Tia's heart pounded as the gray expanse stretched endlessly around them. The shimmering ground beneath her feet felt neither solid nor liquid, and the strange air seemed to hum with great energy. Every direction looked the same—vast, empty, and unsettlingly still. She clutched the strange pocket watch tightly, her knuckles white with the effort.
"The In-Between?" she repeated, her voice rising. "You're telling me we're stuck in some... some limbo because of this?" She waved the watch accusingly at the man.
The stranger, Kian, stood with his hands in his coat pockets, unfazed by her panic. "Not stuck. Not yet," he said calmly. "But we're on borrowed time. The In-Between isn't a place you linger."
Tia glared at him. "Then how do we leave?"
He nodded at the watch. "That's our key."
"Great," Tia muttered. "Except it's broken again, isn't it?" She turned the watch over in her hands, the faint pulsing light within it flickering like a dying flame.
Kian's gaze darkened. "You shouldn't have tampered with it."
"Oh, forgive me for not knowing how to handle your magic bracelet," Tia snapped. "I'm just a clockmaker's daughter, not… whatever it is you are."
He tilted his head slightly, a shadow of a smirk playing on his lips. "I'm what you might call a Keeper."
"A Keeper of what? Bad ideas?" Tia shot back.
"Of time," he replied smoothly. "Specifically, the pieces that refuse to stay bound. That watch isn't just a device. It's a remnant of a world that once existed. It's not meant for mortal hands."
Tia's fingers tightened around the watch. "Well, maybe next time don't drop your magical relic off at a random shop." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fine. You're the so-called Keeper. How do we fix it?"
Kian's sharp eyes flicked to the watch, then back to her. "We don't. You do."
"Excuse me?"
"The watch responded to you," he said. "You opened it, activated it. That means it's tethered to you now."
Tia stared at him. "Tethered? Like… cursed?"
He shrugged. "Not cursed. Connected. But close enough."
She groaned, resisting the urge to throw the watch at him. "This is the worst day of my life."
Kian's expression softened, though only slightly. "It could be worse."
"How?" she demanded.
He gestured at the gray horizon. "If the watch stops entirely, the In-Between will consume us."
Tia felt her stomach drop. "You're kidding."
"I'm not."
"Fantastic," she muttered, pacing in a small circle. "Just fantastic."
"You'll need to focus," Kian said, his tone almost gentle. "The watch is tied to your intent. Think about fixing it, and it will guide you."
Tia stopped pacing and looked at him skeptically. "That's it? Just think happy repair thoughts and it magically works?"
Kian gave her a thin smile. "Something like that."
She rolled her eyes but sat down cross-legged on the shimmering ground, placing the watch in front of her. It gleamed faintly, its pulsing light uneven. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "All right, you finicky little thing," she murmured. "Let's see what you've got."
Closing her eyes, Tia focused on the watch. She imagined its gears meshing perfectly, its light glowing steady and strong. Slowly, she felt a warmth spread through her hands, and when she opened her eyes, the watch's light had brightened.
"See?" Kian said, his voice tinged with approval. "Not so hard."
Before Tia could respond, the ground beneath them trembled. The air grew heavier, pressing against her chest. She scrambled to her feet. "What's happening?"
Kian's face was grim. "Something's noticed us."
"Something?" she repeated. "What kind of something?"
As if in answer, a shadow began to form on the horizon, swirling and growing rapidly. It moved like smoke, but there was a purpose to its motion, an intelligence that made Tia's skin crawl.
"We need to move," Kian said, grabbing her arm. "Now."
"Move where?" Tia asked, panic rising. "This place is endless!"
"Not quite," he replied, his eyes scanning the horizon. "Follow me."
He pulled her along, their footsteps echoing unnaturally in the empty space. The shadow pursued them, gaining ground with every passing second. Tia's chest burned as she struggled to keep up, her mind racing.
"What is that thing?" she shouted.
"A wraith," Kian said over his shoulder. "It feeds on what's left behind in the In-Between. Memories, emotions… people."
Tia's grip on the watch tightened. "And you just casually forgot to mention this?"
"I didn't want to alarm you," he said, not sounding the least bit apologetic.
She let out a frustrated noise but didn't argue. The wraith was almost upon them now, its shadowy tendrils stretching out like claws. Tia's legs ached, and she knew she couldn't keep running forever.
"We're not going to make it!" she cried.
Kian stopped abruptly, spinning to face the wraith. "Hold the watch," he said, his voice commanding. "Focus on leaving."
"Leaving? How?"
"Just do it!"
Tia clutched the watch to her chest, her heart hammering. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to be anywhere but here. The watch grew warm, almost hot, and she felt the air around her shift. The ground beneath her feet dissolved, and the wraith's screeching cry echoed in her ears.
When she opened her eyes, she was back in the clock shop. The familiar clutter of tools and ticking clocks surrounded her. Kian stood nearby, looking as composed as ever.
"You did well," he said.
Tia glared at him. "You've got a funny definition of 'well.'"
He smirked. "You're alive, aren't you?"
Before she could retort, the watch in her hands gave a final pulse of light and fell silent. Tia knew their problems were far from over.