Free Infinite Time: Time Travel Adventure by H.J. Lawson, Jane Lawson Page B

last two years. Trust me on this, Scarlet isn’t someone you want to trust.”
    I look up and down the street.
    “What are you looking for?” she asks me.
    “I’m wondering when Douglas will arrive. And if Clara will make it into this dream. I could rescue Clara as well,” Sweet idea, Parker. Kimi punches my arm. “Ouch, what was that for?”
    “Didn’t Scarlet tell you that this is for real? It’s not a joke, Parker.” She looks at me like a disappointed mom.
    “Yeah, she told me all that, no need to hit me,” I say, rubbing my arm like it hurts.
    Kimi looks embarrassed. “Sorry, Parker, it’s… it’s just, your life is in danger.”
    “Yeah, I know. Scarlet told me.”
    Kimi shakes her head. “She’s the person putting your life in danger. You need to come with me,” she says, looking around in a hurry.
    “But our assignment… Tora,” I say, confused.
    “Leave Tora,” Kimi says bluntly.
    “Leave her? No, I’m not leaving her.”
    Kimi sighs, then there is a look on her face that I’ve never seen before. “Just leave her. I… I need you. I can keep you safe.”
    “You need me? Why?”
    “Not now. I just do, Parker, that should be enough.” She crosses her arms.
    “Come with us,” I suggest.
    Kimi laughs, but not a happy laugh. “With them.” She scowls at the window that Tora is looking through.
    “Kimi, what’s your problem with them?” I ask.
    “With them.” She grits her teeth.
    “Parker, what are you doing out here?” Scarlet’s voice travels through the doorway before I see her. I turn to Kimi and she’s gone, vanished, just like in a dream.
    I pause. “Waiting for you, are you ready?”

Chapter 14
     
     
    When the woman at the apartment said that the bar wasn’t appropriate for children, she wasn’t kidding. There are three glowing red x’s on the door and pictures of nearly-naked women all over the blacked-out windows. It is clearly more than just a neighborhood bar—it's a strip joint, like the ones parents would try to make you avoid, and, as I got older, the more I wanted to enter. And now I have no choice but to go, and I don’t want to, not under these situations.
    Two burly men stand at the door, guarding the entrance for some reason, not very welcoming. Their faces are flat, like those of English bulldogs.
    Scarlet speaks Japanese to the burly doormen. They don’t look too inclined to listen to her. Then she says Tora’s name and “Goro,” I guess informing them who Tora is. It's getting a little easier to understand parts of what they are saying even though I can’t understand the words, but more from the body language and the odd word here and there.
    One of the doormen says something to Scarlet in a flat, nasal way, like you would imagine an English bulldog would speak, all through the nose. Then a doorman disappears inside, leaving us on the street with the other doorman, who doesn’t look too happy to be left with some kids.
    Some people walk past us, and a flurry of dirty looks and words come from the people. This must look bad, kids standing outside a seedy strip joint.
    To my relief, the bar’s door opens, music booming out from it, and the doorman and a smaller man with longish hair come out. He looks like he uses the same hair products as Douglas. His hair’s got a greasy shine to it. How can anyone think this looks good?
    “Tora!” Goro says when he spots us, then covers his mouth and looks quickly up and down the street before opening the bar door for us. Loud music pours out. “Come quick!” he shouts over the music.
    Goro leads the way inside.
    My eyes adjust to the dark bar. Each step feels heavier than the next, and my sneakers stick to the ground. I can’t see what’s on the floor, but guess it's from drinks being spilled and not cleaned up for years.
    A spotlight shines down on a girl on stage. Her feet are up in the air as she hangs upside down on a stripper pole. Oh my God, she’s naked. Her breasts aren’t covered up. I