Which One is Your Time?

Chapter II - The Antique Pocket Watch

        “How much is this?” Lucas showed Madam Celine the pocket watch at his hand.         Madam Celine take a glance at it, “Just 500 pounds.”

         Lucas nodded and think about the price was not too expensive. He still could afford it. He then decided to buy it. Before he could walk to the cashier, Madam Celine looked at him in serious face.

         “Are you sure you want to buy that pocket watch?”

         “Yeah, sure. What’s the matter?” he asked in confused. Then Lucas realize it maybe because the watch did not work again.

         “Oh, because it’s not working?” he added.

         Madam Celine shake her head, “Nope. It was because if you buy that, you can’t return again even no matter happens after.”

         Lucas frowning his forehead, “Is that any cursed in this watch?”

         Madam Celine did not reply him. She who always smile then changed into so mysterious. She even did not look at him anymore.

         Lucas ignored her mysterious words and still intend to buy that pocket watch. He was a typical person who did not believe such a thing like that. He walked to the front of Madam Celine and put the pocket watch at the cashier table.

         “I buy this,” said him.

         Madam Celine took the watch and fill some paper. It makes Lucas wondering what she wrote into.

         “Your name?” she asked in cold tone.

         “For what?” Lucas never get such a question when buying some things. This is the first time a cashier asked for his name.

         “All antiques that purchased in here will be registered with their new owner. It made me easily to track down who buy the antique items because everything in here has their own history,” she explained.

         Lucas nodded because it was a reasonable answer. He then answered her first question.

         “Lucas Morgan Whitlock.”

         Madam Celine who wants to write Lucas name was stunned. She looked at his face in shock.

         “W-what did you say?” she repeated.

         “Lucas Morgan Whitlock,” Lucas answered again as he thought Madam Celine could not hear what he was said before.

         But, Lucas frowning his forehead again because he saw Madam Celine freeze in shock. Is there anything wrong with his name?

         Lucas then saw Madam Celine was trembling suddenly. He really curious what happened to her?

         “Is your father’s name was Balthazar Whitlock…?” she asked in low voice.

         This time was Lucas who stunned to hear that. How could an old woman know his father???

         “How do you know…”

         Before Lucas could finish his words, Madam Celine suddenly packs that pocket watch in hurried and gave it to Lucas by shove it to his chest hardly. Lucas really confused why she was so harsh to him?

         “Take this watch and leave this place!” she shouted at him in frightened.

         “But, what happened???” Lucas was pushed by Madam Celine to exit the shop. He really curious now.

         “Just remember what I told you before! Don’t return that watch to here no matter happens to you!” Madam Celine said in frustration and slam the door when Lucas was thrown to the outside. She put the closed sign quickly and leave Lucas in confused.

         “Madam! I haven’t pay this watch!” he reminded her. But, Madam Celine replied him by shouting.

         “It’s free for you!”

         Lucas really confused now. Why the owner of this antique shop gave him the pocket watch for free? Also, Lucas still remembered how frightened Madam Celine when talked about his father.

         Lucas just looked at the shop and then his pocket watch. Everyone who sees Madam Celine will thought that the pocket watch has its own cursed. But, Lucas really don't believe in such a thing.

         He left that alley and back to his apartment. Lucas took the pocket watch from the packaging. He did not know what to do with this thing. He just like to see the ornaments and unique design on it. Lucas then hang the pocket watch beside his bed as decoration.

         He wasted his weekend just by watching some movies and went to sleep after 10 pm. He sighed a bit because he will start again his daily bored working days from tomorrow.

         Lucas fell asleep later on and did not hear that the pocket watch's needle move into 1 o'clock with heavy sound.

                                                                                            ***

        Lucas feel that his sleep has been disturbed. Not by a noise, but by a cold wind. He freezing like he was at winter. Lucas did not open his eyes and he just rolling to another side trying to get the blanket to cover him from the cold wind. But, he could not find his blanket. His hand tried to searching his bed. Instead touching his bed, his hand touch a hard ice and make him startled because of the cold.

         Lucas quickly opened his eyes and suddenly he was really shock to see that he lying on the hard rock ice floor. Lucas wake up and looking around him. It was not his apartment!

         The scenery of ice mountain and everything was covered by the snow. He was stranded in a snowy field. Not only he was shocked by the scenery around him, but the chill that rushed over his body made him shivering. Lucas realized that the snow has been falling down.

         He stunned for a moment to think that this is not real. He remembered that it is July now. It still on the warm season and winter has not coming yet. But, how could there was snow rain right now?

         Lucas quickly stand up as his bottom feel so cold by sitting on the ice floor. He did not wear any slippers and his feet almost frozen in cold. Lucas hug himself to control the heat of his body. He even jumping in his place to avoid the coldness.

         He then trying to look for a place where he could warm himself. But, there are no house around him. Lucas even did not know where he was. He thought that it must be a dream because he clearly remembered that he still in the middle of his sleep. He tried to pinch his cheek to wake him up. But, it was hurt!