Dark Connection

Chapter Twenty-One

You came back.. Robyn thought as the man began to walk towards them.

"Give me the watch. I know how to make it work." he said while Arthur darted in front of them and growled.

"And now you want to help us?!" Bloom challenged. "It's your fault that Annabelle's locked up forever!"

It wasn't his fault though..

Robyn was about to point that out, but he beat her to it.

"You're wrong. I wanted to protect her!"

"That's ridiculous!" Roxy exclaimed.

"Who are you?! And why should I believe you?!" Bloom demanded.

He blinked slowly, seeming unfazed by her aggression.

"My name's Jim. And the watch is mine."

Jim.. So that's your name..

"Prove it!" Bloom yelled.

"If it wasn't his, then how did he drop it while at Annabelle's apartment?" Robyn pointed out, and his eyes lingered on her briefly as he nodded.

"I lost it trying to protect Annabelle from her kidnapper. That's why I came back for it."

Robyn knew that already, but she decided against saying it out loud. Bloom would want to know why she didn't say anything, and might be even more suspicious of him.

"Hey, you forced me to chase you and fight you!" Bloom said, storming over to get in his face.

Annoyance glittered in his gaze.

"I had no choice!" Jim defended himself. "I had to hide, or the Queen's servants would've found me and captured me!"

"So the Queen's after you as well?" Robyn inquired. That's probably what he wanted to tell me earlier..

"You don't believe him do you?!" Roxy demanded.

"If Jim kidnapped Annabelle, then how did he take her to the World of Dreams without the watch? And why would he be going after it instead of the other talents?"

Roxy fell silent, and Robyn thought she could see the faintest of smiles on his lips.

"The Queen of the World of Dreams is a harsh ruler." he murmured. "I tried to revolt against her but.." He looked at the ground. "I couldn't even protect Annabelle and the other talents."

"I'm sorry.." Robyn murmured sympathetically. "Why is she kidnapping them?"

"I'd like to know why too." he answered. "But with your help, we can free them and defeat the Queen!"

So that's why he came to us.

Robyn took the watch from Roxy and help it up to show him.

"I'm afraid it broke when it hit the ground."

"Let me think.." Jim mused. "I know who can fix it! The most brilliant watch expert in the world!"

"Assuming that's true, who is it?" Bloom asked, while Roxy continued to glare suspiciously.

"He's a kind of hermit, a watch magician. He lives in the Swiss Alps. He calls himself.. the Watchmaker."The excitement in his voice intrigued Robyn, as if he was telling a thrilling legend. "We need to reach the Watchmaker before the Queen does!"

Bloom and Roxy exchanged glances, but before they could say anything, Robyn stepped up.

"Very well then. I shall accompany you."

Jim smiled, but before he could say anything, Bloom intervened.

"No, it's too dangerous. I'll go!"

"We need you here Bloom. To protect the other talents."