Anna Belle Lee

What if you could go backward through time? I know, it is such a common question and everyone either says they'd do something they think is noble, or they'd do something that would make them rich. But I have the real answer for what everyone would do. If you don't believe me, don't worry, you will...in time.

"Mr. Black, would you please stay behind after class? I'd like a word with you." That is what my world history teacher said to me on the last day I could have ever been considered "normal". I groaned quietly as my classmates whispered amongst themselves. I could feel their eyes burning holes through me.

"I bet she's gonna have him grade the reports again. I thought teachers were assholes, but she's so much worse." Cassandra Miller whispered to her friend, Courtney Hall, who sat right behind me. I closed my eyes and wished I could take back that moment in my life, just become a nobody once more. It felt as though time had a mind of its own and deliberately moved slowly just to spite me. When the bell finally rang, sounding the end of the school day and the sweet taste of freedom hung in the air that only spring break could bring, I was the only student left in the classroom. I let out a deep sigh and approached Ms. Lee's desk.

"Why the long face, Mark? Are you really worried that I will have you grade more papers?" She asked, giggling softly as she leaned over her desk, bringing her face closer to mine. "Don't worry, Mr. Black, I've got the grading covered, so you're safe. Speaking of, I read your mid-term report. It was very interesting, actually. Not many people are so honest about what they would do with a time machine." She said with a tone of admiration.

"Unlike most others, Ms. Lee, I have no desire to lie about what I'd do, nor do I have any desire to be rich or famous. All I'd want is to change that day, even if it meant I died instead." I said softly as my voice started to crack and my eyes became watery.

"It's okay, Mark. I actually have a question regarding that, if you don't mind." She said as she placed her hand gently on my shoulder.

"Sure. It was a long time ago, so it isn't as painful anymore." I replied, looking up at her face after staring at the floor almost the entire time. I hadn't noticed how dark the room had gotten, but the light from her desk lamp cast an eerie glow that almost seemed to change her eye color.

"If you had access to a Temporal Manipulation Device, would you use it for just that one purpose?" She asked, looking hard into my eyes. At first I didn't think she was serious, but her intense stare made me doubt myself.

"Yes, Ms. Lee, I would use it only for that purpose, and then I'd be done with it forever, whether I lived or died." I said to her with a sense of determination I didn't quite recognize. She nodded slowly and smiled with a warmth that seemed strange to me. Then she grabbed my hand and placed something on my wrist. After a moment, it changed and looked just like a digital watch. I nearly fell back out of the chair in shock, had Mr. Lee not been holding on to my hand still. In a voice that sent chills up and down my spine, she began to speak.

"Markus Black, I bestow upon you the ancient and powerful Temporal Manipulation Device Mark III. Use it as you have sworn, and you may keep it. Defy your vow, and lose more than your life." She said as her eyes began to glow a bright red. My first thought was that I had just made a deal with the devil, but then I remembered that I didn't believe in that crap. I had no clue what was going on, but I felt a faint surge of electricity travel up my arm that left it numb. I looked down at the watch and was shocked to see it was also glowing red. Then, it suddenly stopped, and Ms. Lee was sitting back down again.

"What just happened? Did you just curse me, Ms. Lee?" I asked, trying to piece it all together myself. She simply looked up at me, and then she winked and vanished. I couldn't believe my eyes. I would have blamed it on drugs, the only problem being I had never even taken so much as a painkiller in my life. Freaked out, I hurriedly left the classroom and went straight home. Once there, I immediately locked myself in my room and sat down at my desk. Somehow, I was going to figure this out. There I sat for 4 hours, wracking my brain so hard it felt like I was going to start bleeding from the ears. But then I thought about what Ms. Lee had said before, and then I looked at the watch. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. Against my very own screaming instincts, I took a deep breath and pushed one of the buttons on the side of it.