Echoes of Time

Chapter 21 - The Weight of Doubt

Adeline stormed around her room, unable to sit still. Her mind was a swirling storm of confusion, anger, and frustration. Every piece of her life felt like it was falling apart, and no one around her seemed to care. Debbie and Keira—they were the ones who should've believed her, who should've trusted that she wasn't losing her mind. But they had dismissed her, patting her on the back as though she were fragile, as though her words were delusions of a stressed-out girl.

Adeline paced back and forth, her fists clenched at her sides. How could they not see it? Time had stopped—literally stopped—and she was the only one aware of it. If it wasn't real, why was she the only one affected? Why couldn't anyone else see? The walls of her room felt like they were closing in on her. Everything was suffocating—her own thoughts, the silence, and the unanswered questions that rattled in her brain.

Her eyes flickered toward Oreo, her loyal companion, who lay curled up on the floor, his head resting on his paws. He watched her with soft, understanding eyes, following her every move as though sensing her turmoil. She dropped down to the floor beside him, running her hands through his soft fur, seeking some form of comfort, even if he couldn't offer her answers.

"Oreo," she whispered, her voice trembling. "What's happening to me? Am I going crazy?"

Oreo tilted his head, his dark eyes fixed on hers, as if he was trying to understand the weight of her words. He gave a small whine in response, nuzzling closer to her hand. Adeline let out a hollow laugh, more out of desperation than humor. At least Oreo didn't think she was losing her mind. But what good was that? He was just a dog, unable to understand the chaos that had become her life.

Her thoughts drifted to Keith. The hourglass—it had to mean something. It was more than just a bizarre artifact. Keith was always so guarded about it, like it held a secret too heavy to share. Why was everyone keeping things from her? The old man's threats still echoed in her mind, as did the old woman's cryptic warnings to avoid Keith. None of it made any sense. What were they all hiding?

"I just need to know the truth," she muttered, her voice tightening with frustration. "Why is everyone acting like I'm the problem?"

Her mind flickered back to her grandmother's concerned face earlier. Keira had looked at her like she was fragile, breakable, as though this was all a symptom of something bigger. She could see the doubt in Keira's eyes, the hesitation in Debbie's voice when she tried to calm her down. They were humoring her, not listening. It only made her anger burn hotter.

She wasn't crazy. She knew that. And she wouldn't stop until she found out what was going on.

Adeline rose to her feet and walked over to the window, staring out at the moonlit ocean. The waves crashed against the shore, their rhythm a haunting reminder of how relentless her thoughts had become. She could feel the pull toward something greater, something that went beyond the ordinary, beyond the world everyone else seemed content living in.

Keith, the hourglass, the strange old man—they were all pieces of a puzzle that she was determined to solve. Keith kept his distance from her, but she was sure there was a reason. Maybe he was protecting her, or maybe he thought he was. But Adeline didn't want protection anymore. She wanted the truth, even if it was dangerous.

"You won't scare me away," she whispered into the night. "Not anymore."

A pang of determination settled in her chest. No one was going to tell her what to do. Not Keith. Not the old man. Not the mysterious woman who warned her. She'd spent too long feeling like an outsider in her own life, questioning her sanity, doubting her every move. Now she was ready to confront whatever was coming, even if it meant standing alone.

Oreo whined again, bringing her back to the present. Adeline smiled weakly and scratched his head. "You're the only one who gets me, huh?"

His soft and whimsical barks filled the silence as she continued petting him, feeling the tension in her body slowly unravel. She needed a plan—something concrete to cling to amidst the chaos. She couldn't keep wandering through her days, waiting for the next inexplicable thing to happen.

She would talk to Keith again. He was the key—she was sure of it. And no matter how distant or guarded he tried to be, Adeline was done letting other people's fears dictate her life. She needed to know what was going on, and Keith had the answers.

The thought of confronting him again sent a rush of adrenaline through her veins, but there was no turning back now. She had to face him, demand the truth, and no amount of warnings or threats would stop her this time.

Her mind whirled with questions, possibilities, and fragments of memories that didn't quite fit together. Why had time stopped for her? Why was she the only one who noticed? And what was Keith hiding from her?

As the night grew deeper and the world outside her window seemed to grow still, Adeline made a promise to herself.

"I'll find out the truth," she whispered to Oreo. "No matter what."

And for the first time in days, she felt a spark of hope. The fear and confusion hadn't disappeared, but now there was a fire inside her—a hunger for answers. She was done being afraid, done feeling helpless. Whatever was happening, she would face it head-on. Adeline Monroe wasn't going to back down.

Not this time.