Threads of time

New Beginning

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction set in a fantastical world. The author's imagination creates all the characters, events, and settings. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This story includes themes of violence, trauma, and personal growth. Reader discretion is advised.

Liam held onto the controls of the Chrono Splicer as his heart raced. The device worked to change time, and every tick was crucial. He pictured a terrifying scene: Daisy's car spinning out of control and heading toward a dangerous curve that could change everything. He had to save her. He couldn't let her go-not like this.

The Chrono Splicer shook when he arrived, and reality became clear. He had made it just in time before destiny would happen. Panic filled him as he pressed the accelerator, chasing after her car. Time seemed to slow down, and his heartbeat echoed his urgent need. As he got closer, he focused on Daisy's face, lit by the streetlight-her smile calm and unaware of the danger approaching. "Notice me," he thought silently, honking the horn in desperation. But the gap closed too quickly, and fear gripped his heart.

As they turned the corner, chaos broke out. Daisy's car hit the guardrail with a loud crash. Liam's heart sank as he swerved to avoid the wreckage. But he couldn't escape; his car crashed into hers, twisting the metal in a dramatic scene of destruction. The impact shocked him and stole his breath away.

Afterward, the wail of sirens echoed distantly, an eerie accompaniment to the unfolding horror. Two ambulances skidded to a stop, their flashing lights casting ghostly shadows across the wreckage. Liam's sight grew hazy, reality slipping from his grasp like grains of sand.

As the medics rushed to assist Daisy, the ground felt unsteady beneath him. Pulled from his vehicle, his consciousness wavered. Panic surged within him at the sight of her, still and ashen, being laid on a stretcher. "Daisy, please," he murmured, his voice lost in the chaos. His eyes fixed on the medics' frantic attempts to revive her, he was overwhelmed by a sense of desperation.

Strong hands gripped his arms, pulling him inexorably back from the chaos unfolding before him. "No! I can't leave her!" he shouted silently, his heart racing as the heavy doors of his own ambulance slammed shut, severing his last glimpse of her. A wave of powerlessness engulfed him, and despair settled in his chest like an anchor.

He fought against the creeping darkness that threatened to pull him under, summoning every ounce of willpower he had to stay conscious and alert."I'm here, Daisy. I won't let you go," he vowed to himself, desperately clinging to the slender thread of hope that flickered like a dying candle. Memories of her laughter echoed in his mind, infusing him with a sense of purpose. Yet as the shadows around him deepened and began to merge into oblivion, a stark reality washed over him: despite his determination and fervent wishes, he felt an all-consuming sense of failure wrap around him like a shroud.

As he slowly drifted out of consciousness, her smile remained etched in his mind-a bright beacon now overshadowed by fear and worry. It was a memory that had once brought him joy but was now tinged with the anxiety of what could happen next. That smile, so full of warmth and life, was indelibly imprinted on his heart, a poignant reminder of everything he stood to lose.

Nine years ago,

Daisy stood before her bedroom mirror, her heart racing with anticipation. Today was her first day at Riverview High, and she could hardly contain her excitement. She adjusted her school uniform-a crisp white blouse paired with a blue skirt and a fitted blazer-feeling nervous and ready for a new beginning.