For being a basement, it finally started to feel like home, Ryan thought to himself. He had spent the last two years of his life becoming an artist, while he was kept in the darkness in the bowels of his captor's house.

He wasn't alone. Lorena was about his age, sixteen, but she was still far from trying to make the best of the situation. Ryan didn't blame her.

There were a few positives to living like this and Ryan tried to take advantage with what he had. The basement he was kept in was much bigger than his old room and, more importantly, he was surrounded by all the art supplies he needed. He was currently painting the farthest wall from the stairs into a beautiful blue sky when Lorena returned with Uncle John. It was his best piece of work - his masterpiece.

The locks clicked one by one - there were a total of seven. One light lit the room - it hung, and it swayed. Ryan always became blinded when the door opened, but through that blinding light he could see Lorena's return. She was escorted in and brought to her cage. Uncle John kept all his captives in cages. He only trusted Ryan. Ryan was the only child that had more privileges.    

Ryan continued to paint as Uncle John made his way to the wall. "Wow . . . Ryan you have outdone yourself again," Uncle John said as he stared at the wall. "Did you need anymore supplies?" he asked.

"Sir, I am fine. Thank you," Ryan spoke sullenly to his captor.

"Well . . . good work," Uncle John said. Uncle John stared at it for at least a whole minute before he walked back up the steps and out the door. Seven clicks followed.

Lorena moved to her cot and wrapped herself in her blanket. She didn't know that she would probably be dead soon.

July 30, 1988

Dear Diary,
Today is my birthday and my loving husband bought me a wonderful gift - you. I guess after we found all of my old diaries stored in the attic, he knew I would love to have a new one. So today I am overjoyed to have such a loving husband. By the way, Diary, his name is Kurt. We have been married for 3 years and we have never been happier.

Kurt couldn't get out from work early, or so that is what he told me. He wants me to meet him at my favorite restaurant tonight. Of course, it's a surprise party. It's more than obvious; but I'm still wondering who will be there. Sally and Steve, for sure. Maybe the Carlsons will be there? Maybe my parents? I'm so excited this morning I woke up and he had this beautiful dress hanging on the door with a note. That said how much he loved me and


July 30th

Dear Diary,
I killed another woman today. She was very pretty, Diary. She looked almost like Sarah. She had the same long brown hair and slim figure. I really miss Sarah.
  
Today was such a long day, Diary. I followed her useless husband around town. I had to make sure that he would give me enough time to be alone with her. So after he left towards the flower shop I hurried to her house. I had thirty minutes to get the deed done; but I really only need two. She was too busy writing in you. So, thank you Diary, you made it easy for me.

The hunger to kill subsided today. I don't know when it will return but it will. But now thanks to you, Diary, I won't be alone.

**(Please read Author's notes)

3 Different Seconds
by L. Vera

Subject 1:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Martin Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 9:00 A.M.

"How are you doing today, Martin?" Doctor Wurzbach's voice entered through the static.
"Good," Martin replied.
"If you do not mind Martin, I would like to go ahead and ask about the first time you discovered your ability," Doctor Wurzbach said with his deep calm voice.
"Sure. Like I said before, it all just kind of happened. Well, I was out with my friends. We were walking home from practice and we got to the bridge across from the park. Michael jumped on the stone wall on one side of the bridge," he stopped.
"Go on," Doctor Wurzbach said.
"He fell... or so I thought he did. But..." he paused again.
"But he did not?" Doctor Wurzbach filled in.
"No. I grabbed his hand and well... he... um... didn't fall."
"So you saved him," Doctor Wurzbach suggested.
"Well, I didn't think I saved him. I just thought it was… I don't know… "
"So did you tell anyone about this?"
"No. I thought it might have been something... I don't know... like maybe... I don't know I couldn't explain it."
"So no one knew yet? Your parents? Your brother..."
Martin interrupted, "No one knew."

Subject 2:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Christopher Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 10:30 A.M.

"How have you been Christopher?" Doctor Wurzbach's voice cleared the static.
"Bad. I don't want to be here."
"Why is that?" Doctor Wurzbach asked.
"It's cold and it stinks."
"Well, I will see what I can do to better accommodate your stay."
"Why am I here?" Christopher asked.
"To talk. To see why..."
"Look. I don't see why..."
"How did you get those scars on your arm?" Doctor Wurzbach interrupted.
"What scars?"
"The scars on your arms… You know your parents are concerned."
"No one asked them to be concerned."

Subject 1:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Martin Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 9:05 A.M.

"Did you use it during your soccer games?" Doctor Wurzbach asked.
"At first it felt wrong. It felt like I was cheating; but it started coming to me naturally. I remember the first goal I made," he cleared his throat.
"I made a run towards the goal and when I went to kick the soccer ball… I saw myself miss the goal. It curved high and to the right but then I was back. I was still running towards the goal. I paused and then corrected the kick. The next thing you know my team was screaming and crowding around me. I scored."

Subject 2:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Christopher Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 10:33 A.M.

"Have you ever been punched?" Christopher asked.
"Well... yes," the doctor answered.
"Have you ever seen yourself get punched 3 seconds before it happens? It feels like…" he paused, "it feels like getting punched twice."
"The first time I realized I could see into the future I got the worse beating in my life. You know, you see it hit you, so you flinch. But it doesn't come when it's expected; it comes 3 seconds later. Of course, after a couple of times you kinda get the timing down but you still see twice as many fist hit you."
"So you can see 3 seconds into the future?"
"Well... now I can see further."

Subject 1:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Martin Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 9:07 A.M.

"So you can see 3 seconds into the future, Martin?" Doctor Wurzbach asked.
"Yes, about 3 seconds." Martin answered.
"Do you mind if I test you?"
"Sure."
The doctor spoke into the microphone, "I am holding two stopwatches and an ace of spades from a deck of cards. I have started both stopwatches at the same time. One stopwatch does not make a sound. I will give this to Martin." One click is heard on the recording. "Here Martin, take this stopwatch. I have started both at the same time. When I raise the ace of spades I want you to stop your watch."
A couple seconds of silence pass. Then a click is heard.
"My stopwatch reads 5.09 seconds," said Martin.
"I can confirm this and my stop watch reads 8.52 seconds," said Doctor Wurzbach.

Subject 2:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Christopher Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 10:40 A.M

"So you are telling me you can test me using these stopwatches," Christopher asked.
"Yes," Doctor Wurzbach answered back.
"This is stupid. You see these cuts. This is my testing," he emphasized the word my, "I'm up to seven seconds."
"Amazing. Seven seconds, how?"
"I think the fear of pain increases the time."
There is a long pause before it is interrupted with, "I've done some pretty crazy things in seven seconds Doc. I've done some gruesome things. I've even murdered people… some of them multiple times. I've murdered you twice during our conversation."

Subject 1:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Martin Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 9:20 A.M.

"The bus was a mistake."
"I do not understand, Martin."
Martin hesitated and then said, "The bridge… Um, well… The bus drove off the side of the bridge. So I tried to stop it. I got up from my seat and ran down the aisle towards the driver."
"What happened then?" the doctor asked calmly.
"I fell… and I caused the accident."

Subject 2:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Christopher Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 10:55 A.M

"Why were you on the bridge Chris?"
"I was just…"
"Jumping off the bridge?"
"Well... yeah. How did you know?"
The doctor explained, "Seven seconds. That is plenty of time to stop you from killing yourself. But tell me… What do you see before you jump?"
"Nothingness. Complete and total nothingness," Chris paused for a moment and then continued, "It's just black and empty."
The tape filled with static. As it slowly cleared, Doctor Wurzbach voice said, "What happened when the bus came?"

Subject 1:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Martin Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 9:24 A.M.

"As the bus swerved, I saw my brother standing on the wall on the bridge. He turned around and looked straight at me. He stared into my eyes. I saw it in his eyes. He could see the future too."
"It happened so fast. He jumped towards the doors and pried his way in quick," Martin took a quick breath. "He grabbed the steering wheel and kept the bus on the bridge. He saved us."

Subject 2:
An excerpt from a tape recording of Christopher Stevens' interview with Dr. Henry Wurzbach.
1/20/89 11:00 A.M

"The first thing I saw was me jumping onto the bus. I saw myself pry the door open but I had problems. So I tried it a different way. It was like I had multiple tries at everything."
"So you saved everyone?"
"Yeah," Chris said unenthusiastically.
There was silence and then the sound of a notebook closing.
"Well then I think we are done," Doctor Wurzbach said.
"So that's it. I can leave?"
"Yes. I believe that even after this frightful incident you can still live a normal life."
"So… no more talking, no more test?  No scientist taking me apart or using me as a weapon."
The doctor assured, "No. As long as you do not attract anymore attention you can go off living a normal life."
"What if I do? What if I do want to attract attention? What if I do want to save people? What if I want to become a hero?"
"Then you must decide on your own if it is worth the risk."

The voices faded out from the small tape recorder Doctor Henry Wurzbach held in his hand. He pulled the last tape from the recorder and lingered. He thought to himself, "I had a chance to save him," before he tossed the last bit of evidence into the fireplace.

It's quite strange how we met. The patter of electronic signals passing through the lines. The sound of the computer fans buzzing by my ear. The moaning of the woman I was currently having sex with. Across from us was her husband who was having sex with a much younger girl. She was closer to my age than the couple was.

We stood outside the doorway to the apartment building fully dressed. "Got a ride?" I asked her. She seemed too innocent to be meeting strangers on the internet and having sex with them. She just nodded her head no. "Neither do I," I said and she smiled. She was quiet when I first walked in the apartment. She sat on the couch next to Greta, the married woman. Greta played with her hair as I approached them. I knew their would be another person there but I didn't expect anyone as young or as fragile as she looked.

"Catching a bus?" I asked her. She nodded yes.

"Do you live far?" I continued to attack her with questions. She took some time to answer and she kinda wobbled her head along with her hand.

"Does that mean maybe?" The whole night I never heard her voice beside the moans that escaped her lips.

"Let's walk," I suggested, "I'll walk with you."

I didn't really have a home. I have a friend that lets me stay at his place once a week but usually I relied on these little hook ups to keep me warm and safe. I know it's kind of odd to think of this as safe, but it's the only life I trust. I mean, I have sex with a stranger, then sleep in a warm bed and most of the time they offer a quick breakfast before I'm forced out. It's better then living on the streets.

She nodded and walked down the steps and she stopped to see if I would follow. She had short black hair that hung a little below her chin. Her skin was pale and her eyes were dark almost black. "I'm not going anywhere 'till you say something to me," I said.

She smiled and at that minute I knew I was in love. Her beauty was multiplied by her smile.

"Come," she said.

I did. We walked through the cold grey streets watching the steam pass through the vents. After the first block I held her hand. She blushed as she accepted it. The night before as we lay on our backs, our eyes met. She seemed ashamed to make eye contact with me at first but eventually she held her gaze on me the whole time. We didn't make love with each other but I imagined I was making love to her, not Greta. I somehow hoped she did the same.

She actually lived a lot further than I thought she did. We walked for at least an hour before I asked for a break. I reached down to my calves and rubbed them. She laughed.

"How much further is it?" I asked.

She finally said a whole sentence to me. "It's a couple more blocks," she said smiling. Not far from us was a playground. "Come on. I'll push you," I told her hinting to the swings. I tried to run but my legs hurt. I still tried and eventually I made it to the swing. She slowly walked behind me and she quietly took a seat next to me. She stared at the ground and her smile faded.

I lifted her chin with my hand and said, "I know this may seem weird, but I ...". She kissed me.

We talked for hours as I pushed her on the swing. We never brought up what happened at Greta's apartment or that night. We never brought up previous engagements or any other encounters like that, but I did ask her if she had a boyfriend.

"No, why?" she smiled.

"Well, if the position is open, I would love to apply," I said.

"Well ... do you have a job?" she asked.

"Um, no ... but I'll get one," I promised.

"Where do you live?" she asked, the questions were already starting to get hard.

"Um ... I really don't have a place," I honestly answered.

"Hm ..." she said, "I guess you could live with me." I smiled and somehow that caused her to smile too.

"My name is L, it's short for Eli," I finally introduced myself.

"My name is Autumn," she said as she brought her face close to mine.

"Nice to meet you ..." but before I finished we were hugging while our lips and tongues danced with each other's.

I pulled away from her and at first she seemed upset. "Wait. I didn't finish earlier. I don't know what it is about you. But I ..." It was a tough sentence to finish. I've only told one other girl I loved her and she ended up telling my best friend the same thing behind my back.

Autumn stood against me and said, "I know. I ... I think I love you too."