The Clock of Memories

Episode 3: "The Price of the Past"

Victor Almeida felt trapped in a whirlwind of emotions as he returned home after the meeting with Clara. His sister's words echoed in his mind, but the pain of losing Gabriel still weighed heavily on his heart. The idea of using the watch again pulsed in his mind like an unquenchable flame. If only he could have another chance, another opportunity to save his brother, everything would change.

Upon entering the house, Victor went straight to his room, feeling the need to be alone. He sat on the bed and looked at the watch, which was on the table. The afternoon light reflected off the numbers, making them shine as if whispering promises of possibilities. He remembered the first time he used the object, the feeling of power he experienced when revisiting his memories. Now, that feeling was mixed with a deep fear of the consequences.

"What would you do if you could change everything?" Victor whispered to himself, his mind racing. He knew the answer wasn’t simple. Changing the past wasn’t just a matter of desire; there was a cost involved, and he had already experienced that cost. But the thought of Gabriel, his brother, his friend, his protector, made him hesitate.

He recalled the scene he had witnessed earlier, the fateful moment when everything unfolded. "I can do this," he decided aloud, his determination renewed. "I need to try."

With his heart racing, he picked up the watch and focused. What more could he lose? He was willing to take the risk, to dive into the depths of the unknown. The image of Gabriel smiling, radiant and carefree, formed in his mind. He remembered the last time he saw him, the sparkle in his eyes and the promising life still ahead.

"Take me back," he pleaded, his voice sounding firm. Time began to whirl, and Victor felt reality around him distorting.

When he opened his eyes, he was on the same day Gabriel left home, but the atmosphere felt different. The smell of coffee still lingered in the air, but now there was a sense of urgency. Victor knew he had to act quickly. He got up, his heartbeat quickening as he moved through the house.

In the kitchen, he found Gabriel sitting at the table, thickening coffee while animatedly discussing the school presentation with Clara. Gabriel's smile lit up the room, and Victor felt a wave of nostalgia and joy.

"Hey, Victor! Want some coffee?" Gabriel asked, grinning. "It's the best I've ever made."

"No, no, no!" Victor exclaimed, almost pleading. "You can't go out today!"

The words slipped out of his mouth before he could think, and the brothers' gazes locked. Gabriel raised an eyebrow, surprised. "What do you mean? It's just a normal day!"

"I... I feel like something is going to happen. You need to stay here, please!" Victor pressed, urgency intensifying in his voice.

Gabriel looked at him with a mixture of confusion and concern. "Victor, you're acting strangely. What's going on?"

"It's just a feeling! Something bad is about to happen, and you need to stay here. Just trust me, please!" Victor was nearly in despair.

Gabriel, sensing the gravity of his expression, began to hesitate. "Okay, but... what do you know that I don't?"

Victor hesitated for a moment, considering whether to share what was really happening. He glanced at Clara, who was watching with concern. "Nothing, it’s just a hunch. You always told me you had a strong instinct. Why not listen?"

Gabriel looked into Victor's eyes and seemed to understand the depth of his concern. "Alright, maybe I should stay. But just to calm you down, okay?"

Victor sighed in relief, but the internal battle was far from over. He knew he had to seize this opportunity to alter fate. The watch was in his bag, and the thought of using its power was always present in his mind.

As time passed slowly, they chatted about trivialities and memories. Gabriel spoke about his future plans, how excited he was for college, and how he wanted to make a difference. With every word, Victor felt more determined to ensure that vision became reality.

Finally, the sun began to set, and the atmosphere in the house started to change. The golden light streamed through the windows, casting long shadows on the floor. But with dusk, a sense of unease began to settle in Victor's heart. He knew the moment of the accident was approaching.

"I need to go to the bathroom," he said suddenly, standing up. He knew he needed a moment to think. In the bathroom, he stared at his reflection in the mirror, his expression anguished and his gaze lost. "If I use the watch, everything might change," he whispered to himself.

With the decision made, Victor took the watch and focused. "Take me back, but this time to the exact moment of the accident," he said, his voice steady despite the fear.

Time spun again, and Victor found himself in a different setting. He was on a familiar street, the same one he had walked many times before. Sunlight filtered through the trees, and everything seemed calm. But deep in his heart, he knew that peace was an illusion.

He remembered the day Gabriel died. Hastily, Victor looked around, trying to locate the exact moment that led to the tragedy. He knew he needed to act fast, but reality around him seemed to slip through his fingers. Time was an unrelenting current, and he was about to be swept away by it.

The sound of laughter in the distance caught his attention. He turned and saw Gabriel walking, animatedly chatting with a group of friends. Victor ran toward them, his heart pounding uncontrollably. "Gabriel! Wait!" he shouted, but the crowd continued to laugh, ignoring his plea.

"Gabriel!" He felt the despair grow as he got closer, but something seemed to hinder his voice. He tried to make himself heard, but the words seemed to get lost in the air.

Finally, Gabriel turned, the smile fading as he noticed the panic on Victor's face. "Victor? What’s happening?"

"You need to stop! Don’t go, don’t continue!" Victor pleaded, but it was already too late. The vision distorted, and he saw the scene unfolding like a slow-motion film.

Gabriel stepped away and began to cross the street. Victor wanted to run toward him, but something held him back. Time seemed to freeze, and he couldn’t move. "Gabriel, no!" he shouted, but the word echoed into a deafening silence.

A car appeared out of nowhere, speeding toward him. The shock of reality hit Victor like a punch to the gut. He lunged forward, trying to reach his brother, but time was beyond his control. Gabriel was just steps away from tragedy.

"No!" Victor screamed, but it was too late. The car struck Gabriel, and everything around him turned into chaos. The sound of the collision, the screams, the despair became a whirlwind of pain and guilt.

He couldn’t bear it. Despair consumed him as he found himself powerless before the scene. He fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. The despair transformed into an agonizing scream, echoing in the empty street.

"Please, no! I can’t lose you!" His voice sounded like a lament, but reality could not be changed. Time continued to flow, and Victor found himself trapped in a memory that tormented him.

The scene began to fade, and the world around him twisted again. Victor found himself back in the park, gasping for breath. He was back in reality, but the pain in his heart had intensified. He had failed again, and now he felt the weight of guilt crushing him.

"Why did you do this?" a deep voice cut through the silence. Victor turned to see the watch's guardian, with a stern expression. "You should have learned from your first choice."

"I tried! I tried to save him!" Victor yelled, pain and despair spilling over. "I can’t live with this! I can’t accept that he’s gone!"

"But have you considered what you're willing to sacrifice?" the guardian asked, his tone unyielding. "Every journey has a cost, and you haven’t yet seen how high it can be."

"Don’t tell me that!" Victor shouted, emotions boiling. "You don’t know what it’s like to lose someone you love! You don’t know how that pain feels!"

"You’re not understanding, Victor. What you desire is not just your brother's recovery, but also the manipulation of time and reality. Every time you do this, the consequences become more severe," the guardian said, his gaze penetrating.

Victor felt reality begin to fade again, and frustration grew. "But what if I can? What if I can fix everything? What do you know about love? About the pain of losing someone?"

"What you call love can become a prison, Victor. Each time you go back, the chains of the past grow heavier. You’re risking not just your life, but the lives of everyone around you," the guardian replied, his voice echoing in Victor's mind.

Victor looked at the watch in his hand, its words echoing in his heart. He knew he was at a crossroads, but the pain of losing Gabriel blinded him to the consequences.

"I don’t know if I can do this," he said, his voice faltering. "But I can’t continue like this. I can’t accept that he’s gone."

The guardian stared at him, a mix of compassion and sadness on his face. "The choice is yours, Victor. But be prepared for the price you may have to pay."

Victor felt the pressure of his words as the world began to fade once more. He found himself back in the park, surrounded by memories of joy and pain. Gabriel's laughter echoed in his mind, a melody of a life that could have been.

With tears streaming down his face, Victor realized that every attempt to change the past only deepened his despair. The weight of his choices loomed over him, and he had to confront the reality of his actions.

"Maybe some things are not meant to be changed," he whispered to himself, accepting the weight of his sorrow. "Maybe I need to learn to live with the consequences."

But as the shadows lengthened and darkness fell, Victor knew deep down that he was still not ready to let go. The watch lay heavy in his hands, a reminder of the past he couldn't escape.

The price of the past was yet to be revealed, and Victor was caught in a web of time that held him prisoner.

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