A Timekeeper's Duty

Flimsy sheets of homework with a mixture of the most vilest combinations of letters and numbers sat on the table. Algebra.

Each day that passed, a sliver of regret creeped in. I shouldn’t have come back to this age. I double checked to ensure that some were incorrect. I had no desire to place hope in my teachers that I would go far, I just needed to pass. The less eyes on me.

The doorbell rang, the tune filled the air in the small apartment. I raised my head to see if anyone else would tend to it. But father had passed out against the kitchen cupboard, a half empty bottle tucked close to his chest. And mother’s eyes were glued to the television. Unmoving.

I rose from the table, a creak in the chair as the legs caressed the floorboard. Avoiding the glass fragments from yesterday’s argument, I moved to the door. My fingers brushed aside the thin curtain that lined the near window.

A man with a monocle stood tapping a silver knobbed cane in a short rhythm. A bowler hat fitted his head, paired with an overcoat that hung to his ankles covering his trousers. He stood out like a sore thumb, in today's era of skinny jeans and graphic tees. I breathed in, my hand shaking as I let the curtain fall back into place.

I unlocked the door, opening it just wide enough that my body could block the view from my mother.

A thin see-through gate still separated us. I glanced up at him. “How can I help you?”

The man’s lips pulled tight. “Good day. I am looking for Attica Marley.”

My heart beat picked up at the mention of my real name. I scanned the man. I didn’t sense anything from him. I clicked the latch of the second gate and pushed it open. This grabbed mother’s attention, her voice rose over the show's chatter. “Riley! Who’s at the door?”

The man's left brow rose. I turned a bit towards her, my eyes not leaving his, “Just another seller!”

“Oh.” She grunted. “Tell ‘em to get the hell off my porch!”

“Will do!”

“You’re Attica Marley?”

“Yes,” I said. “But I go by Riley here.”

“Apologies,” he said. His hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a silver device. My lips twitched. A temporal scanner. He held it up to my forehead, a soft light shined over my face. A faint beep met my ears, which confirmed to him that even though I resembled a pubescent teen– I was telling the truth.

The man’s shoulder relaxed. “Pardon me. I sometimes forget your true capabilities." He tucked the scanner away and held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Time Keeper.” I shook his hand. “My name is Melodius, I am a messenger on behalf of Mr. Darth.”

A smile formed at the mention of the Director, “How is he?”

Melodius’s smile fell. A hard look taking its place, speaking a thousand unsaid words. I swallowed, ignoring the way my stomach sank. I had lost contact with Mr. Darth when the uprising happened. We had fled our separate ways from the Time Guild.

“He fought, till the very end.” Melodious said, pulling out a crisp blue envelope. “I mustn’t stay long. But I was tasked to deliver this to you.”

I grasped it. “When are you from?”

“1892. France,” he said. “I helped build the Eifel tower.”

I cracked a smile. “Sounds fun.”

“You’ve taken a modern approach.” He glances at the suburban neighborhood. “A family too?”

“I didn't want to work,” I said. “Thank you for this.”

Melodius tipped his hat to me and disappeared into a portal. I turned back inside. My life as a highschooler had come to an end. My thumb fitted under the fold and tore the envelope open. Cursive writing in dark ink stared back at me, as though the man in his final moments thought to write his best.

“Dear Attica,

I pray to God that you are well.

If you are, however, reading this then I am no longer alive.

The Timekeepers Guild has reconvened. Now under the leadership of the Rebellion. They disgrace the sacred timeline. And it will only be a matter of time before they find you. That was a pun. I hope you enjoyed it. It is your duty now to protect its sacredness.

You will always be dear to my heart. Even if it no longer thumps with life.

Sincerely,

D. F.

My fingers trembled as I held the letter to my chest. The thought of the rebellion caused goosebumps to cover my arms. What had seemed like another tasking time at the Guild had turned into a disarray of chaos and disruption. They had intervened with what’s sacred for selfish reasons. Those who stood with Director Darth fled into hiding. And if they’d found him, they definitely knew where I was.

“What’s that?”

I side eyed the woman, Beth, whom I’d called mother for a few fixed years. “It’s nothing.”

She shook her head. “Bring it ova’, let me see.”

I sighed and raised my hand; the letter evaporated into thin air. Beth’s brown eyes widened, her mouth dropped open. I walked to her, watching as she leaned back, trying to put distance between us. “Thank you,” I spoke. “For lending me your time.” Her brows drew together, a scowl slowly forming on her lips, “I also apologize for intruding in on your life.”

I waved my hand over her forehead before she could say a word. Memories of her and I flitted through my mind, ones I had imputed, now being erased. Replaced with the way in which she would’ve lived her life without me. Beth’s head fell back. She would be out for a few hours. I did the same to Frank, who was still out cold, drool now spilling from his lips.

I ran up the stairs. The weight of my body grew heavier with each step as I released the tension. My limbs stretched to their normal size, hips filled out and curly hair now brushed my back. It felt nice to be back in my own body. I faced my bedroom. Scattered clothing strewn about and posters disappeared with a flick of my hand; now back to a storage room: boxes, Knick knacks and college mementos.

I felt the shift in energy before I could glance at the door. Crap. A knock, then another and another. Slow, deliberate and taunting. They were here. I waved my hand in the air, opening a portal. I had to be wise. Jumping too far back required energy that I needed to conserve, so I chose forward. Twenty years.

2020.

My feet hit the pavement, I was in another neighborhood. The sun was low and the surroundings lively, with families moving to and fro. I turned on my heel.

“You know.” A familiar voice began behind me . “I’ve been dreaming of this day.”

Mist soldiers began to materialize around me. All with sceptres pointing towards me, their eyes glowed blue telling me that they were imbued with her temporal energy. I paused, turning slowly to be met with monolid eyes fitted in a glare towards me. Her hair was shorter now, curtaining her cheeks in a bob. The time guilds crest on the chest of her black fitted uniform.

Ha-eun smiled, “Hello Attica. Or is it Riley?” She tilted her head at me. “You lack creativity.”

My lips pulled tight as I raised my palm, energy drawing to my fingertips.

“Come on,” Ha-eun folded her arms. “It doesn’t have to go this way.”

My jaw clenched. “I’m not going with you.”

Her soldiers raised their spears. She lifted a palm halting their actions.

“I get it. I do.” She huffed out a breath, kicking a rock away. "Unfortunately, the Director doesn’t. He wants to speak with you,” she said, folding her hands. “No matter how much you may deserve it. I’m under strict orders to not harm you.” I raised a brow. That’s new.

“But those around us. That’s fine with you, right?” Hae-un flicked her finger in the direction of a young mother patting her infant. A soldier spun towards her shooting a blast of blue light out of the sceptre. The baby evaporated into dust. I tilted my head. My palm extended and I reversed the effect– not a second later. The mother’s crescent eyes remained the same, not even realizing that her bundle of joy had ceased to exist.

“So, you do have a heart.” Hae-un’s lip tilted upward, she waved her arms around to the people that walked by, unaware that we were here. “I remember Darth saying we shouldn’t fret, that some are meant to die. That it’s just a few seconds of excruciating pain and then nothingness.” Her fists clenched at her sides, before relaxing. “You followed him, didn't you? So, we should continue.”

I swallowed, a deep sigh leaving my lips. “Stop it.”

Her lips tilted upward as she shook her head at me. “No. You stand behind laws that you can’t even face! What’s the difference?” She jerked her head. “Surrender. Then it ends.”

Shots rang out around us, as shades of blue light whizzed past me. Her soldiers, now materialized, began marching through the area. Screams echoed in the neighborhood, as people ran in different directions. Children who played in the park and those being off loaded by the school bus to awaiting parents; were vaporized one by one. Leaving the next screaming in their stead until they were silenced themselves. I looked at Hae-un, a sweat on her brow, and a grimace on her lips. But she wasn’t going to budge.

I let out a breath. “I surrender.”

Silence.

The soldiers ceased their onslaught, leaving just a few people tripping over themselves to get away.

“Perfect,” she said and waved a hand at me. “Now, go on.”

I glared at her, before crouching down and placing my fingertips on the warm asphalt. A wave of temporal energy shot out from me, a light yellow mist covered the area around us. Shadows of the moments before reversed, until the sounds of laughter filled the air again.

“Wow.” Hae-un huffed at me. “The talents of a Variant. A shame that such power is wasted on a small mind.” A soldier stepped to me and placed a restraint on my wrist. She turned and sliced open space, and stepped through. “Let’s go.”

The tip of the sceptre pushed into my back and I walked.

On the other side, we were met with a white bridge. The Time Guild. Over the edge, I could see the ongoing business of Timekeepers bustling about.

Traitors.

A tall golden door stood at the end of the bridge. Opening on its lonesome as we neared, giving a view of a large room. The Director’s. A golden desk and chair situated in the center. Clocks hung on the wall with different time zones. A large circular watch face was embedded in the floor, the hand continued on as we walked over it. Constant ticking, that could drive someone up a wall, filled the space. A scent of old pages, ancient with a mix of history, that says the room told stories.

The chair behind the desk spun around revealing a middle aged man with long wavy black hair. He had a grin that I wanted to wipe off.

“Welcome! To the new and improved Time Guild,” his voice timbered through the room as he stood. “Headed by me, Elyric Thorne.” He gestured to himself.

I blinked at him.

He cleared his throat and rounded the table. “Well, it’s not like I was expecting a warm welcome.” He glanced at Hae-un and the soldiers, “You may leave. Thank you.”

“Are you sure?” Hae-un eyed me wearily. I shook the cuffs around my wrist, and tilted my head at her. She rolled her eyes and left, the soldiers on her tail.

We were now alone.

“I apologize for Sergeant Kim’s way of bringing you here.” He frowned a bit. “She has a peculiar way of getting things done.”

“You must be wondering why I brought you here,” Elyric continued. “To be frank, we have no need for miscreants from the old regime.” He sighed. “This is strictly personal. I need a favor from you.”

I raised a brow. “Favor?”

“She speaks!” He grinned, waving his hand. “Yes, a favor. But first, what did you think of the place? I redecorated.”

My hands pulled against the cuffs. “Do you think this is a joke?”

“Sorry,” he said. “I’m not one for hostile air.”

“It became hostile when Hae-un vaporized innocent people to force me here.”

“Yes. Well, I did already apologize for that.” he shrugged. “But those people are still alive, because of you.” His eyes turned into slits. “Which is very different to what you would have done in the past.”

I glanced away. “That’s different.”

“How, so? We’ve always had the power to stop disasters, mass murder, millions of tragic deaths and yet you stood by and let those things happen,” he said. “You said it was fate. I grew to despise keepers like you. However…”

He eyed me. “I believe that in everyone there is some good. I just have to see if you have certainly abandoned your old ways.” He leaned back against the desk. “Now. What is it that I want from you?”

I blinked. “I was hoping that you’d get to that.”

“You're one of the few Variants with enough temporal dexterity to master space and time.” Elyric walked towards me.

“You want me to go back in time for you,” I sighed. “Hae-un can do that.”

“She is able to carry me, yes.” He rolled his head from left to right. “But, I need something in the past changed.”

I nodded hesitantly. “And if I do this, you leave me alone.”

He smirked. “Cetainly.”

“Think of the place and time,” I said, grasping his hand.

“It’s never left my mind.” He answered quietly.

A second later, we were in the middle of a street. Sometime in the late 70’s, in the city of London. Chatter and the honks of cars sounded through the air until a loud bang ricocheted. A car ran the light and swerved into a pole.

Passersby rushed in the vehicle's direction. I followed Elyric’s lead towards the scene. I paused the time, freezing everyone in their tracks and turned to him to question why we were here. But his eyes never left the site.

I glanced back. What I had missed was a young girl, maybe eight, laid out on the ground with blood seeping from the crown of her head and lips. Her chest was still. Elyric stood frozen, eyes wide, and shaky taking in the girl.

I swallowed. “It’s her.” My voice held no uncertainty.

Elyric flinched. “I asked Darth, when I first joined, if he could…if he could bring her back.” He swallowed visibly, but slowly neared her still figure, kneeling at her side. “I even promised to dedicate my life to being a keeper. To whatever cause. Yet, he refused. Said what’s dead is dead.” He glanced at me. “If you can, please.” He scooped the little girl up and held her close to his chest.

“To bend the time continuum…,” I began. “You would need to put something in the place of the other. To prevent one disaster, another takes its place. You revive someone… someone else must die.”

“Only if you lack the temporal energy to absorb it,” he said.

I tilted my head, “I don–.”

“That was the part that Darth had kept hidden. He knew that if we joined together, we could absorb it.” He shook his head. “He knew that we could prevent disasters. Yet he commanded that we never interfere.” Elyric glanced at me. “The world may not deserve her, but she should get the chance to experience it.” He nodded. “If it means my Belle lives, then you do it.”

“But I don’t have enough to absorb this.”

He smiled softly. “I know.”

My hand shook. “And your masterplan to take over the world, you’re just giving it up?”

He chuckled at me, shaking his head. “And here I thought you wouldn’t hesitate.” He breathed out, pushing a strand out of Belle’s face. “My masterplan was only to make the guild take notice of the truth. What our purpose is. To save. Even if it’s just one.”

I stared at him. “You put too much trust in me,” I said. Elyric didn’t budge. “What if I start a war, when you’re gone?”

“You wouldn’t.” He glanced at me. “The fact that you’re still here, says enough. Now drop the cuffs and do it. I can’t bear the sight any longer.”

I flicked my hands and the cuffs disintegrated, worthless against my energy. The same yellow mist flitted around my fingertips and I angled it to the little girl's forehead.

I looked at Elyric again and he nodded, a finality in his eyes. My energy surged forth. His hair started to turn grey, as the girl's chest began to rise and fall. A pattern that said she was returning. His wrinkled hand reached up to cup her cheek, thumb rubbing sweetly, as though he was remembering the touch for the afterlife. A single tear slipped down his cheek. Until his hand fell slowly.

I turned my head.

The onlookers, still frozen in time, stared back at me. I extended my hand wiping their memories. One day it may return as deja’vu.

A groan filled the air, causing me to glance back. Belle’s hands were balled up in fists rubbing her eyes. She blinked rapidly, taking in the scene around her. Belle scrunched her nose and looked down at the Director’s lifeless body. I’d have to wipe this from her mem–.

“Who’s the old man?”