The Timekeeper's Watch

Chapter Ten - Sleepless Girls and Society Cloaks

Thom left Artie in the Infirmary and wandered aimlessly towards the other side of the school. He had to meet Lutwyche in his office by ten o'clock and not a moment sooner, Lutwyche had sternly articulated the previous night.

What had Artie meant exactly, when he'd said Thom's face was all scarred? Thom rubbed his cheek in thought and sighed as he walked. He wasn't going to get answers from anyone, he realised. Time would soon tell what lay ahead for him. He sighed at the unknown thought.

'What's with the big sigh, Thomas?'

Thom looked up and saw Neaka, sitting in the crèche of a large bay window he was about to pass by. Books were strewn around her where she sat cross legged on the large window seat. The window was cocked ever so slightly, emitting a silent cool breeze. Thom smelt a gentle wafting of lavender.

He paused and opened his mouth to say hello in reply, but instead shifted his focus to the world outside the window.  Neaka watched his expression and turned her head to follow his gaze.

'Mmm, yes,' she mused. 'Lutwyche had the grounds cleaned earlier this morning. It was quite the sight. All those Timekeeper's. Some of them even Reset to get here so quickly.'

Thom looked out at the empty, grassy grounds. There was nothing left to suggest the previous day's events had transpired. No remnants but memories in their minds. Surely by now all of the school faculty and the rest of the students would know, Thom thought.

Norwood House was definitely not one of the larger Timekeeping Houses. The school was only supported by a half dozen Professors most of the Time. Some of them staying for as little as a semester. Some, like Lutwyche and Professor Wiley, had been around for years. Hence why Lutwyche was considered a headmaster of sorts.

Norwood House, like others in the Society, ran in a democratic fashion similar to the rest of the broader Society. Timekeeper's were equal, no Watch greater than its brother or sister.

Thom cleared his throat. 'What did they do with them?'

Neaka shrugged and tore her gaze away from the window. 'Sent them back, I suppose.' She gestured to the space across from her and Thom hesitantly lowered himself down, careful not to disrupt her book-strewn space.

'Sent them back?' Thom frowned. 'To the ocean?'

'Of course. Where else could you send them?' She snorted dryly. 'Couldn't really leave them there to rot, could they? It's natural for them to go back.' She shrugged again.

'I didn't know that was even possible. Timekeeper's can Reset... um, things other than themselves?'

'Apparently. I saw them do it this morning. Was really rather uneventful. Poof. Gone. Just like Lutwyche in class the other day. Took them rather a while actually. Not many Timekeepers must have the skill.' She flicked a page from the book in her lap, tracing the text with her index finger, then flicked another page over in quick succession.

'How do you know so much about Reseting anyway?'

Neaka shrugged and sighed, before saying, 'My father likes to keep a large library at the house. Much bigger than the one here at school.' She waved a hand faintly in the direction of the library. Thom noted her use of the words the house. Was it not considered home for her? 'It has loads of books on Reseting.' 

Thom watched her for a moment. She seemed aggravated, pent-up with energy, eyes and fingers skimming over the text.

'Neaka, are you alright? What's with all the books? Are you turning into Artie?'

The girl looked up from the page. Her icey eyes met his and watched them for a moment. But he didn't feel cold, instead, he felt a warmth. Thom pictured a brick coming away from a wall. A wall that had been standing for a long time.

'I didn't get much sleep last night... after yesterday,' she swallowed and took a new breath. 'And my father dutifully reminded me this morning that I have an Advanced Pathophysiology test tomorrow.' She rubbed her eyes and Thom noticed for the first time a dark shadow under them in the corners.

He opened his mouth to suggest she go and lay down for a while in one of the many emergency hostel rooms upstairs, just for a few hours maybe, when someone came hurrying up to them calling Thom's name. Mackey Gray, a second year Timekeeping student, came to a shuddering halt in front of Thom.

'You're Thomas Firth, right?' He said breathlessly. 'Professor Lutwyche sent me to find you.'

Thom had an internal adrenaline surge. 'Oh man, I can't be late. It's not even nine thirty,' he said, quickly checking his Watch.

'He just sent me to find you. That's all I know. That, and there's a bunch of other Timekeeper's from the Society in his office with him!' The boys eyes were wide. It reminded Thom momentarily of Artie, and the excited look he gets on his face. 'You should see them! They have proper Timekeeper cloaks on and everything!'

Thom thanked the other boy for seeking him out and shared a last look with Neaka. 'I'd better go,' he said, before adding, 'Try to get some sleep, Neaka...' then eased himself up off the window seat. The book in her lap forgotten, she watched after him curiously.