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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9WCOMk5st
"Isabelle, are you alright over there?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ArfypmCIm
"I-I'm fine!" she calls back.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjg6cqXFiD
"Do you want me to come in?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMBImRHneP
"N-No!"
Catherine shakes her head and walks towards the smell baked into the air.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kde3ZO4gv
"Took you long enough." She places a plate next to an empty chair. "Where's Isabelle?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4I898I8TsY
"In the bathroom.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJCmMbKzqO
Ezra leaves another plate and speedwalks to the bathroom door.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpdUG3jGml
"Isabelle-"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtf4PWNY8hr
"J-Just a minute.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUqiBuUax9
The door opens, and Isabelle scrambles to pull down her sleeves.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WrGKeqEe1
"...Did something happen?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJe2OrFDec
Isabelle softly shakes her head no.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjD0Z02vBR
The doll's piercing, scraping voice suddenly entered the room.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzchDJutwK
"She's lying. She's trying to hide me!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcUKpPInIn
"N-no! G-go a-away!" Isabelle was holding her head inside her hands as more thread spilled from her sleeves.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgrieeeLBL
"Don't get too frustrated. Don't want you to go insane and start stabbing people again, right?" the toy chuckled.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiNuxxJp4q
"W-what?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFQ63wzJQa
"I don't know what you are, but stop messing with her." Ezra said sternly.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gk5XWSqub
"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~!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4syxHFvknc
"Let her go, asshole!" Catherine yelled.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl0luavTZg
"Wow, such vulgar language! I wonder how many words you can say after she sews your damn mouth shut!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCDOoTtY3v
"Try it, prick!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEkMmAvXGU
"Oooh, okay!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJi3AVAIZvx
Isabelle's expression changed from fear to anger in seconds, her scared mumbling to angered growls.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYPnXhx1kc
"Isabelle?" Ezra slowly tries to approach.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHla08GTEWb
Isabelle reaches for her back pocket once again.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RKvaNCsY9
"Move! She's got a-" Catherine pushes Ezra out of the way, taking the jab from Isabelle's scissors.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWR0vRfGNB
"See? I told you!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglgCs51iQL
"Shut up.." Catherine says, holding the shoulder wound.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw07hUaovo
"Isabelle, that's enough." Nathaniel says, approaching her. "Or... maybe she's in the doll's control?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RwCbGKyMu
"Damn straight! And that's only a portion of what I can do!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOZiydCQ9z
"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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtipYoypwOt
"Catherine, I would like it if thou take her dearest sister to safety."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7WuscFu1O
"Alright, but I'm coming back. Ezra, let's go."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR0PEpDS2N
"...Be careful with her, Nathaniel."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgvccfwg67
"...I shall try."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJE0dQnIw5
The two run out of the mansion, only barely able to hear the sounds of things clattering to the floor.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgLfBzNaD2
"I'll be back, hopefully with your sister."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgJQJf3yLe
"Please..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fDto1NSZJ
Catherine runs back into the now destroyed house.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV57SvO9cmq
"Awe, Cathie's back!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIEJAB1BtL
Catherine takes a glance at Nathaniel, scratches from the scissor jabs and slashes all over him and his shield-spear.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bhyGdfQWz
"Isabelle is very formidable when angered.." he says in-between shallow breaths.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjG4HZMRGB
"Finally giving up, Nate?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy8v63ijU3
"...Yes."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzQ60Je3mn
"Good! Now..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh1qg9dGsQ
Isabelle snaps back to her normal self, dropping the scissors.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡampptL8ePW
"Dawlly...never do that again..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVC4yCyLJX
"How about this? I only do it when you need me to. I'll even ask, okay?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH5auzHw3V
"...Only w-when I need to."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE6QY9i9Kw
"You got it boss!" the doll disappears, slipping itself inside her pocket.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLHLWeAO2R
The three of them go outside, where Ezra makes sure Isabelle is okay. Isabelle assures her she's just fine.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZfAyc7K4b
Catherine tapped her clock, pulled the hands forward, and the time warp opens.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mbWLOkQzj
"Well, let's see where this takes us. Hopefully, I can finally go home."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMulJReWDZ
"I-I've never d-done this before.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0gxkuzV4s
"It's like walking through the door. Nothing bad's gonna happen, alright?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFdSoFKs2D
"O-okay.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDvV1O9iih
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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXE19qE0bn
"Oho! Visitors visitors!" it said, jumping up and down.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWzL9BgHNm
"Oh great.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHlfENASAN
"U-uhm..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxyRQU5mIY
"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!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0YmIueyRw
"Games like what?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6eIRkjJ8m
"Dodgeball perhaps?" he pulls out bells, three times as small as his spindly hands.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uvJJXTqyM
"Those are...easily avoidable." Nathaniel says, taking a better look at them.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQJfzJooSv
Ohohoho! No, no, these are everything but avoidable!" the jester proclaimed. "Take a look and see!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVX519F6i7
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?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhsDQNqOsL
"I'm afraid not.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcB9hQfWkB
"Yeah, you can't really play dodgeball with high grade explosives."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF97ul2F9ZB
"Oho! I don't think you understood! That was an order..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E5RZcEC8l
"You, a jester, order me?" Nathaniel revealed his Gift.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4brXRfLp4s
"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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Osy2CFd8p
"This piece of crap isn't kidding!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrFtbJ0k8J
"I-I'll try to hold his arms b-back! Dawlly!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaZOV4Rx7E
"Yeah yeah, I've got it." Dawlly took Isabelle's Gift, wrapping the thread around the jester's body.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPfK6BELHI
"Oooooh, not fair, not fair!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIFkI2Utrv
"Shut the hell up, you almost killed us, you better believe it's fair." Catherine snapped, dusting the ash and gunpowder from her clothing.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRT9XJJhE1n
"You rulebreakers must be punished!" A loud roar came from the jester's voice. They braced themselves.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxJhvknN4a
"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...
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNieVq0p7e
The four of them grab ahold of their chest and faces, frantically trying to understand what happened.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzQcOPyfKw
"Hey hey hey, don't worry, I didn't do anything to you.." the woman states. "I just took Pierrot's Tempural Spirit."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDyIDWbKn1
"Is that w-what that...warm light was?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztmNdlVbCO
"Mhm. I'm glad I came at the right time, too. Can't be a teacher without students, right?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZjhnGZTXI
"Teacher? You mean to tell me I have to go to school here too?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtURBStpDbC
"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..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXn21vcGht
"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?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcQh3m6rna
"Well, you still need one more Prodigy in order to reach your 'breakroom', so find him and come back, okay?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PPK7WQzw5
"Uuugh, fine. We'll find the stupid boy and bring him back. Where are we headed? Past? Future?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmi09tGxAgN
"Future, now hop to it."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT0iDODr1B
"Alright, alright, but after this, I'm going home."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o7fbEh38g
"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."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhwVzoOHOo
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...
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzkHZxij2I
Suddenly, she was surrounded my metal bars, and a dingy atmosphere.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPOcRpix2N
"Ah, crap..." she grumbled. "...We're in prison.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGrA5dph6N
"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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Dpvo0WRSe
"Okay, splitting up inside a place like this is not a good idea.." Ezra returns.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8kiUVEDYy
"It is the only way we can cover ground. I'm sure you understand we're looking for someone in such a large facility."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jSJvist5o
"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."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0CPuzIHth
"That's a b-bit complicated..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuaImvFCEr
"It's not as complicated as you think."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKtWSAdMHe
"Yeah, let's try this one and see.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVjZHQT5eV
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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ColJEJTR8
It was only after the fifth time when someone was found within these brick walls and metal bars.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK99BP2WuLh
"God, I hate this place. Why are we in prison, damnit?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ROAGKZC3S
"Correction..." a boy's voice echoed. "I'm in prison. You're in a prison."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilPavUDQZt
"Oh shut up, smarta-"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRsmL9C8Jo
For once she could finally feel the Tempural Energy reaching out to her, pointing her to the person they were looking for.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYI29IGtph
"You. You're a Prodigy."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfqoUhxDvH
"A what now?" He begins slinging around a golden blur.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM2BvuRTNn
"Whatcha got there?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6rkjRNVsF
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."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08WhViVqQl
"So you stole it."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYC0NCAUFh
"I'll take what I can get. Now, what's a wonderful looking lady such as yourself doing here?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHv1a8HmZ3I
"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?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiohWvLLcf
"I'd love to take you."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY8ZOgk7qD
"...I hate that you'd love to take me. Now get up."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauaneGXNub
"If I move any further than that doorframe, it shocks me. Unless you have a better idea, I'm staying right here."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcUMPwLvvC
"If the problem is the doorframe, then I can just destroy it, right?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAgjlebIxq
"...If that's what you want to do."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nLsSwYigi
"Do you have a stick or a bat or something?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8stuMPP11
"Nope, they confiscated my stuff before they threw me in here."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjogKmCuoWt
"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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnyYh2KMJR
"What the hell?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnZiOMIt5n
"Got anymore good plans, Einstein?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOakBuGnsJK
"You shut up." She sternly commanded. "I'm trying to figure out how I got in here in the first place."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQBOsKRTRU
"From what I've seen, you just clipped right through. The bars didn't move a bit."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9XJzienVA
"...Let me try-"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVpBR0meWt
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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdq6kKuc7je
"Holy crap." she snickers. "I'm definitely pissing off Nate with this."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDmlECtvjp
"Hey, you're not helping me out by plotting whatever you're planning."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8L9faNIx3K
"Yeah yeah, give me a second."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFdSPH7uNh
She slips back through the floor and back behind bars.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0z8Nr4LQW
"I'm gonna be honest, I don't think this is going to work."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngQTxGyW7N
"Can't hurt to try though, right?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYmO7jb8Bz
Catherine sighs. "Come on...try not to breathe."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUq1zHq9mU
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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNdrgJHspJ
"Nice...I guess."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFTR8Gvx05
"Now, let's go. Please."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHTrRhiSbI
"Finally."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHeIeuGeqZ
"Hey Nate! Isabelle! I found him!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Paped0f0e
Catherine turns to the boy. "Put the stupid watch on...what's your name again?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgVsjlKHMK
"Arsenio..." he letting the watch drop around his neck.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQyFuCm16o
"Alright, we just have to wait for the others."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrquHFQoIi
"N-no need Catherine..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs2vE2xa3m
"Speak of the devil. Here they are."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLvcZX9zzk
"H-Hello...my name is...Isabelle..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZv43wIuFc
"Arsenio..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGv1ONTraQ
"N-Nice to meet you.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9OCRbVUym
"I haven't seen anyone for the last...five years. And two beautiful young ladies at that."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsHrUKjXuF
"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."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmGwfbntRN
"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.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡull9UJb0Xg
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!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH4RZ4QZcM
"I understand, you want to go back to your normal lives, but without you, we basically have no concept of time at all."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DKv7AsFNP
"...What else could you possibly need?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoYYkl0rBw
"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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Xqw9x4fSc
"This...is the Time Realm. And over there...is the home of Father Time."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuloWZAXCPa
"What are we doing here, exactly?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8ppqoTAjc
"It's the Fabric of Time..." she almost mumbled. "It's ripping apart as we speak. Quickly, we mustn't waste time."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfqCujJopw
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.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6raZOezVh
"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..."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8tSuotr6v
"So what can we do to fix it?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4NIBBnrRL
"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.."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGqo6TjhgC
"And what happens if we don't?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2k7wGXf0r
"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."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2Bttidgux
"So, mend the Fabric, and we can go home?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURXKrL9WrX
"Yes. If I could do this alone, I would."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVKxfwDmN3
Before Catherine could speak her mind, Nathaniel comes up with an answer.
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKVCzglDvR
"Thou may rely on us."
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsLftftqcE
"Nate!"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAB6z0Xjxq
"Would thou rather us die without trying?"
978Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0DjrkzLYo
"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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and then Add to home screen.