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I hope so dad. [The words are whispered, laughing humorlessly.] I really do. Just, just be careful, okay? [Whatever was going on was nothing he’d heard of back home. He couldn’t help but wonder why.]

I will, I swear. [He gives a small, humorless chuckle] I always try to do that anyway. [He wishes Ulric could tell him more – maybe give him some hint from the future of how things will turn out – but from the sound of it, the boy doesn’t know. Either Jack and Katelynn’s future selves never told him, or history really is changing. Neither thought is very comforting.] You be careful too, all right? You and Gail both. 

She, she wants to, uh. [He leans back against the wall, hand over his eyes.] She wants to ‘cut all ties’. [Having this kind of conversation with his dad of all people is so not what he wants to be doing, but it has to happen.] Make sure there isn’t a future.

[He chews his lip nervously at that news. There’s one very obvious way to prevent the future they’ve had a glimpse of from existing, but he wants so badly to believe that even as she is now, Katelynn wouldn’t be capable of such a thing.] … I understand. B-but I’ll be careful, I promise. [He sighs miserably] I w-want that future to happen, Ulric. I haven’t seen m-much of you and your sister, but I like you. I hope my children do turn out like you. [It sounds awkward even to him, but then, this isn’t the kind of situation most people imagine having to deal with] B-believe me, I’m going to fix this. 

[If he doesn’t stop pacing soon he might end up hurting himself. Forcing himself to calm down enough that he’s still and able to talk, Ulric moves away from the traffic-area of the sidewalk, keeping himself close to the nearest building.] She mentioned wanting to pay you a visit.

Th-that wouldn’t be a bad thing, Ulric. I’ve b-been searching for her all week. I know she’s not herself, and I need to find her and get her help, before she gets worse. [He hesitates, taking a seat at his easel] D-did she say why she wanted to see me? 

She, y-yeah, exactly. [His hand is shaking, pacing back and forth along the sidewalk he’s on. For now, mercifully, it’s empty of anyone else.] Uh, she. You might want to lock the door.

[He freezes at that. Even if he still has trouble thinking of the younger man as his child, he’s still concerned for him, given the way Katelynn’s been acting.] Ulric, what’s going on? W-what d-did she tell you? [It’s embarrassing for him to stutter over the phone, but he can’t help it.]

[Hearing his dad’s voice, he holds tighter to the phone. Even if the man on the other end is younger, it’s still familiar enough to set off a wave of homesickness] Uh… it’s Ulric.

[Jack blinks at that. He only met his son (it’s still so weird to think of that) briefly at the Fourth of July party, but he remembers the distinctive blue skin and bald head. A close image of Jack himself, except that the young man had Katelynn’s soft brown eyes.] Ulric? Um … hi. What’s going on? 

[They hadn’t seen each other since that party on the Fourth, but this was important. Scrolling through the numbers on his phone nervously, Ulric finally lands on the one Gail had given him, hitting send and listening to it ring.]

[The moment he hears his phone ring, Jack snatches it up. He hopes desperately that it’s news about Katelynn … but the number isn’t one he recognizes. With a sinking heart, he answers] Jack Maple speaking. 

A voice that called out to him in his dreams – familiar and soft yet full of sorrow. It was coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once, words such as “sorry. all my fault. killed.” and the echoing of soft crying. “Jack. I’m so sorry. can’t. ” And then the voices began to fade as the link between them faltered, a new voice growling and enveloping the softer one – deeper but still familiar. “Dead. she will die. exist. no more.” And then it vanished in a quick swipe.

Alone in the bed that he and Katelynn had once shared, Jack woke up with a start. He was trembling, his narrow chest heaving as he panted. Sweat beaded on his blue forehead. His eyes were wide, staring into the darkness of the room. 

A dream. Just a dream, nothing more. It doesn’t mean anything. 

Except he couldn’t believe that. 

He’d dreamed of Katelynn many times since their last, heartbreaking confrontation  But the voice in his dreams had never been like that: strong, and yet seeming to come from far away at the same time. And he had never heard that other voice – that terrible, growling, evil voice. 

Shivering, Jack hugged his pillow tightly, trying not to weep. He’d done enough of that already in the past days. Tears wouldn’t save Katelynn. 

We have to find her. Fast.