Me:Thanks to the guest reviewer who said Jonathan was them after seeing their relatives- same here!

Chapter 16

''-And that's all that happened,'' Isabelle concluded.

They had returned per their orders to Jocelyn's and Luke's home. Isabelle finished informing of them their fruitless conversation with Jonathan while Alec helped Magnus search for a different sort of spell.

Jace drummed his fingers on the countertop, his mind racing. What if Jonathan was lying about not knowing of the move? It was possible, though to say so would risk Max getting in an uproar. Jace glanced over at him by Isabelle, listening as she recounted their story. He didn't look at Jocelyn.

Jace sighed with impatience. He hated to admit it, but Max could be right in that Jonathan wasn't responsible. For a guy back from the dead, Jonathan had looked the part. Jace really didn't think Jonathan could've taken Clary in a fight. Plus, there was the fact they had no evidence that anyone else had been in Clary's room. But then that meant Clary left on her own. But the blood on the floor…

A cell phone's ringing suddenly rang through the apartment, making everyone jump. Jace was just about to yell for whoever's it was to pick up, when he realized it was his own phone ringing. Please be Clary, he thought as he reached for it in his pocket. He frowned as he saw the caller.

Everyone's eyes were on him as he answered. ''Simon?'' Jace asked in confusion. He was startled to hear heavy gasping on the other end. ''Simon? What's wrong?''

It took Simon a moment to respond. ''It's- it's about Clary…''

….

Simon had thought it would be a normal day- well, as normal as things ever got in the Shadowhunter Academy. But he knew that would not be the case when he was walking down the street and pulled into an alley.

The person who grabbed him pushed him against the wall so as to suddenly get him out of sight. Before Simon could attack, he recognized the red hair and green eyes of the girl looking at him. ''Clary?''

''Hi,'' said Clary with a grin. ''How are you doing, Simon?''

Simon had to breath for a few seconds while he tried to shake the momentary feeling of fear. He then had to breath a few seconds more to contain his anger. ''Is that how you greet people?''

''Yep.'' Clary removed her hands from Simon's shoulders. ''Sorry, it's just- well, I don't want anyone else to know I'm here. So I thought I'd be discreet.''

''Here's a tip, Fray: Shoving a guy into an alleyway is not in any scenario 'discreet'.''

Clary gave a half-hearted shrug. ''No one noticed, did they?''

''That's because my friends suck.'' Simon straightened up from the wall. As he brushed himself off, he noticed how disheveled Clary looked. Her hair was messily braided, her clothes rumpled. There was a strange brightness to her eyes. ''Are you okay?''

''Huh?'' Clary looked confused by the question. ''Oh, yeah! Of course!" She said. She moved her left hand to grasp her arm.

Simon followed her hand's movement. ''What happened?'' he asked in alarm as he noticed the bandage wrapped around her forearm. It looked hastily done.

''Nothing,'' Clary assured him. ''Stupid accident.''

Simon wasn't convinced. He shook his head. ''Clary, is everything okay? I mean, you look like crap, you show up here, don't want anyone to know- does Jocelyn even know you're here?''

Clary opened her mouth to respond, but seemed to think better of it. ''It's a long story,'' she admitted. She brightened, seemly thinking of something. ''I'm starving. You?''

They bought some sandwiches from a nearby shop. As they trekked to find a spot to eat, Simon felt anxiety eating up at him. Even with his memory being spotty, he was pretty sure he knew Clary well enough to know something was wrong, and that suddenly showing up unannounced, presumably without her mother's and friend's knowledge, was entirely out of character for her.

They walked out of town. ''Where are we going?'' Simon asked.

''Lake Lyn,'' Clary responded. She smiled at Simon's expression. ''I'll make a portal. It's pretty there. I want to see it again.''

Simon fell silent as Clary carved a portal by a nearby tree. The anxious feeling inside him grew, yelling at him that this was not a good idea, but he had no reason to protest. There was something so very off about Clary that Simon didn't feeling comfortable objecting. As long as she told him what was wrong, what did it matter if it happened at Lake Lyn or anywhere?

They entered the portal and soon saw the lake spread out before them. ''Rather close, aren't we?'' Simon asked as he noticed the sand by his feet.

''It's fine.'' Clary sat down on the grass and unwrapped her sandwich. Simon followed suit. As he took a bite, he noticed Clary twirling the plastic wrap with her fingers, not even looking at the food.

''I thought you were starving?''

Clary bit her lip and put the sandwich on her lap. ''Simon,'' she began carefully. ''How much of your memories have you remembered?''

Simon swallowed hard. He didn't like thinking about all the gaps in his mind, or really, not even gaps. Just things he remembered wrong. As time went on, it wasn't as if he forgot things, but as if he hadn't thought about them in a long while. It was annoying and frustrating. ''I dunno. Some things. Why?''

Clary drummed her fingers on her knee. ''Do you remembered Forbidden Planet?''

''The comic book store?'' Simon was bewildered at the direction the conversation was taking. It seemed to common and inconsequential for how Clary was acting. ''Yeah, of course.''

''Do you remember us going there? The first time?''

Simon nodded. ''I do, as a matter of fact.'' He laughed at the memory. ''God forbid you ever leave your sketch book behind.'' He stopped laughing as he noticed Clary stiffen. ''What?''

''I went back in the house,'' Clary said softly. ''I went to get my bag. But Simon- I never came back out.''

Simon blinked. ''Of course you did,'' he said. He was a little alarmed at the look on Clary's face. She spoke as if this were a sad but undeniable fact. ''Of course you did,'' he repeated himself. ''We went to the store, didn't we?''

''On that same day?'' Clary looked at him blankly.

Simon cast around in his mind, searching for some detail to prove that this was so. But he came up with nothing. ''Okay, so I'm not the best person for fact checking,'' he reminded her. ''But what does it matter?''

Clary turned her gaze back to the lake, tracing her fingers in the dirt. ''When I first came to Idris,'' she said. ''I was thrown into the lake. Luke said it was because of the wards. But I wonder…'' She trailed off, and Simon got the impression she was talking more to herself than him. ''He didn't want me in the lake either…''

''Who didn't?''

''Valentine.'' Before Simon could press for more, Clary stood suddenly. ''It should be a multiple of seven,'' she said quickly. ''Seven is considered a good number or something. Seven years of famine, plenty, seven plagues- or was it ten?''

''What the hell are you talking about?'' Simon asked in alarm.

Clary ignored him. ''Doesn't matter. Seven is good.''

''For what?''

''Seven minutes is to long.'' Clary bit her lip. In the bright sunlight, her face looked pale. The strange glint in her eyes Simon had noticed before seemed even more prominent now. ''Seven seconds to short. A multiple of seven- 63 seconds. A minute and then some. Should be enough.'' She turned her gaze back to Simon. ''Give me 63 seconds.''

''Clary.'' Simon got to his feet slowly. ''I don't know what's wrong, but you are kinda freaking me out right now.''

Clary didn't acknowledge Simon's concern. Her green eyes bored right into him. She definitely looked crazy. ''You have your watch?''

''What?'' Instinctively, Simon glanced at his wrist. His digital wristwatch was there, counting the hours, minutes, and seconds. ''Yeah, but why…?''

''63 seconds,'' Clary said again. She then started walking toward the water.

Simon suddenly understood. ''No!'' he screamed, making a grab for Clary. But he couldn't move his feet. He looked down and saw what Clary had traced in the dirt. A rune, glowing red around him. ''Clary!''

Clary cast a glance over her shoulder. ''63 seconds,'' she reminded him. ''That's all I need.''

''You will die!'' Simon screamed, yanking helplessly at his stuck feet. Unsuccessful, he looked up again and saw Clay at the water's edge. ''Clary!''

Clary paused at the water's edge for moment before wading in. Each step she took made Simon's heart skip a beat. She must have reached the deep part of the lake, because one second she was above the water and the next her head disappeared under it. ''Clary!''

Simon yanked his legs with more strength. Just as he was about to take out his knife and cut his boots off, his feet were suddenly free. He went tearing toward the water, stopping at the shore. His head was torn with indecision. 63 seconds, she had said. Simon wanted to jump into the water and drag her out, but what if she just tried again? He glanced at his watch.

45 seconds.

Fray, I swear to God if you die….

50 seconds.

Please, please be okay.

60 seconds.

God, please…

63.

Simon ran out into the lake, screaming and crashing through the waves. With his feet he felt the ledge run out. As he was preparing to dive down, something grabbed his arm and pulled themselves up.

Simon dragged Clary to the shore. He alternating between screaming and crying as she coughed up water. Collapsing onto the shore, Simon realized he was shaking. ''I should fucking kill you, Fray!''

Clary spit out a mouthful of water. ''Sorry,'' she murmured, sitting up and looking at him. Her swim in the poisonous water did nothing to help her sickly disposition.

''Sorry?'' Simon echoed. It took all his willpower not to grab her by the shoulders and shake her. ''What were you thinking?''

''Nothing.'' Before Simon could respond with duh, Clary continued. ''That's why I went in. I needed to think. I needed clarity.''

Simon needed to remind himself to breath. ''Most people meditate. Have cup of coffee. Journal. But no, you take a swim in deathly water!''

Clary coughed again. She brought her braids over her shoulder and wrung them out. ''Relax,'' she said in a hoarse voice. ''The water won't poison me.''

Simon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He realized his glasses were covered in water spots. He removed them and wiped them with his shirt, trying to control his anger and fear in order to ask the right questions. ''Clary,'' he said, forcing his tone to be gentle. ''What the hell is going on with you?''

Clary paused from ringing out her hair. She opened her mouth to speak, but it was a few minutes before she found the words. ''I don't know,'' she admitted. For the first time, Simon could finally see just how broken she looked. How afraid. ''I'm trying to figure it out, but…''

''Clary, let me help.''

She shook her head, getting to her feet. ''No, I'm sorry. I should've have done this to you. Thank you Simon, but I shouldn't take up anymore of your time.'' She winced. ''Which makes me an ass for doing what I'm about to do.''

Simon took a step back. ''Do what? Clary-''

''Tell my mom that I'll see her tomorrow,'' Clary said. ''Or the next day at the latest. Thanks again, Simon.'' Her stele appeared in her hand and in a quick moment she had made a slash at Simon. Simon grabbed his arm and realized she hadn't cut him, but marked him. He didn't have time to study the mark before his eyes slid shut and he fell unconscious to the ground.

Me: I hope you enjoyed! If you can, please leave a review!