A Pause In a Rewind

Chapter VIII : Chime

Perry just laughed and frowned."I don't know what you're talking about," Perry replied. Oliver looks around constantly and told him, "There isn't much time, Perry." Oliver pulls Perry out of the park away from the stage, yet Perry resists and tries to get free. "Stop it, Oliver. What's your problem?" Perry questions.

"It's about you, Perry. You are-" Just right before Oliver could finish his sentence, a loud explosion occurred. It echoed throughout the plaza and a loud sizzling noise disturbed the silence of the night.

*Boom*

One of the fireworks wasn't able to fly off and exploded while still about to launch. It caused a chain reaction to the other stocked fireworks and all ignited and caused fire around the park. Perry hurriedly went to Nil to see if she's safe.

"Wait, Perry..." Oliver calmly shouts right after Perry leaves him behind. He tries to catch up to him, yet the crowd of panicking people became an obstacle for both of them. One of the observers of the fireworks show tripped over some gasoline tanks and the fire spreads around the park. 

*Splish*

The sound of fire sizzling and burning away everything caused Oliver to fall down in pain. Oliver gets dizzy and mixed up. His breathing gets deeper and he tries to reach out his hand. Meanwhile, Perry tries to wake up Nil from her sleep, and Perry tries all his effort to get away from the fire.

As Nil opens her eyes, the place was engulfed in flames and everyone is in chaos. Perry carried Nil on his arms and both ran away to safety. While dashing out of the park, Perry caught glimpse of Oliver having an asthma attack due to the smoke.

He turned around and his chest felt a sudden pain. "N-Not again. Please, not in here," he said in anguish. Perry then tries to reach his pocket watch, but he quickly noticed his pants caught fire. Nil gets down and tries to help Perry. The lad laid down and rolls over the sandbox he found earlier.

As Perry tries to put out the fire, his pocket watch fell. Seeing the situation they're in is dangerous, Perry grabbed the opportunity to use his newfound power. "Let's see what does this thing has to offer," Perry confidently said.

He tries to touch the pocket watch, yet nothing happened. Perry set their lives in jeopardy as he forcefully tries to activate the pocket watch's power. However, it was to no success. He tried tapping the pocket watch, swiping it, pounding it, pressing it, still no avail.

As the fire spread around them, Oliver falls down and loses his consciousness. When it was all hopeless, Perry desperately tries to save Oliver. He put the pocket watch in his pocket and sprints towards the crackling flames.

He slides to Oliver's level and tries to carry him to safety on his shoulders. "Come on, buddy. Get up," Perry told the gasping Oliver. He lifted the boy and strapped his arm around his shoulders. The two walked unstable as both are tested by the hazards around them.

Walking away slowly, they both grunt and cough out of harm's way. Oliver thanks Perry for saving him and Perry just scoffs with a smile. When the two was about to leave the plaza, Perry had a vision of an incoming danger heading straight to them, so he immediately looked behind them.

*Zoom*

As the boys glance at their back, fireworks explode and fly all around the place. People panicking and fire spreading all over. Perry's heartbeat raises as his eyes observe their surroundings.

At the glimpse of a shining object flying in the sky, Perry took notice of it and immediately flung themselves out of the way. Seconds after the two moved away from their path, a huge firework flew towards right behind them. It hurled some burning debris at the two boys, yet they are at most safe. Nil rushed towards the two with a wet towel and helps Perry carry the unconscious Oliver.

When the three was near to safety, paramedics came to their aid and firefighters attempts to douse the raging crimson fire. There was barely any victims and the plaza was wrecked. Leaving nothing, but a barren and burnt field.

Oliver woke up with an inhaler attached to him. "What...happened?" Oliver asks. Perry showed up beside him and said. "You're going to be fine. Okay? Don't panic, just relax. I'm so sorry, Oliver," Perry said as he tries to comfort Oliver.

Nil approached Oliver and bowed her head in sadness. Oliver stared at Perry's pocket. He noticed something and grabs Perry's pocket watch. Perry was hesitant to give the watch, however, he was immediately shocked when Oliver showed him another pocket watch. Almost identical in appearance.

 "I also have one of those things," Oliver said in a faint tone. Perry was out of words, and Nil was just confused. "Tell me what you know," Perry asks the weaken Oliver. Oliver nods and lends out his hand to which both lads shook hands. "I have so much to tell you," Oliver added as their pocket watches chimed.

----- Hand Struck to IX -----