x
Catherine was just finishing unpacking her old stuff from her parents' home to a fresh apartment. She was finally going to that university she and her parents were waiting for her to go to.
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She moves things through her "living room", adjusting the dresser to be against the wall and placing her dusty family photos on it. After a bit more shuffling and placing, she sits down on her puffy couch and turns on the TV to her favorite show.
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"Finally done..." she sighed.
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Then she remembers the gift her grandparents had left her for the graduation party. Catherine told herself not to open it until she got to her apartment, but now that she was here, her curiosity finally broke her, causing her to snatch the box from the table beside her and rip open the wrapping paper.
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She slowly opened the box, and the only thing that was inside, was a brilliantly golden watch that sparkled when she rocked the box from side to side. There was also a note, written in her grandmother's handwriting.
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You have been selected as a Prodigy. Use that watch well, and have a wonderful time at university.
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"Prodigy?" She read the note over and over, trying to make sense of it. What was a Prodigy?
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She turned the card to the other side. More writing, it's seemed like directions.
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In the dead of night
Tap on the inside
Drag forward or back
Close your eyes and hold your breath
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Her cellphone started to vibrate. She picks up the phone, and holds it up against her ear.
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"Hello?"
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"Cathie!" It was Talia, her friend from high school. Her eyes lit up when she heard her voice.
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"Tal? It's been a while. How's everything doing on your end?"
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"Good. Still working on getting my stuff ready to move out, how about you?"
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"Traffic was slow as hell, but I have most of my stuff in the apartment. I have to go to the storage place tomorrow and get the rest.."
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"I could help you. We can meet up tomorrow and go together."
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"Awe, thanks," she said, twirling the golden streak of her hair. "I can go after I finish class for the day, show you this pretty watch my grandparents bought me."
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"Ooh, a watch?"
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"Yeah. Also came with this weird note. Something like directions?"
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"Weird. Your grandparents didn't say anything about it?"
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"No, I'm just opening the box, and you're the first person to call me.."
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"I dunno, maybe follow the directions and see what happens. Maybe it's how to get it set or something?"
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Catherine looked back down at the clock, realizing it hadn't moved an inch since she'd open the box.
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"You actually might be right, it's not moving...like at all."
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"I thought so. I'll let you concentrate on that and I'll call you back, okay?"
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"... Okay. See you later."
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"Bye!"
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...She looked out the window. The sky was bleeding orange through her curtains. Now was the perfect time to see what she what these instructions really did.
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She tapped the middle of the clock as instructed. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and slides her fingertip counterclockwise.
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A wave of wind blew past her hair and almost knocked her down.
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"What the-"
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She reaches for the window to shut it from this hurricane blowing the papers in her room, until she realized. There was no way wind could be blowing past her. The window was closed.
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Catherine was even more confused now, frantically looking around to figure out what was happening. She could see the air around her warp into faces and memories of the past. Her living room shimmered a dim and faded blue. There was a blinding light, calling her to come closer.
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"Holy crap..." she said underneath her breath. "I guess I'm supposed to...go in?"
She takes a step towards it, the sound of the now shattered floor crackling beneath her feet. Then, she carefully walked towards the light.
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It felt as if she walked past a doorframe.
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"Grandma, Grandad, what the hell did you get me into..?"
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Catherine was outside, a large wall in the distance and music playing. Swaying next to her was a thin tree bearing large apples on almost every branch.
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"...Well, if I'm gonna stay here forever, I might as well get a snack..."
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Forcefully, she started to kick and ram into the tree, causing something larger than a couple apples fall out. At least a big one fell right beside her.
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"I hope that wasn't a dead body..." she half jokes, taking a bite of her newly obtained snack.
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It was a body, but he was very much alive.
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"A very comical jester thou are..." He says with clenched teeth as he gets up.
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She almost choked on the bite she was chewing on.
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"Jesus Christ!"
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"...Art thou okay?"
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"You could've told me you were in that stupid tree!"
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"I was asleep..."
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"...Who the hell sleeps in a tree?!"
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"...I shall ask again..art thou okay?"
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"I don't even know where I am!"
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"...I see.." The boy takes a look at Catherine's watch, which was swinging around her neck, only to for Catherine to jump to conclusions and slap him as hard as hard as she could.
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"What's your problem?!"
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"I was admiring your clock. I have no interest in you."
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He pulls a golden chain from his garments and revealing another sparkling golden watch, identical to her own.
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"My name is Nathaniel. It seems thou art also a Prodigy..."
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"Prodigy?"
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"A Prodigy is a time traveler and protector of Time itself. This ability is gifted to one of Prodigious blood before them."
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This was so unbelievable to her, but to be honest, so had everything else.
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"Well, if I'm freely able to time travel, I should be able to get back home, right?"
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"...No, not necessarily. If thou go to a time too far, thou won't have enough Tempural Energy to go back to thine own. Thou will need to travel to a closer time.."
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"Does that mean I'm stuck with you?"
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"If thou wants to survive, thou might want to stay with me."
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"I can't tell if you're being sincere or a damn creep.."
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He creates a sword from nowhere and places it's deathly sharp edge close to her throat.
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"Does thou want to die here from starvation?"
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"Are you seriously going to kill me if I don't go with you?"
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"No, that was for attempting to insult me.."
He lets it go, where it fades away into metallic dust, pulling her up.
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"Now, if thou wants to survive, I would suggest you follow me.." he says walking away.
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"Fine. But do something weird and I'll beat the hell out of you."
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"We must be far aroint from the commoners. We mustn't expose ourself."
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"Yeah yeah, secret organization and whatnot. Just hurry up so I can go home,"
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Nathaniel, with his own watch, does the same movements. The time warp appears, brilliantly blue and whispering just as before.
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"Ladies first..." He leads Catherine inside.
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"Ugh.." she stomps into the warp, dragging him by the cravat with her.
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This new time period. It was definitely more industrial, and in the front of them was an worn, abandoned mansion, the windows covered by wooden planks.
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"...Maybe it's better looking indoors?"
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Catherine walks up to the menacing house, but as soon as she knocked on the splintered door, it creaked open.
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"...Come on Nate, door's open."
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"Nate?"
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"It's a nickname. Just hurry up."
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"Why don't thou go by thyself?"
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"Because. You have weapon powers. What if this place is full of gangsters or something?"
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"Fine...however, I shan't be responsible for thou."
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"Just shut up and come in."
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The walk across the wooden floor,9 screeching every step they took.
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"What does thou plan to find?"
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"We can stay here for the night, and we get out the next morning."
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"In this rodent infested place?"
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"It's better than outside, isn't it?"
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They hear another creaking door from somewhere from above the crooked stairs.
Suddenly realizing someone was here, they hid behind a dusty, dingy, couch.
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Shaky footsteps follow.
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"E-Ezra?" A girl's soft voice echoed. She flicks on the barely functioning lights, only slightly brightening the room enough to see.
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Just before the girl could come towards them, Nathaniel jumps up and chokeholds her. The girl appropriately screams, struggling to break free.
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"Nathaniel, what the hell?"
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"If she wants to survive, she'll stop screaming."
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Catherine sees the girl reaching for something from her back pocket...
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The girl takes her object and jams it into his arm, allowing herself to escape. Nathaniel pulls the object, a pair of scissors, out of his arm.
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"H-How did you get here? Who are you?"
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Catherine slowly gets up from her kneeling position. "The door was open when we knocked. We didn't break-...well, we did, but we thought it was abandoned..."
The front door swings open. An older woman runs in and throws Nathaniel and Catherine out of the way.
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"E-Ezra!"
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"Isabelle! Are you alright?!"
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"I'm o-okay,"
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"Good, good.." The woman, supposedly named Ezra, lets her go. She turns to the two, her expression changes from a caring mother figure to a ball of rage.
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"What...are you doing here?"
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"We just wanted a place to stay for the night.."
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"And you think attacking my sister is a reason why I should let you stay?"
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"We thought the place was-"
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Ezra pulls out a knife and points it towards Catherine's neck.
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"... Isabelle?"
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"Mhm?"
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"What should we do?"
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"...If t-they need a p-place to stay...I don't mind letting them stay in my room.."
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"...You're too sweet." She removes the knife and slips it back into her bag. "Show them upstairs. Scream if anything happens."
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Isabelle nods carefully hops up the stairs and disappears into the shadows of the dimmed house.
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The duo carefully follows her. Isabelle grabs the stairs to the attic.
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"Damn, you live in the attic?"
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"It's very spacious up here..." she responds, carefully climbing up.
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Isabelle was right, the attic was extremely spacious, but that space was filled row to row with porcelain dolls.
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Catherine hated the things, their uncanny faces and glassy eyes intimidated her. She carefully walked up, the attic emitting a stuffy, but aromatic mist upon her face. That didn't stop her from cringing at the collection, though.
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"I found them when we moved here..." Isabelle stated, her voice a slight echo. "My little sister loved them, so I fixed them for her to play with.."
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"If you don't mind me asking..." Catherine started. "Where is she now?"
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Isabelle went silent. "I d-don't want to t-think about it..."
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Isabelle then sits in her lofty bed, in the more immense part of the attic. Dolls and stuffed animals decorated the
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The two Prodigies sit down on the wooden floor next to it.
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"You d-don't have to sit on the floor."
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"I mean, this guy sleeps in trees like a goddamn sloth, so maybe the floor is an improvement.." Catherine quipped. Nathaniel angrily stares in response.
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"A-anyways..." Isabelle interrupts. "How did you two get here?"
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"If the Tempural Energy brought us here..." Nathaniel thinks aloud.
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"That means one of them is a Prodigy, right?"
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"Most likely..."
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"P-Prodigy?"
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They both pull out their golden watches. "You haven't seen a clock like these have you?"
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"It seems...familiar..." Isabelle instantly gets up and rummages through a desk full of needles, thread, and fabric, when she stops and pulls out another identical watch from the drawer.
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"At first, I t-thought it was just a normal pocket watch my father had forgotten..."
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"Huh. Well, I guess that answers our question.."
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"S-so does that m-mean I can go with you two?"
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"Considering that your sister isn't too keen on letting us stay here in the first place, I don't think asking her is a good idea."
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"D-do have to ask Ezra?"
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"Ask me what?" the sound of the older sister's voice boomed throughout the attic.
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Isabelle finally spoke up. "I-I want to go with them!"
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"...If that's what you're going to do.." she fully stands up from the opening. "then I'm going with you. Prodigious or not."
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"Would that even work?" Nathaniel asks.
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"It wouldn't h-hurt to t-try..."
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"...If thou insists.."
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"But seriously, you three head to bed. I want sleep too."
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"Okay..." Isabelle calls out. "Goodnight."
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"Goodnight.."
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And with that, Ezra left the attic, sliding down the ladder with fading footsteps. Isabelle throws a couple blankets and pillows their way.
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Lights leak through the planks of the roof the mansion the next morning. The stuffy perfume was instantly overpowered by the smell of warm breakfast cooking downstairs. That was enough to wake the three of them.
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"Good morning you two..." Catherine says, stretching the tired out her body.
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Nathaniel was already sipping a cup of coffee. "This drink is surprisingly...bitter.."
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"Well, you're supposed to drink with milk or sugar if you don't like it bitter."
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"I think w-we have some downstairs.." Isabelle informed, head slightly poking from out of her thick comforter and quilt. She then pulls the blankets off and steps out, stretching herself and stepping down to the floor. Catherine had seen something peek out from the opening behind Isabelle, just out of the corner of her eye.
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"Hey, Isabelle. I think one of your dolls is caught on your clothes.."
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"O-Oh? That's never h-happened before..." she reaches behind her. "I c-can't reach it.."
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Catherine sighs, walks over to the girl, and attempts to pull the plush cat, adorned with a creepy stitched grin, off of her back. But when she tugged, the thing angrily screamed and gripped tighter.
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"What the hell?!"
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"Hey hey hey!" the thing said with an angry tone. "Don't pull on me! You'll rip my fabric, you idiot!"
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Catherine stepped back in astonishment.
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"D-Dawlly?"
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"Heya Izzy!"
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"B-But..."
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"What? You think my memory died with your sister?"
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Isabelle starts to go slowly down the rest of the stairs, continuously asking the talking and asking the doll questions. Catherine followed behind, eavesdropping on their conversation.
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"What are...you doing here?"
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"Apparently, I'm your new Gift! Look look!"
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Thin black thread ran between Isabelle's fingers, wrapping around her arms and up her neck.
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"Pretty cool right?" the doll asked, smiling from ear to ear.
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"...I need to wash the sleep from my face.." Isabelle runs like a bolt of lightning to another part of the hall. Catherine hears water running, a splash, whispering, another splash, whispering again.
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"Isabelle, are you alright over there?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh26a3NwWuc
"I-I'm fine!" she calls back.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJb35fHJNA
"Do you want me to come in?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpFwegUNTv
"N-No!"
Catherine shakes her head and walks towards the smell baked into the air.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLWpLLA35E
"Took you long enough." She places a plate next to an empty chair. "Where's Isabelle?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgKG569Swh
"In the bathroom.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95wLwIzhyL
Ezra leaves another plate and speedwalks to the bathroom door.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuHacfVfQ9
"Isabelle-"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeUSRE2Ufg
"J-Just a minute.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQp5EXCXvq
The door opens, and Isabelle scrambles to pull down her sleeves.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWvu14gKSP
"...Did something happen?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4trchYZNWw
Isabelle softly shakes her head no.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pw7lP8fqa
The doll's piercing, scraping voice suddenly entered the room.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TQBPQhgkY
"She's lying. She's trying to hide me!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qW0WQM1kO
"N-no! G-go a-away!" Isabelle was holding her head inside her hands as more thread spilled from her sleeves.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOkNwZz3ny
"Don't get too frustrated. Don't want you to go insane and start stabbing people again, right?" the toy chuckled.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUzJWQzEM5
"W-what?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSE4JZBwwi
"I don't know what you are, but stop messing with her." Ezra said sternly.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2XXGhE0kV
"You don't want to attack me either. I'm attached to her soul now, and you won't like her when I make her angry~!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeflp5T7YR
"Let her go, asshole!" Catherine yelled.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKkA3VbMy9
"Wow, such vulgar language! I wonder how many words you can say after she sews your damn mouth shut!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iLwAj4iSI
"Try it, prick!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ocu51CQpn
"Oooh, okay!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ehdkEqV1X
Isabelle's expression changed from fear to anger in seconds, her scared mumbling to angered growls.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAgA1dd47f
"Isabelle?" Ezra slowly tries to approach.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQ1fSVRklG
Isabelle reaches for her back pocket once again.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UTeH2OSme
"Move! She's got a-" Catherine pushes Ezra out of the way, taking the jab from Isabelle's scissors.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1V1w3aosu
"See? I told you!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSK9GZ00ll
"Shut up.." Catherine says, holding the shoulder wound.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XRMGqF1jI
"Isabelle, that's enough." Nathaniel says, approaching her. "Or... maybe she's in the doll's control?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYQ2kmj98T
"Damn straight! And that's only a portion of what I can do!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKW7Va2ZUs
"I see.." Nathaniel states, showing his own Gift. A large, metal, thorn shaped shield adorned his right arm, sharp enough to cut the air around it.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6HVC383vs
"Catherine, I would like it if thou take her dearest sister to safety."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrb2sPqI4n4
"Alright, but I'm coming back. Ezra, let's go."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdzOjVRprj
"...Be careful with her, Nathaniel."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwBOdWCA5S
"...I shall try."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABiBO0T52J
The two run out of the mansion, only barely able to hear the sounds of things clattering to the floor.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5zDO8lyED
"I'll be back, hopefully with your sister."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqkc7Xhp2u
"Please..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKYdzR9Apf
Catherine runs back into the now destroyed house.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xEBOSYuD6
"Awe, Cathie's back!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUWpQMrUL7
Catherine takes a glance at Nathaniel, scratches from the scissor jabs and slashes all over him and his shield-spear.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4PI3V5mm3
"Isabelle is very formidable when angered.." he says in-between shallow breaths.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpW9InvlnK
"Finally giving up, Nate?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVM5scLRzA
"...Yes."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhSHPlHEGM
"Good! Now..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TqncJL7XZ
Isabelle snaps back to her normal self, dropping the scissors.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuU78atRK9
"Dawlly...never do that again..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3EBcb2EEC
"How about this? I only do it when you need me to. I'll even ask, okay?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrZcPFkxPg
"...Only w-when I need to."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqD2TZLIDg
"You got it boss!" the doll disappears, slipping itself inside her pocket.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnLVzddFd4
The three of them go outside, where Ezra makes sure Isabelle is okay. Isabelle assures her she's just fine.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWuFyZaEbE
Catherine tapped her clock, pulled the hands forward, and the time warp opens.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDInTXMt83
"Well, let's see where this takes us. Hopefully, I can finally go home."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn086SCaZ5r
"I-I've never d-done this before.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8RAPGwcH1
"It's like walking through the door. Nothing bad's gonna happen, alright?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJB7ukd2Ta
"O-okay.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPa0MZ4w22
And with that small exchange of words, the four of them went through the time warp, but instead of a different Time Period like they were expecting, it was a small pocket dimension. And inside...was a giggly, eccentric white-faced jester, covered in makeup and vibrant colored clothing.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5xR9Z44tv
"Oho! Visitors visitors!" it said, jumping up and down.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oJcOPkFKL
"Oh great.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscLI9Bl1ZU
"U-uhm..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X8Ag1FwH3
"What's the matter? Afraid of lil' old me?" it's crescent moon like smile only got wider. "I know plenty of games that'll get you nice and warmed up to me!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9GvTP0qCy
"Games like what?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHreWAOqKsn
"Dodgeball perhaps?" he pulls out bells, three times as small as his spindly hands.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAP4uqo8lH
"Those are...easily avoidable." Nathaniel says, taking a better look at them.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5A91FUMFH
Ohohoho! No, no, these are everything but avoidable!" the jester proclaimed. "Take a look and see!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4Ff2bUQYK
The jester threw them behind himself. Then, a loud boom emanated from every corner. A burning ball of orange and red roared behind. "So, let's get playin', shall we?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi40X25B3GI
"I'm afraid not.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2ZK4cpoS1
"Yeah, you can't really play dodgeball with high grade explosives."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYOLKMojVl
"Oho! I don't think you understood! That was an order..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7wOJBLHiI
"You, a jester, order me?" Nathaniel revealed his Gift.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMfGX3uq6X
"That's the rule of the game!" the jester throws the bomb from every angle it can with such agility, leaving the four to barely escape the explosions.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mRFamlLg4
"This piece of crap isn't kidding!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmv09NiAKq
"I-I'll try to hold his arms b-back! Dawlly!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OX6LId7QK
"Yeah yeah, I've got it." Dawlly took Isabelle's Gift, wrapping the thread around the jester's body.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyavcIRcfW
"Oooooh, not fair, not fair!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bbkni29zk
"Shut the hell up, you almost killed us, you better believe it's fair." Catherine snapped, dusting the ash and gunpowder from her clothing.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwJQdjOK0p
"You rulebreakers must be punished!" A loud roar came from the jester's voice. They braced themselves.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKAzGQ1VgS
"Tempus: Cessatio!" another voice called out. Suddenly, it felt as if time itself had stopped. Catherine and the others couldn't move. In their frozen state, they saw a woman, floating there in front of them. Going in front of their assailant, the woman tears a warm, brilliant light from the jester's chest, and slips it into her bag. She snaps her fingers, and suddenly...
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWOFqiI1fy
The four of them grab ahold of their chest and faces, frantically trying to understand what happened.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayZc4MEGWb
"Hey hey hey, don't worry, I didn't do anything to you.." the woman states. "I just took Pierrot's Tempural Spirit."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjzyC5dDD1
"Is that w-what that...warm light was?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lZeZdTWLs
"Mhm. I'm glad I came at the right time, too. Can't be a teacher without students, right?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9s1O0jJEB
"Teacher? You mean to tell me I have to go to school here too?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEOhkzXbpl
"Eh, somewhat. My name's Verna, by the way. I keep watch of the Time Realm while Father Time is away. Now, for your next mission..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUOdnxQmZj
"Mission? We literally almost got blown to smithereens by clown boy over there, don't you think we need a little bit of a break?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCoWmZ1lPC
"Well, you still need one more Prodigy in order to reach your 'breakroom', so find him and come back, okay?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnJ6nbfsHt
"Uuugh, fine. We'll find the stupid boy and bring him back. Where are we headed? Past? Future?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr1VSM5RUl
"Future, now hop to it."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b1ixDtkCT
"Alright, alright, but after this, I'm going home."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYjNTHMdi5
"If you so desire.." Verna gladly drags Pierrot to the time warp and chucks him in. "I'll see you guys later. Don't die."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprNWLWIodT
Catherine hoped this was the last time she had to travel around. The after affects of it was starting to hit her, but nonetheless, she did the thing threw herself in, and...
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJXEq1snhU
Suddenly, she was surrounded my metal bars, and a dingy atmosphere.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDa5YekKKwh
"Ah, crap..." she grumbled. "...We're in prison.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SFw5znZ2j
"We shall split up. I go west, Isabelle and Ezra go east, and Catherine, thou go north."
Nathaniel states, pointing them in the right direction.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvpNTqzOcR
"Okay, splitting up inside a place like this is not a good idea.." Ezra returns.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0Dh7ee2aT
"It is the only way we can cover ground. I'm sure you understand we're looking for someone in such a large facility."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub4ZQ53ssU
"If this was a horror movie, we'd be dead. If we split up, we get lost and can't get to the others if we need them." Catherine adds. "The best way is to go down to every four way, and try your plan. We go down each of the halls, if we don't find the guy, we come back, go down to the next four way, repeat."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWRQRFHfiq
"That's a b-bit complicated..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg2mHP45Z9
"It's not as complicated as you think."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97qLXEJP6Z
"Yeah, let's try this one and see.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n1n1s44t2
They try it on the first four-way they come across, but all the cages in the halls were empty. They try the second one, same thing there. The third time, but to no avail.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw86nVQkn2
It was only after the fifth time when someone was found within these brick walls and metal bars.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JPKh3JIgN
"God, I hate this place. Why are we in prison, damnit?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc5tKaMbLV
"Correction..." a boy's voice echoed. "I'm in prison. You're in a prison."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMsSJhekgQ
"Oh shut up, smarta-"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOidz8vXBa
For once she could finally feel the Tempural Energy reaching out to her, pointing her to the person they were looking for.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyqFdjssUo
"You. You're a Prodigy."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBWVICXwtI
"A what now?" He begins slinging around a golden blur.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCyLOuunQ5
"Whatcha got there?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv6JdCnFZo
He stops twirling the thing around his finger. "It's a watch or something. I just liked the way it looked. I'm a bit of a kleptomaniac."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY82kbP8NZO
"So you stole it."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjjRsTGWq9
"I'll take what I can get. Now, what's a wonderful looking lady such as yourself doing here?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtO7qcyAgp8
"Oi, d-don't flirt with me!" Catherine sputtered. "I'm here to get you, and then I'm going home, that's it, alright?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XW51Gd0Sa
"I'd love to take you."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPTOnUZTxH
"...I hate that you'd love to take me. Now get up."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7mpTHNgmP
"If I move any further than that doorframe, it shocks me. Unless you have a better idea, I'm staying right here."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxJq8cGHAc
"If the problem is the doorframe, then I can just destroy it, right?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrmanJcBNk
"...If that's what you want to do."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJvunlZK8c
"Do you have a stick or a bat or something?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xvf6bKz1F
"Nope, they confiscated my stuff before they threw me in here."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWlLUNahao
"Then I'll just break it by hand." Catherine states. She walks up to the bars, starts kicking at the bars to, at least, loosen them, but suddenly... she's on the other side.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66CtEoVTAx
"What the hell?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8sMj7d3O2
"Got anymore good plans, Einstein?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DzuLYrVW2
"You shut up." She sternly commanded. "I'm trying to figure out how I got in here in the first place."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzt61BpVJ63
"From what I've seen, you just clipped right through. The bars didn't move a bit."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi4oYu3j6E
"...Let me try-"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2gK3WWCuG
As if on cue, she falls through the floor, unaware of her newly obtained Gift. It was like swimming through water, as she gracefully glided through the solid rock floor. She peeks out from the floor, finally discovering her ability, Phasing.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmKHOdAZtV
"Holy crap." she snickers. "I'm definitely pissing off Nate with this."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WgnIstcGG
"Hey, you're not helping me out by plotting whatever you're planning."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbkSOcARXa
"Yeah yeah, give me a second."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtjDSE5Jot
She slips back through the floor and back behind bars.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSe6n77ypgg
"I'm gonna be honest, I don't think this is going to work."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaLkXA8rKf
"Can't hurt to try though, right?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUy16wm1ng
Catherine sighs. "Come on...try not to breathe."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0fFG9tI8K
She unwillingly grabs the guy's hand, and activates her ability. On the other side, she throws him out first, then climbs up after him.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw2yExVGV8
"Nice...I guess."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUWUPm3EOU
"Now, let's go. Please."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeAOZkjzC0
"Finally."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XQZrHaObO
"Hey Nate! Isabelle! I found him!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjghOLldj3a
Catherine turns to the boy. "Put the stupid watch on...what's your name again?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNirlAYXn1
"Arsenio..." he letting the watch drop around his neck.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3v3V6FhrWa
"Alright, we just have to wait for the others."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRvY7k5q7L
"N-no need Catherine..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL6yBERMDr
"Speak of the devil. Here they are."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONuZQH4Qn4
"H-Hello...my name is...Isabelle..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAfIXAtxmh
"Arsenio..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUA5v3i85v
"N-Nice to meet you.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEOIn7JZBO
"I haven't seen anyone for the last...five years. And two beautiful young ladies at that."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5rzy6DtzJ
"Let's skip the pickup lines and get out of this place, please?" Catherine rushed. " I have classes tomorrow, and you people are wasting precious time."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl64EIrNzyq
"Actually, you guys won't be staying home for long." Verna's voice echoed through the dingy halls. "I'm sure you'll miss your friends and family, but the Time Realm really needs your help.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiAVhIddyH
Catherine groans. "I don't want to keep moving around different points in time! I'm getting sick just walking through the stupid portals and whatnot!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoGYWSVN3J
"I understand, you want to go back to your normal lives, but without you, we basically have no concept of time at all."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGonFb3GTq1
"...What else could you possibly need?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRs9qsyEGmD
"I need you five to come with me.." Verna's usual bubbly tone grew stern and serious in a heartbeat as she opened another time warp, guiding them inside. They walk out the other side, to an almost heaven-like place.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeUrWCpKIO
"This...is the Time Realm. And over there...is the home of Father Time."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerFu24vLZ2
"What are we doing here, exactly?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkBaNFIC2A
"It's the Fabric of Time..." she almost mumbled. "It's ripping apart as we speak. Quickly, we mustn't waste time."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45crmVT7Va
The Prodigies ran as fast as they could, following Verna to a secret room, and when she opened the door, the mess of what seemed to be the Fabric of Time floated within.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt871UNXTg
"This is where we keep logs of events of the past and future, and without them, the events that helped become you will disappear and..."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE8H2bH9W1
"So what can we do to fix it?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJQavTzM46
"The Timebreakers are probably a cause, pocket dimensions do tend to warp the timeline quite a bit. Stop them, and we might be able to mend it enough to solve the other part and heal it completely.."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjKo2r76De
"And what happens if we don't?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHZKLGzME5
"I'm afraid the concept of time would be lost. No night, no day, no anything, the world...no, the universe would be destroyed if there's space but no time."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkTRkSjoNI
"So, mend the Fabric, and we can go home?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq3VglTbOL
"Yes. If I could do this alone, I would."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsOy6cRg8G
Before Catherine could speak her mind, Nathaniel comes up with an answer.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT36GZRegkl
"Thou may rely on us."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVGo7Oj8Yz
"Nate!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuOSKzZlde
"Would thou rather us die without trying?"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITn0zL3UwE
"No, but have you seen what the stupid jester did? We almost died back th-"
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"Dying is not something I am afraid of. If thy cowardice is what is holding thou back," he turns his back towards her. "Then maybe thou should not be a Prodigy after all."
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Walking towards the door, he looks back towards the Timekeeper. "Does thou have any rooms for us to stay in?"
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"...Ah, yes. This way.."
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Verna gracefully leads them out, closing the door as she peeked inside. She approaches another door, places her own, slightly larger watch into the divot in it's center.
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As the door slowly opened, Catherine heard the clicking of the gears as the two parts glided from each other.
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The room was strangely comfortable to the five when they finally dropped where they were standing.
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"Finally!" Catherine exclaimed. "I can finally sit the hell down!"
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"Get comfortable, because this is where you're going to sleep every night until the Fabric of Time is fixed."
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"I can deal with that." Arsenio states, lounging on one of the beds. "Now, how about some snacks? I'm starving.."
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"Yeah yeah, I'll get you teens something to snack on. Just...don't destroy anything, alright?" Verna replies.
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"O-okay.."
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Verna leaves them in the spacious room.
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Isabelle gets to sewing and knitting with Ezra helping her, Nathaniel starts to read a book, and Arsenio tinkers with his handcuffs. Catherine watches as they do their own hobbies and starts to do her own, writing short paragraphs in her notebook. She enjoyed as her slightly cursive handwriting inked on the paper as she wrote about some ideas she had rattling in her head.
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She looked at the others. The paragraph's words entered her head as she saw what each were doing.
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Catherine wrote and erased, thinking of other ways she could rephrase it. It took forever for her concentrated mind to slow down and fall asleep, and just before she gave up, she noticed everyone else, items in hand, asleep comfortably in beds.
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"Heh." she chuckled. "I can finish this later." Catherine slips the now dull pencil into the book's crease before shutting it closed, pulling the blanket over herself, and finally closing her eyes.
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To be continued in Prodigy: Casters of Time: Chapter 2
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