6th Tick: Build up
1006 Words
Thomas strolled along the town. He had just dealt with the dog and was walking around. A clock was at the back of his hand, the hour and minute hands spinning wildly. He took in the view of his surroundings, wondering why the town was so empty. Not long after, he saw someone leave a building.
Thomas resumed time and stepped up to him, asking, “Hello, can I ask about why this town is so empty? Was it perhaps the work of a demon?”
There was no reply. The man in front of Thomas walked forward, ignoring Thomas. He looked as if he was in a trance, a sway in his steps, blurry eyes. Thomas followed him, wondering where he was going.
Without warning, the man turned around, swinging his arms. Thomas’ eyes widened as he stepped back. The man’s upper body spun completely before twisting it back. Thomas could tell it was not any kind of magic, it was just unnatural. The man swung again, this time, his arm seemingly extended to punch Thomas. Thomas stepped to the side, dodging him completely.
Thomas sighed and walked off, not wanting to deal with him. He took a few steps before he saw more people near the center of the town. Something was going on, and Thomas wanted to know.
He walked up to the crowd, but the moment he got remotely close, all humans present turned to stare at him. Thomas cursed as a swarm ran at him. The winds twisted and slashed his legs. The pebbles on the ground rose and shot through him. Magic was destroying the area around him as he dodged most of the attacks.
“Zeroth Hour.”
Time stopped. Thomas walked past the humans to check out what was in the middle of town. Unfortunately, there were too many humans surrounding it, making Thomas unable to see. He sighed and walked away, wondering where Rose had gone. The sun was starting to set.
He paused, it was weird. He checked his pocket watch, it was supposed to only be two in the afternoon, why was the sun setting? Something was definitely going on in the town, something dark. He turned around quickly, if the people were so dangerous, was Rose alright?
He ran past the humans, running from place to place. With time stopped, he had ran through most of the city until he found her, lying in the middle of the street, barely clinging to life. He could tell that she had crawled forward. That was when it struck him. Thomas had never seen Rose use any form of magic, in fact, she seems to have the luck, or the sense to survive.
He ignored his thoughts and helped her.
Skip forward to when Thomas and Rose walked out of the building.
Thomas looked at the humans staggering outside like some cheap budget film. He said, “These guys are pretty annoying, huh?”
“What are they?” Rose whispered.
Rose still felt a tingle in her abdomen, not so much the injury, but the memory of it.
“I don’t know, I tried talking to one of them, but it didn’t work.” Thomas replied.
“Why would you talk to a stranger?”
“Why would you not talk to a stranger?” He countered.
“Because they might be an enemy?”
“Unlike you, I’m not paranoid.”
Thomas looked back at the crowd after finishing his conversation with Rose. The humans had their heads turned, facing them. Rose whispered, “Sorry.”
“Uh... how much do you weigh?” Thomas asked as the humans started to run at them.
“That’s a rude question to ask.”
“Zeroth Hour.”
A clock appeared at the back of his hand, the hour and minute clock spinning wildly. Thomas froze time, humans charging at him, Rose behind him. He lifted Rose onto his back and walked away, getting as far as his physical ability could take him before putting her down.
Time resumed.
“Why you would ask a lady that. Also, where are we?” Rose continued.
“Outside the town. We don’t know what’s going on there, but I think the day is safer than the night.” Thomas explained.
“So we have to sleep in the woods again?” Rose asked.
“Mind you, sleep is for you, I don’t need to sleep.”
“I’ve heard you snore.”
“I said I didn’t need to, not that I won’t.”
“Must be nice being a myth...”
Thomas remained silent when she said it, staring in the direction of the village. He whispered, “Yeah, if you want to see it that way.”
Rose found a tree and sat up against it, ready to go to sleep. Thomas sat there to keep watch, just in case anything happened. By what had happened to Rose during the day, she was rather tired despite it being so early. She fell asleep soon.
“Time waits for no one... Tomorrow, today, the past... All shall age ‘cept you...” Thomas muttered.
He shook his head and continued to watch the town. It had been countless years since he became the ClockKeeper, he was used to being lonely by now. Perhaps that was why he allowed Rose to follow him, he could have quickly solved the problem by stopping time and travelling everywhere, but he decided to accept the company of Rose.
He sighed, maybe those years had muddled his thinking.
Rose snored gently in the background, Thomas sat not too far away, surrounded by tall trees and few other vegetation. Thomas stood up when he saw something, something traveling towards them at high speed.
“Zeroth Hour.”
Time stopped, the object suspended in the air. It was a brick, judging by the trajectory, it was thrown from the town. Thomas looked around him, not seeing much around them. He walked past Rose and surveyed the area nearby, then returned to his spot. He lifted Rose onto his back and started walking, carrying her towards the town again. He had not realised, some of the humans were almost at where they were, they had chased them.
Whether it was the work of a demon or not, Thomas knew, that night, someone needed to die. Thomas put Rose down somewhere safe and stepped out, sighing. He ran his fingers through his hair and swiped his hair up. He sighed “Let’s get this over with.”
- Writer
