Chapter 1 – Decision

This is the first chapter of the book

Three days later, Kenan and Kel were staring at the closed caskets of their dead parents at the local cemetery. The ground below them was soaked with the tears that shed from their eyes. They even refused to accept their high school diplomas knowing that their parents weren’t going to be there to see it. As the brothers were mourning their loss, they were approached by a group of people with business suits. “Excuse me.” said one of the men in the group. The brothers wiped their eyes and looked at the group. They noticed that it was an African American man with a beard. “Who are you?” said Kenan with a melancholic expression. “My name is Anthony Michaels. I am one of the board members for Johnston Industries.” said Anthony. “Okay. What do you want with us?” said Kel. “First, we’re here to offer our condolences. Second, we’re here at the request of a promise we made to your parents at the time of their deaths.” said Anthony. “What promise?” said Kenan. “The future of the company. They left it to you both in their wills.” said Anthony. “Oh. I see.” said Kel. “Yes. We figured we come and ask what you are going to do.” said Anthony. “To tell you the truth we never wanted to take over.” said Kenan. “Right. You guys can do that.” said Kel. “Okay. We can take over and we’ll leave the position available if you ever change your mind.” said Anthony. “We do want to at least go to their office one more time.” said Kenan. “Sure.” said Anthony as he handed the brothers the keys to their parents' company office. “We’ll come by tomorrow.” said Kel. “Okay. We’ll leave you both be now.” said Anthony as he and the other board members left.
          The very next day, as promised, Kenan and Kel made it over to Johnston Industries by rideshare. After greetings with the secretary and company staff, the brothers headed over to the parents’ office. Kenan and Kel took deep breaths as they opened the door and walked into the room. The brothers noticed a lone white envelope with their names written on it left on their fathers’ desk. Without question, Kenan opened the envelope and within it was a letter and a small bronze key. Kel took the note and read it out loud which said: “Kenan. Kel. If you’re reading this letter, then your mother and I are no longer part of this world. No matter what happens to us we will always be a part of your lives. We’ve left you boys something in the center drawer in my desk. That key you have can unlock it. We both believe that you will know what to do with these items. Whatever choice you make from here on will be up to you. We love you both. Always. Your parents Cassius and Priscilla.” “Well older brother. You want to see what they’ve left us?” said Kenan. “Yes. Open the drawer.” said Kel. Immediately, Kenan opened the drawer with the key and in it were two small rectangular cardboard boxes that had the twins' names written on each one. Without question, Kenan and Kel took the boxes and opened them. In those containers were metallic wrist watches. “This is what they left us? Some stupid watches?” said Kenan. “Younger brother. I think they left us these with a good reason behind it.” said Kel. “Yeah, but what.” said Kenan as he examined his watch thoroughly. “Brother, wait. Do you remember all those stories Mom and Dad told us when we were littler? If they were true, then maybe these were what they’ve used.” said Kel. “What made you come to that idea?” said Kenan. “Because in that drawer there was also a notebook. In it are records of various timelines in world history. The date on my watch matches the one on the last page.” said Kel. Kenan looked at the date on his watch and it showed the one that Kel mentioned confirming his certainty. The brothers looked at each other and smiled brightly. “You are thinking what I am thinking brother?” said Kenan. “Yep. Let’s go back and save Mom and Dad.” said Kel. And with that, Kenan and Kel put the watches on their wrists and set the dates on them to four days ago. Instantly the watches glowed. Red for Kenan and blue for Kel. A worm hole appeared right before them. The Johnston brothers held hands and jumped inside the egress. Glimpses of timelines flashed right before their eyes as the gateway brought them back to the day of their parents’ murder. Fortunately for Kenan and Kel, they appeared right outside their family house. “We made it!!” said Kenan as he took a step toward the house with a big smile on his face. Kel grabbed Kenan’s shoulder and said, “Wait. Before we even go in there, we need to think about this. That guy could shoot us as well this time.” “You’re right. We need to form up a plan and quick.” said Kenan. So, the brothers discussed with each other a strategy. When they’ve done enough concurring, Kenan and Kel begin to throw rocks at the front windows while hiding behind a parked car. Luckily for them the unknown man walked out of the front door to locate the cause of the distraction. The brothers then moved in opposite directions using other cars to flank the assailant. “All right. Who is out here?” said the unknown man. Kenan came out of hiding and said, “It’s me.” “You? How the hell are you out here when you are in the house?” said the unknown man approaching Kenan slowly with his gun in hand. “Like I’d ever answer you.” said Kenan. As Kenan and the assailant were talking, Kel approached them from behind armed with a stick. “You’re wearing different clothes too. Who are you really?” said the assailant. “I am the one here taking care of business.” said Kenan with a determined grin as the gunman came closer to him. “All right, I’m going to show your wretched parents a nightmare by taking you out first.” said the gunman. Kenan trembled with fear even though he was smiling in the face of danger. “Unfortunately, you’re not going to take anyone out this time.” said Kenan. Fortunately for Kel, he successfully managed to strike the assailant as hard as he could, knocking him out cold. Unknown to the brothers, Cassius and Priscilla were watching the entire time. “Kenan. Kel.” said Cassius as he approached his sons. When the brothers heard that familiar voice, they ran to their parents and embraced them tightly. “Mom!! Pop!!!” said the twins as they cried. “It’s alright my boys. We’re here.” said Priscilla as she caressed her sons’ heads. “I’m proud of you both. You used the watches like we thought you would.” said Cassius. “Yes. Now let’s find out who this fellow really is.” said Priscilla as she approached the unconscious man. The family tied the man’s hands together with a set of handcuffs he had in his back pocket and gagged his mouth with tape. During their search they found his wallet along with a Boston Police badge. Cassius looked in the unknown man’s wallet and found a driver's license with the name Thomas James typed on it. “Thomas James. He’s a police officer trying to kill innocent people. I wonder what we should do with him.” said Cassius. “I have an idea for trash like him honey.” said Priscilla with a big smile on her face. “Yeah.” said Cassius as he chuckled. Kenan and Kel watched their parents toss Thomas’ gun into a sewer, dumped him into a nearby manhole and shut the cover tightly. The family laughed together as they watched a movie. “That’s what he gets for messing with the Johnstons.” said Cassius. “You got that right babe.” said Priscilla. Cassius then looked at Kenan and Kel and said, “Anyway my boys, now that you’ve used the time machine, we like to hear from you what you plan on doing with them now.” “We want to use it to save others.” said Kenan. “Right.” said Kel. “That’s great to hear. It seems we have made the right choice in giving you those.” said Priscilla. “We won’t let you down mom. We promise.” said Kel. “Good. Now boys head back to the present day. We will be there waiting for you.” said Cassius. “Before we go. I would like to ask you a question. Why did you make these in the first place?” said Kenan. “The only answer I have for that son is that I found the parts for them and the instructions on how to put them together in our office. I never found the person who left it there. It was as if a ghost or some other magical creature gave us this power.” said Cassius. “Really?” said Kel as he looked at his watch. “Hey brother. Let’s go back to the present.” said Kenan. “Right.” said Kel. The brothers jumped into the wormhole after saying their goodbyes. Kenan and Kel reappeared on their parents’ office floor. This time the room was occupied with both Cassius and Priscilla working at their desks. “Kenan. Kel.” said Cassius as he walked over to his sons and stood them both up. “Hi Pop.” said Kenan. “Tell me. How was your first experience with time travel.” said Cassius. “It was cool. I’m glad we saved you.” said Kel. “Good. Now remember to be very careful with those devices. The fate of every timeline now rests on the both of you now.” said Priscilla. “We will.” said the brothers. Priscilla and Cassius embraced their sons and smiled believing that they'd made the right decision to pass on their precious gadgets.