Out of Time Read online

  “I don’t either. I thought you’d want to know about it since you were the one who brought up checking it out.” she said timidly.

  “What’s the big secret?” Simon wondered, causing Mandy to shift uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

  “What do you mean?” she answered, pretending to be clueless.

  “Sounds like you were planning on going there without me.” Simon told her and Mandy relaxed, glad that he wasn’t thinking about the big secret she’d been keeping from him.

  “The thought crossed my mind.” Mandy admitted.

  “What about Kendra?” Simon inquired in nearly the same tone as Mandy when she was talking to Sasha.

  “I’m telling her too.” Mandy muttered. “She’s too nosy anyway. She’d find out soon enough and I’d rather it be before than after. You know how whiny she gets when she doesn’t get her way.”

  “Tell me about it!” Simon announced. “I think she only hangs around me because I play soccer. Though, aren’t cheerleaders supposed to hang around football players?”

  “That’s the stereotype.” Mandy acknowledged.

  “Well, I think the only reason she ever is around you two is because of me.” Simon said to her, instantly regretting the words which could have been interpreted as offensive, even though he didn’t mean anything by them. “Don’t take what I said the wrong way. I like you guys.”

  “I take it as a compliment.” Mandy said and Simon smiled, wiping his brow with his hand as if he’d just dodged a bullet.

  “You guys are a bit ‘over her head’. She really is pretty thick.” Simon said with a chuckle. Mandy laughed along with him.

  “We know.”

  “So what time are you going up there?” Simon asked. “It would have to be when the classroom is still open and before they lock up the school.”

  “We’d also have to go when the teacher isn’t around.” Mandy thought.

  “Ms. Hastings always sneaks off for a smoke break after school for about ten minutes. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. She apparently does that before class as well.” Simon said.

  “Gross.” Mandy said as she wrinkled her nose. She was very sensitive to cigarette smoke and it was bad enough when a smoker came up next to her because she could smell it on their clothes and it made her sneeze. Thankfully, her state passed a bill prohibiting it in buildings, because otherwise many of the places she’d like to go to were inaccessible. After only an hour her throat would start to hurt and her eyes water. At least Mandy was in the second row in class.

  “I bet Sasha can smell her from the front of the classroom. I’m surprised she didn’t say anything about it.” Simon said. Mandy bit her lip as she had to remember not to disclose Sasha’s secret.

  “I think she had other stuff on her mind then.” Mandy told him, shrugging her shoulders.

  “The door?” Simon edged.

  “There was something that bothered her about it. I don’t want to go into detail, but it’s the reason why she wants to investigate.” Mandy mentioned. Before Simon could speak further, the whistle to start soccer practice was blown.

  “Well I gotta go.” Simon said to her.

  “See you tomorrow?”

  “Yes.” he told her.

  “I guess I’ll try and track down Kendra before class tomorrow.” Mandy said to Simon as he started to jog towards the coach.

  “Good.” he called back.

  CHAPTER 8

  Sasha shifted uncomfortably as they stood in the attic classroom after class the next day. Kendra didn’t make a big deal out of it, and Mandy was a bit upset that she wasn’t more appreciative. Kendra was that way, thinking she was entitled.

  “All ready?” Mandy asked as they neared the door.

  “Yes.” Sasha responded, along with Simon and Kendra. In all actuality, Sasha really wasn’t. She was anxious and wanted to be far from the figures outlining the door. It was like standing next to ghosts. Her arms started to tingle with freshly laid goosebumps.

  “Nervous?” Mandy wondered, although the question was directed only to Sasha.

  “Why would I be nervous?” Sasha asked.

  “Can we just get it over with already?” Kendra whined impatiently, hands on her hips.

  “I’m going to go first.” Sasha said, almost demanding.

  “I should go first.” Simon said, noticing a bit of hesitation in Sasha’s voice. “In case something happens. I’m not scared of it.”

  “Who said anyone was scared of it?” Sasha asked curiously.

  “I didn’t say anything.” Mandy stated as Sasha glared her way.

  “What are you mumbling about?” Kendra asked. They all ignored her and carried on their conversation as though she hadn’t said anything at all.

  “Okay here goes.” Simon said as his arm stretched out to grab the door handle. As he turned and pulled, the old wooden door creaked eerily. He peeked inside. “There’s absolutely nothing there. It’s just a closet.”

  “Well that was uneventful.” Kendra said with a long and dramatic huff.

  Simon closed the door and continued, “Good place for storing my cleats though. The locker room gets packed. They need to work on expanding that.”

  “I’m getting out of here and heading for the mall. That was a waste of my time.” Kendra said.

  “Sorry Kendra.” Mandy apologized. It didn’t matter because she was already on a war path out the door.

  “At least we included you!” Simon shot out.

  “Whatever!” Kendra called back.

  “I should head home. My mom knows my schedule. She’s going to wonder what’s taking me so long.” Simon said, grabbing his backpack and soccer gear he had left at the front of the classroom.

  “Me too.” Mandy said.

  “I’m going to just stay here for a minute.” Sasha said, her voice hushed as she stared at the figures moving around her.

  “Do you want me to stay with, or —?” Mandy started, but Sasha waved her off, a “no” thoroughly implied. “Fine then. See you later.”

  “Bye.” Sasha said, turning as Simon and Mandy both walked out of the room together. She turned back to face the door and took a deep breath. She sighed and collected her composure, straightening her shirt out of nervous habit. “Whew. Okay door. I know there is more to you. I can still see the people around me. What are you hiding?”

  Before Sasha could find out, the sound of light heeled footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. Sasha knew exactly who that was, and gulped.

  “Oh great. Ms. Hastings is back. Hell. I’d better hide.” She looked around quickly, wondering where she could hide. It seemed as though the attic door was her only sanctuary, so she opened it. It creaked open and Sasha quickly entered without realizing it didn’t look like much of a closet when she entered.

  PART II

  CHAPTER 9

  After Sasha entered the closet, she heard the sound of crickets almost immediately, and the sounds from outside the door could no longer be heard. Is Ms. Hastings gone already? Sasha turned around and almost fainted in shock. Are ghosts playing tricks on me? How is this possible? In front of her was a huge gothic-style staircase and entryway lit with nearly burnt-out candles.

  “Woah. Seriously...creepy. Where the hell did this come from?” Sasha wondered out loud. She heard whispers on the air, but could only make out bits and pieces. Ghosts again, perhaps? “Hello? Is someone there? Seriously, if there is someone there, I’m listening!” Sasha looked around as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. She then started to whisper. “There has to be someone here. There are candles lit. Someone had to light them.”

  Then she heard what sounded like sliding panels directly behind her, she couldn’t tell whether they were wood or stone, and then a creaking noise. “What the hell?!” she exclaimed, turning around. “The door just disappeared. This is nuts.”

  “This is out of time.” a man said, and Sasha could have sworn he just appeared from nowhere.

  “Who the hell
are you?” Sasha asked, as if hell was becoming a regular part of her vocabulary. She made a mental note to expand it.

  “Mankus Everidge, how do you do?” the man answered with a bow, introducing himself. As she looked him over, she realized his clothing was incredibly outdated. Was he a ghost too? Sasha went back to the man’s question, regarding her health and general well-being.

  “Not really that great right now. Where did you come from?” Sasha wondered, although part of her wanted to ask him “when”, rather than “where”.

  As if nothing was out of the ordinary, Mankus replied. “I came from here. I haven’t left. Welcome to my house.” His house? As if anyone could live in such a place. Is this what the school was before it was a school? Someone’s house? Maybe Mankus is still a ghost. Sasha shuddered at the thought.

  “Your house? This is a school.” she told him.

  “I’ve heard that one before.” Mankus replied with a light chuckle.

  “By who?” Sasha wondered.

  “A girl called Betsy, many years ago.” he told her honestly. A shiver ran up Sasha’s spine.

  “What do you mean by ‘many years ago’? She’s only been missing a year. At least, if we are talking about the same Betsy.” Sasha said to him.

  “A year in your time. Not mine.” Mankus told her. As the candle light danced over his face, she noticed the corner of his mouth upturn into an almost sinister smirk.

  “Mister...Mankus...whatever you are called, how do I get out of here? What happened to the attic?” she asked him.

  “As I said, this is a place out of time. Your school — your attic — may not exist outside of this place, my house.” Mankus said, his face as unmoving as stone.

  “What do you mean? What about my friends — my mom?” Sasha asked franticly. She couldn’t even begin to fathom the rest of her life in this dark, dreary, and creepy house...living with a strange man.

  Mankus looked down, sadness reaching into his face. “You’ll be lucky to ever see them again.”

  “Where’s Betsy, then?” Sasha wondered. If she isn’t here, she must be outside the house.

  “She found her way back, so to speak.” Mankus replied.

  “Can you stop giving me answers in forms of riddles?” Sasha said tensing up as her nerves ran on edge. Mankus raised an eyebrow.

  “Go over to the corner there and tell me what you see. I know you have the gift. Hardly anyone without it ever comes here. I have learned to interpret.” Mankus told her. “Perhaps learning isn’t the right word. I’ve acquired a skill. You will see words in this place, but I will see images.”

  “The gift? You mean the feelings I get? The things I see sometimes?” Sasha inquired.

  “Impressions of the past and future. Premonitions at times — yes.”

  “Fine. I’ll go over.” Sasha said reluctantly. While Sasha crossed the room, wood creaking underfoot, Mankus took a seat nearby. Sasha stared at the corner. Nothing. Then, all of a sudden she started to see words forming in her mind. It was almost as if someone was trying to communicate with her. If these are impressions, what are they from? “I see three words.”

  “What are the words?” Mankus asked, his voice solemn and almost distant, as if he wasn’t really all that interested.

  “The first is art. The second is grease. The third is judge.” Sasha told him. Mankus breathed in deeply, tilting his head back.

  “Ah.” he said to her.

  “What does that mean?” she asked him quickly, unnerved at his attitude.

  “She left this place and became an artist.” Mankus stated. Sasha’s eyebrows drew up in a bunch on her forehead as she was thrown into puzzlement.

  “But she’s only a teenager. How could she possibly become an artist without proper instruction? Her work couldn’t have been that developed.” Sasha said. Sure, there were some stellar art students who could have made a living from their work, but it was one of those crafts where you really had to be great for anyone to notice you and she’d never heard of Betsy and her amazing artistic talent.

  “No, you’re right. She failed. She had to work in a kitchen. Hence the grease, your second word.” Mankus explained. Sasha still had no clue as to how he knew all these things. He said he learned to interpret. How?

  “What about the word ‘judge’?” she asked.

  “There was a fire.” Mankus told her, his eyes growing wide, as if he was seeing all that had happened in his own mind. “She became badly burned and the fire was a result of poor maintenance. She sued the restaurant and the judge awarded her millions.”

  “So, she’s all set then?” Sasha asked, thinking how Betsy couldn’t possibly want to come back after being a millionaire

  “Yes, if you wish to call it so.”

  “When did all of this happen?” Sasha wondered.

  “Your future perhaps. Or maybe your past. Who knows?” Mankus said mysteriously. Sasha huffed. She wasn’t going to get anywhere with him, she knew.

  “Then how do I get back?” she asked the man.

  “You can wait for a door to appear, or try and find the one you originally came through. I can’t guarantee you’ll find your way back.” he said to her. His tone then became even more solemn and much quieter. “Sometimes they never do. They just get...lost.”

  “Were the people outside the attic door lost? Betsy was there and she found her way out.” Sasha mentioned.

  “Out of time.” Mankus added. “She didn’t end up where she should be. Her imprint is yearning for her past life. The one she was supposed to live.”

  “I don’t know if I believe in all that. What if she’s been here this whole time?” Sure, it could be true. It didn’t explain how exactly this whole place appeared out of a closet, but there were plenty of creeps in the world and capturing young girls might be right up someone’s alley.

  “You can try to find her.” Mankus offered and provided more instruction. “Just be wary of the doors in this house. Some lead nowhere. Some lead out of here. Some lead to another room in the house. They are always changing.”

  “Can you help me find my way back?” Sasha wondered. Mankus looked down at the ground, blinking slowly.

  “I could...but then I would be lonely again.”

  “Why can’t you leave?” she asked him, noticing the pain that has started to stretch across his face. She wondered how old he was.

  “The doors don’t lead anywhere for me.” he told her and she could tell he was telling the truth. His truth anyway.

  “None of them?” Sasha asked, her jaw dropping.

  “In the house, they are all to the house. The exterior doors all lead to a closet. Only for me.” he told her. No wonder he was sad.

  “Where are the windows? I’ve seen some here and there. It’s too dark to see what’s out there.” Sasha said.

  “Oh yes!” Mankus said, his face perking up. “Sometimes the windows show what is on the other side of the door. If you can find a window and see what’s on the other side.”

  Sasha was trying to process it all. She was stuck in a place between time, with a man who was stuck in time, and with hardly any way to get out of her predicament. Suppose I found a window and door. What would I do? What if it was the wrong time, like Betsy? How long had Mankus been trapped here? He had to have parents.

  “What time are you from?” she finally asked him.

  “I...don’t know.” Mankus said to her. “I’ve been here since I was a child.”

  Sasha shuddered at the thought of a child being all alone in this depressing house. “A child? How old were you?”

  “Ten. I don’t know what happened exactly. All I know is my parents went to go to the market and never came back. When I went looking for them I realized all doors led to closets. I’ve met people who tried to give an explanation of why this is happening, but I’ve given up trying to fight this prison.” Mankus told her, releasing a lonely sigh.

  “Where do you get food? Supplies? Candles?” Sasha asked, feeling that even though she w
as talking to an adult, his still hadn’t matured from being left as a child. He still wanted human interaction and friendship, the basic necessities of human sanity.

  “Through the doors. Whenever I open a door, I always find something I need on the closet floor.” he said.

  “So it’s almost like you were chosen to be here?” Sasha assessed, trying to provide some comfort that his situation wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

  “I guess I’m the caretaker of time.” Mankus said softly.

  “Time travel, more like.” Sasha laughed nervously.

  “Are you going to go, then?” Markus wondered, his voice strained. His eyes started to glaze over, as if he was fighting tears.

  “I have to. I have to find my way back. They’ll all be looking for me.” Sasha said to him, but he shook his head, as if she didn’t understand.

  “Unless you find your present time, but that’s very rare.” Mankus said solemnly.

  “Do people ever get lost and then come back to you?” Sasha inquired. Mankus nodded quickly.

  “That’s what happened to Betsy. I’m not sure if she found her way back to her own time though. It was, at least, close enough I’d say.”

  “Well I am ready to get back.” Sasha stated, feet firmly planted in front of her.

  “Look for the windows then.”

  “Okay.” Sasha said, her voice just above a whisper as she looked around her surroundings.

  CHAPTER 10

  As Sasha moved through the house, careful to not disturb any lit candles, she heard sliding sounds, very similar to the ones that made the door behind her disappear as she first entered the house out of time. She walked tentatively on the wooden floors of the house, reaching out when the darkness consumed her, trying to find any semblance of the trim of a door or window.

  “So I’ve got to be careful about which door I go through. Hmm.” Sasha said, to herself, but audibly. A few doors and windows appeared for her, some windows looked through to the other side, but the other side was brick. In what seemed like an instant, the room lit up and she was able to see a window appear. The window was responsible for the sudden cast of light.