1927: Redemption

To San Juan!

“When I see you, it's as if space and time become the finest point imaginable as if time collapses into one tiny speck and explodes at light speed. It's as if my universe begins and ends with you. I could run forever, search forever, but in the end, every path leads right back to your heart and soul. I love you, always.”

22 DECEMBER 2021- SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

If someone would have commented, “Work hard, travel harder.” Adeline would have punched that person harder instead.

Yeah! This was the second flight she boarded in two days, and Adeline was already freaking off.

Vacations have to be little luxuries rather than travel. Aeroplanes were boring, airports were a hassle. She would rather spend some money on the house, the garden and the kind of food that made her feel as good as royalty. That was vacation, that was a holiday... and it was the kind that could make the rest of the year all the better for everyone.

But, what did she get?

Well, she got three tiring journeys in her pocket.

After strolling out of the forest in Miami, they took an hour's break to gather the belongings that they would need and made themselves a little presentable. Because they looked like children who played in the mud, climbed trees, and never took baths.

Yeah, that was what they did in real life, but it was not a enough reason to not clean themselves.

There hadn’t been a clear cut conversation between Adeline and William regarding the killing-Ty subject, but Ace gave her a little explanation as he explained to her about the side effects of transporting into another dimension for normal human beings. And, if some people somehow made it to another dimension they could easily get affected by the prevalent viruses in that dimension and if it got transmitted on earth, it could be dangerous and that was the reason William abandoned Ty.

The mystery box was another mystery as it had been said that the mystery box was discovered by Jack when he returned from the 1930 and wanted to safeguard three things that he had used. When entered the portal, he saw the bench and made it a landmark. When he dug the hole in the ground, he found that beautiful box. Long story short, he studied the box for a long time, its history and everything and then eventually made out that the box was the key to escape the portal. But for that blood was also required- a mix of ancient and contemporary.

Of course, he changed its coding to make Adeline the only person in the world to be able to escape the portal using that box.

Huh!

You know, whatever Jack said or more particularly whatever he wrote in his journal depicted him as a very intelligent scientist. Like- who could change the code of an ancient-mysterious thing of another dimension and mould it in his best interest.

It was surreal, at the same it had a lot of questions and mysteries attached to it.

Well, Adeline had enough mysteries on her plate and she did not want a new one to add to.

Reaching the airport, now three of them boarded a plane to San Juan, Puerto Rico; which was her second destination to find another import article that she would need.

After reading her grandpa’s letter that said, ‘To San Juan’. Adeline found out that it was the place where she would get the key that would be helpful to open the portal, and map- more specifically, a map of 1920s London.

Till now, Ace did not know that she was not going in 1999 stop her father, rather a bit more back in the time to return something that never belonged to Martinez’s family and very- very important article that could change the world, it could even change the history if it got in unworthy hands of some unworthy people.

You know who she was referring to.

Ace was a little disappointed at first, but then accepted as he had already invested his belief and trust in James a long time back, and now was not the time to question his planning. But, he was sad that he did not know when the plan changed, maybe James had done it after he got confronted by Archer.

Speaking of Archer Lewis and his goons, none were in sight to attack her. It clearly sent her a message that they were planning something big. Archer would not keep quiet until he got what he wanted, but this time, Adeline Martinez was so ready.

You know…. something has changed. Before entering the forest of Miami she was a little scared and less confident that she would be able to do it.

What has changed? Most importantly when does it change?

Has it changed when Ace showed up at the airport?

No! Definitely not.

Has it changed when she entered the forest?

Umm…. Not so adequate.

Has it changed when William showed up?

Maybe a little.

Okay….. has it changed when she entered the portal?

Yes! Definitely yes!

There you got your answer. Let us not get into the question and answer sequence anymore.

Amidst their journey, Ace was simply resting as he knew he got a long day ahead. Adeline was stealing her grandpa’s letter. Whereas William- he was another story. He was completely engrossed in his thoughts.

Thinking, did he do it right by removing the names?

But, why did he do it?

Questioning himself, again and again, suddenly he felt a strong surge of electricity through his entire body. From the tip of the hair to his toes. And then he realised, Adeline’s sleeping head just dropped on his shoulder.

He slowly draped his other hand around her shoulders and adjusted her head in a comfortable position on his shoulder. Though he wore a mask, there was a gentle smile on his face when he saw her face with no tension on her forehead.

William knew for how a long time she had been struggling. At this young, she would have been thinking about pursuing a career. But, no she was strolling around with the weights that her family had put on her shoulders.

By just one look at her face, he knew he had to remove the name from the photographs to hide his identity. However, soon she would know about him completely. But till then, let her just rest and enjoy the feelings he has in his heart for him.

How desperately he wanted to hold her, kiss her, talk to her, listen to her, and take his f*****g mass off. But no, he could not. Because he had to keep her safe. No, not from her enemies, but from himself. Not of 2021 himself, but the one she would meet in another world.

What if he didn’t meet her expectations in that timeline? What if he unknowingly broke her heart at that time?

Yes, that was the reason, he had shown himself stoic and emotionless.

By now he knew, skipping the years to come in the twenty-first century was his destiny. His fate wanted him to meet the one whom he searched for his entire life and found her in some twisted conspiracy of their destiny.

Whatever it was, it made him happy, it made his heart feel that he hadn’t in his entire lifetime.

There were quite a few things he wanted to say to her, of course, he could not. But now was the time, when he could just let it out.

Using his heightened senses, he listened to her heartbeat which was at a smooth pace, indicating she was in deep sleep.

Tilting his head towards her and now their heads were touching each other, he pulled her in as she adjusted in her sleep, he removed the hair falling on her forehead and tucked them behind her ear, and pressed a loving kiss on her forehead.

While caressing her face, he knew she was too feeling the intense sparks between them. Without wasting another second, he let his heart out and said:

“Were we ever strangers? I'm not sure we were. That day I first saw you there was something even then, though I didn't know what. I wonder if there's an element of time that allows us to feel a strong love, like an orange glow bursting over a dark horizon. It was light for our eyes only, something to carry us through this life.

It was the dawn of the person I am today, the person I was destined to be. I would give up anything in the world for you, I would do anything to keep you safe. Though I work hard to keep you comfortable now and into our old age, I'd rather be poor in money than risk losing your heart. I recall the day our bond was forged. It was like being let into the warmth after a lifetime of winter. I could never wish to go back to even a day before that. You are the greatest treasure of my life, the one, the only one.”

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.

.

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After two hours or so, they landed in San Juan. Before half an hour to landing, both Ace and Adeline woke up on the pilot’s announcement.

Well, waking up was fine for Ace, but awkward for Adeline as she realised why she felt so comfortable during the flight. The moment she woke up, William pulled his hand as she straightened her back and settled down.

Yeah, that was awkward for her, but she kinda felt nice.

But…wait did she?

No… what if she did? Ugh! That would be so awkward and disgusting.

Using her peripheral view, she caught a sight of William’s shoulder, followed by a sigh of relief by her.

“Thank god, I didn’t drool on his shoulder.”

“No, you didn’t.” Said William, and she instantly realised but he cut off her thoughts in between by saying, “Yes.”

Yeah, Adeline Martinez, you said it aloud.

After getting their luggage from just one duffel bag that belonged to Adeline, they left the airport premises. one bag because only She needed another set of clothes, not these two boys. They were cool anyway, cool people don’t need clothes.

Huh!

Adeline let out a slow controlled breath and attempted to loosen her body movements. She was walking like a clockwork soldier and that was no way to be in this neighbourhood. She gave her shoulders a wiggle and lolled her head in a circle, letting her stride slacken to a more casual pace. It was a decent effort, enough to fool the casual observer, but for the onlooker with a keen eye, she was a walking advert for tension. Her eyes moved with the alertness that comes from heavy stress and her hands remained clenched by subconscious demand.

The air was so brittle it could snap, and if it didn't, Adeline might. No one spoke, what was there to say?

Well, discuss the plan.

Yeah, why not!

Halting in her way, she turned around to eye the two not so useful partners.

“What next?” She asked.

William as usual ignored her and walked by her side to hinge a ride from a cab. While Ace gave her him an all-weather cold look, saying, “Don’t you have the letter with a plan?”

“Yeah, it said to go to Peri-peri Ocean Park.”

Ace walked in her direction, had a push at her forehead and said, “Yeah, so let’s go.”

And then he also walked by her side.

“Pricks! Idiots!” She commented.

Adeline turned around to find both of them getting into a cab. What was she waiting for?

“Wait! I’m coming!” Yelled Adeline as she ran where the cab was waiting for her.

What was waiting for her at the Peri-peri Ocean Park?

Will she be able to get the key and map?

For that, let’s see.