The Mistletoe
Chapter XXIII

The town had already calmed down, and we gathered at Laura’s house. They tried to incinerate Carmilla’s body, but it seemed to have no effect. So, they decided to take the remains, seal them, and send them somewhere undisclosed. In case any vampire or remaining servant of Carmilla knew the exact location of her body, they would wait until the effects of my blood on her disappeared and then proceed with the cremation. The body had been taken by the Dutch investigator, who would subject it to study.

“I have another case to solve. Thank you for letting me come. The experience has been enriching, and I believe I have more knowledge to approach my next case.”

“A pleasure for us that you came, Doctor,” said the Baron and Laura’s father. As the gentleman left, taking Carmilla’s newly sealed coffin in his carriage, the Baron apologized and also withdrew.

Laura and I had spoken with her father and reached an agreement that nothing would be mentioned about me or my involvement in the events. Laura’s father, along with the Baron and the Dutch investigator, would use all the necessary resources and influences to hide my identity and erase any trace that could lead to me. According to Carmilla’s letters, other creatures or the aristocrat called “The Dragon” could use my blood for nefarious purposes. They also didn’t know how my actions might have truly impacted the timeline. Any mention of a time traveler or something similar could generate much controversy or even affect my timeline, assuming it wasn’t already a mess. I knew that by staying alive, it was very likely that both my mother and father, as well as everyone who influenced my existence, followed the normal route. But there was a doubt that I might have created an alternate timeline and, upon returning, would encounter the original timeline. Laura or her family might not remember me because, in my timeline, she never knew me.

My other fear was arriving in the alternate timeline and leaving my father stranded in the original timeline. But then I remembered his words: “It’s likely that everything you do, even if it’s just getting up two minutes later, has already created an alternate timeline, and we simply jump from one line to another. Anyway, time has its own rules, and we are simple passengers in it, like a leaf falling into a river.”

“Do not worry about things you cannot control,” I thought again and finally surrendered to such thoughts. The rock that the crow had given me seemed to have changed color, and the mist was covering Laura’s melancholic town again. I felt it was time to go back, and the crow was ready.

I gathered my belongings along with the sword and looked toward the path shrouded in mist. My heart tightened with fear and sadness, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I had to go back, and this seemed to be the moment.

Laura and her father left me at the entrance, and she handed me what seemed to be an antique watch. “Here, a keepsake from us. Maybe it can help you in the future.”

“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to both of you. Truly, I’ve never met such kind people; the experience has been quite an adventure.”

Laura’s father hugged me and said, “Thank you as well. Without you, my daughter might have died or been left with a great trauma for life.”

He left with Mrs. Perrodon, and I was left alone with Laura.

“You have inspired me, you’ve inspired all of us, my dear Miguel. Thanks to you, I feel like I can be more, go beyond, and move forward no matter what happens.”

I took a deep breath, looking around, and said, “Before I met you, I saw girls differently. You and your family have shown me how important it is to spend time with someone, talk face to face, and enjoy every moment because I’ll never know when I’ll die. I saw the good and the bad in girls, right?” I joked.

We both laughed. Then she looked at me and sighed, saying, “Don’t feel bad. I know you think Carmilla ruined your first experiences and that you longed for something different. The first time, I don’t think it’s about something physical, but the emotional moment that leads to the act. It doesn’t count if it’s not consensual, believe me, I don’t count it either.”

“She stole from both of us, right?” I said. “I’m not really sure if it doesn’t count. Unfortunately, in my time, it’s more about the act. I don’t think there’s a difference. What’s done is done, and I have to live with it.”

I thought about how different things were and how experiences were lived in such radical times. For me, Carmilla had taken away something I had been hoping for a long time, and the damage was done.

“You really don’t understand the difference, do you? People are too superficial in your time.”

Laura approached slowly and looked into my eyes, finally whispering, “Let me show you.”

We share a small and timid kiss. I felt all my melancholy disappear, and I could forget, even if just for a moment, all the pain and fear I felt inside. I understood perfectly that she felt the same way.

Afterward, she takes my hand and says, “It is truly different, it really is, now we both know. Better late than never.” Then she takes a deep breath and lets go of my hand.

“So you..also..” I asked, but she covered my mouth with her hand, and with her watery eyes says:

“Like Orpheus and Eurydice.. But now you must go back, don’t be afraid, move forward, I’ll always be with you. Good luck and farewell!”

“Farewell, and thank you for everything.”

A tear fell as I walked into the dark and mysterious fog, guided by the crow and the rune I held in my hand. I gave one last look to Laura, who vanished into the fog that enveloped me entirely. I did not know what she meant by those people, but I followed her advice.

I walked and walked with adrenaline coursing through my body, uncertain if I would make it home or end up in another place. “I could end up on Mars, or in hell itself...” I thought.

Finally, I started to see the light, and I held my breath. Upon emerging, it seemed to have snowed recently, and the path had changed to a lighter dirt road. The crow took flight, and I followed, increasingly agitated.

As I walked, I saw a bundled-up couple walking with jackets that did look modern, and I felt tremendous relief. But I wanted to ask to be sure.

“Excuse me...” I said to the man. “Could you tell me what date it is?”

The man looked at me strangely and replied, “December tenth.”

I asked once more. “Of which year?”

They both chuckled slightly, and he answered, “2020.”

They looked me up and down and walked away, thinking I was a bit crazy. I was happy because only a few hours had passed since I left. I ran at full speed through the forest, accompanied by the crow, checking the signs that now displayed the routes, and followed the path that led me to the hotel.

When I made my way and saw the farm, the running dog, I cried tears of joy. I saw my father coming out to look for me in the yard, and I ran toward him, hugging him with all my strength and started crying.

“Old man, I love you so much! I missed you so much, Dad!”

My father hugged me tightly, but he didn’t seem to understand what was happening, and he was worried.

“Son! Are you okay? What happened?” He said, stroking my head.

I looked at him and wiped away my tears. He could see my worn-out clothes and backpack.

“Tell me what happened? Did you see the wolf? Did you go alone on the trail?”

“Yes... Sorry.” I said. “But I have to tell you something.

“And those clothes? Where did you get them? Were you at a costume party?”

“No!” I said, laughing. “I traveled to the past, damn it! I was almost a year trapped in your Victorian era!” I said jubilantly, shaking him.

My father touched his head, checked me for injuries, and examined my face, as if I had a fever.

“Well, the clothes seem to match. And what’s that? A sword?”

“Dad, there’s a lot to tell, it was all too crazy, let’s go inside, come on.”

Inside our room, I changed my clothes and began recounting the story about the Beast, Laura, her father, the mansion, and everything that happened during the months I was there. Although my father could have told me it might have been some hallucination on my part, seeing the clock, my clothes, and having lived all the experiences together, the idea wasn’t so crazy after all. Finally, he fell into deep thought after having a debate about changes in the timeline and such.

“What’s wrong?” I said, while he seemed to process something in his mind.

“Did you read the novel I was going to show you?” He asked.

“No, you know I hated books...” I said, puzzled.

My father took the book from his shelf and tossed it on the table. “Maybe you didn’t travel to the past, or at least not literally.”

“Carmilla, written by Sheridan Le Fanu.” I read attentively while shaking my head.

“Everything you’re telling me is in there, but not as detailed as you describe it.” He said.

My brain seemed unable to process what was happening. I flipped through the pages, and everything was there. Laura, Carmilla, the relationship between them, her father, the mansion or castle... everything.

“It can’t be, this must be a joke...” I shook my head from side to side. “But the ending is different; some things are not as I experienced them.” I said.

“There are two possibilities,” said my father. “Either the crow sent you inside the novel, or it sent you to a parallel universe where the events of the novel are real, so everything you did there created an alternate timeline in that universe, not ours, if that’s the case.”

“Everyone is fictional... Carmilla, Laura... they don’t exist, it was all fiction... my first friends were fiction... a lie.” It really sounded like a bad joke.

“Son, wait, don’t get discouraged... As I was saying, they might be in a universe parallel to ours, they could exist, but in that universe, not ours. Do you understand?”

I sat down and took my hands to my head; I even thought it could all have been my imagination, but it was too vivid. Besides, there were the clothes, the clock, and my sword. My father could see and touch them, so they weren’t a product of my imagination.

Then I remember what they said before I returned to the present. “Cover up tracks, so no other people like the Dragon would get me, or harm my family on a vulnerable point in my life, creating a paradox or ripping the timeline further.. That’s why the novel seemed not altered.. But I had no idea or way to prove it, maybe all the influential people could have wiped out everything. Hell, maybe my grandma could have used some kind of magic to wipe out or insert false memories..”

I took my smartphone and checked the photos. There they were, my room, the mansion, and Laura sitting on a bench, reading the book we were studying together. I realized at that moment that having them was extremely dangerous, so with the pain of my heart, I deleted each one of them.

My dad came to me and asked “What do we do now?”

“Lets just leave this place. I need to clear my mind..”

“What about a city? I always wanted to see Vienna.” My dad suggested.

“Whatever, but not this place.” I answered.

“Okay. I’ll see what I can do.” He finally said.

The lady managed to contact a taxi, and I packed up. The taxi took us to the train station, and we paid for the trip to Vienna. Maybe the city distractions would clear my mind and my dad loves Museums, he needs to enjoy his time too.

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