The scream isn't fast enough. It's too late. He saw my arm, which showed nothing. I wanted Owen to be here with me. Help me get out of here. This was dangerous. What if he took me to the timekeepers? I know it won't make any difference on me, covering up my arm again, but it comforts me in some weird way. And I know the damage is already done… I want to disappear. Go away forever. But no, that would be too easy.

When I look up, his green eyes met mine. Huge chocked eyes, staring at me. My throat suddenly becomes very dry and I swallow hard before even daring to move. Taking a step away from him, it looks like he is coming back to reality. This is something that isn't supposed to happen. Ever. He must hate me- fear me. I am a monster, right?

''What happened to you?'' he fumbles. I start move more away from him, trembling. It's hard, and tears build up in my eyes. This isn't my fault. It's not my fault I am a freak. With a still frozen body, his eyes drifts over my now protected arm. Jake looks worried and freaked out. Why worried? He's afraid of me?

''How is that even possible?'' he manage to say. He starts taking swaying steps towards me, making me move backwards, not knowing where to go. Just away from this man. I want Owen.
''I am not going to hurt you. Okay?'' Something in his voice reminds me of Owen, and I stop. He takes my arm and draws one of his fingers over my bare skin which makes me shiver and get goose bumps.

''They did this. They did this to her. Why? How? They wouldn't..'' he whispers, repeating them for himself, not even noticing me. Wrinkles appears on Jakes forehead, like he is thinking hard. They? What is he talking about? The bank? No. What could they do? He is probably going insane.
''You can't pay for anything then?'' he says, as a matter of fact. I shake my head in response. That is one thing I hate about it. Feeling so helpless every time Owen and I go and buy stuff, and I can never contribute.

''You can't take time?'' I shake my head once more. As if not thrusting my answer, he grabs my arm and closes his eyes. Keeping focus for a few seconds, before giving out a frustrated sigh, mumbling about 'they' again. I decide to distract him from 'they' and bring him back to reality.
''Are you in a hurry?'' His face softens, but it doesn't look happy. He just freezes, right on the spot, staring into nothing. I take this opportunity and slowly reach out for his arm, pulling his jacket up.

A need of air comes to me, as if I hadn't breathed in hours. Gasping for air, I lose my balance, but my grip on his arm steadies me. I have never seen that amount of numbers, ever. It makes me sick and dizzy. What I do next I really don't know where its coming from, but it feels pretty damn good. I slap him as hard as I could, leaving a red mark after my hand on his cheek. His face woken up by my hit and he jerks away in a second.

''What the hell Addison?'' he screams. I stand back, still pissed off about him. But a small victory creeps up inside me. He deserved it. Who the hell did he think he is?
''It's not my fault you are such a moron walking around with a billion years on your clock! Someone could clean it in a minute.'' To my surprise, he starts laughing. That shit thinks this is funny huh? I am just on my way to give him another slap when he puts his hands up in the air, stopping me.

''Take it easy. Don't you think I hate it too?'' I don't see where he is going, wanting him to continue, but he says nothing. Bastard.
''If you didn't notice, you have about a billion years on your clock. That is sick,'' I snap at him.
''They gave it to me! They did this to me.'' His voice is weak, and I decide I won't punch him again.. for now.
''What do you mean they gave it to you? That's mental. Why would they even to that?''

''You don't understand. People can't take me. They can't.'' I don't understand. What is he saying? People can't steal his time? That would make him invincible, unbreakable. Who wouldn't want that? As if reading my mind, Jake continues, while I fall down on my knees, breaking down the words.
''People can't take my time. I can give, but not more than five years. There goes my limit.'' I face him.
''Why would you hate it? You can live forever.''

''I am don't want to live forever. Who would want to live in this crappy world we live in? I have nothing to live for. They tortured me… But I can't die.'' His face is hard and ice cold. He makes me afraid. I fear death. Because I know nothing about it, or when it is going to happen to me. I am sometimes jealous of all the clocks. They know. I know nothing. It could happen anytime. It would happen now for what I know. Thinking about it, I don't think I will make it further then 25.

''My dad said to me, just before he disappeared, that you have to die. You will have enough. You're mind can be spent, even if your body's not. We want to die, we need to,'' his voice fades away and tears are streaming down my face. I don't want to listen to him, but how couldn't I? It was too late. His words had gone right into me, taking over me.

''How did you get it?'' I squeak silently. Tears are building up in his pained face, but he is holding them back. I feel somewhat weak because I let mines fall.
''They took me when I turned twenty-five. They… Tortured me. The pain was too much after a while and I blacked out. When I woke up, my arm was hurting like shit. Then I was the numbers…'' Deep breath. I find myself staring at his seconds, ticking down. But he didn't even care. He had nothing to worry about.

It seemed somehow that Owens seconds were faster than Jakes. Owen was concerned about his clock, even though he tried not to show it. He sometimes made it slip and went out, running all around town. He said that it made him feel there was no time. Time stood still when he ran. He could be free and enjoy life. But he couldn't run that often, he didn't have time. His work and taking care of me often stood in the way. Mostly it was his job, because even though I never wanted to leave his side, I gave him as much space as I would.

''They did the same to you?'' he asks. Did they? Who are they? I didnt know. How could I? I never knew my parents. I've always been with Owen and his father. Had they took me at birth? No, again the question pops up. Why? I tell Jake my whole story. Everything from childhood to now. He doesn't look pleased when I tell him I am turning 25 in a few days. Neither am I. As I said before, I could die.
''I'll stay with you.''

There is no cure for this. In one hour, I am turning 25. I am standing in front of Jakes mirror, staring at my face. My body. Maybe I will stay like this forever. Maybe I won't. My freckles cover my face and my hair is a big mess, all tangled. What do I look like? Human. I close my eyes, ready for this. I've been waiting for this moment in years. My whole life, down to this moment where all my questions will be answered. Feeling to hands placed on my waist, I lean against his chest.

Still my eyes closed, my mind drifts off to Owen. He never returned home, but me and Jake stayed, just in case. But now it seemed there was no hope. I had written him a letter, thanking him, telling him I loved him and was forever grateful. That I couldn't make it without him. I really hope he will get it sometime. Jake is whispering comforting words into my frizzy hair and I realize my whole body is tense. He makes me relax and I stare at his arm again. He will live forever. My eyes drifts off to the clock, hanging on the wall. 11.40. My time is soon here.

''Jake?'' I say with a small voice. He hums as an answer, making me continue while one of his hands finds mine. I am scared, but I have to stay strong. I already told Jake, that if I die, he has to find Owen or Mason. He promised, and I thrust him with my life. Jake and I had become so close in this days. It felt like we had know each other for years. I only which I could get more time with him…
''Remember what I told you.'' He nods against my shoulder. The next thing I want to say to him is serious, so I turn to him, our noses barely touching. But no one backs away.

''You can't give up, okay? You have to stay strong. You have to find him, you promised.'' He shakes his head in fear, but I know he will do it. He will do it for me.
''Sonnie? What did you miss?'' he breathes, staring down at our hands, tangled up in each other.
''I didn't miss anything,'' I smile at him. He looks up at me and smiles at me in return. I feel bad for lying to him. I had missed so much in my life. I wanted to do so much more, but I wouldn't. The hope of me, surviving this was about at zero right now. We both knew I was going to die.

My lie was a white lie though. What a horrible ending to my story. I can't really tell him I missed out on so much at my last minutes now can I? Nope. Not going to happen. Instead, I lie. Making him smile, this makes me smile even more. This is enough for me. I can make it, I am ready.

Jake is starting to lean in, closing the space between us, pressing our bodies together. First I don't realize what he is doing, but then I freeze. And then, as ice cold water on the fire heating up in my body, his lips met mine. Crashing into mine. The kiss is responded, which makes him close in on me even more. How was that even possible? We stumble towards the wall, not knowing where to go. My back hit the wall and his hands are placed on each side of my head on the wall.

Both needing air, he leans back and we both gasp for air, still twisted up with each other. I stare into his green eyes. And I thought I was ready. Jake's kiss had broken down all the walls I had build up around me, and I can now feel myself free and safe. Tears are falling down my cheeks when I look at the clock. Only minutes away. Jake gives me a kiss on my forehead and then embrace me. We stand there, waiting, taking in our time.

''Never fear the time Jake,'' I mumble against his chest. He leans back and looks into my eyes. So deep.
''Thank you,'' I whisper. Then the clock starts ringing and I feel a hard pain go through whole my body. My heart aches. And then I fall down into darkness.

boom! - dead. Poor Addison :(