April Sadowski Out of Time (epub)

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.“Ah.” he said to her.“What does that mean?” she asked him quickly, unnerved at his attitude.“She left this place and became an artist.” Mankus stated.Sasha’s eyebrows drew up in a bunch on her forehead as she was thrown into puzzlement.“But she’s only a teenager.How could she possibly become an artist without proper instruction? Her work couldn’t have been that developed.” Sasha said.Sure, there were some stellar art students who could have made a living from their work, but it was one of those crafts where you really had to be great for anyone to notice you and she’d never heard of Betsy and her amazing artistic talent.“No, you’re right.She failed.She had to work in a kitchen.Hence the grease, your second word.” Mankus explained.Sasha still had no clue as to how he knew all these things.He said he learned to interpret.How?“What about the word ‘judge’?” she asked.“There was a fire.” Mankus told her, his eyes growing wide, as if he was seeing all that had happened in his own mind.“She became badly burned and the fire was a result of poor maintenance.She sued the restaurant and the judge awarded her millions.”“So, she’s all set then?” Sasha asked, thinking how Betsy couldn’t possibly want to come back after being a millionaire“Yes, if you wish to call it so.”“When did all of this happen?” Sasha wondered.“Your future perhaps.Or maybe your past.Who knows?” Mankus said mysteriously.Sasha huffed.She wasn’t going to get anywhere with him, she knew.“Then how do I get back?” she asked the man.“You can wait for a door to appear, or try and find the one you originally came through.I can’t guarantee you’ll find your way back.” he said to her.His tone then became even more solemn and much quieter.“Sometimes they never do.They just get.lost.”“Were the people outside the attic door lost? Betsy was there and she found her way out.” Sasha mentioned.“Out of time.” Mankus added.“She didn’t end up where she should be.Her imprint is yearning for her past life.The one she was supposed to live.”“I don’t know if I believe in all that.What if she’s been here this whole time?” Sure, it could be true.It didn’t explain how exactly this whole place appeared out of a closet, but there were plenty of creeps in the world and capturing young girls might be right up someone’s alley.“You can try to find her.” Mankus offered and provided more instruction.“Just be wary of the doors in this house.Some lead nowhere.Some lead out of here.Some lead to another room in the house.They are always changing.”“Can you help me find my way back?” Sasha wondered.Mankus looked down at the ground, blinking slowly.“I could.but then I would be lonely again.”“Why can’t you leave?” she asked him, noticing the pain that has started to stretch across his face.She wondered how old he was.“The doors don’t lead anywhere for me.” he told her and she could tell he was telling the truth.His truth anyway.“None of them?” Sasha asked, her jaw dropping.“In the house, they are all to the house.The exterior doors all lead to a closet.Only for me.” he told her.No wonder he was sad.“Where are the windows? I’ve seen some here and there.It’s too dark to see what’s out there.” Sasha said.“Oh yes!” Mankus said, his face perking up.“Sometimes the windows show what is on the other side of the door.If you can find a window and see what’s on the other side.”Sasha was trying to process it all.She was stuck in a place between time, with a man who was stuck in time, and with hardly any way to get out of her predicament.Suppose I found a window and door.What would I do? What if it was the wrong time, like Betsy? How long had Mankus been trapped here? He had to have parents.“What time are you from?” she finally asked him.“I.don’t know.” Mankus said to her.“I’ve been here since I was a child.”Sasha shuddered at the thought of a child being all alone in this depressing house.“A child? How old were you?”“Ten.I don’t know what happened exactly.All I know is my parents went to go to the market and never came back.When I went looking for them I realized all doors led to closets.I’ve met people who tried to give an explanation of why this is happening, but I’ve given up trying to fight this prison.” Mankus told her, releasing a lonely sigh.“Where do you get food? Supplies? Candles?” Sasha asked, feeling that even though she was talking to an adult, his still hadn’t matured from being left as a child.He still wanted human interaction and friendship, the basic necessities of human sanity.“Through the doors.Whenever I open a door, I always find something I need on the closet floor.” he said.“So it’s almost like you were chosen to be here?” Sasha assessed, trying to provide some comfort that his situation wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.“I guess I’m the caretaker of time.” Mankus said softly.“Time travel, more like.” Sasha laughed nervously.“Are you going to go, then?” Markus wondered, his voice strained.His eyes started to glaze over, as if he was fighting tears.“I have to.I have to find my way back.They’ll all be looking for me.” Sasha said to him, but he shook his head, as if she didn’t understand.“Unless you find your present time, but that’s very rare.” Mankus said solemnly.“Do people ever get lost and then come back to you?” Sasha inquired.Mankus nodded quickly.“That’s what happened to Betsy.I’m not sure if she found her way back to her own time though.It was, at least, close enough I’d say.”“Well I am ready to get back.” Sasha stated, feet firmly planted in front of her [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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