Future Shock

35

“The police connected my fingerprints to everything you’ve done,” Future-Adam says, like he’s explaining something obvious. He starts down the hallway again. “But it’s okay because I need to be in custody when you break into this place later.”

I nearly drop my backpack. “Break in? Why would we—”

“To get the evidence, of course.”

“But…” Adam stares at his future self like he’s crazy. “If you knew you’d be arrested, why let this happen? Why not just pick us up earlier at the building?”

“Because if I’m in police custody when you break in, then Aether won’t suspect it was me. I’ll just claim someone stole my identity.” He turns another corner and opens a door to a gray stairwell before we can ask him any more questions. “Take these stairs down to the parking garage and get my car. The police can’t know you’re here.”

“But—” Adam starts.

Future-Adam presses the jammer into his younger self’s hands. “Take this and make sure it’s green when you don’t want to be recorded. Now go!” He shoves Adam toward the stairs and nudges Zoe forward next. Chris and Trent follow, but just before I head in after them, Future-Adam grabs my arm. “Elena, wait.”

He closes the door to the stairs, so we’re alone in the hallway. “I’m sorry, Elena. I did everything I could to protect you.”

He’s thirty years older than me, but in his eyes I see the same Adam I know and feel that same connection between us. “Thanks for not telling them about…you know. But why are you helping me?”

“You know why. Or you will soon.” He turns away, his face drawn. “It’s painful to see you, knowing I failed to save you. The guilt, after all these years…it’s still just as strong.”

“It wasn’t your fault. Aether did this. But we’re going to change it this time.”

“I don’t think you can.” His voice is rough, pained. “I’m sorry.”

“What do you mean? You said we could get evidence—”

“I’ve had thirty years to go over those twenty-four hours in the future more times than I can count, to figure out what we did wrong, what we could have done differently…but all I’ve learned is that you can’t change the future. I’ve tried, Elena. And I’ve failed.”

“Then why bring us here?” I ask, stepping away from him, my temper flaring. “Why help us at all?”

“I had to do something. I just don’t know…” His voice trails off. “There might be one more thing. But no—” He stops and shakes his head. “I already know you won’t listen.”

“I’m listening!” I practically yell at him. We have to be able to change the future. We have to. “What is it?”

“You need to trust me. Not me now, but…past me. Current me for you. Trust that Adam when the time comes. He’s a good guy. Sort of an i***t sometimes, but he just wants to do the right thing. And…he likes you a lot.”

Something flickers inside my chest. I don’t know what to say to that. I had some idea that Adam liked me, although it’s something else to hear his future self say it out loud. But I don’t know if I can trust him. I want to, but I have so many questions, so many doubts. My instincts always tell me to trust no one but myself, but maybe this time they’re wrong.

“What about the origami unicorn?” I ask. “Why’d you leave it for me?”

“Ah yes. I knew you’d find it. Open it when you’re at my house, when you’re alone and somewhere safe.”

The elevator dings and slides open around the corner. I hear heavy footsteps and someone says, “We’re on the sixth floor.”

“They’re here. You need to go now.” Future-Adam throws open the door to the stairs again. I rush through but glance back at Future-Adam one last time. I have a million more questions, but there’s no time to ask them. “I hope you can prove me wrong. I hope…” He pauses, taking a long breath. “I hope you can change this future.”

The door shuts with a loud thud, and I’m alone in the gray stairwell. I linger for a second, straining to hear something on the other side of the door, but there’s only silence. Future-Adam should be okay—the police won’t do anything to him. But if they catch me, I can’t say the same for myself.

I run down the stairs, my shoes pounding on the metal. It’s six flights back to the lobby level and another two down to the parking garage. The others are waiting there, their faces full of unasked questions.

“The police are here. Let’s go.” I keep my face blank and head for Future-Adam’s car. I have nothing else to tell them.

The car opens with Adam’s fingerprint, but Chris gets in the driver’s seat. This time we have room to spread out, but I still end up next to Adam in the back. We both try to snap our seat belts in at the same time, and our hands brush against each other’s. My eyes jump up to meet his. I can’t help but wonder what Future-Adam told him.

Can I trust either of them?09:11

The car knows where to go and needs no help from us to get to Future-Adam’s house. We turn off Sunset Boulevard and pass under a sign that says BEL AIR. The car takes us up narrow roads and winding hills, driving past ornate fences and ivy-covered walls. Sometimes I get a glimpse of massive houses behind them, like the kind I’ve only seen in movies.