Just in Time! (...again!) :0

"Well, at least he's able to read," Pax said sarcastically. "So, Valeria, what happens if I just avoid this guy forever? Will you cease to exist or will there be a different timeline or what?"

Nathan looked towards Atticus through the corner of his eyes. Something about him seems familiar. Odd since they just met, too.

Valeria laughed lightly. "Unfortunately, no. Even by telling you all this, things are still the same. It's just a matter of time before things move along. What's that phrase? 'You can't escape the inevitable?' Something along those lines, anyways." Valeria smiled and started putting her things back into her bag. "I know you probably have doubts, but there's really nothing more I can do, but this."

Atticus hummed as he flipped through a book, hiding a smirk when he felt Nathan's gaze on him. He put on a clueless expression once he looked over at the other. "Yes?"

Shaye sighed and shook his head. "What's the point of telling us all of this again?"

"Just what I was thinking," Pax muttered, glancing at her brother. "I can't believe my whole life has been decided for me."

Nathan looked away. "Nothing. Have you found what you're looking for?"

Valeria looked down at the table to tried to hold back tears. "I don't know what else to do. The future is in ruins and everything is in chaos. My own brother is trying to kill me!" She covered her eyes with her hands. "If I can bring you to the future, then maybe you can help stop it all. I just don't know what to do! I don't have any other option left."

"Not yet, I'm afraid," Atticus hummed out. "There's a particular book I'm searching for. Can you help?"

"Okay, okay. There's no need to cry," Shaye hastily said.

"Oh god, I'm sorry." Pax embraced her. "You shouldn't have to hear your mother say that, even if I'm not your mother yet." She sighed, closing her eyes. "If you think taking me to the future will help, I'll go, but my brother's coming with us."

"I can try. We don't have a large selection of them but we do have most of the books that have been published." Nathan stood up and walked out from behind his desk. "What's the name of the book?"

Valeria wiped her eyes with her sleeve. "Thank you. You don't know how grateful I am."

Humming, Atticus tapped his chin. "I'm not sure, but the author who wrote it was very popular. One of the most famous authors there is, actually."

"That's what family's for," Shaye said simply, giving her a small smile.

Pax cleared her throat. "So we're really going to the future?"

Nathan looked at him quizzically. "Really? What's the name?"

Valeria nodded and reached into her bag. "We are. It's gonna be a big reality shock for you two, but we can make it." She pulled out a circular device and smiled. "Let me know when you two are ready to go."

"End of Time or something like that," Atticus muttered before pausing, turning to look at him more appropriately. "I have another question for you, if you don't mind me asking."

"Well, I'm ready to go," Shaye said, looking over at Pax. "What about you?"

"I'm ready to go. But you really aren't worried about your father?" Pax asked.

"Sure . . . I'll try to help you the best I can." Nathan walked towards the end of the book shelf. He hide the ground alarm with his foot. This guy was giving him bad vibes.

"I am, but I can't do anything. I don't even know where he is." Valeria sighed and looked at the two of them. "If you like, we can go find him. I don't know if we will be successful though."

"You're too kind," Atticus said with a smile before secretly taking a device out. He adjusted the settings before hitting the button, causing the two of them to disappear from the shop.

Shaye hummed. "What was the guy's name again?