat by his bedside while they waited for a doctor to see him. He missed lunch, and the puppeteer, and Adam brought him up a light meal. A kindly doctor arrived, looked at his swollen ankle, and announced that he needed bed rest.

Martha checked in on Cody, kissed him again, and left with Miles. Even though he saw the kisses coming, he still couldn’t get over the strangeness, or the fleeting memories of Brad in the locker room.

Cody went to sleep after finishing a tall glass of whiskey. He dreamed of his parents fighting over him with Daniel and Caroline. His mom kicked Caroline’s ass while his dad explained time travel to Daniel.

He woke up in the middle of the night when the floorboards creaked too loudly.

“Shhhh,” a voice said from nearby.

“Who’s there? Hello?”

“Sleep, Ezra Branch. Tomorrow is an important day.”

“But…” Cody felt like he was swimming. His head felt too big for his neck. He crashed back to his pillow and fell back to sleep.

* * * *

Cody woke with the sun streaming into the room. He stared up the ceiling and considered his options once again.

He wasn’t sure what to do, but at least he had Adam around to help him out. Adam had been comforting in the twenty-first century partly because of his many muscles and broad frame, but he was still nice to have around as a skinny black girl.

Miles checked on Cody with a worried expression.

“I’m fine, really,” Cody said.

“I fear for your health. First there was your illness, and now your ankle,” Miles said.

“I’m feeling much better. It, uh, helps to have you around.”

“Then this is where I will stay, all day.” Miles gave him a quick peck on the lips.

“But the doctor did say I should rest. Would you mind asking Izzy to bring my lunch up here?”

“Of course.” Miles squeezed his hand and left.

Cody enjoyed the solitude until Adam brought a tray of food to him.

“How are you feeling?” Adam asked.

“All right. The sprain’s not that bad.”

“I don’t think this is the way things are supposed to go,” Adam said. “What’s that mean?”

“I guess we failed,” Cody said with a shrug. “Later tonight, someone is going to attack me. Can you keep an eye out?”

“Of course. No one will hurt you while I’m around.”

Cody grinned. It seemed strange to hear such fierceness from a tiny girl.

“You should get going. Get your chores done so you’ll be free to watch over me tonight.”

“Of course,” Adam said. “I’m really glad I convinced Hayden to bring me here. Nothing’s going to harm you tonight.”

“Thank you.”

Adam leaned over and ran a hand over Cody’s forehead before leaving.

Alone again, Cody tried to process the situation he was thrust into. He needed to talk to the puppeteer and learn what was going on. Tanglewood was being created, but he had no idea how or why.

The door opened, but it was too dark for Cody to see who came in.

“My ankle still hurts too much to get out of bed,” Cody said. “Come back tomorrow.”

“There will be no tomorrow, Ezra Branch.” The newcomer was on him in a second. Cody struggled, but he felt an impossible pressure on his chest. The air rushed out of his lungs. In the last few seconds he had, Cody felt some essence invade him.

The fight left his body and his vision blurred. He tried to call out, but no sound escaped his dying lips.