The Chatwin Child #BattleTheBeast

The Chatwin Child

I could see my reflection in the cold metal face of the watch as the boy took shallow breaths at my feet and its hands moved to signify the passing time. He didn't have much longer and there was nothing I alone could do to save him, but if I could just bring myself to do the deed I didn't want to do I'd have a second chance. 

I knew though using the watch came at a cost. 

Feeling tears prick the corner of my eyes, I knelt down next to the trembling boy and placed a hand over his blood stained one. "I thought you were the one Quentin, but you weren't ready." I took a pained breath in time with him. 

When I first saw him, he was running away. His backpack weighed down his pace and hit his ankles as he ran into the street without looking for oncoming cars. In the shadows of my midnight stroll I watched wide eyed in terror as a car barreled towards him, but before it struck the boy thrust out his hand and I felt my heart skip a beat as the vehicle went flying over his head. 

It was in an instant I knew I found the one I needed to defeat the beast. 

Now, now though after I had put all my hope and efforts into teaching him the magic necessary to win the battle, he laid at my feet bleeding out. 

"It...it hurts..." He croaked and I fisted my eyes in frustration.

 "I'm sorry Quentin, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have done this." I breathed, feeling bitter tears dribble down my chin. I didn't want him die, I wanted to get him out of this Godforsaken place and give him a second chance to face the beast again. 

A second chance meant using the watch though.

 Sniffling, I looked down into the metal face again then looked back at his pale face. 

What would happen if I re-winded? 

Would everything be the same? 

Would I remember using the watch? 

Would I make the same mistakes again? 

Would he? 

Suddenly then, as I heard him suck in his last few breaths my forgotten common sense struck me, using this watch was exactly what would help me defeat the beast. No, help Quentin defeat the beast. His magic was much stronger then mine and if given the chance he could grow, and he could learn. Maybe even acquire the help of other talented magicians. 

Even if that meant manipulating his time line. 

Looking back to the watch I sucked in a sharp breath. Around the bend I could hear the beast's feet crushing the forest floor like a haunting melody, any second now he'd be back and I'd be laying on the ground next to Quentin.

 "Jane Chatwin, come out come out and play with me for a little while." His raspy voice called through the space between the trees. Biting back any oncoming cries of fear, I twisted the watch into position. I didn't have a choice, this was the only way. 

"Don't worry Quentin Coldwater, you won't die today. Or the next time, or the next. If I have to follow you every step of the way, I'll make sure you find your way to Fillory and fulfill your destiny." Then without a second thought, I squeezed my eyes shut and pushed the watch back into place so the spell could take effect.

 Let the games begin. 

-FIN-