Reborn by Jeff Gunzel

scientists, historians…are you seeing a pattern?” The blank glare on her brother’s face made her want to scream. “Don’t you understand?” she growled, now fast approaching her limits. “The ancients spoke of this supernatural being over and over again. Vastly different cultures from completely different eras all mention him. True, this being goes by multiple names throughout history, but the descriptions of him never change. The man who can create and destroy rips in time. The one who is sent by the gods to save mankind from—”
    “Silence!” Zhou leapt from his chair, his head swiveling, looking around as if afraid someone had been listening. “Blasphemous whore.” He even placed his ear to the door before continuing, “You know exactly who it is you’re talking about, and he has already been found. I serve this great man, as do you. If you want to betray the great lord, the very one who gave you your...gifts, then so be it. I’ll have no part in this deception.”
    Morita swallowed had, realizing she was walking on thin ice here. “Look, I’m just saying—”
    “What, that there are two? Two! Although I haven’t sat around for hours, digging through ancient books, trying to piece together all the mysteries of the world, I still have eyes.” Zhou’s muscles tensed, veins popping out across his neck as his arms swelled with blood. “I’ve watched him decimate entire platoons of men, using almost no effort. I’ve seen him rip holes in time itself using only his mind, and you dare to say he is not the—”
    “Alright, I get it, I’ve made a mistake,” his sister pleaded. Morita then turned to Hashiki. “Stop what you’re doing and get rid of all this.” Even she couldn’t deny the terror swelling up inside her. What if he found out? What had she been thinking, taking a chance like this? The little creature chirped and gurgled in protest. “I don’t care if all the information proves it’s him. We’ve-We’ve made a mistake. I said get rid of it. No, burn it. Each and every book.” Hashiki let out a long, sorrowful moan. Burning a virtual library of ancient books was a task he was not looking forward to.
    “Oh, my poor dear sister,” Zhou moaned, fluttering his eyelids. “Why all this back-pedaling? No, please, do go on with your search for the truth.”
    “No, no, we are done here. None of this ever happened, you hear me? I would never doubt the great lord, for he is powerful and all-knowing.” She looked around the room, speaking loudly as if to convince herself, hoping their lord and master would hear her kind words of praise.
    Zhou turned his back to her, mostly to hide his growing smile. “You do understand I’m now obligated to tell him what you’ve done.” His voice was soft and quiet, as if whispering so as not to wake a baby.
    Morita’s unshakable demeanor had always been smooth as silk. The steel-hardened woman had never been rattled in her life, but the horror growing inside her now was impossible to contain. She was truly terrified. Her long, red hair began to quiver as uncontrollable trembling took hold. “You wouldn’t,” she squeaked. “You can’t.”
    The pleasure Zhou felt in the presence of his terrified sister was nothing short of bliss. For years she had always gotten the best of him, but now for the first time he held the upper hand—a rare position, and he wasn’t going to give it up easily. “Oh, but I have no choice now. If I am caught withholding such information, I might also share in your fate.” He slowly swiped a finger across his throat. “And I most certainly don’t want that. I will miss you...dear sister.” He started for the door.
    “Wait!” she shrieked, throwing herself against his back. He could feel her rapid panting against his neck. Never had he seen her this desperate. “Sur–surely we can work something out.” She cackled like a witch, her mind now flirting with madness. “There must be something you want. Yes?