The morning air was crisp as Toby and I sped down the road, our bikes clattering with each pedal. The quiet suburb was just beginning to stir, the warm glow of sunlight creeping over rooftops. I glanced over my shoulder, a mix of urgency and excitement buzzing through me. I'd waited for this moment.
"Toby!" I called out, my voice slightly muffled by the helmet strapped to my head. "There's a shortcut through the canal. We'll make it to school faster!"
Toby groaned from behind, still trying to catch his breath after struggling to keep pace. "Jim, are you sure? That place gives me the creeps—and it's, y'know, not exactly on the map."
I began to slow my pace and waited for Toby to catch up. "Trust me. If we don't take it, we'll definitely be late." I paused, searching for the right words. "I've got a feeling it's important."
Toby raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. He trusted Jim, even when his ideas sounded crazy. "Fine," Toby huffed. "But if we run into any mutant sewer rats, you're leading the charge!"
I chuckled, more to myself than at Toby's remark. "Deal."
The two of us veered off the main road and down a narrow dirt path leading to the canal. Overgrown bushes lined the edges, their branches scratching against the handlebars of our bikes. The air grew cooler as we began descending, the sounds of the town above fading into a distant hum.
"Ugh," Toby muttered, scrunching his nose. "Why does it always smell like wet socks down here?"
I ignored him, eyes scanning the area. I knew exactly where we were headed, thanks to the flood of memories still settling in my mind. And just as I predicted, there was a clutter of rocks with a faint blue glow emanating from it's remains.
"There!" I shouted, braking to a stop and pointing.
Toby squinted at the glow. "What is that? Some kind of fancy sewer light?"
Jim shook his head. "No I think its something else. Come on lets check it out."
"Jim!" Toby called out, skidding to a halt next to him. "Why are we stopping? School's that way, remember?"
"What's a few seconds… c'mon check it out."
Toby raised an eyebrow. "Check out? Dude, we're already cutting it close!"
"Just trust me on this," Jim said firmly, his voice carrying an edge of determination that Toby couldn't argue with.
The two us headed into the canal, tires crunching softly against the loose gravel. The sunlight glinted off the water's surface, creating rippling patterns that danced along the bridge's underside.
My heart raced as I scanned the familiar terrain. my gaze locked onto the faint glimmer of light peeking through the cracks of a stone pile. The amulet.
Toby followed cautiously, his earlier skepticism giving way to curiosity. "What is that?"
I knelt down and carefully uncovered the amulet, its surface pulsing with a soft blue light. The runes etched into its surface seemed to shift and shimmer under my hovering hand.
"Whoa," Toby breathed, peering over Jim's shoulder. "That thing looks… ancient. And expensive. Are we about to get cursed or something?"
I smirked despite the situation. "Cursed, Chosen. We'll find out."
Before Toby could respond, the air around them grew heavy, an ominous chill sweeping through the canal. A low growl echoed from the shadows.
"What was that?" Toby whispered, his voice trembling.
I stood, the amulet clutched tightly in my hand. In the corner of my eye I caught six eyes staring at us from the oversized sewer pipe. But it vanished the moment I fully turned my head.
"Uh, Jim. I think we should leave. Now." Toby asked, taking a cautious step toward his bike.
I nodded, slipping the amulet into my pocket. But the moment the amulet rested against his chest, something felt… off. It didn't respond to him the way it had in his previous life. No surge of power, no arcane energy—nothing.
"What's wrong?" Toby asked, noticing the confusion etched on Jim's face.
I hesitated, before taking it back out of my pocket handing the amulet to Toby. "Here. Try it."
Toby blinked, taken aback. "Me? No way, man. You're more the hero type. I'm more of the comedic relief."
"Just trust me," Jim insisted.
Reluctantly, Toby took the amulet. The instant it touched his skin, the blue gemstone flared to life. Arcane symbols spiraled around him, but just as suddenly as it appeared it was gone.
My guess what was missing was just, "For the glory of Merlin, daylight is mine to command."
Toby stood frozen, his wide eyes darting to Jim. "Uh… Jim? What just happened?"
I smiled, but my mind was a bittersweet mix of pride and bewilderment washing over me. "Well, Congratulations, Toby."
Toby gawked at me, the amulet still glowing in his hand. "Wait, what?! No, no, no—this has to be a mistake!"
I placed a reassuring hand on Toby's shoulder. "It's not a mistake Tobs. The amulet, it chose you."
Toby looked down at the glowing artifact, his panic giving way to a flicker of determination. "Okay… so what now?"
I made a wide grin. "Now? We go to school."
====================
Later, in history class, My mind wandered. Mr. Strickler's lecture on the Peloponnesian War faded into background noise as my thoughts returned to the amulet. The presence of such like a weight, almost pulsing with energy.
it was resting in my blue half zip pocket, closest to my chest. Toby had given it to me for what he calls "safe keeping".
'Why exactly did I not get chosen? I'm not to upset by my new situation, but the mystery still prevailed, could it be because I reset the timeline? Or something else equally as altered' I could seem to figure it out.
"Mr. Lake?" Mr. Strickler's voice broke through. "Would you care to share your thoughts on the strategy employed by Sparta?"
I blinked. "Uh… teamwork makes the dream work?"
The class chuckled as Mr. Strickler gave a tight-lipped smile. "See me after class, Mr. Lake," he said, the tone light but the subtext of his expression louder than a fire alarm. I nodded, keeping my face neutral. Inside, I was already piecing it together.
Strickler knew something It couldn't be the amulet but he was strangely wary already.
class ended, I walked up to his desk as requested. He was waiting, hands folded over a stack of neatly arranged papers.
"Mr. Lake," he said, his voice lower now. "You've seemed... preoccupied today."
I gave a tired smile. "Long night. Helping my mom. You know how it is."
He looked at me for a second with soft eyes and slid a business card across the table. "Should you need advice, my door is always open."
It wasn't school-issued. Clean ivory with gold trim. A single name embossed in black:
Walter Strickler, Guidance & Special Cases.
And below that, in microscopic print, an emblem—barely noticeable unless you knew what you were looking for.
I did.
It was the symbol of the Order of Janus. Ancient. Secretive. And definitely not something you just slap on a guidance counselor's card.
I pocketed the card and forced a grin. "Sure thing, Mr. Strickler."
I knew he'd become a good guy in the future but my natural wariness against anyone potential targeting me left a bad first impression when it was abundantly clear if I revealed myself to be the trollhunter he'd strike me dead hear.
But as I turned to leave, his gaze drifted—just briefly—to my chest. To the faint glow the amulet must've given off while tucked in my jacket. The look in his eyes didn't lie.
He recognized it.
Stepping into the hall the first person I saw was Toby, pacing back and forth until he noticed me.
"Dude! What did he say? Did he ask about the amulet?" He said franticly.
It was clear to me Toby hadn't heard the conversation me and strictler briefly shared he was only a bit nervous because of the amulet.
"No Tobes, calm down the amulets fine." I said pulling out the object into my palm completely covered from potential prying eyes.
Toby bumped my shoulder, leaning closer to my palm. "Okay, so, what now? Do we, like, go talk to a wizard? Bury the thing? Toss it in a volcano?"
I shook my head. "No volcanoes,"
I had memories of battles that hadn't happened yet. Friends who hadn't died yet. Choices I hadn't made—but regretted all the same. And somewhere deep down, I could only assume the amulet knew that. It was testing us. Testing him.
"Tobes," I said, sliding the amulet back into my jacket, "we need to figure out why it chose you."
"Pretty sure that's your department, Einstein."
"Exactly." I started walking, slow and measured. "And if Strickler's already clocking weirdness, we don't have time to guess. I want answers, and I have a few ideas where to start."
"Great," he muttered, catching up. "Love that we're already jumping into the deep end and we haven't even had lunch yet."
"You wanted excitement, right?"
"No! No, I wanted to ace the pop quiz and maybe eat a sandwich in peace. This is—this is way above my snack bracket."
I laughed softly, but it didn't quite reach my chest.
Because in the back of my mind, I already knew what we were walking into.
And if the past was changing…
Then so was the future.
I could already feel the weight of everything I hadn't told him pressing harder against my chest than the amulet ever could. I'd have to let him in soon. At least on some things, I knew that.
For now, I'd keep the edge I had.
Memories. Instincts. Strategy.
And the one truth I held tighter than anything:
They don't know me yet.
Not this version of me.