The Fateful Fourteenth

The sky was turning grey, the wind howling and black clouds casting an ominous look, a tell-tale sign that a violent storm was on its way. However, this did not dampen Max's mood. This fourteen year old made his way back home with a spring in his step. He was so excited! His social teacher had just finished a very interesting chapter on the French Revolution and she was conducting a test the very next day.

Max was a bright boy and extremely friendly. He had a thirst for knowledge and loved to read books, whether fiction or non-fiction. He had a set of light brown eyes and curly, blonde hair that sat on his head like a ball of fluff.

As soon as he got home, Max grabbed a snack from the kitchen and went to his room. His parents had gone to work and he was their only child. He took out his books and completed his homework in a jiffy. He took out his social book and spent a serious hour and a half studying for the next day's test.

Once done with preparing for the test, a big grin appeared on his face as he went to get a new book from his gigantic bookshelf. He curled up in a spot beside his study table and began to read.

As usual, at sharp six, he heard noises coming from the garage as his parents parked their cars. He rushed to the front door and flung himself into their arms. His parents gave him a big hug and asked him about his day. They freshened up and then sat down with Max to play their favourite game of global domination, Risk. After a long time, with some yelling and whooping thrown in, Max won the game by picking up the 'Cease fire' card. His parents smiled and congratulated him as he packed up the game and took it to his room.

As he walked towards the kitchen, he was lured by a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. His mom was making his favourite white-sauce pasta. He yelled a big 'thank you Mom' and rushed to lay the table before the pasta got cold. His father was seated at the table, reading the newspaper.

Within two minutes steaming hot pasta was on the table with the happy family filling their growling stomachs. Silence stretched as in no time all the bowls were licked clean. Max said 'thank you' to his mom again because she knew pasta was just the thing he needed before any test (well not exactly but just an excuse for pasta). He wished his parents good night and went to change his clothes. Once he was in is soft pyjamas, he was snoring in no time.

In the middle of the night he was awakened by soft footsteps in his room. He woke up and his eyes took a minute to adjust. He was shocked when he saw a ghost -like figure walking in his room. The ghost realised that Max was awake and asked him to stay quiet. Then she extended her arm and gestured him to hold it.

He hesitantly held her cold hand, and suddenly, the floor sucked him in. He yelled in fright as he felt like he was zooming past memories. He saw blurred images of beautiful places which he had never seen before. He had entered a different world.

As they slowed to a stop, they reached a beautiful meadow with a large number of animals. Animals that he had never seen before. They were magnificent creatures, each more beautiful than the other, grazing in the lush green meadow.

"W-w-where are we", Max asked.

The ghost suddenly swirled and turned into a beautiful girl. She had light brown eyes with long blonde hair.

Max stared at the close resemblance between this ghost and himself.

"Hi Max. My name is Zara. It's going to be confusing, but trust me. We are in an alternate reality."

Max thought for a moment, blinking his confused eyes, and then said "Like the one I learnt in Physics class? How is that possible?"

"There are multiple realities and you have to believe me. But focus. We have much bigger problems," said Zara.

"Do I play a part in this 'bigger problem'? Wait a minute. Does this have anything to do with you?"

"Yes. I am your sister. I was murdered in your reality but I don't know by whom. You didn't know about me because our parents never told you."

"Umm- really? Sure," Max said, bemused.

"Follow me," she said and pranced away as if she knew the place well.

Max hurried to catch up with her. She led him through beautiful meadows and just when Max thought the place couldn't get any more magical, he saw a castle hovering on top of a cloud. Zara walked confidently under the castle and Max realised that there were name plates embedded at the base.

Zara went and pressed her index finger on her name plate and submitted retinal scan. She then waited patiently while telling Max, "We all have different entrances which open only with our fingerprint and a retinal scan. They are programmed to give access to only those whose fingerprints match the name and who's retina matches the fingerprint as well as the name. This way, our security is much better for the King."

As Zara was explaining the system to Max, he noticed an escalator appearing. Within a minute he was right beside the first step of a fully-functioning escalator. He followed Zara up the escalator and in just moments they were outside a big door which led to the King's throne room (according to a plaque on the door).

"It is I, Zara, and I have come with Max of reality 6.4," Zara spoke into a microphone.

"Come in," said a voice from inside the room as the doors opened automatically.

His first glance went to the intimidating king. He was a human all right, but everything about him felt grand. He was tall and there was a way in which he demanded authority. Max estimated him to be around forty years.  

Max entered the room with Zara and she whispered in his ear, "He is the supreme ruler of the world," as she curtsied.

 Max hurried to give a sweeping bow but the king laughed and said, "Quit the formalities. Noble titles and bowing makes me uncomfortable."

Max stood in perfect attention, intimidated by the king, while the king said "My name is Phillip and I will lead this mission."

"Good evening K-king Phillip. I am p-pleased to be a part of your mission. W-what will our mission be about?" asked Max, in the most formal voice he could manage, his insides lurching as he heard his voice. Why, why did I have to stutter in front of a King? he thought.

"Our aim is to find out who killed your sister 18 years ago. She was murdered in the Central Park of Manhattan, New York City."

Max was dumbfounded. He never knew he had a sister. "Why don't I know I had a sister?" he somehow managed to whisper.

King Phillip replied, "Your parents were melancholic when they lost their daughter. They didn't want you to know about a sister who you had never seen or spoken to."

Max clutched his chest. This was too much of information to gather. He had a sister his parents had never told him about. And his sister had been… murdered. He couldn't believe it. He had always wished for a sibling and turns out he had one but... she was dead; dead long before he was born.

King Phillip spoke again, "We have got you your own private chambers on the 13th floor. The 5th door on the left. You could go and rest for some time. But you must come down as soon as you can after you hear the horn being blown. It indicates the start of our search."

"Ok," was all Max could manage. His head was aching from all this information. He slowly proceeded to the 13th floor and as soon as he entered his room, he flopped onto his bed and went into a fictional realm; his head spinning with information overload.

Maxt was woken up by a loud horn. He jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs. He entered the throne room and found Zara and King Phillip in deep conversation. Zara noticed him and called him over.

"We are going back to reality number 6.4 and to the time when your sister was murdered. You see, we built a time capsule."

As King Phillip led Max over to the time capsule, he was amazed. It was cylindrical and shiny. It had been painted in silver and it looked majestic. Inside was a world of buttons. Hundreds and hundreds of tiny buttons with miniature labels on top of them rested on a single panel.

There were three chairs and as they sat on them the seat belts fastened automatically. Then a mysterious, eerie voice began a countdown …10…9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…going back in time.

Max yelled as the gadget transported him back through memories. Then they went through the memories of his parents. Max could see his parents mourning in a graveyard. The plaque read 'Zara, 1992-2002.' Her death date was 4 years before the date when he was born. They finally reached the time and place when she was murdered and they stood there waiting silently.

"Even though you don't belong here, whatever happens here will give you the exact same experience as it would if you were actually here," Zara said. "If you trip and fall, you will bleed; you hit your head and the concussion will last. You must not do anything dangerous or anything else that can harm you."

A beautiful young girl pranced across the Central Park. Max was sure she was his sister even though he had never seen her before. Her light-brown eyes and blonde hair made it vivid. Moreover, she looked exactly like the other Zara he was standing next to.

As if on cue, a man who looked downright suspicious with a hood covering his face, made a weird movement and the next second Max realised the man was about to kill his sister. He tried to stop him and ran in front of his sister, protecting her, but the man stabbed him in the chest. The pain in his body was unbearable.

Blood spurted out of his mouth as he fell on all fours, coughing his life out of him. He could feel his heart beating, under his broken ribs, but it was futile. He rolled over, his chest heaving, fighting to keep him alive. Then, as suddenly as it all started, Max stopped moving, and moved no more.

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When he tried to talk, his words came out all slurred and babbled. There was a lady who appeared to be his mother holding him. He realised that his soul was trapped in the cycle of life and death. But there was something wrong. He was not supposed to know about his past life or remember anything from it, but he could remember his sister, her murder, the other Zara, King Philip and everything and everyone else.

As he looked at his new mother she said, "Hello Zack."

He decided to start a new life, then and there; forgetting about his past and moving onto his future. But, these kind of things are always easier said than done.

He tried to grow up like a normal kid but he understood square roots when he was in kindergarten. He grew up to be too smart for someone of his age but thoroughly loved by his wonderful parents. He was their only child as he thought he was in his previous life, but he couldn't pick out from his mess of emotions that those memories brought whenever he thought about it. Sadness, grief, surprise, sorrow, joy, and who knew what else. 

After kindergarten, his principal met his parents and asked them to make Zack skip 4 grades and go directly to fifth grade. His principal considered him a child prodigy.

So, when he was six years old, he started fifth grade. He tried forgetting about his past life but he soon started having severe headaches. He never told his parents and continued living his new life. He was again the topper in all of his classes. He would always score full marks in all subjects. He soon started enjoying his life and was happy once again; living in the present, never thinking about his past.

Years flew by and before he knew it, he turned nine once again. One night, he was getting ready for bed, and when he went to draw the curtains, he saw a terrifying sight. It was the murderer of his previous life wearing the exact same clothes but his hood slightly drawn back so that Zack could see his face. Suddenly, he was hit by a thought. The murderer looked exactly like his father from his previous life, who was also his current neighbour, who rarely ever left the house. Zack had never seen his neighbour before, but he had seen his outline on the curtains when it was dark outside. He never noticed a similarity till now. Zack carefully tried to locate his murderer once again but it looked as if the shadows had swallowed him.

He quickly drew the curtains of his bedroom and thought of possible explanations. Why would a father kill both his children? If he always hated Max and Zara, why did he act so nice to Max?

His mind spinning and his past clouded by murders, Zack slowly fell into deep, uneasy sleep, having dreams about all that he had always wanted to forget; his sister, her murder, the other Zara, King Philip and his dreadful end to his previous life.

A few years went by and Zack was back to his normal life. Wake up, have a bath, get ready, have breakfast, go to school, come back from school, freshen up, read a book, finish homework and study, go down to play, come back, have dinner and sleep. This was Zack's daily schedule in his new life and he stuck to it for 5 years.

Each of Zack's birthdays were celebrated in a grand manner. On the day of his fourteenth birthday, Zack's parents decorated the house with streamers and had all his friends come over to his house to celebrate. His mother even made an amazing black forest cake.

After a day of celebration, Zack thanked his parents for all they did to make the day special and then he went to his room. After he got ready for bed, he went to close the drapes and saw a horrible apparition on the street outside. It was his previous life's dad again. For a split second, he stopped in his tracks and then rushed to put his plan in action.

His father had a look of sorrow in his eyes which went unnoticed by Zack. Before anyone saw him, Zack picked up a sharp knife from the kitchen and snuck it into his pant. He crept in the shadows, advancing slowly. Now he was right behind his father and with a knife in his hand and no witnesses, he plunged it into the base of his father's cranium, shattering his skull.

His dad tried to shout, but before he could utter anything, he rolled over, dead. It was late night and Zack had no idea what to do. He realised he should have questioned his dad why he had killed his sister and him.

But now the deed was done and Zack did not have the answer to his questions. There was a strange feeling in his gut which urged him to check his father's pockets. There, in the right hand side pocket of his father's pant, he found a letter which had been stamped and was ready to be delivered. He read the address and realised that his previous father was about to send him the letter. He opened it and started reading it.

Dear Zack,

I need to explain this to you. I know your life is very messed up and you still have your previous birth's memories. I was and still am a part of the White House. 

I am in a section which deals with top secret missions. I can't tell you my real name because if I do, you will know how important I really am to the government. We have some rules and we have to follow them strictly. We are also not allowed to have a family.

When I was 27, I fell deeply in love with your mother and we could not resist getting married. I vowed to myself that I would not have any children or break any more rules. 

Once your mother gave birth to your sister, I realised I had broken two of my most important rules. Your sister could not live, it could end my job. When I realised I had broken my vow, I decided to mend things. 

On your sister's 10th birthday, with a heavy heart, I killed her. Once I realised what I had done, I mourned for her alongside your mother.

After a few years, your mother gave birth to another child. This was you. I could not be another heartless father, and so I waited a little longer. I decided to kill you on your 14th birthday.

On your 14th birthday, I realised our enemy (the king) had turned you against us (my colleagues and me). I felt a little less remorse while killing you than while killing your sister which was wrong of me.

I know I had no right to do this. No mortal attains life just so that another can kill him. They attain life to enjoy life and live it to the fullest. You had the right to live and I just want to ask for your forgiveness again. All my life I have failed as a father. 

I have very little hope from you to forgive me but I regret for not being able to fulfil the role of a father. I want you to understand, and now it is your choice to forgive or not. I hope you will, but there is a very small chance of that. 

Please forgive me.

Signed,

Your previous father.

 

After reading his father's letter, Max started crying uncontrollably. Not of anger, but of sorrow. He could not believe that the loving father he had played the game of Risk with everyday had such an important job. While his father had come to ask for forgiveness, he had killed him.

Now he was the murderer.