Arielle had completely lost control of the commander and felt as if they were back to square one, if not even regressed from that point. The GPS showed only fifteen more minutes until they arrived. “Look, Commander, we can bicker about these decisions all you want, but we’re about to arrive and there will be no turning back. Everything has been planned and arranged to ensure your success on this mission. I’m sorry how things have unfolded, but this is where we are. The finish line is literally at the end of this road. It’s time to block out the noise and get ready for what’s coming.”
Commander Briar turned his head away and looked out of the passenger window, the glow from the dashboard lights brightening his face in the reflection. Arielle noticed him staring blankly into the pitch-black of the woods. “I’m fine—really. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time. It’s just all these logistics behind the scenes keep me distracted. I know they shouldn’t, but I’ve really grown to appreciate my role in leading this organization. The thought of it no longer existing, regardless of the circumstances, really fires me up.”
“Then win.” Arielle spoke these two words sharply, watching as they stabbed Commander Briar in the gut of his psyche.
“Then win,” he repeated, nodding his head. “Well, if you say so, then that’s what I’ll do.” He grinned, the tension softening within the car.
“The key to my success has been to trust my teams that plan the missions. If you’re confident in who you hired on this team, then there is no reason to not trust and follow their directions. You’re equipped with everything you need, just follow the plan.”
The road changed from pavement to dirt, signifying that they were now five minutes away from their destination. Arielle knew this, the GPS showed it, but Commander Briar said nothing, not even looking toward the center console that confirmed these details.
“It’s time to call Steffan,” Arielle said, keeping her voice soft with hopes of not startling her commander any more.
He pulled out his cell phone and started dialing, Arielle listening intently, nerves starting to formulate, intimidated by the sheer magnitude of this ultimate step in the mission.
“Mr. Privvy,” Commander Briar said in a forced, cheerful voice. “How are things there at such a late hour?” He nodded while Steffan replied from across the Atlantic, finally looking at the GPS. “Yes, looks like we are three minutes away. So give me five on top of that and you’ll be all set to freeze it. Eight minutes total from right now.” He gulped and looked back out his window, his legs bouncing uncontrollably. “Ninety minutes, understood. I’d better be done well before that. Thank you.”
The commander hung up and let out a deep sigh, keeping his eyes closed as the inevitable had finally arrived. “It’s all taken care of,” he said. “I’ll be staying in the car with you to confirm when time is frozen, then I’ll head into the woods.”
“Understood, sir,” she said with a quick nod as the car slowed down and pulled to the side of the road, the little strip of shops roughly two hundred yards ahead of them. Arielle killed the engine and turned off the headlights, leaving them to listen to the howling wind outside, blowing swirls of snow from the tops of the surrounding trees.
Arielle had never knowingly gone into frozen time, the act not having an effect on those not involved. From her vantage point, time would continue as it was, the pause passing in a matter of milliseconds within her mind, while Commander Briar used the next ninety minutes of frozen time to roam the woods. Only he, Chris, Steffan, and any other lucky Warm Souls alone could use the world as a playground.
The commander checked his watch. “Should be one or two minutes until he freezes it. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Arielle didn’t know what further to say, relieved to not only see, but hear the regained confidence in Commander Briar’s voice. “I’ll be right here, ready to help carry his dead body.”
The commander grinned, and shot his hand to the door handle, clearly anxious and ready to dash through the dark woods as his legs hadn’t stopped bouncing for the past hour. Arielle debated suggesting that he relax his body, that even a subconscious movement like his could still fatigue him before reaching the cabin. She decided against it, as starting any sort of discussion at this point would prove useless.
Arielle didn’t see herself with her lips parted, her thoughts stuck in her head. Nor did she see Commander Briar step out of the car, gently close the door behind him, and start trudging into the woods.
Time had been frozen, and while no one realized it, the time travel world waited in grave anticipation.
Chapter 27
Chris Speidel lay on the bed in his cabin, drenched in sweat, shivering as he patted himself dry with the couple of hand towels kept in the place. He had confirmed that he was officially on his own, with no invincibility to save his life. I have to do it myself, he thought.
He had spent the past hour channeling the abilities afforded to him as the Keeper of Time, but little did he know—he did, but his arrogance refused to let him accept reality—every task he had ever done as Keeper expelled a certain amount of energy from his body. While invincible, however, that fatigue was never noticed. With that protection now removed, and combined with his archaic age, Chris found himself forced to choose with careful precision how to best proceed. His first priority was to enter the mind of Martin Briar to learn his
