They ran.
Past frozen cars.
Past silent streets.
Past people stuck in mid-step.
Aria's lungs burned.
"Where are we going?"
Kael answered while running.
"To someone who can help."
"Who?"
"A man who shouldn't exist."
Aria almost laughed.
"That description is getting less helpful."
They turned into a narrow alley.
A dim light glowed at the end.
An old shop.
Dusty windows.
A wooden sign.
CLOCK REPAIR
Kael stopped.
He pushed the door open.
A bell rang.
Inside —
thousands of clocks.
Wall clocks.
Pocket watches.
Grandfather clocks.
All ticking.
All moving.
Aria whispered,
"How are these working?"
A voice answered from the shadows.
"Because time listens to me."
A man stepped forward.
Old.
White hair.
Sharp eyes.
He looked directly at Aria.
Then at Kael.
"…you broke the loop."
Kael nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The old man sighed.
"I warned you."
Aria looked between them.
"Okay, someone explain what's happening."
The man extended his hand.
"My name is Elias."
Aria shook it cautiously.
"Aria."
Elias looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said something quietly.
Something that made Kael's face go pale.
"She's not the anomaly."
Silence.
Aria frowned.
"Then what am I?"
Elias answered softly.
"She's the key."