Timekeeper (Timekeeper #1)(59)

Miraculously, neither Tom nor George had made Danny’s episode in their hospital room public, though they’d given his name to the nursing staff and, for whatever reason, asked that they go easy on him. Now Danny had a fine for disturbing the peace on top of everything else.

When his mother found out about the hospital incident, she didn’t even care. The Maldon news had disturbed her on some deep level. He found her sitting in the dark kitchen one day, her face twisted in confusion, as if she’d forgotten why she was there. He made her breakfast, but she only nibbled at it.

Nightmares sank their claws into him, and most nights he woke with a scream trapped in his throat. Sometimes he dreamed he was Lucas, watching the tower explode from the inside. Other times he dreamed he was outside, watching some nameless, faceless villain throw explosives at the tower; or a shadowy crowd picking the tower apart piece by piece. His father stood in the distance, a prisoner behind glass. Danny clawed at the barrier, desperate to break through, wondering if he saw his father or only a reflection—wondering if he was the one trapped. Christopher pounded on the glass and yelled for Danny to run, but his voice was muffled, his hands leaving smears of blood that spread and covered all of Maldon with a sinister scarlet shadow.

He wandered London in a daze, staring at the homeless urchins, grimacing at the helpful automatons. The stench of coal smoke made him think the whole city had caught fire. It ensnared him like a vise. The only relief came when he closed his eyes and thought of Enfield, the chime of clean wind through tree branches and lazy sunshine on thatched roofs.

It was hard to admit life ended. It was harder still to admit it went on. His melancholy gradually turned into acceptance. The new Maldon tower was gone, and Lucas had died. There was nothing he could do about either. He had to focus on what he could do: protect Colton and keep an eye on his mother. Try to change his fate.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Cassie asked one evening in the Harts’ sitting room. She had dropped by for dinner, a regular occurrence due to her parents’ lack of culinary skills. Danny flipped through a book on his lap, though he didn’t bother reading. His mother was already in bed.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Will they try to rebuild the Maldon tower, do you think?”

“I don’t know.” He stood and shoved the book back onto the shelf. “They’ll do whatever the Lead says.”

“Danny, I want to help you. What do you need?”

He needed Colton. He needed these attacks to stop. He needed his father.

“I don’t know, Cass.”

She played with the end of her braid. “Will you go to Enfield?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I was wondering if I could take a look at your auto again.” She held up a hand when he opened his mouth to protest. “I have an idea I’d like to test out.”

“Oh, Lord.” Images of his auto exploding flashed through his mind.

“It’s harmless,” she insisted. “I won’t do anything to the internal mechanics. It’s …” Cassie’s eyes clouded over. “A safety device. William’s accident made me think of it.”

Danny rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn’t deny her that. “All right. But why did you ask about Enfield?”

“You’re always going there to see your blond bloke. I wondered if visiting him might help.”

“Maybe. Yes. I mean …” Danny passed a hand over his face. “I don’t know.”

He felt as if there was too much to do, but when he stopped to think about it, the list vanished from his mind. His days were both endless and fleeting. One week crept into another.

There comes a moment when time seems to slip faster, running long then short, shadows shrinking as the sun climbs. It’s the moment, he decided, when you’re no longer a child. When the concept of time and the need for more of it come together and make you powerless. Make you yearn for the longer days, the lazy days, before you knew what time passing actually meant.



Eventually, Danny did go to Enfield. The townspeople knew what had happened in Maldon, but didn’t know of Danny’s connection. They asked if he’d heard any news. He mumbled no and hurried on.

Something shimmered on top of the tower. Colton had climbed onto the roof. Danny slowed to a stop, gazing up at the golden figure. Colton stood staring at the sun, as though in competition with it. A silent challenge. The remnant of a god.

As Danny watched, Colton lifted his arms. He stood that way for some time, arms up, palms out, holding up the world.

Danny’s father had always told him the most incredible sights were right before his eyes.

Colton looked down and saw him. His smile was broad and messy with relief. Danny moved toward the door as the spirit climbed back through the window.

Colton knew something was wrong before Danny even opened his mouth. “I overheard them talking,” he said, nodding toward the window. They sat against the wall opposite the clock face. The light shining through the glass outlined Colton’s face in gold. “They said a tower fell.”

Danny said nothing.

Colton moved closer, eyebrows furrowed. “Is it true?”

When Danny remained silent, Colton wrapped his arms around him. Maybe it was the sight of him, impossibly and unfairly beautiful, or the desire to shed the weight that had been sitting on his chest all week, that allowed Danny to sag in his arms, making a pained noise as if someone had struck him.