Save Us

Chapter 1 : The Lady

Hope stood in front of three graves. Each one belonging to one of her friends. In her hand, she held a bunch of flowers. It was the first time she visited their graves after a year. The graveyard was quiet.

There were some other people who came to pay their respects to the deceased. Hope looked at the graves. Tears prickled down her face. The memories of the time when her friends were alive was flooding through her mind.

Slowly, Hope placed the flowers on their graves. "I miss all of you," she whispered. Tears dripping on to the ground. She stood up and gave one last look at the graves. She walked out of the graveyard with her hands in her pocket.

Hope stood in front of the gates. She was in her favourite white t-shirt and black pants. She wore a pair of black sport shoes. Her black long hair was tied in a ponytail. Her face was red and puffy from all the crying. Her brown eyes were swollen and her nose was red.

Hope started walking away from the graveyard. She didn't know where she was going. She just wanted to walk around. She soon found herself walking down the street passing by few shops. Hope just kept on walking straight. She was walking pass by an alley when she heard a voice.

A woman's voice. Hope turned and looked at the alley. It was dark. Hope had went to the graveyard in the evening. She was about to walk away when the voice spoke.

"Where are you going?" asked the voice. Hope remained silent and tried to walk away but she felt as though something was preventing her from doing so. "I was calling you. Hope."

Hope froze. "H-how did you know my name?" she asked. She looked at the lady.

"Oh I know a lot about you," said the lady.

"Yea right," said Hope.

The lady laughed. "Your friends are dead, aren't they?"

"Y-yea ..."

"I'm sorry for your ... lost," she said. Hope felt her body being moved closer towards the lady. The lady was about the same height as Hope. She wore a big black cloak and had a mask on her face. Hope couldn't see her face at all.

"Maybe I can help," the lady said. Hope looked at her puzzled.

"Help?"

"Yes ... help you see them again."

"Oh hell no!" shouted Hope. "I'm not getting murdered." The lady laughed again.

"Who said anything about murder? No I'm not going to kill you," she said. Hope looked at her suspiciously. The lady's hands were hidden in the sleeves. "I have something for you."

Hope watched as the lady showed her hands. Her left hand had a watch floating over her palm. The watch was black in colour and was a digital watch. "Here," she said as she brought her left hand closer to Hope. The watch followed her palm.

"This watch can give you a chance to revisit the past," she said. Hope looked at her weird.

"Impossible," Hope said. "There is no way a watch like that can bring anyone to the past. Time travel hasn't been invented yet."

"Well it has now," said the lady. Hope stayed silent for a moment. Her brain was hay wired as she processed the situation. Suddenly a thought came into her mind.

"You're a witch!" she exclaimed. The lady laughed.

"Yes ... yes indeed I am a witch."

"I'm not taking that watch," said Hope. "Rule number one is to never trust a witch."

"Oh really?" The lady walked closer to Hope. "Are you sure you want to give up this opportunity?" She waved the watch in front of Hope.

"You know I am a witch. You know we have the power to go back in time. I am giving you a chance to experience the good memories again. Do you really want to give it all up?"

"Y-yes," Hope stuttered. Part of her wanted the watch and part of her wanted to follow what she was taught. Never trust a witch.

"You're stuttering," said the lady. "How about I let you have the watch for free? I was hoping you would want to buy it ... but seeing your condition ... I'm willing to give it for free. How about it?"

Hope remained silent. "I don't know." The lady reached for Hope's hand and placed the watch in her hands.

"Keep the watch," she said. "If you have any problems or questions you can find me here. I will always be here when you need me."

Hope looked at the black watch in the palm of her hands. She looked up at the lady. "You say the watch can let me go back in time?"

"You will be in younger body. You will relive the moment. However, you don't have control in changing the situation. You are just watching and being a puppet to your younger self. Your body would move even if it is not what you wanted," the lady said.

"Okay ... I will give it a try," said Hope.

"Wonderful," said the lady. "But I have warning. After experiencing joy, you would also experience pain."

"What does that mean?"

"You'll find out when you use the watch," said the lady. "I believe you have to go. Until we meet. Goodbye Hope." The lady walked backwards and into the shadows. Hope stood there with the watch in her hands.

"A chance to travel back in time."