Midnight Misfits... Literally.
2372 Words
--Gardia, Chronodia Household, 0010 hours--
My arms tremble unconditionally, it’s like it’s going against my will. I’m losing focus within seconds, my vision is getting blurry. My body follows the rhythm of tremor within my arms. My feet shiver greatly like I’m standing in a cold winter-land. My heart’s pounding real fast. Perspiration ran down on me like the Niagara waterfall, what’s going on with me?
I realized something bad is going to happen and reflexed on pressing my chest with all might I have in my hands to prevent severe pain. I was expecting the Runic Gear would start ticking again, but no. There’s nothing happening. I breathed heavily, unknown to what happened to me, I tried to maintain my consciousness, could this be the result of my blood loss? No, that can’t be it! I was fine lately.
I detached such thoughts, I looked at my hand; it can’t stop trembling. What is this I’m experiencing right now…? Is this also the Runic Gear’s doing?
Finally, I realized… it wasn’t the Runic Gear on my chest that caused this dreadful situation. It was my own self-conscious. I’m… having a PTSD over the painful experience that I felt weeks ago. W-Why now all of sudden… I didn’t feel this disorder before…
C-Control yourself… ME! C’mon… why am I scared…? I’m not a scaredy cat… I’m a strong girl… I can’t be like this…!
Control your breathing, Eva… come on… I mustn’t let this sensation win over me. I’m not going to lose! I had my rights to control my magecraft… please… just this once!
I tried to gather all bravery I had left within me. It helped me a little to restore focus within my eyes. I reached out my hand to the ground instead of midair to the front. I had to lower my hips to reduce the tremble. And finally, I can gather enough courage to do it.
“Ah… the floor’s so cold…” I subtly spoke.
I must do it. If there’s anyone that can change my situation now… that would be me!
Come on… c’mon… focus… focus yourself… I’m just going to try and stop the flow of time.
I activated the metal belt I wore earlier. As a result, it lit up brightly followed by the illusion of clock ticking on the chilly floor. I raised both of my hands and slammed the floor roughly.
Please don’t kill me…
[Clockwork Phase Two - Time Stop!]
“Grrgh……” I quickly closed my eyes and frowned heavily. I’m expecting the deathly pain shall drop upon me once I activated my magecraft. The big clock on my room ticks slower and slower… and finally it stopped.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds…
…
…
“Huh… hueheheheh…” I chuckled gladly. “I… I did it… I did it!”
I successfully stopped the time!
Ten seconds into stopping the time, I quickly checked outside my room to ensure no one’s in plain sight.
Twenty seconds into stopping the time, the Runic Gear began to emit unfriendly red light through my clothes. Thus, I decided to return back to my room and closed the door gently before I spill blood on the floor again.
[Clockwork - Continue!]
“….uwaaah…” I dropped myself on the floor. The Runic Gear stopped emitting that ominous flash. “Phew… I’m safe… I guess…” I quickly catch a breather. I never thought doing my own magecraft would be scary as hell… ahahaha…
“Oookay… then… let me try a bunch of attempts…”
I tried stopping the time several times and experimented with it for over fifteen minutes long. It turns out that the safest longest duration for me to stop time would be 20 seconds. If I reach 25 seconds, my heart would begin to pound abnormally; I dare say the Runic Gear was trying to stop me. Twenty seconds, huh…? Wait, that’s quite powerful, is it not?
The clock’s showing not much time has passed, although I had passed over fifteen minutes of repeated attempts. The clock’s still displaying 00.07 in the midnight.
Okay, then… let’s get my back moving into the streets again!
I open and closed the door gently and fast-walked across the dark hallway. I need to note that the maids or that butler might notice my action, but the worst part would be me being spotted by dad himself.
I went through the dark dining room and into the main hallway. There! There’s the door going out! Phew, that was easy—
“Who goes there?” A deep man’s voice sounded loudly, shocking me no doubt.
“Oh, shuvite!” I yelled to myself, but I quickly covered my mouth, preventing any noises coming out of me. Quick, I must do it!
[Clockwork Phase Two - Time Stop!]
The flow of time slowly comes to a stop. Off I go, then…
Walk, walk, walk… open the door aaaand…. Out I go!
I closed the big door with a bit of effort. Glad it wasn’t too heavy to open, tee-hee. It was easier than I thought. Suddenly, the Runic Gear’s subtle light showed up. I was so shocked to see it till I realized something. I forgot to abort the time stop effect.
“OH! Right, I nearly forgot about you, aahh… fine, then.”
[Clockwork - Continue!]
Everything begins to move once more. The cold breezing wind of the night blows onto my skin… brr…! It’s cold. I should’ve worn something thicker. Anyway, who was that guy whose shouting at me? Sir Al-Qadim?
The field around the manor house looks exceptionally amazing, though… some gas lamps filling the only road going in and out of the household, a fountain with a statue of angel atop of it, and the security post.
“Oh.” I realized something after seeing the security post. I quickly take cover behind a big pillar near the front door. Shortly, a figure of an old veteran came into my mind.
“I forgot about him… Sir Champs… don’t say he’s still up this late… hopefully not—ah, no, wait nevermind, there he is.”
He walks calmly with a gas lamp in his right hand, possibly patrolling around the front yard. He closes in towards the fountain. His eyes are incredibly cautious, no one’s gonna get away from his sights. But I don’t think that would apply to me, ha!
Speaking to myself, I say “Alright, then… Sir Champs, please excuse me~”
[Clockwork Phase Two - Time Stop!]
The time finally stops. I rushed walking to the main entrance, well, that’s the ONLY entrance, though. I need to hurry.
Five seconds…
Ten seconds…
Come on a bit more… I gotta shift my foot a bit further. Leap if I had to!
Fifteen seconds… Come on, come on, come on… a bit more towards the gate!
Twenty seconds… Ah, fridge it, just a few more steps. I must resume the timeline. But before that… where is Sir Champs…?
I veered my eyes towards the front yard…. There! There he is near the fountain! Well, he didn’t move, obviously. I think I’m safe. Okay, here goes.
[Clockwork - Continue!]
The time flow slowly moves back to normal. Then, I sneakily move near a pine tree decorated with bushes around the roots good enough to conceal my presence. Hope there’s no arachnids in there.
The time resumes back at normal rate now. I must get out before he notices… where should I go, though? I can’t risk opening the gate. Metal objects would be banging loudly if I pry them open. Then my only way is… to leap across the wall… huh…?
I observed the mossy wall with peaceful sight. “Haah… this manor’s outline looks like a fortress or some sort.” I thought quietly in my mind.
“Wait a minute,” I said to myself. “What am I doing again? I was just putting my powers to the test. I’m trying to see what range my magecraft could go in my state right now, but… what I am doing right now… isn’t this like I’m trying to escape from my dad and mom?”
Staring solemnly at the wall, I thought, “Escaping or not… that sure is a high wall.”
“I suppose this is as far as I go. I did say I want to leave but… on second thought, I don’t think it would be a good idea, for now.”
I smiled while staring at the night sky, adorned with hundreds of stars twinkling in the middle of the night. I silently murmur to myself, “Not now, I suppose.”
I decided. I will go back inside for now. Guess I should do it stealthily again, huh? Okay, then.
But just when I turned my face back to the tree, I was stopped by a sturdy old man.
“Oop. Where do you think YOU’RE going, little missy…?”
“Eh?” I’m captivated. T-This guy… OH MY GOD!
With twitching lips, my mouth gives word, “S-Sir Champs…?” I said quaveringly. My nape hair must’ve risen in extreme shock. I really didn’t notice him coming. Not even a slight noise was heard by my ears!
In a slight arrogance he nods, “Uhuh. That’s right. It’s me, Miss Chronodia.” He said meekly.
“S-Since when did y-you… I thought you’re… u-uh…” The world around me spins. My head got insanely dizzy all of sudden. I nearly tripped over but he quickly prevented me from falling. Dammit, was it my low blood level? It can’t be, right?
“Come along, now, Miss Chronodia. Just as Master Edward said, you are one rebellious girl. Ho-ho-ho.”
Gaah, what’s with that awkward laugh? I can hardly think of a way out. I can pick a fight with him, but I don’t think my dad would like that. No, my mom will surely burst on me. Her anger is scarier, after all. If I use my magecraft now… no, I shouldn’t use it overly.
What should I do…? Grr, do I care about it! There’s nothing else I can do aside from using my magecraft! Here goes nothing!
[Clockwork Phase Two - Time Stop!]
The world movement slows down and finally stops.
I must make sure I don’t mess this up. I sneaked past him and run dizzily across the courtyard. My vision is wiggling. Dizziness is tearing my sight apart. My balance is already at loss. As a result, I fell and kissed the grass several times.
The Runic Gear is shining up again… dammit, why 25 seconds passes so quickly?
I don’t want to force myself. I lay down on the grassy field and stares the nightly sky. And thus, I deactivated the time stop effect.
[Clockwork - Continue!]
This body is not cooperating with me. I am dead beat. My breathing is getting uncontrollable… guh… I should’ve not used my magecraft. Even though I said that multiple times, yet I kept on doing it. Such is a man’s sin, huhuhu…
“What a misfit,” I thought while noticing that my heart pounds faster than ever. Using magecraft surely drained me off my energy, but it will never go to this extent of exhaustion.
*tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic*
Hearing that sudden noise makes me shocked, I heard a ticking sound. I reached my chest with my hands and realized… the gear on my chest was rotating slowly. As it slowly rotates… my heart gets wilder. I don’t know how to reverse the effect given to me. It just… feels weird. It doesn’t drill my heart like how it was before, but… it made me numb.
I tried to control my breathing for several seconds. Probably a minute has passed, though. Being too focused on my well-being, I completely forgot Sir Champs’ presence. Without me noticing it, he’s already above me, crouching while staring in an anxious sight.
“By the gods! Miss Chronodia, you must not die here!” he said in a bit panicked. He whistled, shortly, a group of maids arrived and saw me lying down. I don’t know how they saw me like, but I don’t care. I just need to focus to control my unstable breathing.
Breathing… breath in… breath out…
Breath in… breath out…
I kept repeating doing those to the extent of not realizing that I was already on a stretcher. You guys… I am fine, you know…!
But before I can say anything or even lift my head. I lost consciousness at that very moment. The bleak void welcomed me again. How unbelievable…
Sigh…
- Writer
