Clock Woman

"No! Don't step on that!" I yelled at her.

"Yeah right. Like I'm going to fall for that," Clock Woman said.

She took one step on the cobblestone floor and her head flew clean off her shoulders into the lava pit next to her. Her red cape covered her body that rested there on the pressure plate I made. The scythe rocked back and forth, dangling above her lifeless corpse. Dammit. I closed my eyes and opened them again. I was back on my uncomfortable throne in my castle and she was nowhere in sight. Just like the other 1825 days.

I don't know why, but I have been reliving this same day over and over again. It was supposed to be my greatest achievement. Taking down my arch nemesis, Clock Woman. What a terrible name and her suit was worse. Basically a white and red wetsuit with a red cape that had a clock on it. All it did was hide her flawless night sky complexion. Anyways, the first few days felt like deja vu or a strange dream where I did nothing but walk a few steps. It was only when I was able to walk around the castle grounds to check on my traps I realized what was happening.

I walked out to the courtyard and there she was. Posing with her hands on her hips, proud of her achievement of getting past the gator moat. My lush green shrubs outlined the light colored dirt path between us.

"I am the Clock Woman, Keeper of Time! Your time is over, Valencore!" she said, pointing at me.

God I love that line. Too bad she was never right.

"Come and get me."

She ran at me full force and made it about five steps before she disappeared in an explosion of dirt and red mist. Landmines are a bitch. Once she died my day would reset. These deaths went on for years and each time I got less satisfaction. It became a prison and I only made it worse when I tried to stop her from coming.

When my day would reset, I had about thirty minutes before she got to my castle. One day in particular I sprinted down my flight of stairs, past the minefield, over the moat and down the only dirt road to my castle. It was evening and I stumbled upon a small cottage not far from my place with the light shining through the open window. I snuck up to it and peered inside to find Clock Woman getting ready to invade my castle. 

She had a few old round clocks and a lasso on the wood table. She had her foot up on a chair, zipping up her red leather boot. The fireplace was crackling in the background as an elderly woman put on another log.

"You're heading out already little lady?" the elderly woman asked.

"Yep. Valencore won't stop himself.”

"How do you plan to stop him? He has a moat you know."

"Well I have time on my side," Clock Woman said, wiggling her gold necklace with a small clock on it.

Right after she said that, my nose tickled and I breathed in deep out of reflex. I let out a sneeze of a lifetime, knocking myself to the ground and mud flying everywhere. The next thing I saw was Clock Woman standing over me.

"Who are you?" she said, with her arms crossed.

She didn't recognize me from all the mud over my face, so I decided to use it to my advantage.

"I'm sorry for the eavesdropping, Miss. Did I hear you right, you were going to stop Valencore?"

"Yes. But that still doesn't answer who you are?"

"I'm Val...Valentine. Henry Valentine," I said, getting to my feet, wiping the mud off my cloak.

"Well Henry, I can't have you running off telling people I'm here so you're going to come with me."

"Uh...okay."

I still don't get her logic on that one, but no reason to argue. We made our way down the path and I decided to make some small talk. After all, this was the most amicable I had ever seen her.

"So, what is your plan? To stop Valencore?"

"First I need to free my sidekick, Franzwa."

"Who's that?" I asked but I knew the answer. He was this little monkey of hers. I captured him to lure her to my castle in the first place. In hindsight it was dumb to place him in the dungeon, near the lava pits. His death also would reset my day, which happened at least 400 times from spontaneous combustion or simply falling in the lava trying to free himself. Don't know which since I didn't watch every time.

"He is my best friend. We do everything together. Watch movies, garden, fight crime."

"Sounds like a pretty cool guy."

"He's a monkey."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Sounds like a pretty cool monkey."

She laughed. "He is."

"And the next step?"

"I don't know. Wing it I guess. I have plenty of time."

She had no idea how right she was. We got to the castle, which from the outside looked much more hostile than I remembered it. Jagged cobblestone walls and a giant drawbridge did a good job at being imposing, not to mention the gators thrashing around in the moat below.

"This is my stop. You stay here and don't go playing with the gators. I'll be back in no time," she said with a smile.

It was that moment I knew she was special. My whole view of her changed. Not of someone trying to ruin my plans, but of a young woman who just wanted to make sure her friend was safe. Even my plans of world domination seemed hollow in comparison. I heard the explosion go off again and knew it was my cue to start again.

That day forward I went to her everyday. Some days were shorter than others and there was the occasional surprise, but I made the effort. I got to learn everything about her. From her love for pastry and romance novels to her dislike of boy bands. Everyday was both magical and deeply unsettling. I grew to love her kind heart and positivity that never quit. And hated myself for being the cause of her repeated death.

It was our four year anniversary since we first truly met, or at least I met her. Was kind of a one-sided relationship since she remembered nothing, but I wanted to do something special for her nonetheless. I was going to tell her how I feel about her. In my mind it sounded more romantic than it was.

I ran down to the dungeon and freed Franzwa, like I did everyday since I talked to her. He kicked me in the balls every time, but I deserved it. I walked around the landmines and lowered the drawbridge. I stood there with the monkey wiggling in my arms, waiting to see her smiling face again.

In no time she arrived, sporting her normal look.

"Unhand my monkey fiend!"

That was a new one. I let go of the monkey and he ran to her on all fours, jumping up onto her shoulder like a parrot would for his captain.

"Surrender Valencore! You are no match for me!"

I put my hands up and smiled. "I surrender.”

I walked a few steps on the drawbridge. "Can I tell you something? It's going to be a lot to hear."

She raised her eyebrows. "Okay?"

"I have been reliving this day over and over for the last few years. You have broken into this castle countless times and never survived. I wanted to apologize for what I had done to you...”

"Is that all?"

"No. I wanted to say...I love you. Ever since that day we walked together to my castle, I knew you were special. I just didn't know how special. These last four years with you have been wonderful and torturing. I know you don't feel the same way about me, but I would like you to give me a chance. I've changed a lot in four years and I don't want to live another day knowing you will forget me."

Clock Woman walked up to Valencore, close enough to smell the wood fire on her clothes. She turned the tiny dial on her clock necklace to twelve.

"You're free."