Timekeepers: Assassin

Dressing Up

Ely:

Sweat plastered my dark blond hair to my forehead as I took another lap around the track. All three of my boys were busy helping out around the school, and I was left with working out alone. I was secretly glad, because it meant I could work out at my own pace instead of constantly attempting to keep up with the long legs of the three boys I called teammates.

I slowed down as I jogged my final lap, when the air shimmered directly in front of me. I thought it must have just been an optical illusion by the sun, and I was too close to it to go around it.

What the hell? I thought I'd just run through it, but instead, I hit a brick wall. At least, that's what it felt like as I rammed into it and fell on my butt. A boy about my age stood in front of me. He had black hair, and was that... glitter on his shirt?

I quickly hopped to my feet and palmed the dagger that was strapped to my lower back. He blinked and took a step back before shaking his head. "Whoa, that was weird!"

He looked around quickly and I asked, "Who are you? Where the hell did you come from?"

He shot a frown at me and bounced lightly on his toes, "I was told I was needed at this time and place. I think I got the coordinates right." He quickly pulled a small piece of paper out of his pocket and nodded decisively, "Yes, this is exactly where I'm needed."

"What are you, like a genie or something?" I asked. I knew I sounded a bit hostile, but people didn't just appear out of thin air like that.

He chuckled, "Of course not. That's just silly." He cocked his head to the side and grinned, "Well, I don't usually get jobs like this..."

"What are-" Before I could finish my question, he had latched onto my wrist.

"Rory said you were going to need help fixing yourself up for your men. I can help." He spoke so quickly that I had trouble keeping up.

"Wha-" I started again.

"Hush, we're going to fix you up so that you look gorgeous for when your guys return. I have just the thing, and it's really going to bring out your natural beauty." He was making absolutely no sense, but something about him made me feel relaxed, like he really was harmless.

I bit my lip indecisively, "But what exactly do you mean? Why are we fixing me up?"

He grinned, "Your boys want to take you on a fancy joint date... Normally we aren't supposed to do this, but we got special permission from Kierstan to change history this once. We're going to make you shine." He pulled me into a dark alcove, and before I could say anything else, he wrapped his arms around me and the floor felt like it dropped out from under me. I let out a small shriek and he spoke quietly in my ear, letting me know that I was fine.

Fine?! I didn't feel fine?! I felt like I was on drugs! Abruptly, the mist went away and we were standing in a bedroom. The room had splashes of color everywhere, and it seemed bright and vibrant, just like... "I don't even know your name..." I announced.

"I'm Kieran." He replied, brushing a dark lock of hair off his forehead. He gently pushed me towards a room that looked like a bathroom, "Now, go shower, but don't get dressed. Just leave the towel wrapped around yourself." I looked up curiously, but finally I gave in.

"You don't even know me, yet you're helping me?" I asked.

He made me turn around and gently shoved me towards the bathroom, "Of course I know you. You're Ely. And you need to hop into the shower. I've left soap sitting on the counter for you, and don't wash your hair." With that, he finished shoving me towards the bathroom and quickly shut the door.