There he stood in front of me as the darkness encroached. I had no sense to run, it would do me no good. He would catch me, no matter what. His thin legs were vibrating. They remeinded me of the walking sticks blind people use. A clicking was barely audible. It seemed to be emanating from his chest. Under his large brimmed hat, i couldn't see his face in the shadow, only his glowing white eyes.

"What do you want from me?" I ask. I had entered the shop becasue i thought my dog had come in here. It was an abandoned clock shop. I was about to leave when the doors slammed behind me. I turn around and there is just a tall, slight figure standing there. I asked if he could help me, but he just stood there, blocking my exit. I moved an inch and the lone figure materialized in front of me, not even a foot from my face, towering over me. I knew I was in danger.

I want a new one. I want a new one. I want a n.... The voice is inside my head and it feels like someone is burning my mind with an iron. "Stop!" I scream. The pain is terrible. The voice in my head ceases and the Figure raises its face so i can see it. The gears on his face, for it is unmistakably male, are turning in a slow, old, jerky fashion. His eyes are clock faces with little gleaming sphere for his pupils. The metal that covers his face is rusted and crumpled. The teeth in his mouth are razor sharp clock hands.

"Wh-who are you?" I stammer as I slowly back away from the metal man. I am the Clockmaker. You enter my shop without permission, stealing from me! I will not have it. I crumple to the floor, the pain in my head too much to deal with. "I didn't steal from you! I would never steal!" I defend myself with as much courage as I can. It is a weak attempt. Lies! You must have come to steal my precious clocks! I crawl away, for that is all i can really do.

I feel the cold of his hands grab the back of my skull. He lifts me with ease. He must stand eight feet tall. He turns me to face him and looks me in the eyes. I feel a warm sensation in my head and then it feels like i'm getting sucked out of my body. My mind is being searched. I know it. I feel pain like none I've ever felt. I cry out, tears streaming from my eyes.

"Please...please release me. I have stolen nothing from you. What can I give you... I'll give you anything...just please let me go home to my wife and children. Please..." My voice is fading as the pain in my head starts to recede. You say you'll give me anything? There is no pain accompanying his voice this time. "Anything. You said you wanted a new one earlier. What is it that you want a new one of?" He drops me to the floor and pulls out a strange looking object. The size of a lamp, it has a green gem on one side and a little crest on the other. He locks his eyes to mine and points the object towards my face. The thing glows and he whispers outloud, with a voice that sounds like death, " A new soul." 

And everything goes black.