Future Shock

25

“Your boyfriend, Chris…”

“Duncan,” I supply, remembering his name badge. “Chris Duncan.”

“You’re too young to be friends of his,” Shawnda says, her voice closer now. There’s no peephole, but she must be able to see us somehow.

Adam glances at me with raised eyebrows. “What we mean is, our parents were his friends.”

“They lived in the same foster home,” I add.

“Right,” Adam continues. “And we just have some questions about what happened to him.”

“Which foster home?” Shawnda asks.

“Tell her the Lees,” Chris says, and I repeat his words.

There’s a long pause, and I don’t think Shawnda’s going for it. No surprise. I doubt I’d open my door for some weird teenagers either. Adam looks pretty geeky in his glasses, and my tattoos are hidden under my jacket, but we’re still strangers to her.

“Tell her something personal,” Trent suggests.

“Yeah, tell her I used to work at Downey Automotive,” Chris says. “That’s how I met Shawnda—she brought in her dad’s car, and I asked her out to dinner.”

“Chris used to work at Downey Automotive,” I repeat. “My mom said that’s how you two met.”

Finally, the door opens, and inside stands a black woman with braided hair and dark, suspicious eyes. She must be forty-seven or forty-eight if she’s about Chris’s age back in the present. She wears a moss-green uniform with her last name on the front, sparkling in digital letters, and her flexi is clear. “I’ve only got a few minutes before I need to head to work.”

“No problem,” says Adam. “Thanks.”

She lets us inside, into a small living room with furniture that looks like it might have been new back in our time. I stand in the middle of the room, wondering what to do. I have no idea what to say to this woman. How do you ask someone why a guy they knew thirty years ago doesn’t seem to exist anymore?

I sit on the edge of the sofa, feeling like an intruder. “So…when did you last see Chris?”

She cross her arms and stands a little away from us, mistrust clear in her eyes. “Thirty years ago, obviously.”

“Thirty—are you sure?” Adam asks, adjusting his glasses.

“Hard to forget. I was pregnant at the time.”

I shoot Adam a startled look. Chris didn’t mention this. Maybe he doesn’t know?

“Dude, what?” Trent asks in my head.

“Shut up,” Chris snaps. “I need to hear this.”

I notice a photo on the wall behind Shawnda of a guy who looks a lot like Chris. “Is that your son?”

“Yeah, Chris Junior. Named after his father.”

“My son,” Chris whispers.

“He looks like his dad,” Adam says. “I mean, from photos we’ve seen.”

She digs around in her purse for something. “Mmm-hmm. Now what all do you want? I need to get going.”

I lean forward, anxious to get some answers finally. “We just want to know what happened to Chris.”

“Some b***h shot him. What more do you want to know?”

“He—he died?” I don’t want to believe it, because if he and Zoe are both dead, that means there’s little hope for me. But then I process the last thing she said. “A girl shot him?”

“Yeah.” She narrows her eyes at me. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”

“This is bullshit,” Chris says in my head. “I can’t be dead. No f*****g way.”

“Yes,” Adam says, answering her question. “We just wondered if you knew any more details.”

“All I know is this girl killed him and a few other kids, then blew her own brains out.”

My fingers dig into the thin fabric of the couch. I knew it. We’re all dead. Murdered. Shot by some girl. Maybe it has nothing to do with Aether Corporation after all. I can think of a couple of girls who might want me dead, but I don’t know of any connection with Zoe, Trent, or Chris. It might explain why Adam is still alive in the future though.

Adam stares at me, his forehead creased with concern. The others are silent in my head. Maybe they’re in shock. I know I should ask more questions, should try to find out as much as I can, but my tongue is frozen. Maybe a part of me doesn’t want to know more. All I can do is stare at the tan carpet and think about how I’m going to be dead soon.

I don’t get it. Why would some girl kill us and then kill herself? Maybe it’s a setup. Aether could have framed some girl to take the suspicion off themselves. But that doesn’t make any sense either.

“Do you know this girl’s name?” Adam asks Shawnda.

“Listen, that was a long time ago. Why are you digging this up now?” She strides over to the door. “I think it’s time for you to go.”

“Of course,” Adam says, jumping to his feet. “Thank you for your time.”

“Ask her about my son,” Chris says, his voice strained. “Ask her!”

“One more question,” I ask, standing up slowly. “Can we talk to your son?”

“Is that why you’re really here?” Shawnda asks, hands on her hips. “He owe you money?”

“No—” Adam starts.

“You want revenge? Just let it go. He’s already in prison.” She throws open the front door. “Now get out.”

“What?” Chris roars. “What? ”

I cover my ears to block out his voice, but of course it doesn’t work. Trent yells, “Chris, wait!”

Oh s**t, not again. Adam and I rush outside, and the door slams shut behind us. Chris stomps across the grass toward the apartment.