Until We Met Again ( Rowan and Johnson )
Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Karla had done it again.

She had time–traveled, not just through time, but across borders as well, landing smack in the middle of France, 1968. The realization almost sent Karla into a wave of franticness.

Seriously, time travel was one thing, but an international leap without even a passport check?

Talk about a free ride.

But no, that wasn’t the main issue here.

With a throbbing headache, Karla plopped down on the floor, arms wrapped around herself, and a thoughtful frown etched across her face. Drawing from her last experience, she knew that to return to her own time, she needed to replicate the action in the photo that had brought her here.

gaze

Charles had mentioned that the piano in the photo belonged to Rowan’s room. Karla’s settled on the instrument before her. Yes, that was the one.

All she had to do was mimic the pose from the photo, and when Burk snapped the with his camera, she’d be whisked back home.

picture

It sounded simple enough, and with that in mind, Karla turned to the young boy. “Hey kiddo. let me ask you something. Do you know a guy named Burk?”

Rowan remained silent, not uttering a word.

Switching to her best kindergarten teacher’s voice, full of gentle persuasion, Karla whispered, “Don’t be scared, I’m not a bad person. Can you tell me, do you know a butler named Burk?”

“Do I look like I’m three years old to you?” The boy finally spoke up.

Karla’s words stuck in her throat, and as she studied his indifferent expression and dismissive tone, she found it hard to reconcile this aloof child with the gentle, refined adult Rowan she had first met.

Who would have thought that he’d be so icy at such a young age?

“When did you start hiding in the closet? Did my father send you to spy on me?”

Karla froze. Spy? It was hard to imagine a 12–year–old boy using such a term. But she could tell this kid was sharp and suspicious, not easily fooled..

In order to stay in his room, Karla concocted a story on the fly. “To be honest, I am a-” she paused for effect, slowly standing up and then, with her arms crossed and chest puffed out, proclaimed, “time traveler!”

The boy’s face remained impassive.

Karla stiffened. Did 1968 even have time travel movies? Did this kid even know what time.

travel‘ meant?

19.06

“Rita-” he called out loudly, and Karla lunged forward, clamping a hand over his mouth. “Shush! Give me five minutes, and I’ll make you believe me.”

Five minutes later…

Karla, with her mouth dry from talking, poured herself a glass of water and gulped it down. Then she asked him, “So, do you get it now? Do you understand what time travel is?”

Rowan was silent, his gaze fixed on her. He had been observing her ever since she began speaking. Everything about this person was strange–her clothes and mannerisms. She was different.

He had only swapped his clothes that morning in the closet and had been practicing plano in his room ever since. The door had been locked. In other words, she had appeared out of nowhere.

Though convinced by her story, Rowan, young but cunning, didn’t let on. Karla thought he hadn’t understood. She straightened up and cleared her throat. “No worries, I’ll explain it to you again, okay?”

“What’s your name?” he interrupted her.

Karla paused. Had she not told him yet? “I’m Karla. ‘Karla‘ with a ‘K‘.”

“And you know my name, how?” He frowned, his guard up once more.

I

Karla was prepared for this. “Of course, I know your name. Because, you see, I’m here to

protect you.”

Rowan blinked, taken aback. She was here to protect him?

“Look, little buddy, I’m not here to hurt you,” Karla reassured, patting his shoulder. “I can’t leave this room, nor can I let anyone know I’m here. My mission is to protect you from the shadows. Can you let me stay?”

“Why would you need to protect me?” His mind was clear, not easily swayed by her words.

Chapter

Chapter 14