Secrets of Time

Chapter 5 - Cherry

All day, I couldn't focus during the classes, which isn't really new but instead of my usual laziness, I was bothered by something bigger. Despite how they looked alike, was it strange that I thought the Autumn I saw sitting in her usual seat in our last class of the day, was different from the Autumn I saw last night next to me in my bed? Before I could finish my thoughts, the bell rang and the teacher said his goodbyes and announced the date of the assignment, which was due next week. I glanced at Autumn to see she was silently packing up her bags and putting her headphones in to listen to music. Before she could stand up, though, I slammed my hand on her desk and stared straight at her. Something was different comparing her to last night. I stroked and dug through her hair, expecting to see those green streaks that she had last night, but it wasn't there, "As I thought," I went deep in thought as Autumn slowly moved my hands away and stared at me out of confusion.

"What is wrong with you?" She asked passive aggressively, as if she was angry but didn't want to upset me. I calmed down and decided I'll tell her later.

"I was checking to see what music you were listening to," I grabbed her left headphone, putting it in my ear to listen to it. She stared at me for a bit, as if thinking about it before opening her mouth to speak.

"Uh huh.." she said sarcastically, not trusting what I was saying.

"I'll tell you later," I said kinda quickly, "Also what is this, Hip Hop?"

"Yeah, why? You have a problem?" She glared at me and I laughed.

"Nah, you just seem like a pop type of person,"  I told her and she scowled.

"Well sorryyy to disappoint you again," she rolled her eyes and stood up, yanking my headphone right out, making my ear sting a bit but not enough to hurt.

"You know that's not what I meant," I shrugged it off and tried to stop her from leaving, but she ignored me as she put her right headphone in and grabbed her stuff, ready to leave. I sighed, knowing she won't listen unless I forcefully bring her, "Listen, I need to ask you something, come with me,"

"Wha-" I grabbed her arm and forced her to follow me, cutting her off from her sentence as she trailed behind me out of the school. She tried to yank herself from me but when I told her it was important she seemed to have given up, following me on her own.

"Ouch," Autumn flinched and I let go, worried I hurt her as she rubbed the wrist I was grabbing on tightly. "We're far enough, where are you taking me? Across the world?

"Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you and this seems far enough," I looked around to see we were in a rather dark, new neighborhood that was still in construction despite the last time it was worked on which was a year ago. It's illegal to be here but lots of people come here when they want to be alone and there's never really anyone here to arrest you.

"What do you want?" She said sharply, cutting to the chase.

"Do you have a twin sister or something?" I asked, taking her confused face that had 'are you serious?' written all over it as a no, made me give out another idea I have, "That or you have a strange fetish for crawling in other people's beds dressed in a yukata and dying your hair green?" Her face curled up in disgust, "Or, you know, those little hair pins that you clip in your hair and-"

"I know what you're talking about, but why? Because no, no, and no,"  She empathized her no's making it clear she thought I was stupid and not right in the head.

"Are you serious?" I started to pace, running my fingers through my hair as if trying to piece it together, "The first time I saw you in that pink yukata and those streaks was when I dropped you off at your home. You were in an alleyway and before I could get a closer look I passed out. At first I thought I was dreaming when I woke up from my bed, but then last night I woke up at two in the morning and found you next to my bed and I'd say I was hallucinating but I could physically touch you and there was still warmth in my bed," I paced back and forth, venting out what happened so far, "So if that wasn't you breaking into my house and you have no siblings, then who was that?"

"What the hell?" She stared at me as if I was crazy, "You are definitely insane,"

"Then how did I know you had those dreams? Because you told me," I walked towards her, gripping her arms and pushed them into her body and shook her, "You have to believe me,"

"That's just stupid, you could've made a wild guess," She struggled but I was stronger and she quickly gave up.

"A wild guess? How could I when I've been having the same kinds..." I trailed off as I finally realized something. The other one wasn't the same Autumn, it was the Autumn with the green streaks and the yutaka. Was I wrong all along? But then, who was the one in Autumn's dream? "Who were you dreaming about? Who died in your dream?"

"What do you mean? If you heard everything you should already know," She looked at me, confused and a lot like she gave up on me and the conversation.

"No, I was never told," I slowly let go of her and she backed away, a look of concern on her face as tif she also realized something.

"It was-" Before she could reveal who, there was a loud crash, making us jump and look around crazily. I cursed out loud, knowing whatever it was, it wasn't a good sound.

"We need to get out of here," I slowly made my way back to Autumn, prepared first the worst when an even bigger and dangerous sound happened, followed by a bright, yellow light that made us both look up as the house next to us collapsed, falling down towards us. It was too late for us to run out of the way, but we had to do something. I looked at Autumn and immediately pulled her into an embrace, protecting her from the impending building as it fell upon us. Before the building hit us though, I noticed a blinding green and red light merge and envelope us. It was beautiful, but before I could see what caused it, the force caused me to black out with Autumn in my arms