Free Epiworld by Tracey Morait Page A

Crianvarich, the nearby harbour town, on an errand for her dad without her wanting to come with me. I like Crianvarich, with the fishing boats, the gulls flying around hoping to sample the catch of the day, the colourful houses, and hotels lining the harbour front, the delicious smells coming from the restaurants, and the streets bustling with islanders and visitors. I’m safe enough when Demi is at school, but otherwise my time isn’t my own when she’s on the scene.
    My only other haven is the cave. I’ve been living at the Frasers’ farm for six weeks before I go back there one early Sunday morning. It hasn’t changed. The stuff in the cavern is undisturbed: my makeshift bed, and the ashes from the fire. I look out to sea, listening to the whish-whish of the waves, thinking about Jenna, Hudson, and Dr Alexander, and I wonder what’s happening back in my own time.
    Then, without warning, a loud beeping noise echoes around the cavern walls. Bewildered, I gaze around. Then there’s a jolt, and my body jumps uncontrollably. I fall on my back, terrified. It isn’t a seizure. I’m awake, still aware of my surroundings. The cavern is spinning in a rainbow of colours. Something else is going on. I hear a familiar voice, Alexander’s, calling out to me eerily, like a ghost wailing in the night.
    ‘Come on, Travis, stay with us.’
    ‘I can’t!’ I shout back. ‘I can’t come back. I’m in two thousand and ten!’
    Another jolt. My body shakes again, three times in succession, before I finally collapse with exhaustion on the cavern floor.
    ‘He’s back! Thank God!’ says the doctor, and the beeping dies away.
    I roll on my back, breathing heavily. It takes a moment for me to grasp that something must be going on at the institution; but I’m not back there.
    I sit up. The cavern has finally stopped spinning.
    Is the pod working? Is Alexander using it to try to get in touch? I hold it to my chest, close my eyes, and concentrate.
    ––––––––
    I walk back to the farm feeling hacked off. The pod is obviously useless now, but I don’t want to throw it away; it’s a link to my ‘past-future’. It might work again one day.
    Dr Mac has given me a higher dose of tablets to try to keep the big fits away, but warns me of the side effects, more frequent staring episodes being one of them. They’re starting to become a bit of a nuisance, and the bright lights come with them, too. Dr Mac can’t explain what they are. When people talk to me I look straight through them for a few seconds, before snapping out of it.
    One evening I catch myself staring at Mrs Fraser when we’re sitting down to a meal. She’s talking about the clock, and how it has mysteriously reappeared on the hall table. Her face is bright with laughter. Demi clicks her fingers under my nose.
    ‘Travis!’
    ‘Mm?’ I turn to her, still chewing a mouthful of pie.
    ‘You’re doing it again!’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Staring.’
    Mrs Fraser is shaking her head at me, laughing.
    ‘Thinking about your lassie back home?’ asks Mr Fraser, winking at me. My face burns red.
    ‘Yeah.’ I can’t tell him I’m daydreaming about Mrs Fraser, can I? ‘I miss her sometimes.’
    ‘Why don’t you ring her?’ suggests Mrs Fraser. ‘Let her know you’re all right? I’m sure she’d love to hear from you.’
    Demi gives her a glare.
    ‘It would only confuse things. It’s best left as it is.’
    When we finish eating I help Mrs Fraser wash the dishes. I love being near her, smelling her perfume. My heart pounds when I look at her lovely face. I’m not really listening to her as she chats, I just wipe a plate dry, nodding, laughing when she laughs. I want to drop the plate on the floor, take her in my arms, and kiss her!
    Someone takes the plate and the tea towel out of my hands.
    ‘You’re doing it again, laddie,’ says Mr Fraser, frowning at me.
    ‘Sorry,’ I mumble, backing away.
    ‘Anyway, Dr Mac is here to see you.’
    Quickly I’m on