*Between the Tocks

Intro: I know this isn't a true flash fiction story. I still hope you enjoy it even though it doesn't really end.

When time resumed, Stephen was three months older and twice as wealthy. He was now the oldest of his high school class by five years. His ten year reunion was soon and he didn't to go. The bag of stolen crown jewels was stashed under his bed where it would remain until he had time to take it down to the vault.

It always bothered him that when he stopped time, he still had to sleep. He was extra tired when time started again. While moving through the clicking of the clock, it strained his muscles against the seconds, like swimming in molasses.

The flickering light of the answering machine held his sleep at bay. Stephen pressed the button and grimaced when an all too familiar voice spoke.

“Hey Steve. This is Kevin, from high school. I don't know if you remember me, but we were hoping you would be coming to the reunion tomorrow.”

Stephen covered his eyes with his arm, “Wait for it.”

“There's to be a tribute for Celeste and we were hoping you would be able say something.”

“You never listened to me when we were in school.”

“You'll be speaking at six-thirty tomorrow night.”

Using his foot, Stephen shoved the answering machine off the bedside table with his foot. It crashed to the floor and the voice stopped. Satisfied, Stephen kicked his shoes off and pulled the comforter up, falling into a fitful sleep. Celeste was in the dream, she was always in the dream. She was as beautiful as ever but her skin was the pale white, how it was before the leukemia finished its course.

The alarm clock went off at six the next morning. Even with late nights, he hated sleeping in late. Sleep took up too much time, he had better things to do with with his life, like make himself rich. He made himself some pancakes and then took a relaxing shower. When he was dressed, he took the bag of jewels to his basement, where the vault was kept.

All of his spoils were neatly organized. It took him an hour to get everything organized and then he left quickly, the sight of all of them made him angry. He could never provide for her when she was alive and now he could save her in more ways than one. The door slammed shut behind him and the lock clicked into place.

The afternoon he spent reading, he never watched the news because there was never anything interesting on. He was reading Winston Churchill's biography but set it down after a few hours and picked up his book to make sure that he was still making all of the signs right. The occult symbols always shifted in his memory if he didn't study every day.

As he was eating lunch there was another phone call. Since the answering machine was broken, Stephen reluctantly answered the phone.

“Yes?”

“Steve, is that you? This is Kevin.”

“What do you want Kevin?”

“We'll everyone's here at the reunion, we were hoping you could make it.”

“You want me there to make a speech.”

“That was what we were hoping for.” Kevin kept his voice light, but Stephen could hear some of the old underlying haughtiness.

Stephen didn't bother to keep the contempt from his voice, “Why me?”

“Because for some odd reason, Celeste chose you. Since this is the tenth year of her death, we thought we would have the person who was with her most do the tribute.”

A plan began to form in Stephen's mind, and he smiled to himself, “I'll be there in time, don't worry.”

After he hung up, Stephen dressed all in black, something he didn't normal do, when no one can sees him there, there is no point to dress in theatrics.

At six thirty, Stephen pricked his finger and carefully drew the segmented circle on the palm of his hand. When it was difficult to breathe, he knew it had worked. It was a two hour walk to the old high school and he was tired when he got there. He took a couple of minutes to try and catch his breath, it never worked well. He moved up to the front of the auditorium. Kevin was there, looking slightly distressed as he stood in front of a screen showing a picture of Celeste. Stephen noted absently that he had been cropped out of the picture.

When he was positioned next to Kevin he completed finished the occult and relished the look of surprise on everyone's face. No one ever showed him any respect, except Celeste.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming tonight. I am pleased to be the one to give the tribute this year.”

Everyone was staring at him. His hair was prematurely gray and he had lost weight. They weren't what he was expecting. He took advantage of that.

“Celeste was killed because a monster took over her life. Something that I would now like to show you.”

For the first time in his life, Stephen was glad he'd been cursed.