Timepiece (Hourglass 2)

“Dr. Turner,” Emerson called out.

When he heard his name, he turned to face us and smiled politely. “Good morning. How can I help you?”

He seemed a little formal after our encounter yesterday. I stepped close to him, hoping no one around would hear us. It was around nine, and people were rushing to classes all around us. “I took your advice and checked out the sights. The Pyramid? I saw some things I wanted to talk to you about.”

I expected shock, at the very least, surprise. But not confusion.

“I’m sorry, did I give you advice?” Dr. Turner pulled at the edge of his bow tie.

“Yes,” I answered, “in your office, yesterday …”

He had no idea what I was talking about.

“Dr. Turner, it’s me. Emerson.” She smiled and nodded, encouraging him to remember. “We were here yesterday morning.”

He leaned over to get a better look at her face. “Yesterday morning?”

“During your office hours.” She looked around before saying in a low voice, “We talked to you about Chronos.”

Distress coated his words. “I don’t … I wouldn’t … oh, hold on, my phone …” He fumbled around, touching each of his pockets before finally finding his cell. “Hello?”

He glanced at Em and me as he listened to the caller on the other end, his fear more pronounced by the second.

Em’s anxiety crashed into mine. “I don’t feel good about this.”

“You shouldn’t.”

“Could he be senile, have Alzheimer’s or something? Or does this mean what I think it does?”

“His memory is gone.” I nodded. “It has to be Jack.”

“But he disappeared off the map.” She fought her fear, denying the obvious truth. “Lily’s been checking every hour.”

“More like every half hour.”

“Then how could Jack have gotten here?”

“He could be hiding in veils. If he stays inside them, it could block Lily from being able to track the pocket watch. He would exist outside space and time.”

“Or he could be stuck. That could explain why the rips just keep getting worse. More screwing around with the continuum equals more consequences.” Em made a sound of frustration. “As if things weren’t bad enough already.”

“Actually, I don’t think Jack’s stuck. He paid the professor a visit, which would be impossible if he were stuck.”

“Why would he take Dr. Turner’s memory?” Em asked. “Specifically his memory of us?”

“I don’t know.” I just knew we were surrounded by enemies and uncertainties, and everything in me wanted to get the hell out of this town and back to Ivy Springs. “Maybe because Dr. Turner told us too much about Chronos.”

“He barely told us anything.”

I looked at Dr. Turner, paid attention to his appearance, and panic settled in my chest. “We have to go, Em.”

“We need to call someone. We can’t leave him like this.” She didn’t move. “Who knows how much of his memory Jack took?”

“Em, don’t.” I needed to get her back to the hotel. “There’s nothing we can do.”

Dr. Turner had hung up his phone, and he stood staring at the Gothic arches in front of the science building, frowning at them.

“Please, we have to at least take him to his office. He has grandkids, a family.” She pushed away from me. “We want to take you to your office, okay, Dr. Turner? We’ll explain once we get up there.”