The Time Capsule

Chapter 5

Devin and Sawyer stepped off the porch and moved away from the house. The firefighters were arriving and the boys didn’t want to be in the way. Sawyer started to say something as they were walking away, but Devin gave a firm wave of his hand. He wanted to be sure no one might overhear their conversation. They stepped under a tall cedar tree that was away from all the action unfolding at the house.

“Did you know that would happen?” Sawyer said.

“No! Of course not. I was as surprised as you.”

“Did it just happen, or did you have to tell it to somehow?”

“I wasn’t even thinking about healing. I touched her and it was as automatic as when I heal myself. It happened automatically.”

“Did you feel anything passing between you and her?” Sawyer asked. His questions were coming so fast, Devin barely had time to answer.

Devin paused and thought back. “There was something. I’m not sure what. It was like I felt something leaving me, but I didn’t feel weak or drained. I was shocked at what was happening.”

Sawyer shook his head. “This is amazing. What about you? Looking at your clothes, you should be badly burned. But you’re okay, right?”

“It was horribly painful. I could feel my flesh burning, but it was healing almost as fast. I certainly seem to be healing much faster than before.” He paused. “Let’s try to get out of here. With so much of my clothing burned away, I’m freezing. Let’s go back to the Mustang and get back on the road before anyone wants to ask us some questions.”

“Sure, let’s go.”

The boys headed to the driveway and followed it toward the street. Walking past two fire trucks the pair stepped over a bunch of hoses of different sizes. They were almost to the road when someone approached them from behind.

They stopped and turned, and saw a tall uniformed police officer approaching.

“Boys, please hold up a minute.”

“Did we do something wrong officer?” Sawyer said.

“Wrong? Certainly not. It sounds like you’re heroes. We have some questions to ask you.”

“Can I go to my car and grab a jacket first?” Devin said. “I’m freezing.”

The officer took a closer look at Devin and said. “Are you hurt? You look like you’ve been burned.”

“No, I wasn’t hurt.”

“I want the medics to look at you before you leave.”

“Really, I’m fine. I just want to get my coat on,” Devin insisted.

“How about while your friend goes and gets the jacket, you and me, we walk over to the ambulance and get you looked at.”

“Go on, Dev. I’ll get your jacket and meet you there.”

Reluctantly, Devin followed the officer. He didn’t want to act as if he had something to hide, but he didn’t want all this attention either.

The police officer opened the back doors of the ambulance and Devin stepped in. It felt good to be in the warmth, but it was crowded in there with two paramedics and Megan and her mother. The young girl was lying on the stretcher with everyone else surrounding her.

Her mom grabbed hold of Devin’s arm. “Are you okay? You saved her. Thank you!”

He wasn’t sure how to respond. “I’m glad she’s doing better.” He looked at Megan. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yes. I keep telling them I feel fine, and they keep looking for something wrong.” She sighed.

A short, stocky female medic moved next to Devin. “Where are you hurting?”

“I’m fine, too. No problem”

“Your clothes are mostly burned off. You must have some burns.”

Devin pulled off the remains of the long-sleeved t-shirt and stood turning in a circle.

“I was lucky. I didn’t get burned.”

The medic took a small wet towel and cleaned some of the soot from his skin.

She appeared confused while looking at his arm. “There’s blood here.” She scrubbed the area with the towel, finding healthy intact skin. To her partner, she said, “It’s like on the girl. Blood but no injury.”

The other medic looked up from the laptop he was typing on. “That doesn’t make sense. There has to be an injury somewhere.”

Sawyer opened the back door and saw how crowded it was, so he said, “I have your jacket and a shirt I found in the backseat. I’ll wait out here.”

He handed over the clothing and Devin put them on.

“Thanks for checking me over,” he said. “Can I go now?”

“Just a minute. I need to get some information for our report, and we want to check your vitals and listen to your lungs.”

Five minutes later, Devin stepped out and confirmed with the officer that they could leave. The boys started for the car and were again interrupted by someone coming up behind them. This time it was the little girl’s mother.

“Please wait,” she said. “I want to thank you both again.” She hugged each boy. “I don’t know what I’d have done if she hadn’t made it.” She’d started crying again.

Devin put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m glad we were here and could help.”

She took both boys by the arm, pulled them closer, and looked behind her to see if they were alone.

“I know I was hysterical, but I also know what I saw. Your face was terribly burned one moment, and then it was fine. And the spot where the medics found blood on Megan’s arm, I saw it was ripped wide open when you unwrapped her from the blanket. I looked away because it was so gruesome. I couldn’t stand to see the injury on my little girl. When I looked back, the arm was fine. I know this sounds crazy. That’s why I didn’t say anything to the paramedics.”

Devin nodded. “I’m glad we were able to help you and your daughter. Will you now do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Don’t ever tell anyone what you saw. People will think you’re crazy.”

He held up his index finger, and all three watched as the fingertip split wide open and then closed up again. He looked at the shocked woman and moved the same finger to his lips, signaling in the universal sign to keep it a secret.

Devin winked at her, and the two boys walked to the car and drove away.