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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF4g4JpPW1
"Isabelle, are you alright over there?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnPwgq6XG9
"I-I'm fine!" she calls back.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCo4pdR3AE
"Do you want me to come in?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapbyfZalD6
"N-No!"
Catherine shakes her head and walks towards the smell baked into the air.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa2gJXZ2qI
"Took you long enough." She places a plate next to an empty chair. "Where's Isabelle?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Sqj1cQFm
"In the bathroom.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5asRJJOviA
Ezra leaves another plate and speedwalks to the bathroom door.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsRyDbk9F3
"Isabelle-"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7luxIGlsQX
"J-Just a minute.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPRt0VBT5g
The door opens, and Isabelle scrambles to pull down her sleeves.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTwomMygtl
"...Did something happen?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZroUH1ina
Isabelle softly shakes her head no.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSlAKO8Iqq
The doll's piercing, scraping voice suddenly entered the room.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkNKByNtFd
"She's lying. She's trying to hide me!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ9Lx5vfnC
"N-no! G-go a-away!" Isabelle was holding her head inside her hands as more thread spilled from her sleeves.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDevIyfEde
"Don't get too frustrated. Don't want you to go insane and start stabbing people again, right?" the toy chuckled.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxw6qNCywS
"W-what?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCVewZih93
"I don't know what you are, but stop messing with her." Ezra said sternly.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmS1W69Ezl
"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~!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjwH2e30Uh
"Let her go, asshole!" Catherine yelled.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GpulCL163
"Wow, such vulgar language! I wonder how many words you can say after she sews your damn mouth shut!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvFmj0sVOY
"Try it, prick!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiTV5WWh6O
"Oooh, okay!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7Xz7j3EcO
Isabelle's expression changed from fear to anger in seconds, her scared mumbling to angered growls.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo0VWNB7iV
"Isabelle?" Ezra slowly tries to approach.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyP3m8ytNP5
Isabelle reaches for her back pocket once again.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXGHE7XY53
"Move! She's got a-" Catherine pushes Ezra out of the way, taking the jab from Isabelle's scissors.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19S910JMl5
"See? I told you!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTDR64zZmO
"Shut up.." Catherine says, holding the shoulder wound.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB3zvTCzzV
"Isabelle, that's enough." Nathaniel says, approaching her. "Or... maybe she's in the doll's control?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5L0ST6QxJ
"Damn straight! And that's only a portion of what I can do!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvV2wSTfcw
"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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYxgd6NtO1
"Catherine, I would like it if thou take her dearest sister to safety."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUPntHV8nM
"Alright, but I'm coming back. Ezra, let's go."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBYdXH4EuB
"...Be careful with her, Nathaniel."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8JB0sSM1a
"...I shall try."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NyombBPT1
The two run out of the mansion, only barely able to hear the sounds of things clattering to the floor.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUtrCBiZV5
"I'll be back, hopefully with your sister."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaEQShMTeH
"Please..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiK15BE0Zcc
Catherine runs back into the now destroyed house.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSJ3V1VfYp
"Awe, Cathie's back!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ296cqw3QUb
Catherine takes a glance at Nathaniel, scratches from the scissor jabs and slashes all over him and his shield-spear.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjstuseEFe
"Isabelle is very formidable when angered.." he says in-between shallow breaths.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkZnGujQ70
"Finally giving up, Nate?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghJyrAyyOd
"...Yes."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XdzuWgEpa
"Good! Now..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFO6sU31NT
Isabelle snaps back to her normal self, dropping the scissors.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHkOzhZ1PU
"Dawlly...never do that again..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJDVGaejn0
"How about this? I only do it when you need me to. I'll even ask, okay?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KtnvSqtZz
"...Only w-when I need to."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWsyd17P2F
"You got it boss!" the doll disappears, slipping itself inside her pocket.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGG6naoVHI
The three of them go outside, where Ezra makes sure Isabelle is okay. Isabelle assures her she's just fine.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iwP62lUdp
Catherine tapped her clock, pulled the hands forward, and the time warp opens.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLgemouzSy
"Well, let's see where this takes us. Hopefully, I can finally go home."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hEfcxCYjG
"I-I've never d-done this before.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSirxTgA1KN
"It's like walking through the door. Nothing bad's gonna happen, alright?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgxoAI4lqp
"O-okay.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmwWijpTyi
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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A4NKYMckY
"Oho! Visitors visitors!" it said, jumping up and down.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZHyIepWQc
"Oh great.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsr1nF8Kr6
"U-uhm..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxswEk99OrQ
"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!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFIjxMTbDB
"Games like what?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhjhn0YIU6
"Dodgeball perhaps?" he pulls out bells, three times as small as his spindly hands.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ564KLR1dE1
"Those are...easily avoidable." Nathaniel says, taking a better look at them.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP5aPzdKl3
Ohohoho! No, no, these are everything but avoidable!" the jester proclaimed. "Take a look and see!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaE6fg1YxjB
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?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN66KwY22K
"I'm afraid not.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Mk9JOgkhi
"Yeah, you can't really play dodgeball with high grade explosives."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzISpNwfyqA
"Oho! I don't think you understood! That was an order..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTluQwqG0Ey
"You, a jester, order me?" Nathaniel revealed his Gift.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5OMRYp0M2
"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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhelI5xsGT
"This piece of crap isn't kidding!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL67kKMjW7n
"I-I'll try to hold his arms b-back! Dawlly!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI31Q43MSYs
"Yeah yeah, I've got it." Dawlly took Isabelle's Gift, wrapping the thread around the jester's body.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyXWHmknbU
"Oooooh, not fair, not fair!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCS9v0VPBD
"Shut the hell up, you almost killed us, you better believe it's fair." Catherine snapped, dusting the ash and gunpowder from her clothing.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXrcZNSZo7
"You rulebreakers must be punished!" A loud roar came from the jester's voice. They braced themselves.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckuU3wEXBX
"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...
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ctjWGdqGo
The four of them grab ahold of their chest and faces, frantically trying to understand what happened.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdn0Eyiwjh
"Hey hey hey, don't worry, I didn't do anything to you.." the woman states. "I just took Pierrot's Tempural Spirit."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiSzheFOBh
"Is that w-what that...warm light was?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bQtcFexkh
"Mhm. I'm glad I came at the right time, too. Can't be a teacher without students, right?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneNLWxxzee
"Teacher? You mean to tell me I have to go to school here too?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTUQbHeiCG
"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..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx3Azi1GD2
"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?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeTKX8T5vc
"Well, you still need one more Prodigy in order to reach your 'breakroom', so find him and come back, okay?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSY9B6vba7
"Uuugh, fine. We'll find the stupid boy and bring him back. Where are we headed? Past? Future?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ddGn2zJGb
"Future, now hop to it."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtj2t4APh5c
"Alright, alright, but after this, I'm going home."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYghzfmqFXl
"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."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBYpu6ftkA
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...
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzvAVn5eL7
Suddenly, she was surrounded my metal bars, and a dingy atmosphere.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwrac0TLIK
"Ah, crap..." she grumbled. "...We're in prison.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QIpWItu3F
"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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztLQ5PQCQV
"Okay, splitting up inside a place like this is not a good idea.." Ezra returns.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nJ1zLAop0
"It is the only way we can cover ground. I'm sure you understand we're looking for someone in such a large facility."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4XZW6rhRS
"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."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3ytOeRRfe
"That's a b-bit complicated..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4ZVsmsu4i
"It's not as complicated as you think."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwyYb1OxMC
"Yeah, let's try this one and see.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoicjmB7zNS
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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT37jdhUKKZ
It was only after the fifth time when someone was found within these brick walls and metal bars.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrayNGLxUXw
"God, I hate this place. Why are we in prison, damnit?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36wXPVItVf
"Correction..." a boy's voice echoed. "I'm in prison. You're in a prison."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRBvkmSZ4r
"Oh shut up, smarta-"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFuVpELdaw
For once she could finally feel the Tempural Energy reaching out to her, pointing her to the person they were looking for.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvfLaqHBSM
"You. You're a Prodigy."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUbWnLvDA0
"A what now?" He begins slinging around a golden blur.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS1KSh0bsp
"Whatcha got there?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37xUvE0ecM
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."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AN3NU2hcD
"So you stole it."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkDz3mIE79
"I'll take what I can get. Now, what's a wonderful looking lady such as yourself doing here?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKufBKXuywo
"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?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZX40bP8UpK
"I'd love to take you."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OXhY7oK40
"...I hate that you'd love to take me. Now get up."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LSC7mACTf
"If I move any further than that doorframe, it shocks me. Unless you have a better idea, I'm staying right here."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF09I8QV7K
"If the problem is the doorframe, then I can just destroy it, right?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzbn1QRB0e
"...If that's what you want to do."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmOnt703Ul
"Do you have a stick or a bat or something?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6n5hCKZkc
"Nope, they confiscated my stuff before they threw me in here."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaiTtwbBpL
"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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPi5IOXfVxJ
"What the hell?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcqTkVCehH
"Got anymore good plans, Einstein?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXTQY2sbXo
"You shut up." She sternly commanded. "I'm trying to figure out how I got in here in the first place."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7f7hWoP6o
"From what I've seen, you just clipped right through. The bars didn't move a bit."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QOueX49bf
"...Let me try-"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeA2HiD8SE
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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj93ZDRJVfv
"Holy crap." she snickers. "I'm definitely pissing off Nate with this."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkAoMNdXge
"Hey, you're not helping me out by plotting whatever you're planning."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjho9qavPg
"Yeah yeah, give me a second."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAU8qHea17
She slips back through the floor and back behind bars.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOpudObMOt
"I'm gonna be honest, I don't think this is going to work."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvFUzoJ865
"Can't hurt to try though, right?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjzWnLMjZI
Catherine sighs. "Come on...try not to breathe."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgZmVXzZbj
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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eURvQHPuG
"Nice...I guess."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lS4OhL088
"Now, let's go. Please."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo7BrBZSPf
"Finally."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEEhAA3aAI
"Hey Nate! Isabelle! I found him!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZz08ypjYs
Catherine turns to the boy. "Put the stupid watch on...what's your name again?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMiuArEjX4
"Arsenio..." he letting the watch drop around his neck.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKO8IusBXGj
"Alright, we just have to wait for the others."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbKVbSvUkB
"N-no need Catherine..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7arq1xT3Wt
"Speak of the devil. Here they are."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjHOzEKiPp
"H-Hello...my name is...Isabelle..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9UToXVYor
"Arsenio..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteSeBGTC9X
"N-Nice to meet you.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9NsRCwCY4
"I haven't seen anyone for the last...five years. And two beautiful young ladies at that."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhCqDKTltc
"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."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnljnxD3901
"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.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzryz3bcyS
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!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlKhHS8bxl
"I understand, you want to go back to your normal lives, but without you, we basically have no concept of time at all."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvNq6QnRwq
"...What else could you possibly need?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsiOj6zSBn
"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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa4aPaXNvh
"This...is the Time Realm. And over there...is the home of Father Time."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshafrHEDcg
"What are we doing here, exactly?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwW1PbPHezo
"It's the Fabric of Time..." she almost mumbled. "It's ripping apart as we speak. Quickly, we mustn't waste time."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgM7JbCRAH
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.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqVcNax25S
"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..."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6ljrZa7tE
"So what can we do to fix it?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKC94D4DnV
"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.."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T6xeYtfZ2
"And what happens if we don't?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GeIzF7BsP
"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."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvV0QxphLw4
"So, mend the Fabric, and we can go home?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeyQVYp9p0
"Yes. If I could do this alone, I would."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdKwra6Fcy
Before Catherine could speak her mind, Nathaniel comes up with an answer.
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS53SsvLve
"Thou may rely on us."
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMGtQ03AAp
"Nate!"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCRH7iDleE
"Would thou rather us die without trying?"
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaafSvr6Yi
"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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