Chapter 3: Warning

For a moment, all you could hear was the wind blowing through the trees and the distant hum of passing cars. The man in front of you "C"looked as he carries many secrets.

“Save me?” you asked, gripping the clock tighter. “From what? SAVE ME FROM WHAT?!” C glanced around the park, his eyes scanning the surroundings, as if someone was there. Then with a nod he gestured toward a bench. “Let’s sit. It’s safer if we are not in the open.”

You hesitated, your mind was screaming at you to walk away. But something about him his calm but urgent demeanor, the way he looked at you like you mattered which kept you in place. You followed him to the bench, the clock feeling heavier in your hands with every step. “I know this is a lot to take in” he began as you both sat down. “But you are in danger and that clock is the only thing keeping you alive right now.”, “Danger from what?” you said as your voice rising despite the quiet around you. “This is all so… insane. The letters, the predictions none of it makes sense!”

C sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s hard to explain in a way that won’t make you think I’m crazy. But I need you to listen carefully.” He turned to face you, his expression softening. “I’m… not from here. Not from this time.” You blinked, your mind stumbling over his words. “Not from this time? What does that even mean?” , “I’m a time traveler” he said plainly.

For a moment, you didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. “You’re joking.” , “I wish I were” he said. “But it’s the truth. And right now, your life is tied to a sequence of events that have… very bad outcomes.” You shook your head, your grip tightening on the clock. “This is ridiculous. If you are from the future or whatever, why can’t you just fix it? Why send me these creepy letters?”

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. “Because time is not in my hand. Every action I take creates creaks. Too many changes and everything collapses. The letters were the safest way to guide you without disturbing the time too much.”

You stared at him, your mind spinning. “So what, you’re saying I’m destined to die or something?” C’s silence was answer enough. Your heart dropped. “No. No, that’s... there has to be a way to stop it.”, “That’s what I’m trying to do” he said, his voice firm. “But it’s not as simple as you think. Something someone is after you. And they’ll stop at nothing to get what they want.” , “What do they want?” you asked. He looked at the clock in your hands. Your grip tightened further. “This? But… why?” , “The clock isn’t just an clock” he explained. “It’s a key. To what I’m not entirely sure yet. But it’s powerful enough to draw attention from people who shouldn’t exist in this time either.”, “Shouldn’t exist?” you repeated, your voice barely above a whisper. You were confused what he meant by it.

“They are… like me” he said carefully. “But they don’t care about the rules of time. They only care about control.” You leaned back, trying to process his words. Every part of your body and your mind told you to run, to throw the clock as far away as possible and pretend this conversation had never happened. But deep down, you knew there was no escaping it. “So what am I supposed to do?” you asked finally, your voice trembling. C leaned closer, his dark eyes locking onto yours. “Stay close to the clock. Don’t let anyone else touch it. And trust me I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

As you walked home that evening, C’s words echoed in your mind. You couldn’t shake the weight of his gaze, the way he spoken with such certainty.

When you reached your apartment, you double locked the door and placed the clock on the kitchen counter. It looked so innocent, its glass dome shining under the dim light. But you couldn’t ignore the feeling that it was watching you. Your phone buzzed again and you jumped, fumbling to grab it.

Another message from the unknown number.

"They are closer than you think. Don’t let your guard down."

A chill ran down your spine. You looked around the apartment, the shadows suddenly darker, the silence was loud. And then the lights flickered. You froze, your eyes darting to the clock. The ticking grew louder, echoing through the room like a countdown. BANG! The sound came from your front door. BANG! BANG! Someone or someone was trying to get in.

Your heart raced as you grabbed the clock and backed away toward the living room. The door banged violently, the handle twisting. “Y/N!” a voice shouted. You froze, it was C’s voice. “Let me in!” he yelled, desperation lacing his tone. You hesitated, clutching the clock tightly. How could he have gotten here so fast? “Open the door!” C shouted again. But something about his voice was wrong. It sounded… off. “Prove it’s you!” you called out, your voice shaking. There was a pause. Then, quieter and quieter “Please, Y/N… I’m here to help.” Your hands trembled as you stared at the door.

And then you heard it, the faintest sound of ticking, coming from the other side.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Next part soon...