The Assassin of Time

Chapter III: The Woman in the Window

February 23rd 1769

I looked out the window and thought about my next client. In exactly two minutes and thirty-nine seconds, she'll appear in that window. I'll hand it to her and she'll pay me than I can continue with my next task. I have a cuckoo clock that was sent in a few hours ago from some guy in New York who needed it for his brother. It's just a standard broken gear so it won't take too long.

I held my family's pocket watch in my hand, wondering why it was so special. I know it has the power to control time but it doesn't look like it. There were a few buttons on the left side as well as a few on the other side. I pushed one of the buttons and heard a small click. I opened the pocket watch and was amazed that it actually stopped. It still works considering it's old age like a brand new watch. It's no shock that something like this could exist if it was blessed by the Goddess of Time.

But around me was the sound of silence, not a single clock made a sound. I looked around to see that every clock in my shop completely stopped going. But what really amazed is that when I looked outside something interesting caught my eyes. There was a woman in my window; she was walking towards my store. Her hand reaching out to grab the handle. But she didn't even move as if she was frozen in place.

I walked towards the window and peaked out at her. She was wearing a dark blue gown laced with silver silk lace. Cream-colored ribbons were present around her elbows and around her neck. I could see her cream-colored petticoat around her neck. Her shoes were heeled with dark blue colored leather and had a since silver shoe buckle in the front. Her dark brown hair reached down the center of her back. But what really drew me in is her beautiful violet colored eyes. Her face was a paler shade of white that looked like it had be crafted by angels. Not a single flaw could be seen by the naked eye.

But I quickly turned away and walked back over to my desk. She must be the woman coming to pick up the pocket watch. I have no time to flirt with random strangers. If I do than I'll just get distracted. Knowing Zen he'd lector me for days without end about women and work.

I reached for the pocket watch and clicked the button again. Suddenly it started to move and tick like normal again. I was suddenly surrounded by ticking from the other clocks. It was a welcome sound at least. But I heard woman opening the door as it disrupted my few seconds of peace. Her heeled shoes slowly and gently clacking on my wooden floors. She gently closed the door behind her and proceeded to walk a few steps towards me. She stopped and spoke, her voice sounded so beautiful, like the voice of an angel. Not scratchy nor irritating but smooth and delightful.

"Excuse me sir," she said, taking a small curtsy. "I'm here to pick up a watch I sent in." I turned around and noticed that she looked about the same age as me, maybe a year younger.

"May I ask your name?"

"Marilyn….Marilyn Albeit," she said sweetly. I walked behind my desk and pulled out her grandfather's pocket watch. She walked over to my desk and sat down a small brown leather pouch. As it touched the surface of the desk, I could hear coins jingling inside. I took a peek inside to see about fifteen maybe more gold coins inside. "I hope this would be enough."

"This is great, thank you." She smiled and picked up the pocket watch.

"Thank you so much for fixing it," she said gracefully. "My grandfather's gonna be so happy to see this fixed." She looked at me with a curious stare as I put the pouch of gold coins under my desk. "What's your name?"

"Sylvester Galigandro." She smiled sweetly but then quickly changed when she saw my expressionless face.

"You don't seem so happy," she said, leaning in closer to me. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She didn't believe me, she leaned in closer to the point where we were almost kissing.

"Something tells me that you're not being honest with me," she said, slightly irritated. "When a woman asks you a question you should be honest with her." I didn't answer back, I just picked up a random broken clock and began fixing it. "Well you're no fun to talk to, that's annoying." She's getting in my face and I'm the one who's annoying. That makes me laugh.

She stood up and with a huff; she stomped towards the door. I listened as she slammed the door behind her and walked away. But she stood in front of my window again and stared at me. A mad expression in her eyes and her hands on her hips made me feel uncomfortable. I hope that she leaves before someone else comes in. I don't need that kind of attention around me.

It took her a minute before she got the picture and decided to leave. I'm only here to make a life for myself. Because nothing's happened to make me have to stay here than I don't need to converse with total strangers. As far as I'm concerned I don't need to make friends. Creating bonds with someone either gets you killed or the other person killed. That's something I don't want on my hands. I've seen my fair share of death to know better.

Suddenly this searing pain hit my eyes. The world around me went black as another world opened itself up to me. I could see a woman in a dark alleyway with three men surrounding her. Two on lookout as the other one raped and left her to pick herself up. I can see where she's gonna be and I can see her face. It's gonna happen at…10:37 tonight. That's seven hours away.

The vision faded away as I was left a little angry. I just met her and now she's gonna be attacked tonight. Why the hell am I bothered by this anyway? People get attacked all the time by soldiers, drunkards and whatever vagabond's wandering around. It's nothing but a nuisance with all this violence. But it's not my job to care, all I'm supposed to do is keep the timelines in check. Everything else is just whatever happens happens. If I get involved than I run the risk of endangering my family.

(Eight hours and forty five minutes later)(On the Streets) Nighttime covered the air around Boston with a cool feeling. Small breezes blew around every five minutes. The light from the full moon gave the streets a more serene look. Without all the people walking around and the sounds of horses galloping the streets are peaceful. With only a few people walking around and the occasional horse and carriage going around the streets were safe and peaceful. But not everything can last.

Marilyn walked her way across the street towards Sylvester's Clock Repair shop. She forgot something at the store so she had to go back. But what she really wanted was to at least talk to him. But three shadowy men following closely behind her were willing to grab her and have their way with her.

She was about ten feet away when one of the men reached his hand out and grabbed her arm and squeezed hard. She winced in pain as she tried to pull away. But the man refused to let go as he pulled her in closer to him. His breath reeked of whisky and onions and his clothes stank with the smell of rotten cabbage and stale booze. His putrid odor made her skin crawl and eyes water.

"Where do you think you're going lass?" the man asked in a condescending tone. "Little ladies shouldn't be out at night it's dangerous." The two men behind him chuckled as they watched her squirm.

"Please just leave me alone," she said in a sweet tone. But the man was unfazed, he knew what he wanted.

"Don't worry," he said trying to trick her. "We'll take you home." She knew what the man meant. She tried punching and kicking but he was too drunk to care.

He yanked her arm towards the alleyway beside Sylvester's store. The two men followed closely behind him. But neither he or his buddies saw the shadowy man following behind him. As they got in the alley he threw her against the wall and started to touch her. The other two men stood at the entrance to keep watch for soldiers.

She let out a loud cry for help but the drunken man backhanded hard enough to put her on the ground. She sat helpless as the drunken man began to work his fingers on her dress. Moving them casually, touching each piece of the dress as he giggled like a child. She could see it in his eyes what he wanted to do with her. All she could do was watch in horror as the man worked his way down to her panties.

The two men keeping watch caught a glimpse of a shadowy man fifteen feet away from them. One of the men looked back at his friend to see him already working his way into her dress. His dirty fingers tore away at her dress to reveal her succulent breasts. Vibrant and beautiful, the drunken man grabbed them and squeezed hard. She screamed in pain but the man backhanded her again.

The man watching turned back to see that his friend was gone. Without a sound the man disappeared. All that was left from where he stood was a few drops of fresh blood and a knife that he dropped. The drunken man already started to suck on her tender nipples. With each suck she let out a small gasp. Unable to escape, she knew she wouldn't make it out alive. For the drunken man planned to kill her after she was down.

The man keeping watch turned back out to watch the streets but the shadowy men was in front of him. He thrusted a rag over the man's mouth and looked him in the eyes. With one swift thrust, the shadowy man jammed the blade of the knife into the left side of man's neck. Horrified, the man jerked only to open the wound up more. Blood began pouring down from the wound as his body began shaking wildly. The shadowy man yanked the knife out of the man's neck only to thrust it into the other side. His body became cold and limp from the blood loss. He was dead, cold and soaked in his own blood. The shadowy man grabbed him and they suddenly disappeared.

The drunken man hadn't even noticed, his eyes still fixated on Marilyn. He hands moved down her waist as the met her hips. She quickly closed her legs but he was still too strong. He forced her legs open as watched in horror as what would come next. He reached his dirty hand towards her panties. She tried another cry for help but met another backhand to her face. Her face turned bright red like a tomato.

"Please…..please…I beg you," she cried. "Please just let me go." But the drunken man still ignored her as he grabbed her panties and gently began to pull.

"Don't worry baby," he said smoothly. "It'll all be over soon." Tears ran down her cheeks and her heart began racing. She knew that she the pain would kick in soon.

She looked out towards the streets to see that the two men were gone. She noticed a small knife laying on the ground. Hoping she could break away and grab it, she tried to move. But he was too strong and forced against the wall again. She looked towards the street again and saw the shadowy man standing there. A small bloody knife held tightly in his left hand. Still dripping drops of blood from a fresh kill.

The drunken man finally cocked his head to see the shadowy man staring at him. The shadowy man's silver eyes stared down at the drunken man. He stood perfectly still and watched the drunken man. Enraged, he barely managed to stand up. He reached in his trousers and pulled out a small flintlock pistol. He raised the end of the barrel and pointed it towards the shadowy man. But the man didn't flinch at the sight of the gun.

"Go home kid before you get hurt?" the drunken man said. The shadowy man didn't answer which angered the drunken man. "Didn't your mama tell you to listen to grownups?" He lowered the barrel of his gun and turned his attention back towards Marilyn.

"Please just let me go," she pleaded. But the man didn't care. He knelt down and grabbed her chin. He pulled her face in to kiss her.

"Didn't your mama ever tell you to respect women?" the Shadowy man asked in a condescending tone. The drunken man huffed and stood up.

"I'm not gonna tell you again you little shit," said the drunken man, raising the end of the barrel to point it at the man again. "Get the hell outta her before I…..aaagggggghhhhh!" The drunken man found a knife stuck in his shoulder. The shadowy man appeared behind him with another knife in his hand.

He threw a rag over the drunken man's mouth and thrusted the knife into his back. Moving the blade of the knife like a saw, he tore through the drunken man's flesh. Blood trickled down the man's backside. He pulled the knife out, turned the drunken man around and repeatedly began stabbing him the chest. Finally the drunken man collapsed and died.

Marilyn opened her eyes to see the drunken man dead. She looked up at the shadowy man's bloody hand and wondered what was gonna happen next. But he just looked down at the body.

"Thank you for saving me," she said, happy to see him. He pulled off his coat and handed it to her. Even though it was stained with spots of blood, she took it anyway. He looked away so she could cover herself up. But he listened to her thanking him every few seconds he had his back turned.

The man knelt down towards the body and yanked out the knife that had been sticking out of the dead man's shoulder. His nose twitched as he picked up the scent of the man's booze. He reached his hand into the man's coat and pulled out a bottle with a forth of old whiskey. He brought the mouth of the bottle towards his nose but quickly jerked his head back.

"This should do to get rid of the body," he said. Marilyn looked over and saw him pouring the rest of the whiskey on the man's body.

He set the empty bottle calmly on the ground and turned his attention back towards Marilyn. She was covered up and stumbling to her feet. She was about halfway up before she lost her footing and started to fall back down. He rushed over to her and grabbed her before she could hit the wall. The light finally hit his face as her eyes just popped open.

"Sylvester!" she said pretty stunned. The blood drained from her face as she just stared at him. He held his hand out to help her up. She kindly took it as he helped her stand up. "How did you?"

"Let's just forget this shall we," he said, pulling a small black Zippo lighter out of his pocket. "I think it would best if you go home and forget what you just experienced." Her fists clenched up as her attitude towards him changed.

"I'm not gonna forget about this," she said, pulling away. She stared at the lighter, wondering what it was. "What's that?"

He opened the lighter and lit it. Without a care, he threw it on the body and watched the flames blaze up. Marilyn jumped as the flames burned the body. The flames consumed the drunken man's body, slowly melting away his flesh. The air smelled like burning flesh and stale booze. It was enough for Marilyn to let out a small sickly cough.

"For stale booze it lights up pretty fast," he said plainly. He looked back over at Marilyn. Her eyes started to droop as she suddenly fell to the ground and passed out. He sighed in disappointment as he picked her up. "I guess that was a little too much for her." He walked out of the alleyway with her body dangling in his arms. "Why do I always get stuck with the unconscious ones? Next time I'm just gonna move to the Civil War to meet Mr. Abraham Lincoln."

He turned the corner and walked into his shop. He laid her down on his bed in the back of the building, which he lived in. Knowing what was to come off her, he hated himself for saving her. To him, saving her was a risk he hated himself for taking. Hopefully when she wakes up he can convince her that she was just dreaming. Knowing the risk, he had to do something before she could become a threat.

(Sylvester) I pulled up a chair and sat down beside her. I could feel the leather grip of the knife becoming hot in my hand. Her soft skin in my coat smelled like her perfume. I saw her being attacked and I still saved her. It's a stupid mistake on my part but I can't let that go unanswered. I can't see the results of me convincing her that it was all a dream. So I'll just have to see for myself when she wakes up.

See what happens next in Chapter IV: Sylvester's Choice

Sylvester Galigandro: I'll admit that it wasn't my best day. But seeing what was gonna happen to her just made me act. I hated myself for saving her but I guess things happen for a reason.