Chapter 2

Toby was upset. Solja was still back at Darren’s house. Going back hadn’t changed a thing. The park wasn’t so peaceful anymore.

He realized he was gliding back toward the playground. He had this feeling he was heading, somewhat against his will, back to his house. As he passed the playground, he saw Esmee looking at him. She had a sad look.

This wasn’t a tranquil place at all.

Maybe this is hell?

He thought his life at home was hellish. Could this place be worse?

He ended up back at his front door. And then in the living room. Thank God his stepmother wasn’t there. Both the kitchen and dining rooms were empty. He moved up the stairs. His bedroom door was open. His bed and desk were gone. There was a new office desk. A nice one. And a new computer with a large monitor.

He was in front of Solja’s door. And then through it.

His stepsister was sitting on her bed, her legs tucked underneath her. Toby was relieved when he saw her. She was OK. Well, at least she was alive. It surprised Toby how relieved he was, knowing she was alive.

He thought she would need some emotional healing. His stepmother would spare no expense in giving her the therapy she needed. Toby thought that was actually a good thing.

She was looking down, glum. Then Solja looked at Toby. And sobbed. She abruptly stood and turned. And disappeared. Running straight through the back wall.

It was Toby’s turn to be comforted by Esmee. She said nothing for some time. No yelling. Nothing about “this is the way it should be.” No lectures for messing up. She just sit next to Toby on the park bench, her arm around his shoulders, her head leaning on his. She even shed a few tears to match his.

It felt so good. Like a desert oasis to Toby’s soul.

It was some time before Toby asked, “Why isn’t she here? Solja, I mean.”

“She chose a different path, Toby. A path that doesn’t lead here.”

Toby thought for a few seconds. “I’m not sure I want to know details.”

“Things did not turn out how they must. When you have the chance, if you’re willing, try to fix things.”

“How, Esmee? I have no idea how.”

She cupped his face with her hands and kissed his forehead. Her smile reminded him of his mother’s smile. He shivered again; a warm shiver. “You’ll figure it out. I believe in you. And it is a fact that Solja wants to be redeemed.”

Her eyes unfocused for a second, then beamed with a brilliant smile. “Your mother loves you very, very much. She wants me to give you this.” Esmee put her arms around Toby and gave him the best hug, and she gently rocked him. It felt so warm to Toby. He hugged her back hard and wept. He couldn’t stop. He really thought he could feel the love of his mom.

Esmee pulled away and brushed away his tears. “Others should have kept your mother’s love alive. They did not, and now things are so very broken. You have some responsibility in the way things have turned out. But you did not cause the harm that broke what should have been been broken.”

“What the hell did you just say, Esmee?”

A grave look came upon her face. “There is no rebellious deception in my words. There is no Hell in them. But someone that is supposed to be close to your heart is certainly walking its borders. There is more to save in your fixing than you know. Keep your mind clear. Be alert.”

She relaxed and smiled again. “Enough. Go play with the children.”

He did. But he was wondering what in hell, or the world, or wherever, Esmee was talking about.

Toby blinked back to Darren’s porch. Yet again. He was standing in front of the bay window. Toby rushed to the door. Then he paused.

Both times I was here, someone hit me in the back of the head. So, there’s a third person in the house. Where?

Toby decided to look for that person before heading to the bedroom. As he entered the house, he looked in the living room. It was empty. He took a few steps so he could see the dining room off to the left. It was empty too. He moved further into the living room and the kitchen looked empty as well.

A toilet flushed.

The bathroom!

Toby realized he needed something to defend himself with. He was standing by the fireplace, and he spotted the poker.

Is that what this guy hit me with? No wonder it hurt.

Toby froze when the door opened.

Zach? Hell, he was supposed to be my friend. At least my teammate.

Zach wasn’t as slow to react as Toby. He yelled a warning to the others. “Darren, Mark. Toby’s in the living room.” Then he ran at Toby and took him to the ground. It wasn’t long before Darren joined the brawl. Toby took a bunch of punches, then he curled up, trying to protect himself as much as possible. After a few minutes of abuse, they unceremoniously dumped him on the front porch.

“What the hell are you doing just walking into my house?” asked Darren.

“I came to get my sister.” Zach was coughing up blood.

“Yeah, well, she’ll come out when she’s good and ready. Leave, or will pound your ass some more,” Zach said.

Toby was about to add a lame reply, but he realized he was on the grass in the park.

Damn, I’m worthless in a fight.

Now, at least, Toby knew the names of all three boys. That was hardly an advantage, though.

Again?

Toby was back in his car, in front of Darren’s house. The witch was there, without her little goblins. She was yelling. Loudly. “I told you I was going to call the cops, you little pervert. You’re still here! You better drive away before they haul your sorry ass away.”

She didn’t say that before. And she was always with her goblin kids. Did I arrive at a different time?

Before Toby could decide what to do, two sheriff cruisers, with lights flashing, screeched to a stop. One was behind Toby. The other was in front of him.

“Stick both hands out the window. Do it now!”

The window controls didn’t work when Toby’s car was off. So Toby hit the start button.

The sheriffs were not happy with that action. The cop car behind him moved his cruiser forward, banging Toby’s bumper. An officer from the other car ran over, broke Toby’s window with his baton, and dragged Toby out of the car.

“Get your hands behind your back. Quit fighting. Do it now!”

Toby wasn’t fighting. Toby never fought. Why the police officer thought he was fighting was beyond Toby. And it hurt when he hit the ground.

The wicked witch didn’t make things better. “I told you, you pervert. I told you. Maybe this will convince you to stop perving on children.”

Mercifully, Toby blinked back to the park. He was panting. His heart was about to beat out of his chest. When he tried to get up, he still had the handcuffs on.

“Esmee!”

The kids were playing tag again when a new boy, Andrew, popped in. He looked around the park wide eyed, saw Toby sitting on one of the park benches, and came and sit next to him.

“Uh, is this heaven?”

“I don’t think so, but I really don’t know what it is.” Toby frowned. “I have to warn you, we keep being sent back to try to fix things.”

“Fix things?”

“Change what happened. Like we have a chance not to die. What happened to you, anyway?”

“My sister. She’s always texting when she drives. We were going to school, and my, uh, my eyes were closed. I’m sort of afraid when she drives. And so I close my eyes so I can’t see what she’s doing. She just calls me a baby. Anyway, I heard a screech. I opened my eyes, and I saw a car coming from the right. Damn, I could even see the driver’s screaming before, well, before I was here.”

“Your sister ran a red light?”

“Maybe. She’s done it before.”

“And you haven’t told your parents?”

“She tells them I’m exaggerating. Then I’m the one who gets in trouble for not telling the truth.”

“Keep your eyes open next time.”

“Sure, right? That way, I can see it coming? Good advice.”

“No, man. Well, yes, I guess. What I mean is that when you see she’s going to run the light, point at it, and yell for her to stop. Loud. Tell her the light is red.”

“Might work. But she’ll probably swerve and hit some parked car, then tell my folks it’s my fault.”

“Maybe. But you’ll be alive. When she stops, I’d get out and walk to school. Tell you mom and dad you’re not driving with her again until she stops texting. If they yell at you, stand your ground. Stand up for yourself.”

Andrew was nodding his head, thinking about it. Then he blinked out. And didn’t return.

Hell, why can’t my problem be that simple to fix?

Toby failed again on yet another trip back. It was depressing. But Toby learned he didn’t always blink back to Darren’s house at the same point in time. Not that it had done any good. Yet.

Maybe there’s something to be learned from that?

Still, it was always in the back of Toby’s mind that if he just accepted what had happened in real life, he could move on. He didn’t think that getting out of this cycle of popping in and out was going to improve his life.

If I do manage to fix things and get back to the living, Solja will just tell her mother that everything that happened was my fault. Fixing things is probably going to make my life worse, not better.

Little Molly came running. Toby liked to hang out with her. But this time, Molly was crying.

“Oh Toby. I’m so sad about Pippy. I just don’t know how to save her.”

Toby was holding Molly, trying to comfort her. And then it came to him. He was certain of it. Molly running back into the house was in vain.

“Molly. Listen to me, Molly. I know what happened to Pippy. She’s OK. She made it outside. The next time you go back, don’t look for her inside the house. Look for her in your backyard. Promise me?”

Molly nodded. “Are you sure? Are you really sure?”

“I am Molly. I’m really sure. I don’t know how I know, but she’s OK.”

And then Molly disappeared. Toby waited a few seconds. He called for her, but there was no answer. Toby was happy for her. But he was sad too. He never had a sister, at least not one that loved him. He was trying not to cry.

Esmee’s hand touched his shoulder as she sat next to him. “She’s OK Toby. Molly and Pippy? They’re dancing in her yard. She’s happy. Oh, and yes, she thinks of you from time to time. Fondly.”

Esmee hugged Toby and kissed him on the cheek, and he hugged her back. She reminded him of his mother, hugging him when he was sad, or hurt, or lonely. Toby wished his mom were still around. Well, not there in the park. But back at home.

But his mother wasn’t at home. And neither was Toby.

Esmee looked into his eyes. “Your life is a bit messed up. It’s out of kilter. It’s so sad that your mom died. But your dad shouldn’t have married a witch.” Esmee giggled. “Yes, like that crazy lady at Darren’s house.” Then she looked serious again. “But he did. Have faith Toby, things will turn around for you. It will not be easy. Will you believe?”

Toby blinked back after failing to save Solja. Yet again. He was angry. Over and over he kept going back. Over and over the results were the same.

It was conflicting. Toby loved being in the park with Esmee and the kids, and he wanted to stay. Well, if he could stop blinking out to Darren’s house. The park was peaceful. Being near Esmee reminded him of his mother’s love. He felt like a cool big brother around all the children, instead of feeling like a bothersome stepbrother.

Esmee told Toby he would eventually find a solution, and he’d be back home. She said it as if it was a good thing. No way.

I need to move into that storage room at the store sooner, not later.

Esmee was right about one thing. Solja had caused her own problems by choosing bad friends and her bad attitude. Given the way she had treated him, he didn’t owe her anything.

Toby wondered about the kids who couldn’t fix their problems and stopped blinking back and forth. He wondered if the place they ended up in was as peaceful as this park. If so, it would be a lot better than a cramped storage space in the back of a hardware store.

Toby was lying on the grass, trying to get some sun. But after he lay down, the ground fog rolled in. Toby was being stubborn and didn’t get up. But the temperature dropped, and it became chilly. One more little thorn in Toby’s side.

He begrudgingly stood. And suddenly was sitting. In his car. With Solja.

“Oh, dear God. Toby, get me out of here. Please. Now. Go, go, go!”

Toby had the same idea. He hurriedly reached out and pushed the start button on the dashboard. Nothing.

He made sure the car was in park and his foot was on the break. He pushed the start button. Again, nothing.

Solja screamed. Those two little creepy kids in the demon masks were running toward the car. “No, no. Not them.”

They jumped on the car hood and beat on the windshield, laughing. Then one ran to Solja’s side of the car and opened her door. He grabbed Solja and dragged her, fighting hard, up the driveway and into Darren’s house.

Toby got out of the car. He was tired of this crap. He ran after that damn kid to bring Solja back. He had run a dozen steps when the other kid jumped on Toby’s back, pulled him down, dragged him down the driveway, and threw him back into his car. And smashed the door shut.

Damn. Maybe those aren’t kids.

With a wave of a hand, the demon boy sent Toby’s car barreling down the street. Nothing Toby tried changed a thing as his car roared into a light pole several blocks away. Toby’s seat belt wasn’t fastened, and he went flying through the car window.

Then Toby was sitting on the grass, back in the park. His fists were clinched. His eyes were open wide.

Esmee was there too, looking at Toby with concern. “Those two heinous beings shouldn’t have been there. There’s something about this I don’t understand.”

And at that, Toby was back at Darren’s house.

He was still breathing hard. His hands were clinched on the steering wheel. He looked around. He expecting to see the witch and her children. But they weren’t there. Was he at the house earlier? Or was he there later than before?

It didn’t matter. Toby so wanted to end this. He pulled the lever to open the trunk, got out of his car, and grabbed the tire iron. When he made it to the front door, he didn’t bother to knock. Bursting into the front room, he saw Solja sitting on Darren’s lap, his hands fondling her tits. Zach and Mark were sitting next to them, their hands moving up and down her legs.

Darren looked up at Toby, smirked, and asked, “What do you think you’re going to do Toby? You come to rescue your sister?” He didn’t remove his hands from inside Solja’s blouse.

That flipped some switch in Toby’s mind. He was even angrier. He stepped toward the couch and swung at Zach’s leg. Hard. Zach screamed.

One down.

Darren was having a hard time getting free of Solja. She was still on his lap. So Toby moved to the other side of the couch and beat on Mark’s shoulder. Mark doubled over and grimaced.

Two.

Darren finally pushed Solja over. He stood to face Toby, but Toby was already moving. He swung the tire iron with a lot of anger, trying to hit Darren’s left side. Darren was trying to protect himself, so Toby connected with his arm instead. Toby switched direction and hit Darren on his right hip. That put Darren down.

Three.

Toby needed to get Solja out of there. He grabbed her purse, praying her phone was in it. He yanked her up, but she just crumbled back to the floor. Toby wasn’t weak; he was an athlete, after all. But he wasn’t a weightlifter. Still, the adrenaline was rushing through him gave him. It gave him the strength he needed to put her in a fireman’s carry and get out of the house.

He wrestled her into the passenger’s seat and closed the door. He didn’t take time to belt her in. He needed to be ready to leave. Though when he glanced back at the house, none of the three had come out.

He riffled through Solja’s purse, found her phone and called the sheriff’s department.

“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”

“Three guys drugged my sister. They were planning on raping her. I need to get her to the hospital.”

“Where are you now, sir?”

Toby gave Darren’s address to the 9-1-1 operator and answered a few other questions.

“Please stay where you are, sir. Officers are on their way.”

“I’m not staying here if they come after us. No way.”

“I understand, sir. Please stay on the line. Stay where you are, if at all possible. An ambulance is also on the way for your sister.”

“Uh, you might want to send another ambulance for the other three. I had to put them down hard to get my sister out.”

Toby was finally able to relax when he heard sirens. When the police arrived, Toby explained what he could. He didn’t mention Esmee. Or the park. Or that this was only one attempt out of many to rescue his stepsister. The first ambulance wasn’t far behind the patrol cars. They took Solja to the ambulance, and then to the hospital.

Toby followed orders and sit on the curb, waiting for the officers to complete their investigation. Several more ambulances came while he was waiting. They rolled Darren and his friends to the ambulances. They kept yelling obscenities at Toby until the ambulances drove away.

And, of course, the witch just had to make an appearance. “I hope you’re arresting this pervert. He’s been perving on kids all night. He needs to be locked up.”

One officer gave Toby a frown and went over to talk with the witch.

The other officers walked out of the house. They walked over to Toby and he stood up to meet them. “Turn around, son. Put your hands behind your back.”

Toby was stunned, but he did as he was told. “You’re arresting me? Why?”

“Aggravated assault, and intent to commit sexual assault.”

Esmee! What is going on?

Toby found it hard to deal with being booked in. He was photographed, fingerprinted, and he had to spit into a tube for a DNA test. He hoped his dad would show up, but he was told that his parents had gone to the hospital instead to check on his stepsister.

“Mr. Tippins, since we have charged you with a class B felony, we will hold you here in the county jail. We’ll try to keep you separate from the general population. At least for now. We don’t like to bunk minors with adults.”

Toby was wondering if there was still a chance he’d end up back at the park.

Toby had a hard time getting to sleep. It was too late for dinner after the booking process was complete. And the blanket and mattress were too thin. The lights in the cell were dimmed, but were always on. The situation was depressing.

He had given up hope his dad would show up and bail him out.

If wondered where would he would find himself if he found a way to slit his wrists? Back at the park? Or where his stepsister had been? He knew he wouldn’t do it, but he thought about it.