Future Shock

31

“Look, my future self has lived through all of this already,” Adam says. “He might be able to tell us what happens after we get back to the present.”

“And maybe he’ll know how to change this future,” Zoe adds, her voice hopeful for the first time in hours.

But if Future-Adam’s lived through all this, then he’ll know that I’m the killer. Would he tell the others about me? He left me the silver origami unicorn—was that a sign or something? Adam gave me the first one as a gesture of thanks or maybe a token of friendship. I have to hope that the second unicorn was placed there to send a similar message.

I finally speak up. “If you’re wrong and the paradox thing is real, you could be stuck here in the future.”

Adam meets my gaze with his piercing blue eyes. “I know.”Chris grabs his backpack. “Fine, we’ll talk to Future-Adam. But I still don’t trust you.”

For a few minutes we discuss our next steps. We can’t find Future-Adam’s address, so the only option is to go to Aether Corporation’s office building here in downtown LA and somehow track him down. It’s risky if they are the ones who killed us, but we have no other choice.

We step outside the library and the rain’s picked up again. I flick my hood over my head as we venture down the steps, taking care not to slip in a puddle and break my neck, since that’s the last thing I need right now. Except I already know that won’t happen, because that isn’t my fate. I just hope we can find a cab or something, because this downpour will not be fun to walk in.

But when we get down the steps, there’s a car waiting for us: a Mercedes that looks like it could have been from our time. It has a normal hood and trunk, plus all the side mirrors and brake lights, and its boxy shape stands out among the other egg-shaped cars driving past.

A man waits beside it, holding an umbrella with lights inside, illuminating him in a soft, blue glow. “Get in!” he yells.

He’s speaking to us. He knows who we are. Is he from Aether Corporation? Have they finally sent someone to meet us?

But as we step closer, I recognize the familiar face, the knowing eyes behind the black glasses, the shape of his strong jawline and broad shoulders. The crinkle of his smile, only with a few more wrinkles at the edges. The dark-brown hair now peppered with gray.

The man standing there is Adam.

Future-Adam.

07:48

I glance back and forth between the two Adams, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing. Future-Adam must be in his late forties by now, but still looks so much like his younger self. And it’s more than just how they look—it’s the way they stand, their voices, the expressions on their faces. Even their flexis are the same, both clear and without decoration.

I shouldn’t be surprised—of course Future-Adam would be here. He’d know exactly where we would be at any given moment because he’d lived it himself. But I don’t know what his presence here means. Is he going to reveal my secret? Can he help us change the future?

“I heard you’re looking for me.” Future-Adam stares back at his younger self for a moment before sweeping his gaze across the rest of us. His eyes seem to linger on me, but maybe I’m imagining things. “Get in the car and I’ll explain everything.”

None of us move. Adam just stares at his older self, while Trent keeps muttering “dude” over and over.

“Well, you wanted to talk to him…” Chris says, glancing at Adam.

“I know.” He adjusts his glasses, which I’ve noticed he does whenever he’s nervous, and turns to me with questioning eyes.

For a minute I debate telling Adam and the others that we should turn around and leave. To forget Future-Adam and try to figure this out on our own. My motive for doing so is purely selfish—I want to protect my secret, and Future-Adam could reveal it at any moment. But I need answers, and he might be the only one to give them to us. And maybe the others should learn the truth about who killed them. They deserve to know.

I’m just not sure what they’ll do to me once they find out.

“You guys coming or what?” Future-Adam asks. “I know you want to get out of this rain. And don’t worry about that whole paradox thing—that’s obviously not true.”

“It’ll be fine,” I say to Adam, trying to sound certain. “It’s you, after all.”

Adam nods, but he doesn’t look convinced. We start walking toward the car, but Future-Adam holds up a hand to stop us. “Hang on,” he says. “Take your flexis off and dump them in the trash over there.”

“Huh?” Trent asks.

“Your flexis. The police can track you through them.”

I peel the flexi off my face and feel a tiny jolt in my brain as it disconnects. Once the flexi is off, I’m free—no maps floating in my vision, no voices in my head, no videos recording everything I see and do. I chuck mine in the nearest trash bin and the others do the same.

“Damn,” Chris says as he throws his flexi in last. “I’m gonna miss this thing.”

Future-Adam thrusts something at Adam’s chest. “Put this on.”

Adam blinks at the baseball cap, but then shoves it over his head. With the rim pulled low, it’s harder to see his face.

Future-Adam throws open the door to the backseat and gestures for us to get in. “It’s a bit tight back there, so you’ll have to squeeze in. Chris, you should probably sit up front with me.”