CHAPTER 125: TWO OF A KIND

It was like time froze for Marcus.

The apartment felt smaller than it ever had. The familiar smell of Tyler's instant ramen, the hum of his gaming PC in the corner, the faded couch where Marcus had crashed countless nights. All of it suddenly felt alien because standing in the middle of the living room was himself.

Not a reflection. Not a dream. Himself.

Valdris Marcus stood there in clothes that looked like they belonged in a Renaissance fair gone wrong. Mud-stained boots, a leather vest over a rough-spun shirt, and the kind of weathered expression that came from actually fighting for survival. Beside him towered Tom, his massive cousin from another planet, looking around the apartment like a child seeing Christmas lights for the first time.

Marcus's brain refused to process what his eyes were telling him. His other self from another planet was in his apartment with his cousin from another planet. None of this was an elaborate continuous dream or imagination. They were actually here judging from his friends' responses but he had no knowledge of their arrival. His latest memory was the day before the attack.

"MARCUS...." yelled Marcus. His voice cracked on his own name. He could feel his hands trembling at his sides. Still looking at him with surprised eyes. "What are you... How?.. Why?"

Valdris Marcus ran a hand through his hair. The same gesture Marcus did when stressed. It was unsettling to watch. "I don't know. When I wounded Malachar his minions pushed us onto the portal. I am assuming to kill us.... but..." He looked around the apartment, taking in the LED strips on Tyler's gaming setup, the microwave, the flat screen TV. "This is crazy."

Tom finally caught the similarity. His eyes went wide, bouncing between the two Marcus faces like watching a tennis match. He started elbowing his cousin with enough force to bruise. "Marcus that man looks just like you. And I mean exactly like you," he said in Valdrian, the words flowing in that melodic accent Marcus knew so well from his other life.

Chicago Marcus walked up to Tom. The giant man tensed, ready for anything. "Tom I am also Marcus and don't freak out this is another world," Marcus said in Valdrian. The language felt strange coming from his Earth mouth, like wearing clothes that fit perfectly but belonged to someone else.

Tom's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. His jaw dropped.

Tyler nearly knocked over his gaming chair scrambling to his feet. "Unfucking believable!!! I need to stream this!" He rushed toward his setup, hands already reaching for his camera.

Valdris Marcus moved faster than seemed possible. He crossed the room in three strides and put himself between Tyler and the equipment. "Don't even try Tyler. This cannot be content. It will ruin Terran Marcus's life and if we can't find a way to return, ours as well."

"But.. But..." Tyler's face crumpled like a kid told Christmas was cancelled. His fingers twitched toward the camera anyway.

Valdris Marcus's expression suddenly shifted. The determined look cracked, replaced by something raw. His shoulders slumped. "Shit, shit, shit," he cried out. His hands went to his face.

"What is it?" Terran Marcus asked. His stomach dropped before he even heard the answer.

"Aldric was captured."

The name hit Marcus like a physical blow. Aldric. The smooth-talking businessman who had become family. The man who taught both versions of Marcus how to actually sell, how to read people, how to survive in a world that wanted to crush them. Both Marcus bowed their heads in unison, a mirror of grief.

"But he is alive right?" Terran Marcus asked. His voice came out smaller than he intended.

"He was when we were pushed through the portal."

The silence that followed was heavy enough to crush.

Irene moved first. She had been watching everything from the kitchen doorway, her face cycling through disbelief, fear, and something that looked like dark amusement. Now she walked to the cabinet, pulled out two glasses, and filled them with water. Her hands were steady even if her eyes were wild.

She brought the water to the two unexpected travelers. "I am sure we are gonna talk much but my father is about to come. Maybe we talk this extreme craziness later. And focus on normal crazy."

As if summoned by her words, the pounding started.

BANG BANG BANG.

"Open up Marcus. I don't want to break down your door." Mr. Pressley's voice boomed through the thin apartment door. The tone was extreme. Pure rage barely contained.

In all this abnormal situation Marcus had to deal with an angry dad and a class A hater. His head was still spinning from interdimensional travel and now he had to handle this.

Marcus was about to open the door when Tom walked up to him. The giant man's expression had shifted from wonder to protective fury in an instant. "I got you brother. If that man tries something. You are my cousin as well. I got you." He raised his fists as a gesture. The knuckles were scarred from a lifetime of fights. "Even though in this planet pulling magic feels so hard."

Marcus's surprise kept increasing. In just a few seconds Tom had adjusted to the idea of being on another planet and having another cousin Marcus. "How are you so calm? Anyway don't answer that."

Marcus pulled open the door.

Mr. Pressley stood there red as a pig, practically fuming out of his head. The veins in his neck bulged. Behind him lurked Alex with a look of pure disgust twisting his features.

"Marcus Chen. What the fuck you think you are doing." Mr. Pressley was shouting, pointing his finger, talking like a giant red Hulk. His whole body shook with rage. "We trusted you and what you did with our trust."

Then he saw Irene.

The rage flickered. Something else crossed his face. Fear. Hope. Desperation. "Irene are you okay? Let's go home huh... I will find the best help for you."

Irene didn't even get up from her seat at the kitchen table. She sat there with her arms crossed, chin lifted. "No thanks dad. Take your rabid dog and leave us alone. I will try my chances with Marcus." She winked at Marcus. "I have a feeling he has magic."

Mr. Pressley finally started looking around. His eyes landed on Tom and Valdris Marcus with their strange clothes. The confusion on his face was almost comical. "Look at this place it is like a barn. You can't live like this. I will cut your allowance and Marcus is dirt broke."

"I worked there dad. It wasn't allowance. It was my salary." Irene's voice hardened. She stood up from the table, planting her feet like she was preparing for battle. "Will I miss the comfort of the money? Probably yes. But I won't miss my emotionally unavailable dad and his manipulative, envious right hand man."

Alex stepped forward, his lip curling. "You are making a huge mistake Irene. Listen to your father."

"You have no right to be here or talk to Irene. Get out of my home Alex." Marcus positioned himself between Alex and the room. His heart hammered but he kept his voice steady.

Alex's face twisted with anger. He puffed up his chest, stepping forward to challenge Marcus, to face him down. But Tom moved.

The giant man's hand shot out faster than seemed possible for someone his size. He grabbed Alex by the collar with one massive fist, pulled him out of the apartment, and reentered the house with unexpected agility for someone his size. The whole motion took maybe two seconds.

Other people might not expect it. People who didn't know. But Marcus wasn't surprised by his quickness. What surprised him was Tom understanding the situation happening entirely in another language. Bangs came from the other side of the door but everyone ignored them.

"Who the hell are these people?" Mr. Pressley's voice had gone from rage to bewilderment. "Hey big fellow why did you push my employee? He was here to help."

"Sorry dad these are Marcus's cousins from Bulgaria." Irene delivered the lie without blinking. "They don't speak English."

Both Marcus turned to Irene at the exact same moment. "Bulgaria?" they asked in perfect unison, voices dripping with disbelief.

She shrugged.

Mr. Pressley's attention snapped back to Irene. His face cycled through emotions before settling on something like pleading. "This is no place for a recovering addict to live. Come with me and I will make sure to get you proper help."

"Sir... Mr. Pressley." Marcus stepped forward, hands raised peacefully. "She feels awful at a place like this. I will make sure she gets treatment and my cousins will leave soon... I hope."

"I don't care give me Irene," Mr. Pressley shouted.

Irene walked toward her father. The whole room tensed. Her demeanor of trying to look tough dissolved with each step. Her lip quivered. "Don't shout again. Get out of my life." She was screaming and crying now, tears streaming down her face. Her whole body shook.

Marcus moved to her side and gently pulled her back toward the kitchen. She buried her face in his shoulder.

"Marcus you don't know what kind of responsibility you are getting into." Mr. Pressley's voice had lost some of its edge. "For a nineteen year old kid this is beyond you."

"Sir.." Marcus tried to speak but Pressley continued.

"Life is not a toy. Earning enough to make your family isn't easy. On top of all of this an addict and one bad day and.... and... I might not..." His eyes watered. The big tough man crumbled before them. "Might not.. see.. my little angel.. again..." He was crying now. Shoulders shaking. Tears cutting tracks down his red face.

"Sir you don't know what kind of responsibility I am currently under." Marcus met the man's eyes. "But I can assure you I will treat Irene more delicately. You can trust me. Just give me a chance."

"What else can I do." Mr. Pressley wiped his face with the back of his hand. "She is not looking my way." He turned around and opened the door. Alex was there looking like a rabid dog, nursing his dignity.

"You just made a huge mistake Marcus. You will pay for all of this..."

"I doubt it. Goodbye Alex."

Mr. Pressley and Alex left the apartment. The door clicked shut behind them.

Marcus let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

Now that normal crazy was dealt with. It was time to solve interplanetary crazy.