Chapter 28

“Stop! Leave the girl alone.”

I stopped struggling with the time keeper as I turned around to see who it was that spoke.

It came as a shock when I saw the face of a young boy, about the age of ten standing some distance away from the rest of the children.

He looked lanky and lean, almost like a begger who had not eaten in a while. His face was filled with dirt and dust. It made me wonder, when was the last time he had a bath.

His clothes were torn—patched at different parts, and his blonde hair was ruffled, filled with dirt.

The bully stopped hitting the younger girl as everyone focused on the new kid. His eyes darkened and a frown stretched itself on his face, he was definitely not used to being stopped or told what to do.

I stole a quick glance at the timekeeper’s face but he simply looked on.

“Who is the new boy?” I asked. “What will happen to him?” I added, fearing for his safety.

The time keeper ignored my question and I took it as a clue that he wasn’t interested in answering my questions.

“Who are ye boy?” The bully asked in a foreign accent. “What makes ye think ye can stop me?”

The new kid moved a step closer and raised up his hands, signifying he came peacefully and isn’t harmed. “I do not want any trouble, I just want you to leave the kid alone,” he said.

The bully stared at him in surprise.

He kicked the girl a little and she winced in pain and began to take slow but steady steps towards the new kid, followed by three other boys— his mini henchmen.

He stood before the new kid finally and peered into his eyes. They were of the same height but the bigger boy seemed to intimidate the other with his size as they maintained eye contact.

“Ye presence ain’t needed here, garbage boy!” The bully yelled hitting the new kid on his chest. “Get back to picking trash and mind your business.”

The new kid staggered back for a while before maintaining his balance. I could see dissapointment written on his face. Would he fight back? I wondered, scared for him.

The bully was three times his size and wouldn’t hesitate to crush him if they went on a one on one fight. Not to talk about his mini henchmen who stood behind their leader, loyal— waiting for his order.

The new kid shrugged and adjusted his crumpled clothes. He walked back to where the bully stood and stared into his eyes again.

He moved closer to the bully and spoke into his ears, loud enough for us to hear. “I would offer you one last chance to leave the girl alone and go your way while I am still calm. There’s no telling what I’ll do to you after that.”

The bully and his mini henchmen laughed at the new kids words.
“This fool doesn’t seem to know who I am,” I heard him say to them.

All through the time the bully spoke, the new boy walked up to the girl on the floor where she was and extended his arm to her.

“Here, take my hand, he won’t hurt you, I’ll make sure of it,” he promised, as she looked at him, scared.

For some strange reason which I didn’t know, the scene looked familiar, like I had seen it before. The time keepers words, “you can’t alter the events of the past,” rang in my head and it made me curious, whose past was it?

Drifting out of my thoughts, I caught sight of the girl, taking the new kid’s hand as he attempted to pull her up when something surprising happened.

The bully came closer to them and pushed the boy and he fell over the girl, injuring her in the process. She held her head in pain as it hit a stone which was lying not far from her and I instantly felt a piercing pain pass through my head.

“What is happening? I panicked as my heart beat increased. “Timekeeper, speak to me, please,” I begged but he didn’t reply. All of a sudden, I found myself drowning in a pool of water and suddenly found myself in my room, inside Jenna’s body again.

“Oh no!” I shivered, I have to go back.
.. ...

The clock chimed and I looked towards the wall to read the time. It was seven o clock on the dot, for how long was I in the vision?

I felt a certain wetness around me and observed my surroundings. I was covered in sweat and the bed sheet was soaked. My clothes stuck to my body as I pulled it off, and made to move out of the bed to change to something dryer when a knock came on my door.

“Who is it?” I asked, half scared, half Confident.

The voice of a young lady rang through, putting my mind at ease. “Dinner is ready ma’am and the table is set. Would you come down to eat or should I serve you in your room?”

I heaved a sight of relief and came down from the bed. Getting to the door, I held the knob to open it when a voice whispered inside me to feel my face— to knowing if my mask was there.

Satisfied after confirming it was, I made to open the door again when I decided against it. Ever since this afternoon incident, I had not been outside and I wasn’t sure if I was willing to, yet.

“Kindly bring it to my room. I’ll be in the restroom so drop it on my bed then take your leave,”I ordered, resting my head in the door.

“I’ll do just as you please ma’am,” she replied, her footsteps fading as she went down the staircase.

I walked into the restroom to take a bath— to wash the sweat away but I wasn’t at rest. I had to know what happened to the kids— now!

“Timekeeper, appear,” I commanded, closing my eyes.