The Time Stone, Third Edition (Extended Version)
Chapter 27

Downtown Chronix Bay is quiet that night without a movement of any wind, but stillness begotten outside of the small shop of sorrows and happiness intertwined. The sign outside read “Fortune Teller: extremely low prices, 100% accuracy readings”.

“What do you think?” Asks Tina as the duo stands silently in front of the shop.

“At least it’s a place to hide for now. Nothing else seems to be open, not even a Motel 6.”

“Like we could afford it,” she adds and they laugh silently at the poor attempt at humor and entered the shop.

The interior of the shop is lit with an old world sense of charm, and wonder of mystic mysteriousness, with candelabra hung from the ceiling painting a vivid flashback to yesteryear.

“It is like traveling back in time,” James thinks as he looks around, until he notices the candles were replaced by electric fixtures, but still maintaining that rustic air, with the old mixed with the new. “It’s completely different from the outside” says James.

“Huh?” Tina whispered in response followed by a belligerent and sudden yell. “Help” Tina yells at the top of her lungs all of a sudden.

“Silence” whispered James, “why so loud?”

Tina looks at him and shrugged in response, “why not?”

Then suddenly in the silence before he could answer, a confident and imperiled voice echoed down the corridors, “Welcome to the World of Mystery!” They turns to look and found a slender woman, aged with time, but beautiful nonetheless, descending slowly from a long narrow staircase, a cloud of smoke surrounding her feet, which emanated from a burnt out fog machine.She wore a gold colored shawl that spread with her arms and long rhinestone studded dress, her brown curly hair with threads of gray flowed behind her, and her smile adorned by the wrinkles on her checks covered slightly by various shades of Azul and lapis, fuchsia, and magenta in makeup and eye coloring, but still visible nevertheless.

“I am Ezelzaba, mistress of enchantment and powers beyond this world and fortune teller extraordinaire, but for you… I sense a greater need!” Tina averts her eyes slightly and peers into James’s eyes, as he stands before her reflecting her gaze, in a stunning silence.

“Can we stay the night?” Tina speaks looking in between both.

“We literally have no place to go,” adds James.

Ezelzaba dropped her arms and the mystery act as the fog machine died down and she casually descended. “My normal rates for a reading are fifty dollars. I don’t take boarders, but you seem like non-threatening people and since my readings usually wipe people out, you can stay if you pay.”She speaks more relaxed and less mysterious.

“Uh” James and Tina look at one another and Ezelzaba smirks as if reading their thoughts.

“You guys are up on hard times, huh? Ooh,” before they could answer she moaned deeply as her eyes widened as she saw James up close walking to him. “Oh I see, for you no cost. I see you will travel far together, farther than you ever thought possible and you will need your rest. You will both encounter great forces on your journey, so take care of each other. A miracle of fate awaits you and you will come to see in one another a hidden purpose, a true destiny, are your combined paths. When the time comes, you will know all you will ever need to know.” She looks directly at James with a sinister glare of her eyes beneath her colorful red and blue eye shadow. “The world awaits you and time is your greatest ally, but also is your foe. Remember to follow your instincts.”

“What does that mean?” Tina asks annoyingly.

“You will replace out. Also be good to each other and look out for one another. Always remember to look out for one another. Be there for each other. Always love and respect one another” she adds. You two will be together for many times.”

“Thanks.” He nodded “but just one question, why no cost?”

Tina struck his arm and gave him a sinister glare.

“I am just curious” he adds as she looks away upset.

“Well,” started Ezelzaba quite sheepishly, “let’s just say I recognized something in you that made me think we’re related. And let’s leave it at that, James.”

James smirks at the obvious flaw and smiles looking at his dumbfounded companion and then retiring to a room Ezelzaba pointed to in the back. They turn and exit into the back room.

The next morning, James and Tina prepared to leave the shop having felt completely renewed and rejuvenated.

“Sleeping in an actual non-jail bed felt good for a change.” Tina muttered.

“Yeah, I wonder what Ezelzaba meant by all that mumbo jumbo about love and traveling far?” James asks.

“What a cryptic lady!” Tina muttered.

“Yeah, but what a drama queen she was. Your guess is as good as mine.” James adds brushing off the mystery of her cryptic attitude for now. “Anyway, ready to go buddy?”

“Yep” she nodded with a repetition that signified extreme eagerness.

“Thank you madam Ezelzaba, for everything,” James whispered into the air as they departed out the door and into their uncertain future.

A mysterious figure remained lurking in the distance, as sleek and as hidden as a silhouette in the shadows, quietly observing them, his face robotic like and mechanical, his movements jerky, and wearing a black hat and suit.