Future Bob

Chapter Nine

The words echoed in Bobby’s head like a gunshot inside a vault—they held a kind of weight that Bobby couldn't describe.

“You’re coming with me.”

She didn't sound cold but her voice was not warm either. It had a strange vibe to it—as though she had said this countless times in countless timelines and every time, it happens to end the same way.

Bobby’s mind rotated—fear lingered. He had the sudden urge to run, but his legs stayed glued to the floor. Smoke swirled around the atmosphere. It smelled of burnt wires mixed with the dust of a demolished wall—stinging his eyes.

Behind him, Darius Cross stood as if being stiff, gazing at the woman. His expression was unreadable.

The woman stepped forward—her boots making crushing sounds on broken concrete and glass. Her black jacket seemed to be untouched by the blast which was strange. The chrome wristband on her arm glittered with a soft, warm pulse of blue light.

Bobby swallowed. “Who are you?”

“I’ll explain on the way,” she said, as if that settled it. “But right now, you have to come with me. It’s not safe here.”

“She’s lying,” Darius rasped. His voice was tight, coiled with anger. “She works for him—for Bob, the Loopmaker.”

The woman’s eyes flashed with something sharp. “I don’t work for Bob,” she snapped.

“Bobby,” Darius said, voice lowering, “don’t go with her. You know why I’m here.”

Bobby’s head whipped back and forth between them. His vision swam.

“I don’t know anything! I don't!” he shouted. “You both keep telling me half-truths! How can I tell if what you showed me is actually real? Tell me!” Bobby fixed his gaze on Darius, waiting for a response.

“What if we work together to—”

“There’s no working together, Darius. I’m the only one who can help Bobby,” the woman cut him off sharply.

Bobby tilted his head in confusion, staring at them both.

“You haven’t even told me your name,” Bobby pressed.

The woman hesitated. For the first time, Bobby saw her armor c***k just a little.

“My name is Lyra Mallis,” she said softly now. “I’m not here to hurt you, Bobby. I’m here to get you away from him—before it’s too late. Trust me.”

“Too late for what?” Bobby’s voice cracked. His mind screamed for clarity. “Why won’t anyone tell me the whole truth? Why?”

“What I told you was the whole truth,” Darius barked.

He took three steps towards Bobby—intending to take him away. But Lyra quickly blocked his path—daring him.

She turned to Bobby briefly. “Bobby, don’t tell me you trust this man. You can’t trust him. I’m the only one you can trust. Remember, he tried to kill you before. What makes you think he won’t do it again when he gets the chance? Don't you think he can?”

Bobby stood, utterly confused—his mind racing around. Then Future Bob’s words echoed in his head again:

"Don’t let anyone help you. Not even the one who says she knows about Cross. She’s lying."

Bobby glanced at them both in the tense silence before he finally found the words to speak.

“Where do you intend to take me?”

Lyra’s eyes lit up with satisfaction as she turned fully to Bobby, her back now to Darius.

“I take it you’ve made up your mind—and I’ll give it to you, you made the right choice.”

“Don’t be quick to assume. Just answer the question.”

Lyra took a few steps closer. “You just have to trust me and follow me. We won’t take long. I promise.”

Seconds later, she stood right in front of Bobby. He simply gazed at her—calculating whether he could really trust her.

“Bobby, I know I tried to kill you,” Darius said softly, his tone shifting. “But I’ve opened my mind to the possibility of stopping that version of you without killing you. Believe me.” A sudden look of concern sparkled in his eyes—almost persuasive but seemed sincere.

“I’m sorry. I’d like to go with Lyra instead,” Bobby let the words slip out—his gaze shifted downward, expressing guilt for disappointing Darius.

Lyra smiled, turning toward Darius, her eyes blazing with victory.

Darius patted his forehead lightly, his face twisting in disgust. He clenched his fist in frustration, mid-air—as if there was something he could hit hard—something he could channel the built up frustration at.

“It seems I’ll have to stop you right here and now. I can’t allow you to take him, Lyra—or whatever your name is. I know you as one of his regular pawns in my timeline—where I’m from.”

Lyra smiled mockingly. Bobby just watched them exchange words, unsure what to do or say. He remained standing, waiting for Lyra to take him wherever she planned.

“What if I told you I’m not the pawn you know in your timeline?” Lyra said softly, watching Darius’s reaction.

Curious, Darius raised his brows. “Then who are you?”

Lyra hesitated. Bobby scanned her face for an answer, curiosity burning in his eyes. Darius’s gaze stayed fixed—sharp.

“I’m from a future ahead of yours. I’m from the year 2045—and I know a way to stop the Loopmaker without killing Bobby,” she said, glancing at Bobby as she gestured toward him.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” Darius questioned, his gaze still steady.

Lyra offered a small smile. “Well, it’s up to you to believe me. As much as you want to stop the Loopmaker, I feel the same. That’s why I came here but with a different method. I know you’re desperate. I can tell that from just looking at you, and I don’t approve of your method. And frankly, I can’t trust your sudden change of heart. There’s a high possibility it’s just a bluff. You might still kill innocent Bobby.”

Darius gnashed his teeth, shifting his gaze to Bobby, who had stayed silent, then back to Lyra.

“I’ll be keeping an eye on you. Don’t try anything funny…” He let the sentence trail off, his eyes burning with warning. Then he pressed his teleportation device. The air around him shimmered, his body blurred—and in a breath, he vanished. No footsteps. No running. No traces. Just gone.

“Can we go now?” Bobby asked, waiting for Lyra, who still had her back to him.

“Wait a minute,” she replied without turning to look at him.

"It's clear. Move in,” she shouted.

Before Bobby could process what she meant, his phone buzzed violently in his pocket. He yanked it out. One new message—from Future Bob.

"Run!!!"