1 Prologue

1 year ago

Renèe and Hazel make their way down the dark, moonlit corridor of the abandoned government building, already dreading what is to come. In the distance, the wail of sirens making their way through the buzzing hours of the night can be heard.

Step by step, they inch closer and closer to the gargantuan iron door, taunting Renèe and Hazel with its mere size and boldness. Moments later, they find themselves standing in front of the door. Hazel tentatively reaches for Renèe's hand and asks "Are you sure about this? We can still turn back."

"You know he'll kill us if we do." She says back, a tremble in her voice.

Without further hesitation, Renèe knocks on the door before Hazel is able to retort. Thump, thump goes her fist against steel, coincidentally in sync with her ever so beating heart. Seconds that feel like a lifetime pass and finally, the sounds of latches being unlatched and locks being unlocked is heard through the thick iron door.

The door finally creaks open and light floods out of the room, along with a man. Ken. "You're finally here," he says as he ushers the two girls in. Inside the room are seats all around leading down to the raised podium in the middle. A quick glance around the room tells Renèe that all members of the Secret Society are already here, seated and masked, as if they are at a masquerade ball. Their calm demeanors make Renèe want to throw up in disgust. How sick could these people be to seem so serene, maybe even excited when in just a few moments, everyone's freedom and lives, as they know it will be snatched away from them.

As Renèe and Hazel, the final two Time Alterers, walk down the stairs to the raised podium where eight of the other Time Alterers stand, Renèe feels the hungry eyes of the Secret Society on their backs, ever so eager to finally be rulers of the world.

She avoids the eyes of the other Time Alterers and stands next to Hazel on the far left of the podium. Then she sees Ken make his way down the stairs, clearly enjoying all the attention he's recieving. He is the only member of the Secret Society who's not wearing a mask.

Everyone quiets down as he starts speaking. Even now, Renèe can't help but admire his way of getting people's attention. How he is able to have all eyes on him wherever he is, with his charming looks and manipulative speech.

"My dear friends, we are all gathered here today for a night that will go down in history. Well, our history, at least." Everyone laughs. "Everything that we have been working towards since the beginning of this organization will finally happen tonight. Tonight, we will able to finally change this fucked up society. Technology and social media has become the pinnacle of everyone's lives. That ends tonight." The audience starts cheering.

He walks to the centre of the stage, where a table with velvet cloth laid covering what lays on top of it sits. Always one for dramatics, Renèe thinks to herself while struggling not to roll her eyes.

"These 10 kind souls standing before you here today are who we have to thank." Ken continues. "Gifted with their powers, the ability to alter not just time, but reality itself, they will work together with the help of a time machine, to amplify their powers. What we wish to achieve tonight is a huge feat, difficult for even ten Time Alterers to accomplish. If we do succeed, there is a high chance of some of them exerting too much, draining all the energy in their bodies until their hearts stop beating. If that does happen. Their sacrifices will not be in vain, they will not be forgotten." Once again, everyone cheers.

Renèe is even more disgusted. Ken knows what he did to all ten of the Time Alterers, and yet he makes it seem like they're willingly risking their lives. He lifts the velvet cloth and unveils the time machine and an audible gasp is heard throughout the room. Its unnatural beauty shines through. It's a round reflective sphere, about the size of a soccer ball. But something about it is able to capture everyone's attention, the way it emits a soft, silver glow through the whole room.

The Time Alterers walk to the time machine and together, they place their hands on it and start creating a new timeline. Like undoing stitches, and re-stitching them towards a different direction, on the same piece of fabric, Renèe thinks to herself as she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

She feels her heart rate increase as she starts to pour out her energy into the cold, silver soccer ball, her breaths coming in heavy pants. With her left hand, she reaches out to Hazel and holds on to her hand. They squeeze each other tight as they continue working on making a whole new world as they know it. Erasing all traces of modern technology, religion, social classes and ideologies. While weaving through the fabric of a timeline with the other Time Alterers, she discretely pours her remaining energy into stitching a single thread. A single thread of gold that would, hopefully, undo all of this madness.

Slowly, Renèe starts to feel the room spin around her as she continues pouring out all of the energy she has left in her. She starts to doze off, but before she does, she mutters to herself, "Nicole, I'm counting on you," and then she is enveloped in darkness. Her soul falling into oblivion.