Clockwork

Chapter Four

I saw myself... Or someone who looks like myself. She was standing in front of my grave. She had flowers in her hands- lovely pink, wild roses that made me miss being alive. Her face was expressionless. She placed the flowers on the pile of dirt that covered my body. She wiped a single tear from her face. She turned around to walk away, and my dead eyes met a gruesome image. A knife was jammed right in between her shoulder blades. But not just any knife... It was my knife.

I jerked open my eyes and I felt for my heart, expecting it to be beating uncontrollably, but then I remembered... Spirits have no heart beat.

I had no idea that spirits could dream. I guess you learn something new everyday.

I looked around. I was still in the patch of woods Anna had taken me to the night before. She was sleeping with her head on my lap. I couldn't believe she didn't wake up. I smiled and stroked her hair. She was mumbling something.

"Why am I bleeding?" Anna repeated over and over.

She started to shake and gasp for air. I shuck and shuck her until she woke. She flung herself up and looked around, obviously alarmed. She jumped into my arms and hugged me tight.

"I saw him again. He listens."

I repeated what she had said a million times in my mind.

He listens...

I got a chill and decided to change the subject.

"Is Clockwork Hour over?" I asked.

Anna closed her eyes for a brief moment.

"No, not quite."

"How can you tell?" I asked curiously.

"Close your eyes, Quinn. Just listen."

I closed my eyes slowly, and what I heard was terrifying. The footsteps of a million spirits filled my mind. It felt as if they were right behind me. I jerked them open. The footsteps were gone.

"That's amazing, Anna," I admitted.

Anna smiled and jumped on her feet. She ran to the edge of the woods and glanced down the street. She waved at someone.

I instantly followed to see whom she was gesturing toward. I looked down the street too. It was a boy. He was walking toward us.

"Hi, Thomas." said Anna. She giggled. She might've had a crush on him. She ran to give him a hug.

"I haven't seen you the last few nights, where were you?" Thomas asked, hugging back.

"I was waiting for Quinn," she replied. "Quinny, come meet Tommy."

She ran toward me and grabbed my arm, leading me toward him. She yanked me so hard that I tripped over my feet and stumbled into Thomas's arms.

"Oh, Hi, Thomas." I said shyly, not looking directly at his face, but what I saw of him, he looked very attractive. He might've been in his late teens. His bloody lips curved into a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Quinn." Thomas's hands were cold, but he was a spirit too, right?

I cleared my throat, fixing my shirt. He stared at the scar on my neck. I covered it up.

"No, no. You're fine. I'm just trying to figure out your death," he said, putting his hands in the pockets of his bloody Levi jeans.

I found this offensive. "Well, Thomas, that's ignorant of you. Would you like it if some random stranger came up to you asking about your death?"