Lost In Time

33. Time Is Ticking

(Credits to the artists who drew these pictures 😘)

Faith's POV

"What do you mean there's a time difference?!!" Mark shouted in surprise.

Confused on why he was yelling, I turned around in my swivel chair at the table, "There's a difference of like almost one hundred sixty years..." I said in an obvious tone, "It is a time machine."

"No!" Mark got up from his place on the opposite table where the machine laid, "Repeat what you said before that!"

I put down my pen, I was sketching Erik when I was supposed to be sketching new ideas for the machine. I had a lot of time on my hands due to Mark was the only one who could really fix it. It's been about five hours now. Aunt had to go across the hall to finish her paper work.

I gulped, "I said when I go back to see Erik, after a day, a week has passed by in his time."

Mark looked like he was about to faint as he set down his welding mask. He took in a deep breath, closing his eyes,

"Faith. The machine was broken before you even got it." He said softly, looking up at me as if he felt disappointed in himself, "If the machine hadn't shattered now, you would've been inside of it later on when it exploded..."

I gasped, taken aback, "Are you serious?"

He nodded, "One hundred percent." Mark looked back at the machine, he had taken the whole thing apart and was fixing the screen at the moment.

"I can make it do so now since I know what the issue is."

I furrowed my brows, "Do what?"

"Make it when you go back to 1863, it'll be on the same day and time of day. It was supposed to do that in the first place."

I smiled widely, getting up and hugging Mark. "Thank you!" I cried, "That would be amazing!"

He patted my back awkwardly, reminding me of Erik immediately. Before we dated, when I would hug him, he'd try to pull away or pat my back awkwardly with one hand. The thought pierced my eyes with a few tears.

I wonder if he's okay...

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Erik's POV

I smiled to myself as the stage before me screamed in terror. I had unfastened a back drop a few moments ago, almost hitting Carlotta again. I have to work on my aim.

"He's here! The Phantom of the Opera!" Screamed Meg as she grabbed onto little Christine, who looked paler then usual.

"Someone call for the hospital! I think I broke my hand!" Cried the frog sprawled out on the center of the stage in ridiculous getup.

Piangi came up next to her, grabbing her hand gently, "Oh my love! It is only a nail! Please do not fret!" He kissed her hand, but it immediately was ripped from his grasp.

"Silence!" Bellowed Madame Giry, who stomped her cane in the front of the stage. Everyone immediately silenced, looking at her.

"It was only an accident." She said, folding her hands in a posh manner.

I sneered, she knew it was me.

I walked the catwalk to the other side, grabbing a rope and standing up on the handles of the walk. I wrapped my gloved hand around it and swung across the upper stage. No one looked up, the only sound was the rope tightening in my grasp.

I dropped to the floor soundlessly, looking down on everyone at the other side of the catwalk. I grabbed the nearest sand bag and undid it, making it fall only a foot away from Christine and Meg.