The countdown

On your eighteenth birthday, a box shows up at your door labeled in bold letters

I.P.R.C.

It happens to everyone, and everyone gets the same thing. A thin digital countdown clock that is made to connect to your wrist. The clock may have thirty days on it or three days, maybe even three seconds. And as the clock strikes it's final minutes you'll get a message across the screen.

"Walk outside."

Or

"Turn around."

Or sometimes even an address to go to. At any rate you go where the clock tells you without hesitation, because you know what's waiting for you, who's waiting for you when the numbers read zero. The clock counts down till the very moment you find your love.

People wait months and sometimes years for their countdown to reach the end. But what would happen if, when the package arrived at your door, with family and friends standing around, waiting to see those numbers on that little screen. Some of your friends have already gotten their mysterious gift, happily counting down the moments and thrilled for you to finally get yours. What if you placed the device on your wrist and waited for the clock to start, and it had three years on it for a moment, then it sped up?

Three years,

Two years,

One year,

Five months,

Two.

Everyone stares on in horror as the clock rushes on to zero. A heartbreaking gasp rips from your throat as the device shatters and as the screen dies the words

"I'M SORRY." Flicker on the screen, making your heart go cold.

"SAVE ME. PLEASE."

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Hello again! So I found this picture and the concept of the clock on tumblr, but I couldn't help but think about how cool that would be, and by extension where the things came from. So I decided to write about it, because, hey it'll be something new and it puts me out of my element. Hope you like it!

///ON HIATUS////