In one of the earlier chapters I told you that I would revisit how I was able to create a hole in space - and now I have. And that's the good news! On to the bad!
If there is a word beyond my vocabulary to describe being frustrated, that's what I remembered feeling in that moment when Drew appeared before me. Somehow, people seemed to be able to interact with me, but I couldn't do the same thing. It just wasn't fair.
Putting my bitterness to the side, it was still pretty cool to see Drew, a fellow time manipulator, find a way to make contact with people in the past. I started to wonder if he'd train me. However, as with most of my inner desires around that time, I became disappointed that Drew was simply a manifestation that was designed to keep me from advancing time forward. Of course, I didn't know that initially. So, I tried to force my way past him multiple times. Each time, I'd get blown back into the present day but not before an image of a black house with a red door would just flash before my eyes. At first, it was blurry but became more vivid after every attempt.
Casting my ego to the side after a few more attempts of trying to get past Drew, I resolved to just trying to figure out if the image of the red door was even real. Over the next few weeks, I scoured the internet, nearly giving up, until I finally found it. Located at 3505 Generation's Avenue, the fake building as it turned out, blended in with its environment, seamlessly. So much so, that many didn't know it was just a false front. For those who did know, the place was a giant question mark. It had been around since anyone could remember and was often associated with various conspiracy theories including some involving aliens, government lab, CIA black site, and even a portal to another universe.
Usually, fantasy and reality never really align but, in this case, those who speculate it might be a portal to another universe are the most spot-on out of the conspiratorial bunch, but it was so much more than that - something more that I was about to uncover.
When I first arrived, I felt my heart race. Chills regurgitated throughout my body, and I thought to myself, "this might be it." I might finally get some answers. I was probably going to meet my real parents for the first time. Somehow, I just knew that everything I needed lied beyond that door and I wasn't going to waste a single moment.
I walked up to the red door and knocked, anticipating an answer. I even reached for a doorknob that wasn't there, hoping by some miracle that the door would just open. It never opened. Had to find a way inside using an unconventional method but not before finding myself surrounded by numerous law enforcement officers! The way they came up on me you'd think I was an escaped convict or mass murderer. First, there was the sirens, then the police cruisers, followed by the actual officers who all had their weapons pointed in my direction.
"Freeze!" multiple voices said at the same time.
I actually complied. Got caught up in the shock factor of the moment. It wasn't until they attempted to arrest me that I remembered my abilities. I just rewound time to the point just before I decided to advance to the front door.
Deductive reasoning told me that they must've been surveilling the place for reasons I will soon uncover. But all I could think about in that moment was how was I going to get into the building without being noticed. Then I remembered Drew and how he had stopped time altogether. Was it possible that I'd be able to freeze the moment the police had me surrounded? All I could do was try.
In the end I produced nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I tried concentrating as Drew had done but nothing I did, worked. It was frustrating. Stopping time should've been as easy as it was moving it forward or backward. Maybe I was overthinking things. Maybe it was because I doubted myself a little. Or perhaps I needed to put myself back in the position where I was almost arrested. Maybe if I were desperate enough and fueled by adrenaline, I'd manage to accomplish my goal. Worst thing that could happen is me winding back time again. Just keep living the same moment over and over again until I achieved my desired outcome. It'd be like starring in my own version of "Happy Death Day' but without the death part.... or the birthday.
Swallowing my nerves, I advanced toward the front door and knocked, again. Anticipation gave way to anxiety which gave way to sweat and bated breaths. I couldn't remember a time I had ever been so nervous. Especially, when it came to my own abilities. I was always surefire. Confident. Maybe even arrogant. But with everything that had been happening lately, doubt and I were slowly becoming intimate. I mean, what if it didn't work? How many times would I have to keep trying? How many blows would it take before my ego would be shattered? I operated under the assumption that time was limitless. But lately, I've bore witness to its many limitations. There was Yahweh, David, the cherubim, gravity, doubt, and even.... me. After all, I'm still human. Perfection doesn't exist for us. Its rather easy to forget that.
"Freeze!" I had heard the cops says again.
Lost in my thoughts I hadn't realized how far along I had been in getting arrested. Next thing I knew, cuffs were strangling my wrists and the concentration I knew would be hard to maintain evaporated. All I felt was desperation, doubt, and anxiety. I needed to stop time. I had to stop time. But I couldn't. Then the situation got worse.
A car door had opened. A dark-skinned mysterious figure stepped out, dressed like an extra from Men In Black. Somehow, his presence had calmed me. Albeit temporarily. But long enough.
"Try as hard as you like," he had said, before removing his glasses. "Your powers won't help you this time."
What? I wondered what he meant. Why wouldn't my powers work? Who was this guy? How did he know about my powers? What the heck was going on? I obviously didn't know but I knew that the guy was bad news. I could tell that he had powers too. As to what they were, I could only surmise that it might've had something to do with nullification. However, his glowing red eyes made me think otherwise. Either way, he was clearly a man who should never be trifled with.
Bearing that in mind, I turned back to face the door and took advantage of my sudden calm by concentrating as hard as I could. Stopping time was the only thing that mattered. And even though I could focus, I could hear the words of hopelessness being delivered by that alien crime stopper. His determination to instill in me a spirit of defeat only made me more determined.
I closed my eyes and concentrated my thoughts on my immediate surroundings until I picture all of it in my head. Then I kept repeating the words 'be still' - over and over and over again until I felt a rumbling sensation beneath my feet. "Is this what stopping time feels like?" I remembered asking myself. A familiar sound - the rumbling grew louder and louder! The officers began to panic! Visions of the fight between Drew and Eric began to take over 'be still,' and that's when I knew. I could manipulate gravity, too!
The pressure I was building mounted to the point of near eruption! That's when I heard that red-eyed freak say, "Oh, shit!" But before I released my newfound power, someone grasped my arm with a firm but gentle touch. The energy emitted from whomever it was made me open my eyes. There was now a portal in front of me. Startled, I tried turning to my right to see the owner of the friendly hand but mid-turn I found myself already in a different space.
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