Chapter 7: The Locket’s Promise
Clara’s words hung in the air like a haunting melody: “Edward isn’t gone.”
I stared at the locket in her outstretched hand, its faint glow casting a soft light against the walls of the room. My mind struggled to process what she had just said. I had felt the tear between our worlds, the pull of time dragging me back to my own reality. Edward was supposed to be lost in the past, just a memory of a world I could no longer reach.
But Clara was standing there, holding the one thing I thought had been destroyed.
“How?” My voice was barely above a whisper, trembling with disbelief and hope. “How is that possible?”
Clara stepped closer, her gaze steady. “There’s more to the locket than you realize, Ivy. It’s not just a key between times. It’s a bond. A promise.”
I shook my head, still trying to understand. “But… when the guardians attacked, I thought—”
“They disrupted the balance,” Clara interrupted. “But the locket wasn’t destroyed. It was transformed. And because of that transformation, Edward isn’t bound to the past anymore.”
I could feel my heart racing, hope swelling inside me. “Does that mean…?”
Clara nodded. “Edward is here. In this time.”
The words sent a wave of shock through me. He was here, somewhere in this world, in my present. I reached out for the locket, my fingers brushing against its cool surface, and felt a jolt of energy—familiar, yet different. The connection I thought had been severed was still alive, and it pulsed between us, stronger than ever.
But there was something else in Clara’s eyes, something she hadn’t yet told me. “Where is he?” I asked, desperation creeping into my voice. “If he’s here, why isn’t he with me?”
Clara’s expression darkened. “There’s a reason you haven’t found him yet. The transformation of the locket came with a cost.”
“A cost?”
“Yes,” Clara said softly. “Edward’s memories have been scattered across time. He’s here, but he doesn’t remember you. He doesn’t remember us.”
My heart sank, the weight of her words crashing down on me. Edward was here, in my world, but without his memories of the life we shared, of everything we had been through. He wouldn’t even know who I was.
“How do I get them back?” I asked, my voice tight with urgency. “How do I help him remember?”
Clara handed me the locket, her gaze unwavering. “The locket still holds the key. But it will require both of you to unlock his memories.”
I looked down at the locket in my hand, the weight of its promise heavy in my palm. A bond between us, forged in time, stronger than the forces that had tried to keep us apart. It was the only thing that could bring Edward back to me.
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” I whispered.
***
The streets of London were bustling, alive with the energy of a city that never stopped moving. I clutched the locket tightly in my hand as Clara led me through the narrow streets, weaving between pedestrians and the endless flow of traffic. My heart was pounding, the reality of what I was about to face sinking in. Edward was here, somewhere, but he didn’t know me. I had to help him remember, to find our way back to each other.
We stopped in front of a small café, its windows glowing warmly in the cool evening light. Clara gestured toward the door, her expression unreadable. “He’s inside.”
I nodded, my heart in my throat as I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The air was filled with the comforting scent of coffee and freshly baked pastries, but my mind was too focused to take in the details.
And then I saw him.
Edward was sitting by the window, a book open in front of him, a cup of tea untouched at his side. He looked exactly as I remembered—his dark hair, his sharp features, the quiet intensity in his posture. But there was something different in his expression, a calmness that hadn’t been there before. He looked at peace.
I stood frozen in place, my heart racing as I watched him. He was right there, within reach, but he had no idea who I was.
Clara gave me a gentle nudge. “Go to him.”
With a deep breath, I walked slowly toward his table, my footsteps soft against the polished floor. Edward looked up as I approached, his gaze meeting mine with polite curiosity. There was no flicker of recognition, no sign that he remembered me.
“Hello,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “Do you mind if I sit?”
He smiled faintly, gesturing to the seat across from him. “Not at all.”
I sat down, my hands shaking slightly as I placed the locket on the table between us. Edward glanced at it, his expression unreadable, before looking back at me. “It’s a beautiful piece.”
I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. “It’s more than that. It’s… a reminder of someone I love.”
His eyes flickered with something—something I couldn’t quite place. “Someone important?”
“Yes,” I whispered. “Someone very important.”
***
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the unspoken hanging between us. Edward’s gaze lingered on the locket, and I could see a flicker of something—something buried deep in his memory, just out of reach.
“I know this is going to sound strange,” I said softly, leaning closer. “But I think you know me. Or at least… you used to.”
Edward’s brow furrowed, confusion clouding his expression. “I don’t understand.”
I took a deep breath, my heart racing. “We’ve met before. A long time ago. We were… we were in love.”
He stared at me, his eyes searching mine for some kind of explanation. “In love?”
I nodded, reaching out to gently take his hand. The moment our fingers touched, a jolt of energy surged between us, just like the first time we had kissed in the clearing. Edward flinched slightly, his eyes widening as if something deep inside him had stirred.
“You don’t remember me,” I said, my voice trembling. “But I remember you. And I know you feel it too—this connection between us. It’s real.”
His hand tightened around mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He leaned in closer, his voice low and uncertain. “I don’t know why… but I feel like I know you. Like I’ve been looking for you.”
Tears welled in my eyes, and I nodded. “You have. And I’ve been looking for you too.”
The world around us seemed to fade as we sat there, our hands intertwined, the locket glowing softly between us. The connection was still there, as strong as ever, but it was buried deep within Edward’s fragmented memories. I could feel him fighting to remember, struggling to piece together the life we had shared.
“Ivy,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “That’s your name, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I breathed, tears slipping down my cheeks. “That’s my name.”
***
Before Edward could say another word, the locket between us began to glow brighter, its light pulsing with an intensity I hadn’t felt before. The energy crackled in the air around us, and I could feel the pull of time once again, the same force that had torn us apart now surging between us.
Edward’s grip on my hand tightened, his eyes wide with fear and confusion. “What’s happening?”
The locket’s glow intensified, and I knew, deep down, that this was it. This was the moment that would either bring us back together or tear us apart forever.
“We’re running out of time,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “You have to remember, Edward. You have to—”
And then the world exploded in a blinding flash of light.