The Twisted Future (Teen Superheroes Book 4) Read Free Page B

it.’
    ‘You’re...me.’ I struggled to come to terms with what he was saying. This old guy was me. The future version of me. ‘You’ve come from the future...and...’
    He shook his head in annoyance. ‘I don’t remember ever being this dense,’ he said. ‘It’s a lot to take it, but I need you to all wake up and listen to me.’
    ‘We’re awake,’ Chad said, ‘but it doesn’t mean we’re about to start changing our plans for the day.’
    ‘You haven’t changed a bit, Chad. Still the same pain in the—’
    ‘How do I know you’re me?’ I interrupted. ‘That you’re not a...robot or something?’
    ‘Those are good questions,’ the man said. ‘Why don’t we ask Ferdy?’
    That he even knew about Ferdy was a point in his favor, but it wasn’t enough to convince me.
    ‘Ferdy,’ Ebony said. ‘Who is this guy? Is he really Axel? From the future?’
    Ferdy’s voice came over the communicators. ‘It is impossible to ascertain whether this individual is actually Axel. A DNA test would confirm his identity, but Ferdy can confirm his vessel is capable of time travel.’
    ‘Couldn’t this guy just be an alien?’ Brodie asked. ‘A n imposter?’
    ‘The Liber8tor ’s sensors indicate he is human.’
    ‘But he could be a clone. Couldn’t he? Even with a DNA test.’
    ‘That is true.’
    ‘Prove it.’ This time it was Dan who spoke. ‘Tell us something that only Axel would know.’
    ‘Something not embarrassing,’ I said. ‘I don’t want to look stupid.’
    ‘I have no desire to make myself look foolish. Either my younger or older self.’ The man thought for a long moment. ‘All right. You were in jail a few weeks ago for the kidnapping of the Russian Premier. You wrote in your diary every single day.’
    ‘That doesn’t mean anything,’ I said. ‘Anyone from the jail might know that.’
    ‘Fine. How about this? You were captured by Typhoid after first acquiring your powers. A psycho by the name of Doctor Ravana tortured you for information. You thought you were going to die, but Brodie helped you escape.’
    That was true. Horrible, but true.
    ‘That’s no secret,’ Dan said. ‘A lot of people could know that.’
    ‘Not really,’ Ebony said, frowning. ‘People in the Agency would know. People within Typhoid.’ She stared at the stranger. ‘But just not anyone.’
    ‘We went to the roof,’ the man continued, his eyes locked on mine. ‘I wouldn’t jump between the buildings. But I eventually did.’
    It all seemed a long time ago now, but it had only been a few months. I was captured by Typhoid. Brodie helped me escape. We went to the roof. I eventually jumped, but I ended up falling through a window on the top floor of the building opposite. Then—
    ‘You were attacked by an old lady with a broom,’ the man said. ‘And you’ve never told anyone. No-one has known. Not until now.’
    I thought hard. He was right. The memory had almost faded from my mind. The old lady living in the apartment had hit me with a broom after I demolished her window. It was a minor detail, something so unimportant I had never shared it with anyone. How could he know? How could he know unless he was me?
    He spent the next five minutes sharing other memories, other events I had not told the others. The time I was ill from Ebony’s cooking, but had not informed anyone because I didn’t want to offend her. Another time I had gone out looking at the stars and fallen into a ditch. By the time he finished talking I found myself staring at him open-mouthed.
    ‘Does that sound right?’ Chad asked me. ‘Is it all true?’
    ‘It’s true,’ I said, nodding. ‘I don’t recall ever telling anyone that stuff.’
    ‘Good.’ Old Axel looked satisfied. ‘So now we can move on.’
    ‘Move onto what?’ Brodie asked.
    ‘I need your help.’
    ‘You’ve already said that, but I don’t know why. You’re the one with the time machine, and all.’
    ‘A time machine doesn’t make you God,’ he