Ch 2

Oh god. It’s Chris. But then again, it’s not Chris.

It is my brother, but not my brother.

It is my brother from the different timeline.

The one I was evil in.

The one my parents told me about, the one I am glad I didn't know.

He looks different. I mean, even though he’s my brother, and he still looks the same, there’s something…off. It’s in his eyes. He’s wary…he’s wary of me. That’s a new one. He may be my younger brother, but he could care less about the fact that I’m older, and that I have far more and far stronger powers. He used to tease me about, for god’s sake. But now…it looks like he’s scared.

Scared of me.

What a freakin’ joke. Usually I’m scared of him.

Chris’ POV

I arch an eyebrow at him. He’s staring at me like he’s seen a ghost. And, I realize, he has…in a way. "‘Other Chris’?" I echo. He nods.

"Um, yeah…the one that came from the future where I was…" He winces slightly, "…evil, and changed it, so that I am now…not."

I look at him. Real hard. Looking for the hints of evil he always gave off. It was never anything much, just a glint in his eye, or the way he moved his hand, or his smile. But there was nothing. His eyes were clear. He looked…good. And worried…worried for me. I’d never seen that before. It was always the kill, witch, kill look that was on his face.

"So…" I hesitate for a second, but go on, "…you know about that?" He nods.

"Of course. Mom and Dad told me when I was fifteen." When he was fifteen…I do the calculations. I would have been thirteen, maybe…fourteen. Damn. Damn, damn, damn! I feel a stab of pain, and it’s not my stomach that hurts.

Mom. Maybe in this time she doesn’t exist, either. Maybe in this timeline she dies as well. Which would explain why she told Wyatt about the other timeline. Because that way she could explain how she knew she was going to die.

I rub my forehead. Do I really want to know right now? To know that I failed her? It’s better to know sooner than later, they say, but sometimes…the truth hurts. I sigh and look up at Wyatt.

"So…about Mom…"

Wyatt nods.

"What about her?"

I really don’t want to say it. I glance sideways, looking for something that could maybe tell me without having to ask him. Nothing. Damn. I sigh again, and flick my hands down at the floor.

CRASH.

A hole opens up in the floor where I pointed. Not juts a little hole, either, but a massive one. Mom would be so pissed. But…I look at my hands. How did I do that? I glance at Wyatt, who looks a little amused, but then I hear something. Or more to the point, someone. Someone I didn’t really think I would hear.

"Wyatt? Chris? What’s going on up there?"

I stare at Wyatt.

"Mom?"