SWITCH EPISODE 2 is now LIVE

SWITCH, Episode 2.2
is now LIVE!

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Synopsis:

Forty-five years ago, the government unleashed a deadly virus. Those who were wealthy and wanted were given a vaccine. The rest died. Everyone was told the virus created zombies. It was all a hoax.

Twenty-two years ago, a small group of blue-eyed people saw the government for what it was and escaped Brighton to save their lives.

Eighteen years ago, my future-self switched me at birth.

A month ago, my future-self had my future-husband kidnap me.

Two weeks ago, I time traveled for the first time.

A week ago, I accidentally brought back the zombie virus.

Yesterday, my future-husband was infected.

Today, if I don’t find the cure, I’ll lose him and all hope for humanity.

Excerpt from Chapter Five:

The doors slid open, and Dad turned from his equipment and removed his glasses. He dismissed my guide, and then smiled at me. “You look lovely.”

I blew out a breath, relieved to see him working on the blood sample. On the adjoining counter, the contents of my backpack were strewn about, including the box of condoms. My cheeks burned.

“I can explain those.”

Dad’s shoulders slumped. “Abby. I’m concerned.”

“I’m not sleeping with him. I… it was just in there by mistake.” I crossed the room and stuffed them back into the bag. “I promise.”

He frowned. “You were running away with him, weren’t you?”

“No, Dad.” How did I explain the vastness of this problem, that it had nothing to do with a boy, but over being blackmailed and threatened? “I was running for my life.”

“What? No one here is out to get you.”

“Dad, we can talk about that later. You have to work on the cure. I need it, like… today.”

He walked closer and pushed my hair behind my ear. “I know you feel responsible, pumpkin, but you don’t have to anymore.”

I bit my lip, my thoughts interrupted by the soft swish of a brush outside of Dad’s door. This whole time I’d trusted that my dad would be on my side, especially if he saw the EA’s deception. Even still, Kaden’s life was in my hands, and I had to help Dad see that.

“It is my responsibility.”

Dad’s face hardened, as if he read my thoughts. “Kaden is dangerous, Abby.” His voice shifted to a darker tone. “If he’s infected, so be it.”

My voice caught as if the air had been knocked from my lungs. “Kaden was defending himself against a man who threatened to kill me, and our son.”

Dad pulled his head back in shock, then quickly recovered.

“He shot and killed an unarmed man.” Dad gestured to the door. “Did you not see the blood on the floor?”

My stomach clenched as I imagined the scene. But Dad had no idea who the true criminal was. “I know you can’t see why I’d care for someone who’d do that. Declan—”

“The Vice President, you mean.” His voice was icy again.

“The Vice President.” I swallowed down the disdain rising in my throat, sensing that my explanation wasn’t decreasing the tension growing between us. “Kaden did that because he’s been blackmailing us and my future selves since the beginning of Brighton to secure his power, to the point my Compliment had no choice but to switch me at birth. The zombie virus is here because of him.”

Dad blinked at me for a moment, speechless, his eyebrows pulled tightly together. Goosebumps broke out on my skin. Was I finally getting through? He had to see we were on the same side.

“That’s quite an accusation.” He shook his head. “I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

My mouth gaped open, and I quickly shut it. A tear trickled down my cheek. How could he believe a man who came from a future timeline, a stranger, over me? “Dad, I’m not lying.”

“Declan came here from the future to save us from this outbreak, Abby. There was nothing deceitful about it.”

“Nothing deceitful? He forced my Compliment to take Kaden and my son here from the future, and threatened their lives if I didn’t cooperate. Does that sound like the actions of someone who doesn’t want to exploit my power?”

“That’s not what he told me.”

“So you think I’m lying to you?”

His eyes narrowed. “No. I think your infatuation over that boy has made it so you can’t see the truth. Even still, he didn’t deserve to be murdered in cold blood.” Dad swallowed as a tear glistened in his eye.

Kaden was right. My father did refuse to see. Then the rotting corpse of the Vice President, locked in his office, came to mind. If Dad wouldn’t make a cure for Kaden, maybe he’d make one for his zombie friend.

“He’s not quite dead,” I said quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“I have someone you could test the cure on. We have to go to his office.”

“What are you talking about?” His brow creased.

“The Vice President is in there,” along with the diary, which could also give clues to a cure.

“No, Abigail. It’s time to stop this. I’m taking you home.” He took my hand.

“No.” I pulled away from him. “As the Oracle, I have a responsibility to my people.”

He covered his DOD watch, then leaned forward. His gaze darted to my wrists. “Don’t ever admit that,” he whispered. “Ever.”

“What? Why?”

His nostrils flared. “If people found out, they’d mob you for information. You wouldn’t be able to live here anymore, not in public with your family.”

I looked into the eyes of the only man I’d ever known to be my father. My eyes lost focus for a minute. Who was I kidding? I couldn’t play it safe and pretend I belonged. “It’s too late. I can’t stay here in Brighton with you and Mom anymore anyway. We need to get out while we still can.”

“That’s crazy talk. Just tell people you were doing it for attention. Please… for me and your mother…” His eyes bore into mine, pleading. “You may not be ours by blood, but we love you like you are.”

I closed my eyes, wanting with all my might to say yes to his request. But I knew I couldn’t. Kaden needed a cure.

“Our perfect world is collapsing. It’s over, Dad.” I pointed to his watch. “And that is just a tool to control you. Why are you still wearing it?”

He yanked his head backward. “This is the only thing keeping our world from collapsing. With it, we’ve been able to find and stop the… undead.” He released his grip of his DOD watch. “Wasn’t there one with your clothes?”

I stared at the glowing blue numbers that ticked downward to a date in the future thirty years from now. I’d been such a slave to mine in the past. Living without it had released me from fear, and given me confidence. “I bet that it’s not even tied to your future. Even if I put one on, I’m a Glitch, remember? My DOD has been nothing but a lie. I bet everyone’s is.”

Dad placed his hand on my arm to console me. “You can’t lose hope.”

A vision of my dad ripped through my head, of his younger self covered in blood and laying dead on the ground in his lab coat. I screamed, and pulled away.

“Abigail?”

My body trembled as the vision faded.

“What’s wrong?”

My lips moved, but nothing came out for a few seconds. “You… dead,” I finally said.

“Abby, you’ve been traumatized by all of this. We need to get you home.”

I moved backward, forced to make an impossible choice. If that was the future, then Jeff was about to die. I had to find him now. “If you won’t find a cure, then I’ll have to ask a Jeff who will.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“My father from the past.”

Dad’s jaw hardened. “He’s not your father.”

“You’re not the father I thought you were either.”

He latched onto my arm. “Enough of this. We’re going.”

“No, Dad. I can’t. I’m sorry.”

I couldn’t watch him grasp at our old way of life any longer. Kaden needed a cure. Everyone did.

I pulled myself free, and closed my eyes, willing the familiar weightlessness to overtake me, the one that happened only during time travel.

At the pop, I opened my eyes and found myself surrounded by darkness.