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Timepiece

Arthur, a child born without a genius paired with a drug addict of a father, was forced to be a modern thief. Bad luck and lack of money in previous escapades lead Arthur and his team to go big. They intend to steal the ‘Timepiece’. On the other hand, Arthur finds an old book in his father’s cupboard; it opens new doors in his money-locked brain. Now Arthur has greater intentions, he wants to rebuild a lost empire, an empire lost in time. The mystery of the book and the Timepiece pave a new way for Arthur, perhaps time travel?

Keanny · History
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2 Chs

Chapter 2: Dystopia

[Arthur]

How could they? Mike was my best friend, he was my whole childhood, it's not fair, none of it is. I lost my mother, then my friends, then my father to alcohol, and now I've lost all I had. I will murder those FUCKING BASTARDS. Rich or poor, living is everyone's right, I'll tear them apart...

Arthur's thoughts caused him to sob on his way to what he remembers as home. Home to Arthur was a gloomy, dreary dorm, that stunk of his father. He hated every passing moment in it, but destiny brought him back today. Ever since his mother's passing, his father withdrew to the pleasures brought through drugs and alcohol; he didn't want to face his father, how could he? He was his son, he should be stayed and helped his father in that tough time, but he walked away. In his defense, Arthur was the one that needed help and support, you don't expect much of a broken soul. He shambled as he neared the old rusty wrought iron gate, partially open, right beside the edge of a broken pavement. He saw that it was all the same, but darker, devoid of light, the clouds and the rain did not help his judgment. With each step he took, he remembered his past; all thoughts ceased as reached the gate. He pushed it open, it was heavy, he used both hands, the gate was bent over time this it was nudging against the ground, he used full force, the ground dug up a bit and a few feet of grass was meshed by the erratic gate. 'It seems that the gate hadn't been opened in a long time', thought Arthur. He walked on a gravel-made path towards the front door, overgrown grass on either side of his route. The main door had lost its polished finish, it was as though that things were alive, everything aged since his last time here. The door was flaking apart, he twisted the door handle but it popped right off. He took a few steps back, contracted his right arm, and with a gentle push, broke the door open. The smell was horrible. The air reeked of dead rats and aged alcohol. Walking into the entrance lobby, the smell got worse, so bad that he had to cover his mouth and nose. It was obvious that no one had lived here in quite a while; Arthur, couldn't bear the scent anymore, the living room had no windows, the closest access to fresh air was through the kitchen window, so he made his way to the kitchen.

'No...no, this can't be real', Arthur broke down and fell to the floor upon seeing a dead body laying on the floor. It was his father. Arthur's agonized soul couldn't bear it anymore. "THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!", Arthur cried and struck himself, a sharp pain induced in his chest, but he struck himself again. He cried until his eyes gave in, as red as the blood moon, he cried his sorrow away on the kitchen floor where once he used to hear his mother calling for dinner. 'How did I get here? This world is a dystopia'. He knew he had to compose himself, the only mission left now was survival. 'But was it worth it? Surviving alone'. Arthur blamed destiny more than himself. To him, it was the wrong choices he made in life, he was young and juvenile, had he known any better, he would have stayed with his father instead of joining the dark life of thugs, he did nothing but ruined more lives.

Arthur composed himself as best he could and decided to leave the dingy place. As he walked out of the kitchen and headed towards the main door, he saw the staircase with a small door on its side. He remembered that the door led to the basement. His father was an electrician, a technologist perhaps, and would work on his projects in the basement. He said that there were no distractions down there so he preferred to work there. Something clicked in his mind. In his life, he had only been to the basement once, his lack of interest and with the smell of motor oil, he never wanted to go there again. But all of a sudden, he felt a calling, that he should go down there. Something attracted him. He couldn't figure out why but he decided to check it out. The door was thin, it wasn't really a door, just a piece of thinly sliced wood used in the name of door. He pushed it aside and clicked the button on the right for light, it seemed this house had no electricity. He decided to leave it be and walked away until he noticed an oil lamp by the 3rd step; he evoked that his father would use it during blackouts. He picked up the lamp, it still had oil in it, he went outside towards the garden and found two streamlined stones, struck them together, and induced fire. He made his way back in and down the stairs.

It was obvious that no one had lived here in quite a while; Arthur, couldn't bear the scent anymore, the living room had no windows, the closest access to fresh air was through the kitchen window, so he made his way to the kitchen.

'No...no, this can't be real', Arthur broke down and fell to the floor upon seeing a dead body laying on the floor. It was his father. Arthur's agonized soul couldn't bear it anymore. "THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF YOU ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!", Arthur cried and struck himself, a sharp pain induced in his chest, but he struck himself again. He cried until his eyes gave in, as red as the blood moon, he cried his sorrow away on the kitchen floor where once he used to hear his mother calling for dinner. 'How did I get here? This world is a dystopia'. He knew he had to compose himself, the only mission left now was survival. 'But was it worth it? Surviving alone'. Arthur blamed destiny more than himself. To him, it was the wrong choices he made in life, he was young and juvenile, had he known any better, he would have stayed with his father instead of joining the dark life of thugs, he did nothing but ruined more lives.

Arthur composed himself as best he could and decided to leave the dingy place. As he walked out of the kitchen, headed towards the main door, he saw the staircase with a small door on its side. He remembered that the door led to the basement. His father was an electrician, a technologist perhaps, and would work on his projects in the basement. He said that there were no distractions down there so he preferred to work there. Something clicked in his mind. In his life, he had only been to the basement once, his lack of interest and with the smell of motor oil, he never wanted to go there again. But all of a sudden, he felt a calling, that he should go down there. Something attracted him. He couldn't figure out why but he decided to check it out. The door was thin, it wasn't really a door, just a piece of thinly sliced wood used in the name of door. He pushed it aside and clicked the button on the right for light, it seemed this house had no electricity. He decided to leave it be and walked away until he noticed an oil lamp by the 3rd step; he evoked that his father would use it during blackouts. He picked up the lamp, it still had oil in it, he went outside towards the garden and found two streamlined stones, struck them together, and induced fire. He made his way back in and down the stairs.

In the basement, there was no more equipment. 'Seems he sold all his innovations for more weed.' There was a central table, upon it was a book that read on the cover 'The family of nobels: Amadeus', below the book, was a note.

[Note]

My name is Earl Amadeus. If anyone except Arthur, my son, finds this note, please deliver it to him along with the book. And Arthur if you're reading this, know this, that I am sorry. I am sorry for all hell I put you through, I can only imagine how a six-year-old lived his life on the streets. I couldn't bear the pain and anguish of losing your mother, it crushed me, crumbled me. And I chose alcohol over my own son. I know what I did was unforgivable, and if you forgive me, you will do great injustice to yourself. To compensate for my behavior towards you, I decided to leave this world, had I stayed any longer, I would've troubled you more. As a parting gift, I've left you the only thing I haven't sold for food, the book of our family. In it is mentioned the great history of our ancestors, not that it matters anymore but I beg that you take care of it and pass it along to your kin. It's a family treasure, invaluable for the world, but it's all we have left. I want you to read it and reserve it. That is all I have to say to you, oh and one last thing... Take care of yourself, leave those bastard friends of yours and live a peaceful life. I wish the best for you.

~End of Chapter 2