Clock...

Clock shifted in his spot, not willing to open his eyes.

Clock, they've left you.

The young stag groaned, "Let me sleep, Stop..."

Stop is gone.

He drew in a breath, barely opening his eyes, "W-what?"

They're gone. All gone, left you behind. Tossed you away.

"Who are you?" Clock opened his eyes. It wasn't Edward this time, but another stag. He had a deep blue pelt, a sharp beak mask, and small black antlers. He gave off a feeling of gloom.

They left you. You were abandoned.

Clock lifted his head and looked around. The stag was right... They were gone. "But.... why?.."

They didn't want you. You're just a freak to them.

"No!" Clock stood up quickly, "That can't be! I thought... I thought I finally meant something to them..."

No... It was all a lie.

"You're... You're like Edward aren't you? Why can I only see you? Why can't anyone else?!"

All in good time, Clock. For now, I leave you to yourself.

Clock blinked, and in that split second, he was gone. Clock jumped back a little, startled by the sudden emptiness. That stag was even worse than Edward! So.. depressing. But he couldn't focus on that. His family was gone. No tracks, no scent, not even a note in the dirt. Nothing to help him find them again. They were gone...

***

Clock wandered over to the Pond, his head low. His face was streaked with the remnants of tears. After hours and hours of searching for his family, he gave up. He would never find them again. He stood in the shallows, looking down at himself.

"Why?..." He asked himself, quietly. "Why did they leave? And I thought... I thought we finally had something..." He flopped down into the water. "I don't get it... My life sucks..."

Not too far away, he heard a conversation going on. He raised his head to look around, but found no one. He slammed his head down in frustration, "Where are all these voices and deer coming from?!"

Perhaps we can answer that...

Clock was about to react, but all the world turned white. He was blinded by the brightness. The light dimmed a bit, showing two large deer in front of him. The white light... That light!

Clock jumped up immediately, trembling terribly. His mind was now flooded with lost memories. The statue, the crack, the light, the noise, everything suddenly came back to him. He was absolutely terrified, aside from trembling, he didn't move a muscle.

My child, do not be afraid. A female voice called.

"N-n-n-no!.. N-no not th-this again!" Clock's eyes were impossibly wide with fear.

We will not harm you.

Clock merely shook his head slightly. "I-I-I-I d-don't believe y-you..."

Clock... The voices you hear, and the deer you see, are merely in your imagination.

"O-oh really. I hadn't n-noticed!" Clock said, half frustrated.

It is a side-effect from your blessing.

"What blessing?!"

Omniscience.

Clock's trembling stopped for a moment. Omniscience? He knew everything? Somehow, that didn't seem impossible to him.

The crack you found in the statue gave you all knowledge. You now know everything we have allowed you to know. However, because your mind can barely handle this, you have gone nearly insane. Something we could not overcome.

"I-I'm... insane?..."

Schizophrenia, we're afraid...

"Sch.. Schi.." He couldn't pronounce it because of his shaking. Even though he had never even heard the word before, he knew what it meant.

Use your knowledge, Clock. We promise you, you will find a better future.

"B-but..."

The light faded, along with the two deer. Clock found himself awake in the water.

"Hey..."

He looked up, to find a green doe.

"Are you okay?"

"I.. I uh... Y-yeah..."

"Let me help you..."

"... Okay..."