Chapter 368 - Day MDCXXXI, Part II

It took hours for Will, to come to me. I was looking through one of the gates while sitting on the ground with my back resting on the building wall. I had a stone in my hand that I was playing with.

- How did it go? - I asked him.

In the silver light of whatever it was above us, he looked sad.

- I'm... I know why you agreed, and I would probably do the same if I were in your shoes, but that doesn't change it is a stupid decision.

I dropped the stone on the ground.

- I know. If I don't go, they will take our home, and I'm done letting other people take things from me. So I will either fight with them or prevent this from happening at all. And before you say any bullshit, you are going to visit your family. I will open a highway straight to your living room if I have to, but it's happening.

He smiled at me.

- That's a dick move, Peter. Do you have any idea of how bad the traffic will be?

I chuckled a bit.

- Yeah. The traffic will be horrible - I answered while standing up. - Let's go.

He nodded slowly, and we went back to The Great One.

- I see you two are ready. Wery well then. Tell me when you want to go back.

And just like that, we were no longer in a strange alien building, but in an open space, with the night sky above us, and surrounded by homes in the suburbs of a bigger city.

We were standing on a sidewalk, with a nice road next to us with few cars parked on the side. I saw nice lawns with colorful flowers, street lamps, and all that you would expect of such a place.

- Do you know where the hell we are? - I asked Will.

- Yes. This used to be my home - he pointed at one of the houses. - We are in Washington DC.

- You think they still live here?

- I don't know, but I'm about to find out - he said, and crossed the strict half walking, half jogging.

I followed and we found ourselves in front of the door. I stayed a few steps behind, to let him handle everything. Will knocked on the door, and after a moment we heard steps.

- Who's there? You know what hour it is - we heard before the door opened, and a woman showed up.

She had short brown hair and was wearing simple clothes, with jeans. There was shock written all over her face when she saw him, but she collected herself very fast, and stepped outside, closing the door behind.

- You have some nerve to show yourself now! - she hissed.

- I know, I know...

- You know shit! - She almost stabbed him with the index finger.

She seemed furious to the point I started to think if maybe I should step between them.

- Elaine, look... I'm sorry, but I can explain everything.

- Do you think I care? You left me and Dustin completely alone, and now, after all those years you think you can show on our doorstep and what?! You are a piece of shit Will! You always were!

- Please...

She slapped him in the face.

- I never want to see your face again! - and she vanished inside, but didn't slam the door.

Will was in shock, as he slowly touched his cheek.

- Let me talk to her - I proposed.

At the same time from inside, we heard a short conversation.

- Honey, who was that? - it was definitely a male voice.

- N-nothing. Just I prank.

- At this hour?

- That's why I'm so pissed off...

- Let's go, Peter - said Will immediately, and just turned around.

He went past me.

- You can't just live it like that - I said, and followed him.

- I'm not living it, but nothing I will say can change her mind.

- Then what?

- Then we will do everything as planned and she is going to see with her own eyes what I wanted to tell her whether she wants it or not. My son will see it too, and then we will talk.

I nodded slowly.

- Ok, let's do it this way...

The window in Will's home opened. There was a guy behind it, but before he could open his mouth I shut it down, slamming on his fingers using 'Telekinesis'. We were too far to hear him swearing, but he definitely was.

Will grabbed me and pulled behind himself, as he jogged the hell out of that place.

- Hey! The Great One! Take us back...

And Will vanished, but I was left there, on the sidewalk.

- What the...

- Calm down, Peter. I took your friend back to the city, but I believe you still have something to do here.

- Like what?

- You too should see your family. I'll take you there.

And just like that, I was standing in front of my old apartment block. It was early morning, but some people were already on the streets, rushing to work. My heart immediately started racing. I entered the code that let me in and climbed my way up the stairs. Everything looked the same. Even the tiles on the stairs were the same. Geige, broken and cracked in places. The balustrade was identical to what I remember, with this ugly brown rubber covering the metal.

I got to the third floor and stopped just before the door. I could ring the bell, but my hand moved faster than I could think, and just froze a centimeter before it the surface of the door. I had the image of Will's wife in front of my eyes, slapping him in the face.

My stomach twisted like a wet rag, and I thought I'm gonna puke.

- Take me from here - I just mumbled, and stumbled to the side, ending up with my back leaning on the wall.

- Are you sure?

- Yes. I can't do it...

- I'll give you some time to think this through.

I felt the rush of wind, and I was no longer in front of the old apartment I used to grow up in. I was in an alley in a big city, in the middle of the night. I could hear the cars passing by, and see the garbage covering the ground.

I just started walking.