The crack widened.
Like a wound in the sky.
Aria grabbed Kael's arm.
"They're coming through that?"
"Yes."
"How many?"
"Too many."
The first figure stepped out.
Tall.
Thin.
Wearing a long grey coat.
Its face looked human.
Almost.
But its eyes were wrong.
Empty.
It looked directly at Aria.
"Anomaly detected."
The voice sounded mechanical.
Cold.
Aria whispered,
"Kael…"
"I know."
More figures stepped from the crack.
Three.
Five.
Eight.
All identical.
Watching her.
"Temporal error confirmed."
One of them raised its hand.
"Subject should be deceased."
Aria's fingers tightened around Kael's sleeve.
"Tell me they're not talking about me."
"They are."
The Keeper stepped closer.
"Time must correct itself."
Aria whispered,
"…correct?"
Kael's voice hardened.
"They mean kill you."
The Keeper's head tilted.
"Correction required immediately."
The ground beneath them vibrated.
Aria stepped back.
"What do we do?"
Kael reached into his coat.
The cracked pocket watch appeared again.
"This."
He snapped it open.
The hands inside spun violently.
The air around them twisted.
The Keepers suddenly froze.
Mid-step.
Aria gasped.
"You froze them?"
"For a few seconds."
"How many seconds?"
Kael grabbed her wrist.
"Run."