Vampire Manifesto (17 page)

I stopped eating, pausing mid forkful. “Wait, so you’re saying that you see the Mark of the Beast on us?”

“
No, no, young Madison, it is the Mark of Pandora that has enraptured your very essence of being.”

I was confused and yet I wasn’t. “So, when you say six hundred and sixty-six, realities, you’re talking about, what, parallel Earths or something?”

“
Parallel lives, parallel Earths, parallel galaxies, parallel everything.” He explained. “In this dimension, there are six hundred and sixty-six different Madison’s that exists simultaneously, unaware of the other six hundred and sixty-five.”

“
How is that even possible John?”

“
String Theory.” Ethan chimed in.

“
Shut up, dude.” That may have come of a little more sarcastic then intended.

Ethan resumed eating. “I’m just saying…”

“
No, no, he is somewhat correct.” John said. “In your life, there are a number of decisions that drastically change your future. I call them a Nexus in time, because when you remember them, it’s always what life was before and what life is after that decision is made.”

“
Didn’t Captain Kirk meet Captain Picard in the Nexus?” Ethan asked.

“
Yes he did. Different kind of Nexus however. The one with the Borg was a much better movie though.” John replied.

“
A Nexus in time.” I repeated softly.

“
Take myself for example.” Rogers stated. “Today would be a Nexus in time for me. The day I came across three people with the Mark of Pandora. Something elaborately cosmic is about to happen, the Forgotten Future is about to be rewritten and this place, today, for me, this is where it all begins.”

“
Wait, you said three right? Three different people?” Ethan asked.

“
Yes, three people.”

“
Well if me and Madison make two, who’s the third?”

“
A rather frightening young man. I had a meeting with him just before I saw you. He had some questions about one of the books I had written decades ago.” John said.

Something inside of me clicked just then, a wave of deja vu so strong it was almost overwhelming. “
Mythological Creatures in Urban Society.
”

John was mildly surprised. “Why yes, that’s the one. It was one of the first books I’d ever written after being branded with the Chaos Equation and the world beneath the veil opened up to me. All of a sudden, there was this young chap today, strange bedfellow that one, very eerie he was, claimed to have met me twenty some years ago, which means, for me at least, that it hasn’t happened yet. Said his name was…”

“
Connor.” I finished his sentence like it was my own.

“
You know him then? You know the gentleman of whom I speak?”

“
I met him the same day I met Ethan.” I admitted. “He…he saved my life that night.”

“
I see.” The look on John Rogers face became suddenly grave. “Then it’s already begun…”

“
Wait, is that the dude’s name? Connor? The guy from the other night?” Ethan asked.

“
So you both know him.” Rogers did not phrase that as a question, nor did he direct his statement towards either myself or Ethan.

“
Yeah, well no, well, kinda…” Fumbled Ethan. “I’ve never met the guy personally but…” Ethan brought the conversation back to me. “He was here, today, at the book store? You talked to him?”

“
Yeah.” I admitted.

“
And you didn’t tell me?”

“
It’s wasn’t a big deal, is all. I didn’t think it was important.” I lied. I’m doing an awfully lot of lying today.

“
Not important?” Ethan seemed like he was getting pissed. “The guy saves your life, runs off just before I show up and you randomly bump into him at the book store and it’s not a big deal?”

“
No. Not really.” I think we’re having our first fight. It would almost be cute.

Almost…

“
If that isn’t a big deal, then I don’t know what is. What did he say?”

I turned to John. “So one dimension, six hundred and sixty-six realities. How does the Mark of Pandora factor into all of this?”

“
Right.” John said. “Of course. So there are seven different known dimensions in total. And I say known, because, well, that’s what we know for fact. There could be more, but we haven’t been able to pinpoint them.”

“
Whose this we, you’re referring to?” I asked.

“
Not important.” He said. “Neither here nor there. Just follow along. Seven dimensions. Each dimension contains six hundred and sixty-six different realities a piece. That’s four thousand, six hundred and sixty-two realities in total. Some strikingly similar, to the point that they are almost identical, others so far on the other end of the spectrum that it could be incomprehensible to the human psyche.

“
Now there are some things, certain emotions, sentient items, Omega Level Beings, they exist simultaneously across all four thousand, six hundred and sixty-two realities and are self-aware of each separate version of themselves, to the point that they are of one mind, body and soul, spread out over the entire multiverse. The Gods if you will, along with certain self-aware things that the Gods create.

“
Now, you and I, we can leave here, get hit by a car and die. That marks the end of our existence in this reality. In another reality, someone might push us out the way and the car miss us and we’re still alive, but in this reality, that person who would have saved our life, they might have misplaced their keys last night and the extra two minutes it took to find them this morning, put them two minutes behind for the rest of the day, which in turn, makes them two minutes to late in saving our lives and thus, we are dead. That is how alternate realities work.”

“
That’s crazy.” Ethan said.

“
Yes it is, isn’t it?” Rogers agreed.

“
Now these Omega Level Beings, these Gods, they cannot die like you and I. They are immortal, yet only in the sense that whereas, one singular version of myself in any given reality, can die at even given time, every version of them, across every version of reality, across all seven dimensions, must die all at once, simultaneously if you will.”

“
Do you know the odds it would take for something like that to happen?” Asked Ethan.

“
Exactly.” Rogers said. “Which is why the Boxes of Pandora were created.”

“
Wait a minute, did you say boxes?” I interjected. “I’ve heard the story of Pandora’s Box, it held all the worlds evils and what not, but there was only one of them, only one box.”

The old Author disagreed. “That story only spoke of one Box my dear, but there are others. Spread out across time and space. They cannot be destroyed. They cannot be broken into. They cannot be broken out of. They are immortal and they can only be opened by the exact same person, across all realities, in every dimension, at the same exact same time, in the exact same fashion. They were created to contain Omega level entities that could create Omega level events. Things that are just too dangerous to roam free.”

“
Dude, that’s just crazy insane.” I said.

“
Yes it is. But that doesn’t make it any less true.”

“
Even if one of these Boxes of Pandora existed, which they don’t, you wouldn’t be able to open one of these things. It’s impossible.” Argued Ethan

“
They do exist and they can be opened, dear boy. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day.”

“
Fine. Hypothetically then.” Ethan began.

“
There is nothing hypothetical about anything I am telling you.” Rogers proclaimed. “You both bare the Mark of Pandora. I can see its blueprints on you even now as we speak; its signature is unmistakable once you know what to look for. Like you said, I’m the one with the tattoo that attracts me to crazy shit and this by far ranks as the craziest. Out of the three of you I met today, one of you will open the Box, while the other two will help facilitate its opening.”

“
How can you tell?” I asked. “How can you tell which one will do the opening and which one will do the helping?”

“
Only those that Fate deems worthy.” John replied.

“
What’s the criteria? How is one deemed worthy by Fate?”

“
You have to beat Death at its own game. Only the resurrected can open a Box of Pandora.”

“
The resurrected.” I repeated to myself.

“
You’ve got to die first?” Ethan asked.

“
Then come back to life, but yes, you would have to die first.” John Rogers said, looking at the both of us. “You cannot have the one without the other. There is no resurrection without death.”

“
Well that counts me out.” Laughed Ethan. “I haven’t…”

“
I’ve died once.” I whispered.

“
Is that so?” Rogers stroked his beard. “Please, do tell.”

“
It was a car accident. Happened just before we moved here.” I took Johns Long Island and drained the glass dry. “They said I was dead for over fifteen minutes.”

“
That’s a long time.” Aiden commented.

“
Yeah, so I’ve been told.” I closed my eyes, running my fingers through my hair and down my neck. “Aiden was driving. There was a deer. He lost control. A good friend of ours died. I died. I came back. He didn’t.”

“
At the party that night, when Aiden asked for the keys...” Ethan was starting to put everything together.

“
Yeah, he isn’t allowed to drive anymore. Not by law or anything like that, the Cops confirmed that it wasn’t his fault, but Mom; she banned him from driving, at least for as long as he still lives at home. That’s why it was so odd that they gave him the keys to begin with.”

“
I’m sorry about your companion.” John Rogers said suddenly. “I can see you still carry the pain of his death with you, it’s a part of you now.”

“
I don’t wanna talk about it. What time is it?” I glanced at my watch, then realized I wasn’t wearing one. “It doesn’t matter, I’m ready to go. I just wanna go home. Ethan?”

“
Yeah, it’s cool, let’s roll.” Ethan stood, holding out his hand to John. “Sir, it was awesome to meet you.”

The Author stood as well, gripping Ethan’s palm with a sturdy hand shake. “It’s been a pleasure.”

“
Madam.” He took my hand and kissed it, very Casablanca like. It was cute. “Wait, before you leave, a promise is a promise.”

John reached into is satchel, digging through the contents somewhat before producing two worn, antique looking, leather bound books. He opened on of them and scribbled something inside before handing them to Ethan.

“
Ambrosia and Fledging.” The Author said. “I’ve included my personal contact number as well. If you need me or have questions about anything, anything at all, do not hesitate to call.”

Ethan took the books from him, flipping through the pages of one manuscript, before he started to grin from ear to ear. “Oh, these are nice! Thanks man.”

I went to leave when John grabbed me by the arm suddenly, his tone deathly serious. “Beware the Forgotten Future for it is about to be rewritten and you my dear, you could very well be its new author. Heed my warning, young woman. The both of you. You may think me a foolish old man, but you both bare the Mark of Pandora. The world as you know it is to change. Prepare for the quiet storm, least you get swept away once the maelstrom arrives.”

John walked off and exited the restaurant without uttering another word.

I looked at Ethan skeptically. “Did he just leave without paying the bill?”

“
I don’t know, but I’m not staying here to find out.” Ethan took off towards the exit. Before I knew it, he was already in the parking lot. I just shook my head and followed after him.