[8:00 am]
The numbers blinked on the screen as the alarm chimed in a sharp, repetitive tone. A pale hand tapped the top of the clock, cutting the noise off with a click.
"Just a few more minutes," Time grumbled to herself, shuffling over to face the wall.
She had barely settled when the sound of someone else's breathing filled the room. Someone who hadn't been there a moment ago.
There were no footsteps. No door. Just.. there.
Which, to any normal person, would be quite alarming.
But when your "friends" had a habit of letting themselves in, it was hardly worth the energy.
It's too early to deal with anybody, she thought, shutting her eyes again. Assuming whoever it was would help themselves to the kitchen.
[Get Up.]
Her eyes shot open, as the rest of her stayed still. wide awake now.
The words had practically flashed into her mind,read out loud by that same familiar voice
It wasn't loud, but just sudden enough to jolt her fully awake
She sluggishly sat up on the bed, turning towards the alarm she had just silenced.
[8:31 am]
That didn't feel like 30 minutes..
Fine, up it is.
A rinse of cold water over her face did little to shake the lingering haze, but good enough.
She padded into the kitchen, fully expecting someone to be leaning against the counter, waiting to throw out some half-awake insult.
But the room was empty.
No kettle on. No sarcastic greeting from across the table.
Just quiet.
Weird.
"It's not like Day to leave this early," she muttered to herself, glancing over her shoulder, like she'd pop up from behind.
Nothing.
She heard no bells, now that she thought about it.
She thought about it for about 2 seconds, then decided to completely ignore whatever happened.
She squinted at the counter, looking for something.
"I need coffee." she mumbled, walking over to open a cabinet, trying to remember where she'd placed it.
"Found it"
It was empty.
"I swear i just bought this last week"
Without much thought, she flung open the drawer, where random items went to die—pens, old receipts, and one specifically neglected spoon.
'Why do I even bother?'
She threw open another drawer and found her keys, then headed towards the door , grabbing her jacket from the chair on her way out.
She was headed towards the store
"Probably should've had breakfast first"
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Vince had just come out of the apartment, looking up at the sound of another door across the hall.
It was Time.
Draped in that same olive green jacket she always wore
"Time"—a strange name for a person, isn't it?
The person who gave her that name seemed just as strange.
He was about twelve when it happened. She and her father were supposed to move into the flat across from theirs. But one day his father just brought her home—no adoption papers, no explanation. She only stayed with them for about a month before moving into what was originally meant to be a rental house, now somehow in her name.
Apparently, her father had been a good friend of mine. The man disappeared one day, leaving behind his 11-year-old daughter, who, frankly, couldn't seem to have cared less.
That was 12 years ago. He stopped asking questions a long time back.
"You're up early"
"Morning to you too, Vinn." Time replied in an annoyed tone, adjusting her shoe with her other foot
He let out a short, sigh-like laugh ,"You do realize the clock hasn't even made it past 9 yet, right?"
"Guess I'm just an overachiever."
"Or sleep-deprived. Same difference."
"Shut up"
"alright"
__________________________________________________________________________________________
….
She'd just left the store, distracted by something in her hand as she walked back towards the building
(DAY: what are you on about? I didn't go there today)
The words sat on the screen.
She stared at them, thinking back to that morning.
She hadn't wanted to deal with it then, but something started feeling off now
'It's probably nothing-'
[Watch your step.]
Another sudden warning made her freeze mid-step. She looked up, finally paying attention to where she was walking.
A child.
Some little girl was standing in front of her, looking directly at her as if waiting to say something
'Is she lost?'
The girl blinked, "Stay away from that person in yellow, they don't like you," she blurted, sounding almost confused herself.
"…The hell?"
The girl just nodded. "That's all. Bye-bye."
Then she skipped off, leaving Time standing there, completely baffled.
Did I just get threatened by a second grader?
"…I need to stop leaving the house."
[9:02 am]
Time stepped into her house, glancing toward the mirror as she passed.
Then stopped.
There was a mask on her face.
Seemingly fixed in place by nothing
That wasn't the strange part. Everyone had one.
These "masks" were tied to the abilities people naturally developed—no two looked alike, almost like human faces.
Unless, of course, you were one of those rare cases where masks matched. Then your abilities were connected.
But that wasn't the issue.
I don't remember putting this on.
Masks didn't appear on their own unless something was wrong.
Unless you needed your ability.
Nothing like that had happened today
Like a lot of things today, Time decided to brush it off once more, clearly too lazy to bother
Afterall it wasn't out of the ordinary for things to be off like this, she pissed off a few ghosts, after all.
though this time it didn't feel that way.
She glanced back at her reflection
"Oh well," she mumbled, already walking away.
If something terrible was about to happen, it could at least wait until after breakfast.
And with that, she went to make toast.