I landed with a sharp gasp, my feet sinking into soft earth. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings. The sky was a deep shade of crimson, streaked with black clouds. The air pulsed with ancient magic—raw, wild, and chaotic.
This place felt… wrong.
"Where… am I?" I muttered, clutching my chest.
Velvet had disappeared again—no warning, no explanation. Typical. But I knew this had to be the first step. The Sword of Time wasn't going to fall into my lap. I had to earn it.
I took a cautious step forward. The soil was warm, the wind stale, as if time itself had stopped. An eerie silence swallowed the land, broken only by the occasional whisper carried by the wind.
Then I saw it—an enormous gate carved from stone and obsidian. Symbols I couldn't read glowed faintly across its surface. It stood tall and ancient, guarding the path ahead like a sentinel of destiny.
As I approached, a chilling voice echoed around me.
"You seek what mortals were never meant to touch."
I froze.
"Show yourself!" I demanded.
From the shadows emerged a cloaked figure, face hidden beneath a hood, a silver hourglass pendant hanging from its neck. The grains of sand within it shimmered with stars.
"The Sword of Time is bound by rules older than you, older than gods. Many have searched for it. None have returned."
"I'm not 'many'," I snapped. "I'm Rockie."
The figure tilted its head. "Names are but echoes. Are you ready to pay the price?"
"What price?"
The ground rumbled beneath my feet.
"A memory. One that defines you. A moment you treasure above all others."
I hesitated. My heartbeat quickened. I thought of Kyle—his goofy laugh, the Christmas dinner, the way he used to look at me like I was the only person in the world. If I gave that up…
No. I couldn't. But I had to.
I shut my eyes and whispered, "Take it."
The pendant around the figure's neck flashed. For a second, I felt like I was being ripped apart—like something warm and sacred had been stolen from my chest. When I opened my eyes, tears were already streaming down.
I couldn't remember what I had just been thinking about.
The gate opened slowly.
"Enter," the cloaked one said. "And may time be on your side."
---
Inside the Labyrinth
The gate led to a maze—walls taller than buildings, crafted from mirrors that reflected every version of me: the warrior, the broken girl, the vengeful, the kind.
As I ran through it, whispers echoed from every corner.
"You failed."
"He's gone."
"You're not strong enough."
"You're the reason Liz died."
"Raiden loved you. And you killed him."
I gritted my teeth and kept going, heart pounding, fists clenched. The farther I went, the louder they became.
Then… silence.
At the very center of the maze, I saw it.
The Sword of Time.
Floating above a pedestal of white marble, glowing gold and violet, humming with ancient energy. It was beautiful—and terrifying. The moment my eyes locked on it, the ground split open.
From beneath, dozens of Rafaal's creatures slithered and climbed into the maze: shadow demons, skeletal knights, and screeching banshees.
I dove forward, flipping over a cracked pillar. My hands wrapped around the sword's hilt.
The moment I touched it, time stopped.
Literally.
Everything froze—creatures mid-leap, flames in mid-air, even my own heartbeat seemed to pause.
In that moment, a voice rang through my mind.
"To wield me is to walk alone. To strike with me is to sever fate. Will you bear the weight?"
I thought of Kyle. Of Liz. Of the countless people Rafaal would destroy if I didn't act.
"I will."
A flash of golden light engulfed me.
Time resumed—only now, I was faster than it.
I moved like a blur, slicing through the creatures like paper. Every strike rewound or fast-forwarded them—aging them to dust or reverting them to nothingness.
I was in control now.
I was time.
---
Back at Rafaal's Fortress
I returned to Rafaal's lair with the Sword of Time pulsing in my hands.
"ROCKIE!" he bellowed, his dark aura swelling.
"You took Kyle," I whispered, voice shaking with fury. "You erased him from history. Now, I erase you."
He laughed. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
I lunged.
The sword connected—not with flesh, but with existence itself.
Rafaal screamed as the blade glowed blinding white. He wasn't just being killed—he was being undone.
"NO! YOU CAN'T ERASE ME! I AM—!"
"You were," I whispered.
And just like that… he was gone.
Everywhere fell silent.
A wind swept through the lair.
Velvet appeared, eyes wide with awe.
"You did it," she said softly.
I collapsed to my knees, sobbing. "But Kyle… he's still gone."
Velvet knelt beside me. "Not necessarily."
She reached into her cloak and handed me a glowing hourglass. Inside, I saw a boy—his silhouette familiar.
"You now command time, Rockie. Use it wisely."
I closed my eyes and whispered, "Bring him back."
The hourglass shattered.
---
To Be Continued...