Remedy

Chapter 2

*6 months earlier*

"Lily, hurry up!" My mother called. "You don't want to miss the party!"

I felt an icy sting as I splashed water on my face, trying to wake myself up and forget about what I had visioned the night before.

Why was I chosen? What makes me special enough to hold this crystal of time? Sometimes I even questioned why the crystal was so important.

But as my father had told me, one day I'll understand.

"Lily!"

I hurried downstairs, being greeted by many strangers. My heart began to race, and I wanted to get out of there instantly.

"Ah," My mother began walking over toward me, "there she is!"

I forced a smile as 3 of her lady friends, unfamiliar to me, followed her over to where I stood.

Their conversations were a blur to me, and as soon as they stopped questioning about my own life, I snuck out of that house, racing to the old treehouse my brothers and I would play in as children. My dad and I built it. I still remember the day quite well.

"Lily," My father called out from the backyard. I dropped the dishes I was cleaning back into the sink, racing toward my father's voice. "come here, Lily."

I pushed open the screen door, letting the door slam shut behind me as I blocked the bright sun from my eyes.

"Would you like to build a treehouse?" He smiled down at me, his eyes glistenning with happiness.

"Really?" I jumped up with excitement.
Little 8 year old me has wanted a treehouse for as long as I could remember.

"Come on, help me carry these wood planks." He nodded to the pile of wood planks sitting next to an old tree, its branches shaped as a U-shape.

"Lily?" I snapped back to reality, feeling tears drip down my cheeks. I was sitting on the floor of the treehouse. Maps and paintings lined the walls, compasses, globes, and god knows what else was scattered all over the small room. A carpet of the stars was layed out underneath me. I haven't been in here in a long while. "What are you doing here?"

It was Lake.

"I could ask you the same question." I replied, letting him climb up into the treehouse.

"I figured I'd find you here." Lake looked at me, concern on his face.

"Before you ask, yes I'm fine."

"Only you aren't." Lake looked away. "Or soon won't be."

"Lake I'm-"

"No, Lily, listen." Lake cut me off, his voice stern. "There's a lot you don't know, and a lot more you don't understand."

I sat there, letting him contiue.

"Dad was a timecatcher."

"What's that?" I asked.

"A timecatcher is one who can see the future. Dad could see the future. He saw his own death. He saw it all. But he also saw you."

"What do you mean, Lake?"

"Lily, there's a reason you were given the timecatcher crystal." He pointed at my chest, where the necklace my father has given me was hanging from my neck. "I don't know why, I can't tell you everything. But i do know that you're a different person. You're gifted."

I clutched onto the necklace, the crystal suddenly glowing.

"You're finally mature enough to know why you were chosen."