The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare by M.G. Buehrlen

Author:M.G. Buehrlen [Buehrlen, M.G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781682300572
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2016-02-11T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Superheroes

I don’t know if it’s the tea, the sound waves, the theta brain frequency, or Levi’s presence, but this time when I enter Limbo, things are clearer, crisper. I hadn’t noticed how muddled it was before, when I went in alone. It’s like getting new glasses after wearing an old prescription for too long. The Black feels flexible now, moving in and out like a breath. It feels like I’ve been here a million times before. It’s as familiar as the ceiling rafters in my bedroom.

Levi stands beside me in my garden, his hand still in mine. I expect him to gape around in awe, but he’s cool as a cucumber. He lets go of my hand and moves through my soulmarks toward my fountain.

“I take it you’ve been here before,” I say, following him, winding through the shafts of light.

“A few times.” He sits on one of my benches, casually, like he’s at the park feeding the pigeons.

“Aren’t you tempted at all? By the soulmarks?”

“You mean am I tempted to travel back in time?”

I nod, stepping up to my fountain. Dipping my fingers in the warm water.

“I’m tempted in the same way any thinker or philosopher would be tempted. I’m tempted to know what it’s like. To walk where my idols have walked. Maybe sit and have a chat with them. But on the other hand, I’m tempted the way the president is tempted to press the button on a nuclear war.” I furrow my brow, so he elaborates. “What you do, Alex? Descending? It’s one step away from mass destruction. So no. I’m not tempted. I’m not as confident as you.”

I let out a dry laugh. “I’m not confident. And when you put it that way, it makes me feel like even more of an ass.”

“Why’s that?”

I wring my hands. “Because I enjoy it. I’m selfish. I’m like those gun enthusiasts who don’t want to give up their guns. They know guns cause destruction, but they won’t give them up because they like them too damn much. They like the feel of the steel in their hand. They like being in control. They like having the higher ground, feeling invincible, wielding something more powerful than themselves. They like it, and they won’t give it up even if what they like is destroying the world. And because I like traveling so much, I obliterated an entire timeline. I’ve already caused mass destruction, and I’m ready to go back for seconds.”

He frowns. “What makes you think that other timeline is any better? Without the Variant, without you destroying Gesh’s life as he knew it, he would’ve gone full steam ahead, no obstacles. Because of you, he had to start all over. He’s seventeen years behind in his grand plan, whatever it is. So all this? This is the best it could be, in my opinion. A world without boundaries for Gesh is a world I wouldn’t want to live in.”

“So what’s stopping him from going back and creating another

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.