271 Days, 21:13 Hours
John had never been to Australia. There were, of course, many places he had never been on the planet, but Australia was his focus for the moment. It was hard for it not to be. He had been staring at it for a few days.
He wasn't that fond of the continent. It had too much desert. Too many pieces that all looked the same, but of course, couldn't be identical. If he left one miniature in the wrong spot, then the entire world would notice. Typical.
With a small sigh, he looked up. He had been doing that a lot lately. Mostly because of what he had built recently.
He had put together Jade's island two days before.
It hadn't been many figures. Karkat had surprised him by finding the tower and pelting the boy in the head with it. But it was her island, and it was built, however tiny. It gave him hope. It made it really seem like they were getting something done.
However, looking up also posed a minor problem. The clock. It hadn't really bothered John before, but lately it seemed... different. Larger. Closer. Darker, perhaps? It felt like they were falling down, ever so slowly, from above.
A finger driving itself into his cheek brought him back to the present moment. He glanced to his right. "What's up, Karkat?"
"I was coming down to get more pieces and you're sitting on your ass staring at a clock. I have the laziest asswipe of a friend."
John grinned. Karkat sighed.
"Just don't keep staring at it, John."
The troll stepped around him, and John returned to work. Slowly, his mind began digesting what Karkat had said. John hadn't been told off just now for slacking. There had been something in the way it said phrased that made the boy believe he wasn't alone in his newfound fear of the clock.
Seconds ticked on, and the numbers blared down at him. They frightened him a bit. He turned to Australia, but couldn't help but feel their presence still. He tried to focus on the sand. He peeled off a piece, replacing it with one very similar. The colour was a bit different. It was the better match.
Before he saw the troll, he heard the footsteps on the stairs. John turned, catching the troll's eye as he rounded the corner. Almost immediately Karkat looked away. He was still touchy about his eyes, but he was getting a bit better. John's lack of caring seemed to be helpful.
"What the fuck do you need, John?" Karkat asked, his voice more annoyed than angry. "We have shit to do."
"It's the clock."
Karkat rubbed his eyes, then sat down beside John. He dropped his pile a few steps up, and faced the boy for a second. He then turned his attention to Australia, and began helping to place the pieces.
"What about the clock?"
"I don't like it. No, that piece goes here."
John tapped another patch of desert, and Karkat complied. He hadn't stared at the island for quite as long as John had, and they both knew it. After a few more seconds, they both stopped staring at the planet.
"I don't like this entire fucking room, John."
The boy laughed. Karkat smirked. He'd obviously said it with that purpose in mind. They placed a few more pieces, with John constantly correcting what the troll placed down. Eventually, the troll stopped trying, and just watched John with his red eyes.
John tried again. "Haven't you noticed it kind of, feels different in here lately? I think the clock's gotten bigger."
"I actually do work most of the time," Karkat jabbed, but proceeded to look up. John felt a bit guilty and continued working. The troll really did do more work, and of course it wasn't fair. John didn't know where he got such dedication from. He wanted to rebuild the worlds too, more than anything. But the troll definitely had something else that drove him.
"Shit. You're right. Why the fuck did you have to be right?"
"I don't enjoy it."
"John, this is serious shit. The clock is doing something. Just be extra careful, okay? I don't need you fucking dying again."
Karkat rose to leave, but John grabbed his shirt. The troll stumbled, but managed to avoid crashing into him. His eyes looked murderous as he shifted into a better sitting position.
"What now, Egbert?"
He put his face next to the troll's ear."Don't you feel like you're being watched?" John hissed. "Does it not bother you?"
Even then, he could feel it. A small tingling on his back. Something oppressive. Some kind of malicious force that was lurking with them, waiting.
He couldn't help but think it was the clock.
John pulled back, and Karkat met his eyes and held contact. It was unusual enough for John to focus. There was something about the troll that seemed determined, even then.
Karkat was an excellent leader. John had no idea why the troll thought otherwise.
"I think it's always been watching, John. We've just finally done something it thinks it needs to pay attention to. Like I said, we have to be fucking careful."
John shivered, beginning to glance upward. Karkat smacked his face, then grabbed his shoulders. "Stop looking, John. Don't let the game win. Don't let this fucking bulge of a room win. Focus on this gogdamn planet. You built Jade's home. We're actually doing shit. When you care more about that clock than this single, fucking fact, the game wins. Now get back to work."
Karkat rose quickly, snatching his pile of miniatures. He glanced over his shoulder at John, who felt a bit stunned. As Karkat made his way up the stairs, blue eyes drifted back to examine Jade's island. John shifted a bit awkwardly, and then went back to examining Australia.