Chapter 23:
Hey y'all! Sorry for the long wait! I know I've been trying to post monthly but things really took a turn for the worse during the last 3 months or so. It's been hard and honestly exhausting but I'm still trucking along. Finally got a break this week so I took the time to finish this up! Wish it was longer, but hopefully it's good enough for now. Hopefully the next couple weeks won't be so bad so I can write a bit more! But yes, onto the story! Reviewing and Favoriting is appreciated! ^-^
Briskly walking through the archway, I made my way into my kitchen. Pouring myself a cup of coffee, I contently sighed as I leaned against the counter. Today was going to be a busy day. Warm fronts were moving in north, storm clouds to the south, and precipitation scattered across the Golf. Due to the massive workload, I woke up at 6 AM on the dot. I had been up already for an hour preparing all the clouds and checking over Oak's list. It was too early to eat in the dining hall as breakfast isn't served until 8. And Jack was still fast asleep. I didn't have the heart to wake him this early. Not after yesterday.
After laying on the window seat for what seemed like forever, Jack finally convinced me to go down to dinner or at least have something brought up for me. But I decided to go down myself. I wanted to. Being surrounded by all my wolves, all my children—I needed that. I was done with sulking. After eating in hall, we returned to my personal floor where we sat on the couch and talked for hours. He let me basically tell my whole life story. All the little things my siblings and I did. The first time I met Oak. The first time I shot an arrow. When I fell out of a tree and broke my toe, trying to pick apples. It was so…wonderful. It felt good to talk about them, to reminisce. Halfway through the stories, I realized Oak had joined us. He sat adjacent to the couch, listening intently. My heart swelled when I looked into his eyes. For the first time in a long time, I saw that sparkle—that spark of life which was left behind in that young wolf. In that moment, I felt as though something was lifted off my shoulders—something that I thought I'd forever have to carry. And Jack did that.
Jack. Jack said he loved me.
If Jack had told me that a few days ago, I would have been flabbergasted, even though it could just mean he loved me as a friend. But now, I felt completely unfazed. I felt…content. I'm not really sure how I feel, but it's a pleasant feeling. I can say with confidence that the sentiment certainly made me happy. How could it not? And that awkwardness that we had hanging between us feels like a distant memory. I couldn't feel more comfortable around him and I think he feels the same.
He already told you how he felt, he loves you.
The coffee which I was drinking got lodged in my throat. Stiffly swallowing it down, I cradled the mug in my hands. If he did love me, more than a friend, would I love him too? In that way? And if he didn't…would I be disappointed? When someone loves you, cares for you enough to love you, it should make you happy. Of course, unless they love you in a way in which you don't love them…if they love you in that way.
But I'm not even sure what way he does love me. And yet, it doesn't bother me or bring in that awkward feeling which plagued me a few days ago. But why do I feel like I'm preparing myself for him to just think of me as a friend?
Do I want him to love me more than a friend?
Feeling a tug on my skirt, I looked to the floor to find Oak.
"Oh right," I said setting the mug on the counter. "I'm going to be late. I start at Georgia and bring the front on up?"
Oak tilted his head to the side. "But?"
With a curt nod, I flashed him a smile. "But just up to Tennessee. Got it."
Walking past him I made my way to the door. I could already tell by the look on his face, what he was thinking. He absolutely knew I was thinking about Jack and I couldn't help but think he wanted us to be together. I wasn't blind. The matching outfits at the party he gave us—how he blatantly told me "I like him"—but most of all, he trusted Jack enough to send him into my room yesterday. He never pushed Bunny or Sandy or Tooth or North. He may have given a sly hint or indication, but Oak never gave them a key.
With a smile on my face, I turned the knob and opened the door. As I set out into the muggy morning sky, I hoped I'd be back in time for lunch.
The wind wisped across my face as I led a warm front into the terrain below. I was quite pleased with myself. It appeared I would be home way before lunch.
Just a few more yards and—
"Done."
Doing a quick U-turn, I looked down to admire my work. "Alright, that should be good enough. Now just to…"
As my eyes continued to scan the ground, I noticed the shadows. They looked rather odd. Something was off.
"I'm facing North so…what the…"
Quickly descending to the ground, I examined my own shadow. My large wings shaded the blades of grass.
But the angle…
"It's 11:21, so the shadow should be facing this way," I said pointing slightly to the left. "But it's 4 degrees to the right so…uh oh. Oh nonononono."
This has only happened a number of times before in the past. Father Time, once in a blue moon, forgets to reset the central clock, or check for stuck gears, or a plethora of other issues. I mean slip ups occur, but it appears we're a half an hour behind. And I hope to God that's not the case. The last time we were set back that far, a Typhoon ended up occurring. Either way it's best to fix it before the humans start to notice. The last problem happened around 300 years ago on New Year's.
And now that I think about it, it seems to always happen about every 300 years.
"Well better get back and double check with EC before I go getting old timer in trouble or cause a mass panic."
Flapping my wings, I soared into the sky. No time for the scenic route. I needed to get home. My hands brushed against the necklace, creating a portal right before me. Flying through, I was just a few feet from my front door. Barging in, I saw Jack lounging on the couch with TV remote in hand.
My grand entrance spooked him a bit and he almost rolled off his seat. "Whoa! Heh, you're home early."
As he repositioned himself, the wide smile on his face fell as I ran across the living room. "W-what's wrong? Is everything ok?"
I could hear the patter of his feet against the wooden floor as I entered Oaks office. "Get EC on the line. I need to confirm that we are a half an hour behind in time. The big guy did it again."
Soon enough, Oak flipped the phone off the hook and used the tip of his nose to push EC's speed dial.
"Why are you calling EC? What's going on?" Jack said peering over my shoulder.
"EC can tell what time the earth is at too. He takes care of the core, so he can tell just as well as I can. I just need to be sure," I said pulling the phone up to my had.
"What?"
Jutting a finger up, I silenced Jack as I heard EC on the other line. "Y'ello?"
"EC I need to you check the time."
There was a short pause. "What?"
"I think Time did it again."
"Ooohh great. Well it was 'bout time he did. It's been 'bout 300 years I'd say."
There was some scuffling on the other line before I heard him come back to the receiver. "Good golly, the ol' timah' put us back around 'alf an hour I recon."
"Alright, I'll go talk to him."
"Sounds good. Now while I have you on the line how about tea—"
"Maybe later EC. I gotta go." Quickly putting the phone down, I briskly ran out of the office.
"Can you please tell me what is going on?" Jack called out following close behind.
"Time appears to have let things fall behind. We are literally a half an hour behind in time. I was hoping it was less but sadly no. And if we don't fix it now it could have some really nasty effects. Bad weather, mass panic, earthquakes, etc. So you coming with?" I said continuing to make my way to the door.
"Really? I can go?" Jack said, jogging to match my speed. "I get to meet the Father Time?"
"No time like the present," I said swinging the door open and using my necklace to open a portal. "Come on."
Holding my hand out Jack, he took it as we went through the portal. "Besides maybe if there's an audience, the old man will be more careful next time to not have things go back this far."
We were right at the entrance into his castle. The large white fortress towered over us.
"Whoa."
"No time to gawk Jack. You can do that later."
Quickly flying up to the door, I pulled on the golden handle. Sure, enough it was unlocked.
"This man, I swear. I mean anyone could come in!" I said as Jack followed me through the door.
"I mean to his credit, who can really reach a castle which sits on a cloud in the sky?"
"You that's who."
"Yeah you're right…why haven't I broken in here before?"
Sprinting down the long hallway, I entered the foyer. "Time?"
There was no answer. That's odd.
"Time! We're set back a half an hour! HELLO?"
My chest began to tighten at the silence. In my peripheral vision I could see Jack eyeing me. I didn't want to worry him. I didn't want to go into complete panic mode. I mean, this place is huge. Time could be anywhere. But he always answers back. Somehow, he can just hear everything. Something didn't feel right. Regardless, we still had to find him.
So many places to look—so many rooms with so many clocks.
Swallowing down my anxiety, I turned to Jack. "You go check in the kitchen. It's down that hall and to the left. I'll check his office. Those are the two places he's usually at."
Jack gave me a quick nod before flying off. Turning towards the stairs, I glided up to the second floor. Before I could turn down the hallway, something caught my eye—something dark on the white floor. Turning to the side, I saw dark slashes scattered across the carpet. As my eyes followed the black trail, the small gnawing in my chest only worsened. They led all the way down the adjacent hallway and stopped just before a golden door. My heart was caught in my throat.
Something was wrong. Horribly wrong.
"That's the Time Vault."
Doing a U turn, I quickly made my way to the door. It's where the main clock is kept. The hourglass. It runs everything. It doesn't even need to be set. It just is.
My heart pumped against my ribs as I got closer to the door. The dark slashes only got deeper and longer. They bled into the white carpet like soot. Grasping the golden knob, I swung open the door. I couldn't breathe. Black was everywhere.
"TIME!"
Father Time was splayed on the ground, his long white beard covering half his face. His frail body laid before the large hourglass in the middle of the room. And the hourglass. The sand. It was black.
I hurled myself into the room so fast I skidded across the floor. Scrambling to my feet, I flung myself at his side. His skin was speckled with a black that was all too familiar. My stomach lurched as I brushed it off his face. Pulling him into my lap, I was relieved to see he was still breathing.
"Time? Can you hear me?" I said, rubbing my thumb across his cheek.
His eyes fluttered, but in the end remained shut. Tears began to well in my eyes and I could feel my breath quicken. Sharp puffs of air escaped my mouth.
What do I do?
"Cly? Are you ok?"
My ears twitched to the direction of the door. Jack. I could hear him coming upstairs.
"Jack! In here!" I screamed.
I looked back down to Time as I waited for Jack to arrive. He looked much paler than usual. His cheeks more sunken in. He was just fine when I saw him last week.
It felt like an eternity for Jack to reach the room. I had to constantly swallow the bile which was piling in my throat. I didn't want to believe what I saw—what was happening.
We defeated him. He was gone. He is gone. He doesn't have the power to do this. It's only been a few months.
As Jack finally made it to the doorway, I could barely form words. His eyes were wide with fear as he looked from me to the hourglass. His blue iris' remained on me as he was frozen in the doorway. I could see him shaking his head back and forth in disbelief. He didn't want to believe it either.
My voice cracked as I tried to breathe out the words. "P-Pitch…I think he's back."
Things are about to take an interesting turn next chapter. I hope ya'll are prepared! But yes, thanks for sticking with this story and reading along! I really appreciate all your nice comments! And as always, C U in the next update!
Cly
***********reviews***********
Awesomo3000: Well I hope my candle is still lit (I think it is haha). But fear not! Some pretty interesting events will really make them both see how important they are to each other!
Demi Clayton: Thank you so much for liking my writing! Hope you liked the chapter!
Guest: Thank you so much! I'm happy you liked the chapter!
Guest: Haha! You're the first to point that out! But actually no, Cly is not me. It's an alias name which I've used on the internet and ended up making a persona for (to insert in stories). I suppose you can say that parts of her are based on me, as I think any creator puts a bit of themselves into characters, but over the years she's become something of her own. Granted I made her when I was like what...uhhh 15 I think? So who knows haha. Hope that makes sense XD