The library smelled of old paper and dust, the kind of place few students ever bothered to visit. But Aria had a feeling this was where she'd find her answers.
Her fingers brushed over rows of books until one caught her eye. It wasn't large or fancy — just a worn leather journal, tucked between thick encyclopedias. On the cover, a single word was carved:
Chronos.
She opened it carefully, her heart thudding.
The first page read:
When the clock stops, time itself cracks. Only the chosen can see its pieces.
Aria swallowed hard. "Chosen?" she whispered.
She turned the pages quickly, her eyes widening with every line.
The clock tower wasn't just a landmark. It was a guardian of time. For centuries, it had kept the world in balance. But when its gears faltered, cracks began to spread — cracks that pulled people into the spaces between time.
Her breath caught as she read the next passage:
Those who fall through the cracks are not lost forever. They linger, waiting for a bond strong enough to bring them back.
Aria's fingers tightened around the book. A bond strong enough… was that why she could still hear Asher?
Suddenly, a memory surfaced. She and Asher sitting under the oak tree last week, when she had nervously admitted she was scared about high school.
"You'll be fine," he'd said, smiling softly. "If you ever feel lost, I'll be right there to find you."
Her chest tightened. Had that promise tied them together in a way she hadn't understood until now?
She flipped another page. At the bottom, written in shaky handwriting, was a note:
When the clock stops again, the one you cherish most will call out to you. Follow the voice. Trust your bond. Only love strong enough can mend time's cracks.
Aria's eyes filled with tears. It was clear now. The reason she could hear him. The reason he had carved into the oak tree, even from another time. Their bond was the key.
She whispered to herself, "Asher… we can do this. I can bring you back."
But just as hope bloomed in her chest, the ground beneath her shook. The library lights flickered.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the large clock hanging on the wall. Its hands were trembling. Then— click. They stopped.
The air grew heavy, and a faint whisper brushed against her ear:
Aria…
Her heart leapt. "Asher?"
The voice came again, clearer this time, though weak:
Find the tower. Before it's too late.
She clutched the journal to her chest, her determination blazing brighter than ever.
"I'll find you," she vowed aloud.
And for the first time, she understood the truth:
The clock wasn't their enemy.
It was their only chance.