-The continuous flowing sand stopped, and slowly the small golden grains of time trickled upward. The flow of time had turned-

15 years after ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙

It's all because of a stupid curse. A really stupid curse that probably isn't even real. But even so it's this 'curse' that's defined every moment of my seventeen years of life so far.

It's the reason my parents died before there time, and my fathers parents before them, and there parents before them.

It's practically woven into my DNA that I, along with whatever unlucky soul destined to be with me will die a tragic death.

So in some way it seems natural that after practically raising me Katie is so protective. She can't have kids, and has told me I'm the closest she will ever get to one. But even so, ever since I hit my teenage years she's been getting more anxious. Not that I understand why.

Recently she gave me a bizarre set of rules to follow, saying breaking them would be the end of life as I know it.

1. Time traveling to alter history, cause fame/wealth, murder people, is forbidden.

2. If your soulmate dies you can not turn back time to save them.

A bit dramatic if you ask me.

I don't know how I could get into that much trouble if I time traveled back and killed Hitler. Or Stalin. I feel like that should be a moment where I get an award, not a 'your life is going to end'.

But I haven't done it...yet so perhaps there's more to my life then what's happened so far.

A small chuckle escapes my lips, my eyes focusing onto the gleam of the pocket watch in my hand, a family heirloom that had been passed down by who knows how long. I watch as the hand on the clock slowly ticks down.

Tick-tock

Tick-tock

I felt the urge to throw it, to get rid of it and give Katie a smug, 'Oh that old thing? I lost it' look. But I knew that wouldn't do any good, nothing would. Not to mention that it was the only thing I had left from my parents.

I rested my head back against the bark of the oak tree and let out an exasperated sigh. I wonder what it would be like, meeting my soulmate. What would she would look like? What would it be like? Meeting her....

I bet she has a beautiful smile.

"Hey, is that you Aspen? Fuck why is it always so hard to find you" James calls out to me as he crosses the green lawn, making his way towards me.

James was possibly the only human other then Katie that I was found off, but even sometimes I didn't think that was true. With his brown hair and unwavering, 'Prince Charming' look he managed to not just woo all the girls our age, but even the teachers. I suppose I'm glad I met him years ago, it was easier to see what he was really like beneath his usual unwavering persona.

"Maybe I don't want to be found, ever think of that" I placed the golden watch back into my pocket as I swung my legs to the side of the tree, launching forward.

James let out a laugh as I swiftly landed on the ground. The wind brushed past me, picking up a few lone leaves and carrying them until gracefully laying them back on the ground.

"So, has she said yes," James asked, capturing my attention.

"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Your aunt, the party? I talked to you about it yesterday. The cute girl I met in class, she's going to be there and I need my best wingman. How could you forget about it already?"

Truthfully James was always talking about random bullshit. It was hard to keep up with him, so I seemed to zone in and out when listening to him.

I shrugged my shoulders before answering, "Ohh...that. I uh, didn't have the chance, Katie's on a case right now. She might be back tonight."

"A case?" James asked as the two of us walked through the uneven lumps of grass. I really should take the time to mow it...

"Yeah, she's a social worker...but takes on some bad cases so she might be a while." I tried to hide the disdain for the subject as my gaze settled upon the house just ahead.

I was one of her bad cases after all. Although saying she was a social worker seemed more like a lie. I didn't know what she did, she never told me. Instead, she just said that she helped people with a curse, and spent time teaching me about mine.

It was thanks to her that I had made it this far truthfully.

She's always searching for more like me, not that I know why. She doesn't have the curse, maybe she loved someone that did?

Letting out a sigh I kick a pebble laying in front of me, watching as it skip upon the gravel path.

Time had performed irreversible deeds upon the once proud and mighty mansion. The steeple that once could be seen from anywhere in the village owing to its polished glean no longer shined, a rusty relic of ages gone by. Bricks and cement had been eroded away, washing the colors from the once beautiful building.

But from within, the magic lived on. Great halls of chandeliers and tables lay stagnant, dusty, yet held the weight of many parties, songs, dances. The floors lay expectant as if wishing for one last pair of boots to walk by.

With a small click, I unlocked the door and made my way inside, kicking my shoes off as I walked upstairs. I already knew Katie would say no to my request for a night out.

There was no point in asking

"Let's go to my room, I got a new game" I called out after a few moments of silence between us. James nodded, thankfully seeming to understand that I didn't want to talk about it anymore.

"What game?" James followed me up the stairs and into the attic where my room was.

My bedroom was dim, the walls were littered with stars and hanging planets. On one side was my telescope while on the other sat my bed and my nightstand. With each step I took a creak could be heard from the wooden floors beneath me.

"It's the Call Of Duty one. Modern Warfare. I've been waiting for it to come out since...well since I heard about it"  Enthusiasm was present in my voice at the mention of the game. I had just started the campaign and was already in love with the graphics.

Instantly James went to the side of the room where my games were stacked, looking through them for anything good while I took a moment to take it in. With piles of clothes seeming to form everywhere I couldn't help but wonder when the last time I cleaned my room was.

By the looks of it, it must have been months.

I let out a small sigh as I opened the blue curtain, pushing the clothes in a pile at the corner of the room as James spoke with a laugh, "No shit. This the one?"

I nodded, grabbing an open bag of chips and taking a few as I turn, sitting on my bed and watching him play. This is how our friendship is, he would come to my house to play games since his parents were more strict about it and in return...well in return I had a friend.

It's not that I wasn't popular at school, on the contrary really. With James, the school's Quarterback as a friend it was impossible not too, in fact, many at school referred to us as the 'dynamic duo'. But that was there...and this was here. There I was guarded, smiling and watching the time trickle away as I waited for something. Anything in hopes to end this terrible curse.

"So whos the girl?" I asked after a few moments of silence.

James shrugged his shoulders, still concentrating on the shooting game at hand as he spoke, "Some hottie in Bio."

I didn't say much over the next few hours. The silence, in its own way, was comforting, and other than the occasional groan and 'come on man' from James everything was silent.

"Do you believe in curses" I finally asked after all else had cleared off my mind. The fact that my family may have been put under a curse remained, as it usually did. My father had been put under a curse before me, and from what I had heard from my aunt he tried to break it. But that only ended in both of them being killed instead of the usual one.

"Mm...I guess anything possible" James said before a loud buzz pierced the room, "shit"

I watched as James dropped the controller and jumped up, answering the phone quickly, "Hey babe...yeah yeah okay. I'll be there soon, love you too."

"Sorry man, I'll see you tomorrow. Okay?" James said, placing the game back the case.

I nodded, "See ya"

I was alone, again. But for some reason this time it felt different. I turned around and looked at the photo of my mother and father on the nightstand.

My father was about my age when he had met my mother, when I was younger he would tell me the story over and over again to such descriptive detail. It was my favorite story as a kid.

Ding-dong

I let out a sigh, realizing James had probably forgotten something once again. I swear he would lose his head if it weren't attached to him.

"One minute" I scream as I get up, practically tripping over my pile of clothes as I do so. I scoop them up in my arm and throw them into the basket.

"Fuck" I mutter under my breath as I trip over a book, barely managing to catch myself from falling down the stairs.

Ding-dong

"Jesus, I'm on my way James" I stop in front of the door, letting out a breath before I reach for the door handle.

I open the door hurriedly, eyes widening as red flashes before me. Standing there is a girl in a gray hoodie, strands of crimson hair pouring out from it.

A sweet scent of strawberries and vanilla fills the air around me, wrapping around me and drawing me closer to her.

Soulmate.