Chapter 13
Aknock at his door was a bit of an unwelcome distraction. But maybe he had a package to be signed for, or it could be someone he could deal with easily and get rid of.
He didn’t expect to see Brianna standing there. Chad hesitated a little too long, and she jammed her hand on her hip.
“Well, are you going to invite me in, or what?”
“Um… of course. Come in.”
He stepped aside to let Brianna enter. After the bizarre events of the past day, seeing her in the flesh felt surreal.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Brianna said, eyeing him curiously as she walked past. "Everything okay, Mad-hatterson?"
He closed the door, trying to compose himself. "Yeah, just... It's been a weird day. What brings you by?"
Brianna flopped onto his couch, making herself at home. "Can't a girl check on her friend without an interrogation? You sounded pretty freaked out on the phone yesterday."
He sat down across from her, studying her face. This was Brianna. Same heart-shaped face, same auburn hair, same light-green eyes and sassy attitude, but not the future version he'd been emailing. How much should I tell her? "About that," he began hesitantly. "You're going to think I’m crazy…”
She had the nerve to laugh. Then she threw her head back and guffawed.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, Chad. I have something to tell you, and you’re going to think I’m nuts too.”
“Okay, you go first, then. I could use some company in the crazy department.”
She nodded. “Okay, here goes… I’m a time-traveler.”
He stared at Brianna, his mouth hanging open. "You're... What?"
She leaned forward, her eyes intense. "A time-traveler, Chad. I know it sounds insane, but it's true. And I think you've already figured that out, haven't you?"
His mind raced, trying to process this information. "The emails," he said slowly. "That was really you from the future?"
Brianna nodded. "Yep. Sorry about the confusion. Sometimes it's hard to keep track of which version of you I'm talking to. I must have used the wrong phone with your old email—I mean, your current one. See what I mean?"
He slumped back in his chair, feeling dizzy. "But... how? Why? I mean, time travel isn't possible, is it?"
"Not yet," Brianna said with a wry smile. "But if you’re a certain kind of witch…"
"Wait. You're a witch? And a time-traveler?" He had to double-check; certain he'd misheard her.
Brianna nodded, her expression deadpan. "Yep. It's a genetic thing, believe it or not. My great-great-grandmother first discovered the ability, and now it's passed down but skips a generation."
He stared at her incredulously. "And you expect me to believe this?"
She sighed, reaching into her purse. "Okay, fine, skeptic. Check out my email." She held up her phone, which looked identical to his... except for the date and time in the corner. It read: January 13, 2029 - 2:45 PM.
Chad leaped out of his chair as if the cushion had caught on fire. "How? How is this possible? So help me, if you found a way to alter the year on your emails…”
“No, I haven’t. You know I’m not that tech-savvy.”
“Okay. Let’s pretend you are what you say you are. How long have you known this about yourself?”
“Not that long, actually. A while ago, I accidentally walked through a portal and into the year 1692. My grandmother was with me. We were talking about the Salem witch trials and how we wished we could change the past. Then the next thing we knew, we were spotted by some local Puritans and wound up incarcerated in the Ipswich jail, simply because of our strange clothing and odd manner of speaking.”
He shook his head. “So, your grandmother has this ability too?”
“We think so. But I created the portal. She could have come through on my power alone.”
“You were able to keep the portal open to return?”
“Yes, but if I had known it was my fault for wishing I could go back and change the results… Oh, never mind that. I need to know you’re okay. I’m not just your friend. In fact, I can tell you that in the future we will become a lot closer.”
He felt his cheeks flush at Brianna's words. "Closer? What do you mean by that?"
She gave him a coy smile. "Let's just say our relationship evolves. But I can't give you too many details. You know, butterfly effect and all that."
Chad ran a hand through his hair, trying to process everything. "This is a lot to take in, Bri. Time travel, witches, us becoming... closer. It's like something out of one of my students' creative writing assignments."
Brianna laughed. "Trust me, I know how it sounds. But it's all true. And there's more you need to know."
He braced himself. "More? What else could there possibly be?"
“I was recruited to be part of an organization of pretty bad-ass witches.”
His eyes popped wide open, and his eyebrows almost hit his hairline.
“Oh! Not bad witches, I didn’t mean that… It’s a group of powerful, supernatural, but good witches. They call themselves the L.A.W., which stands for the League of Amazing Witches. They’re the ones people turn to when regular law enforcement can’t use woo-woo to get things done.”
“Why have I never heard of them?”
Brianna chuckled. “Seriously? Do you think we’d be accepted by mainstream cops? Or the average close-minded thinker who doesn’t believe in the supernatural at all?”
He shook his head, trying to wrap his mind around all this new information. "Okay, so you're a time-traveling witch who's part of a secret organization. And in the future, we're closer. Is there anything else I should know?"
Brianna's expression turned serious. "Yes, actually. Remember that email about the funeral?"
His stomach dropped. "Yeah, I've been wondering about that. Who...?"
She held up a hand. "I can't tell you specifics, but I can say this: someone important to both of us is going to need our help soon. And when the time comes, you need to trust your instincts."
Chad nodded slowly, remembering her cryptic message about saying 'yes'. "Is this related to Professor Emerson? He just offered to mentor me today."
Brianna's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly composed herself. "I can't confirm or deny anything specific. But I will say this - your relationship with Professor Emerson will be crucial in the coming months. Pay attention to what he teaches you, both about writing and other things."
"Other things?" he echoed. "What do you mean?"
Brianna stood up, smoothing down her shirt. "I've already said too much. Just keep your eyes and mind open, okay? And remember, when the time comes, trust yourself."
He rose as well, feeling overwhelmed. "Bri, wait. You can't just drop all this on me and leave. I have so many questions."
She smiled softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand. "I know you do. But some things you need to discover for yourself. That's part of the journey."
As she turned to leave, a thought struck him. "Wait! Can you at least tell me why you came to see me today? The present-day you, I mean."
Brianna paused at the door, her hand on the knob. She turned back to him with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, that. I just wanted to invite you to dinner tomorrow night. My place, 7 PM. Don't be late."
With that, she was gone, leaving him standing in his living room, feeling like he'd just stepped into an alternate reality. Time travel, witches, secret organizations, and now a dinner invitation that suddenly felt loaded with potential significance.
Chad collapsed back onto the couch, rubbing his temples.
How had his life become so complicated in the span of just 24 hours?
Yesterday, he was a normal English professor with normal problems. Now, he was apparently destined to be involved with a time-traveling witch and potentially caught up in some mysterious, supernatural events.
Not that he’d mind getting closer to Bri.
He had always been attracted to her. He’d even read somewhere that male and female friends are usually attracted in some way.
He glanced at his phone, half-expecting to see more messages from future Brianna. The screen remained stubbornly blank. With a sigh, he got up and poured himself a glass of water, wishing it were something stronger but knowing he needed a clear head to process all of this.
As he sipped the water, his eyes fell on the stack of essays he'd brought home to grade. The mundane task suddenly seemed laughably insignificant compared to the revelations of recent events. But maybe that normalcy was exactly what he needed right now.
He settled at his desk and picked up the first essay, red pen in hand. As he read through his students' analyses of Kafka's "The Metamorphosis," Chad couldn't help but draw parallels to his own situation. Hadn't his life just undergone its own bizarre transformation?
Brianna stepped through the shimmering portal, leaving Chad's apartment behind and emerging into the elegant mansion of the League of Amazing Witches.
The familiar scent of sage and sandalwood tickled her nose as she made her way down the corridor.
Her heels clicked against the polished marble floor.
Her stomach churned with a mix of anxiety and defiance. She knew she had broken one of their most sacred rules but couldn't bring herself to regret it. Chad deserved to know the truth, especially because of the chaos that was coming. His cooperation would be crucial.
She paused outside Bas's office, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
Bas took up a space in the corner of the old library.
The better to keep an eye on the younger witches.
The ornate oak door loomed before her; intricate runes carved into its surface pulsing with a faint blue light.
She raised her hand to knock, but before she could make contact, the door swung open of its own accord.
"Come in, Brianna,"
She stepped into Bas's presence, her heart racing. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls from the flickering flames in the ornate fireplace. Bas sat behind her massive desk, her silver hair gleaming in the firelight, her piercing green eyes fixed on Brianna.