The Watch – Part 222:

(Tom’s perspective)

‘I see,’ Tim said after I had explained my story to him. I included much more detail than I did before – although I did leave out names (I wasn’t sure why, but it felt like the right thing to do) – including what happened at the concert, how I ended up being trapped in the laboratory, and how I ended up here. I told the truth that I have no idea how I ended up here, but I do know that I am indeed waiting for someone to come and take me back home. As I was explaining my story, we naturally slowed down our walking pace so that I could finish without any interruptions. We were just entering the road where the shop we need to give the trolley back is before heading over the way to the other shop to grab a set of drinks.

‘Is that really all you have to say,’ I said, even though it does make logical sense as it is a lot to take in all at once, ‘is ‘I see’?’

‘How long have you got before he get here?’ Tim asked.

‘I don’t know,’ I admitted. ‘There are an infinite number of parallel universes, for all I know, I’m impossible to find. But I believe he will. But when he will get here? He could turn up literally any second now, or way off into the future sometime, it’s as impossible to tell as it is to find me.’

I’ve only ever kept that information in my head, now that I’m saying it out loud, and to someone, that sort of makes it fact. I mean, I knew it was fact before, but this is different in a way, more concrete. It hit me harder than I thought it would. I’ve only been here one entire day, I may have become adjusted extremely quickly – which surprised me a lot – but I still have a long way to go before I get used to being here, and if Sebastian doesn’t get here any sooner, then I have to make sure I am fully adjusted to this world. I think this talk is actually doing me some good.

‘So what are you going to do whilst staying here, if you are here for many years, let’s say?’ Tim asked fairly.

‘I don’t know,’ I shrugged. ‘I don’t have a clue.’

‘So whilst you’re figuring that out, you’re going to stay with us at the site, or what?’ he asked.

‘Well, I don’t officially exist. I don’t have a bank account in my name.’

‘And so you haven’t tried setting one up, or actively looking for a job or something,’ he said.

‘How can I when I don’t exist,’ I countered.

‘But if you don’t exist, then surely you can make up an identity, and go from there,’ he suggested. I went silent. That actually makes sense. I can do that. I can actually do that. Ah, but…

‘What would be the point if my friend is only going to come and take me home any second now?’ I asked.

‘And is there any way to prove that?’ he asked. ‘You did say yourself that you are pretty impossible to find.’

I think I’ve just talked myself into a hole.

‘Look. I don’t know what to do, what is going to happen and when, or even anything. I just simply do not know. I could try to seek out a life whilst I’m here, but I don’t know how this world works; there are so many legal issues that I have to go through to get anywhere. I mean, what government officials would say if they found out that I literally don’t exist, I have no idea. I’ll be investigated, and that would lead nowhere. I don’t want to be noticed and make things more complicated than they’re worth. I don’t belong here so I have no right to waste their time, resources and energy on something that I’m going to walk away from at any time. Your idea was a strong one, but it is just not worth the time and effort.’

It was only then that I realised that I had a lot of built up ranting energy inside me. I did feel a lot better after that, but at what cost. Have I gotten on the wrong side of Tim, the one person who has helped me?

He remained silent as he thought about what I said and how to respond. We were nearing the shop so I would like to have this conversation wrapped up before we enter. But then we did enter the shop.

‘Hello, Amber,’ Tim said happily, completely performing a 180 on his mood.

‘How was your breakfast?’ she asked.

‘Lovely as always,’ he smiled.

‘Glad to hear it,’ she said, lifting up the counter and taking the trolley back. She wheeled it behind the counter, dropped the opening and resumed her position at the till as an elderly man was waiting to purchase a newspaper.

‘Well, I’ll be seeing you tomorrow,’ Tim said, waving to Amber as she took the newspaper from the man, scanned it and handed it back.

‘See you tomorrow,’ she said, equally as happy. ‘That’s fifty-five pence please,’ she said.

We left the shop. Tim went back to being silent. We also quickened our pace so that we would reach the other shop before we could get into any sort of conversation. I’m not sure he’s happy with me. I didn’t mean to snap, but I can’t bring myself to say it. I want to, but I just can’t. I think the best thing I can do at this point is wait for his response.

We arrived at the other shop. We stepped inside. I kept my head down once more as the nerves kicked again. The only reason why I was able to get away with taking the chocolate bars in the other shop is because the cameras were down. I don’t know what the reason behind how I got away with taking the apple juice from earlier, but like I’ve said before, it would be too much of a coincidence for these cameras to be down as well. I shouldn’t be in here. I need to leave. I can’t risk exposing myself. If I get caught, things will only get worse. Tim noticed my nervous expression and looked at me curiously. Was he putting the pieces together? If he was, then he made the tension so much worse by not saying anything.

‘Hello, Sandy,’ Tim said.

‘Hello, Tim,’ she said. I made sure to keep my head pointing down as far as I can without directing too much attention towards myself, so I didn’t get a good look at the woman, but she did have cool looking, blue and white trainers that had four bows on each foot and a voice that allowed me to guess that she was in her forties, maybe.

‘You’re later than usual,’ she said, wonderingly.

‘Yeah, I had to take care of a few bits of business first,’ Tim explained vaguely, ‘I was introducing the newest member of our team. Tom,’ he said.

‘Hello, Tom,’ Sandy said. Then she too went quite. I could feel her eyes on the back of my head. ‘It was you,’ she said.

‘Him?’ Tim questioned.

‘He took the apple juice.’

And now things have gotten considerably more complicated.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading

Antony Hudson

(TonyHadNouns)