5

~Rosie 

Two days wasn’t long enough. 

It turns out when you mention Time’s name to anyone in the town, they give you an uneasy glance and avoid the conversation all together. No one, not even Marie supplied me with anymore information on Time, not matter how often I asked. I’m assuming either it’s due to lack of knowledge, or out of fear. 

Tonight is the last night I have before Time is coming to collect me. Marie muttered something at lunch about an older lady who claims to have once met Time herself, which was enough of a lead for me to go knocking on her door by dusk. 

She didn’t answer the door right away. It gave me enough time to consider whether this is foolish or not. No one else wants to speak about him, so why would she?

Moments later, she opened the door. 

I’m startled for a second by the unflinching gaze of this woman, whose irises are grey and cloudy. I consider the fact that she might be blind, however, her gaze is too sharp and scrutinizing for her to not have sight. She looks me up and down, narrowing her eyes on me suspiciously. Something tells me not many people knock on this door. 

“What do you want?” she mutters. Her voice is hoarse and aged, and rather aggressive. I flinch, forgetting why I’m here for a moment. Is this the woman who believes she met Time? I’m not sure I believe it just by looking at her. 

“Sorry, I was just wondering if I could talk to you about the leader of this village,” I ask, rubbing the back of my neck. I feel foolish for being here, now. 

“You mean Time?”

I nod, watching her jaw clench for a moment, before she steps back, motioning for me to step inside. I hesitate for a moment, considering the fact I haven’t had the best reception from her so far. However, this is my last chance to learn something, anything about the man who is taking me away tomorrow. 

The inside of her house is small, crammed full of old furniture, bookshelves sagging with the weight of all her books. It smells dusty in here, although I’m not bothered. The woman motions for me to sit down on the small space of couch available. I do so quietly. 

We exchange names with a mutter under our breaths. Hera, is her name, yet I’m doubtful it’s real. She accepts my own fake name, not questioning anything.

“What do you want to know about him?”

“Anything really. It’s just I’ve been curious recently, well, since I got off the train and I want to know all I can about the man whose village I’ll be living in. Someone I work for mentioned you met him,” I say tentatively, as she bustles round in a kitchen around the corner. I hear the sound of a kettle heating up. 

Hera returns momentarily, teacup in hand. She hands it to me. Some murky liquid swirls around the rim, a scent wafting up smelling like some kind of wildflower. I put it down quickly without taking a sip. 

“I did meet him, long ago, when I was a young girl around your age,” Hera tells me, coming to sit on an old wooden chair opposite me. 

At least she seems to have warmed up suddenly. 

“What was he like?” I ask. I know what he’s like, because unbelievably, I’ve met him. I might not have experienced him fully yet, but it was enough to frighten me for life. I’m curious to see if this woman has had the same experience as me with him. Maybe he was different all those years ago…

“He was dangerously charming, handsome and very manipulative. That’s why everyone is so scared of him. He has no morals. No one can save him,” she explains, to which I can’t help but shiver at. 

It seems foolish to pray that he won’t be like that with me. I’m hoping he will be a fair boss, which is an unlikely request, considering he threatened to take me whether I want to or not. 

I’m surely dead. 

“How did you meet him?” I ask. Even being able to speak to an Immortal is a privilege, or maybe a curse in itself, so I’m surprised someone else has met him. Hera looks solemn as she sifts through her mind to the memory of when she met Time. Arguably, we have both been traumatised by our experience with him. 

“I’ve been an immortal for a couple hundred years now girl. I was one of the first off the train into this village, and naturally, I had a special welcome from the creator of this place himself,” she explains, gently sipping her hot tea. 

Swallowing uncomfortably, I consider telling her about Time’s plan for me. I doubt she has many people to tell. 

Without thought, I blurt it out. 

“I can’t tell you why, because I don’t even know why, but Time is having me work for him where he lives, and he hasn’t given me much of a choice,” I say in one breath. Hera remains uncomfortably quiet for a moment, so I pick up my tea and sip it. It burns my tongue, however, it’s a reprieve from the silence. 

“I see. I can assure you Time is not a simple Immortal. He’s never requested help from anyone before, but I can safely say the best way to get through to him is by discovering a weakness of his and exploiting it,” she explains to me. 

For a moment I consider that. I haven’t even thought about a weakness of his. I never thought an Immortal would even have a weakness. 

“Can you tell me what that weakness is?”

Hera freezes, all expression disappearing from her face. She looks over her shoulder, as if someone is looking in on our conversation. Her house only has one window and the curtain is covering it, so unless someone is in this room, I doubt anyone can see us. Unless of course, he’s watching…

“You yourself needs to find that out. And fast. Then run, get away from him as fast as you can and never come back. Find a way to ensure he will never find you. That’s who you’ll survive,” she warns, the blazing flash in her eyes suggesting she is telling the truth. 

All the blood in my body goes cold at her warning. I had already considered leaving as soon as I could. I still want to find my brothers, wherever they might be. 

“Do you think he’s planning to kill me?”

“I’m not sure why he chose me, but I’m assuming he’s simply interested in the new girl, like he was with me. He was all smooth words and tripping charm when I met him. It’s a facade, though. Time doesn’t feel that way for anyone,” she explains to me, which I nod, storing that information away. I cannot forget that. 

I finished my tea, and went on my way, thanking Hera for her information. She wished me luck, and I know I’m going to need it. Tomorrow, Time is going to arrive, and he’s going to take me away before I even had a chance to make a life here. 

What he doesn’t yet know, is that I will find my brothers, and they will help me escape him. I’m not going to stop until I’m free again. 

Time can’t take that away from me. 

***

There were no tearful goodbyes to anyone as I left Marie’s bakery at dusk. I’m heading out to the edge of the village to meet Time, so commotion is made. My goal is to slip out of this town as quickly as I slipped in. And as quietly. Not to mention, Marie doesn’t know where I’m going. All she knows is that I’m leaving, which she wasn’t particularly happy about.

I decided on walking into the trees until the village behind me disappeared out of view. Darkness is settled around forest, casting dark and imposing shadows on the ground in front of me. I don’t go too far, in case Time doesn’t show up. I simple sit up against the base of a tree to wait. 

“In case you can hear me, I’m ready,” I mutter into the air. With no response, I simply sit back and wait, hands folded over my lap, enjoying the clear night. 

“No resistance? I’m surprised.”

Jerking up, I see Time emerge from the trees. He almost seems to be molded by night itself, working with the shadows to appear more frightful than he may be. I shiver, stumbling to my feet. He’s still just as intimidating as last time, as casual as he may appear. His hands are tucked in his pockets, hardly looking like trouble. 

“I know better than to cause a commotion,” I tell him uneasily. “And what use is it to run from an immortal. It’s much smarter to just admit my defeat and not dwell on it. I’ve learnt that’s the best way.”

My plan is simple. Gain his trust then make my escape. I need to bide my time rather than make a scene and have him wary of me. 

“That’s why I like you. You’re smart.”

Time approaches me, one silent footstep after the other, until he pauses right in front of me. He smell so distinctly like fresh forest and peppermint, which invades my sense the closer he gets. As he reaches for me, gripping my forearm with his leather covered hands, I flinch. He still scares me, despite my plan. 

“Don’t be afraid,” he murmurs gently, and for a moment I consider believing him. I know better, though. “I think we are going to have a lot of fun.”