Page 21 of Malice

“What are you talking about? I’ve worked here for years. I report to you. I just talked to you Friday night. Remember? I led the staff meeting.”

Brad’s expression shifts to one of slight alarm. “Um, I’m sorry, but…”

Brad’s voice is just background noise while the room around me spins.

“Ooh, gnarly sitch, my guy,” Crash says, appearing next to me. “I think I know what happened. You should go.”

“What do you mean?”

“What?” Brad asks, confused

“I’ll explain,” Crash says, disappearing.

“We can call HR,” Brad offers. “Maybe there’s just a department mix-up.”

My chest tightens and my eyes burn, so I just nod. “That’s okay. I must be confused. I’ll just go.”

“How did you get in the building? Do you have a badge?”

My stomach sinks. “Someone let me in. I’m so sorry.”

Brad looks concerned. “Is there someone we can call for you? Or maybe do you need… medical help?”

I blow out a shaky breath. Brad’s always been so nice, even to a stranger. “No, but thanks. I’m… new to the area, so I must be in the wrong building or something.”

He nods, forcing a smile. “I’ll walk you out.”

I don’t fight him, aware of the protocol. When I pass my team, they glance up but no one says anything. They don’t know me. Why don’t they know me?

Once we reach the front door, Brad pats me on the shoulder. “Good luck to you, Aster.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

I stumble outside and to my car in a complete daze. If I don’t work here, where do I work?

Crash pops into my passenger seat, but I’m too numb to be startled.

“Dude, you jumped timelines,” he says.

I turn my head slowly toward him, moving in a daze. “I don’t know what that means.”

“It happens to some society members depending on what they’ve got going on in their lives. It seems your job took up too much attention for you to deal with the Horrors, so your timeline shifted to a new one.”

“But I called Brad Friday evening. I talked to him and he knew who I was.”

Crash nods, twisting his lips for a moment. “Sometimes all the details take a little bit to fall into place. I’m guessing the timeline jump happened over the weekend. So now you do different work.”

“What work is that?”

“I looked you up at the library. Apparently you created a device that helps stressed out people sleep better. You sold it last year for a cool ten million dollars. You’re independently wealthy now.”

Blinking slowly, I try to make his words mean something. “That’s ridiculous. I have no idea how to code.”

“Not in your old timeline. Usually, much is the same but there will be noticeable differences.”

“Do I have different parents?” I ask, my throat tight.

“No, same people but they might seem a little different. Don’t be sad, Aster. Your new timeline is good.”

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