Angleheart

“Hey Clyde! Look at this.” Chloe held up an old porcelain doll. Its dress was elaborate and puffy and its hair fell in spirals.
“Isn’t it cute?” She said. Alex laughed. “I’m not sure if ‘cute’ is the word Bonnie.”  They were at the 7^th street antique store looking for a present for Chloe’s mom. It was the third antique store they’d been to that day. Chloe was one of those people who really couldn’t make up her mind. “Please tell me you’re not buying that for your mom…” He said pointing to the doll. She laughed and put it back in its spot.
“No silly. Hm..what about this?” She says holding up a jewelry box. The box has a poorly painted flower on top of it. He gives her a skeptical look and she puts it back. He decides to wander to another part of the store, leaving  Chloe behind. The store has many different sections with all kinds of cool things. In one section it’s devoted to old maps. He almost stopped there, but decided to keep venturing.  He stops in the center of a section with clocks. Lots of old clocks hang on the walls and some of them are very unique. One of them is of a cow jumping a moon, another made completely out of beer cans. In front was a glass display case filled with Pocket Watches. He bends down to get a better look. All kinds of pocket watches line the shelf.  Some of them look like they’ve seen better days. His eyes scan the assortment of watches until they land on a watch. In the back corner sits a silver pocket watch with a crest on the front. A wave of nostalgia slams into him. It’s like he’s seen it before and yet he knows he’s never have. But the familiar feeling In his gut kept scratching. He stared at the crest on the front. Inside the crest was a single sword with a gold hilt. On top of the crest was a black crescent moon. It hung eerily over the top. Holding onto the sides of the crest were two grey wolves.  He sat there for a long time, staring at the watch trying to think of why it looked so familiar.
“See anything you like?” The shopkeeper asked. Alex jumped, almost falling into the glass display case. He stood up quickly. “Oh hi. Sorry.” He said. “I was actually curious about the one in the back corner, with the crest on it.” The shopkeeper went around the back of the display case and opened it up. He grabbed the silver watch and held it up for Alex to see. He could sense it, almost like the watch was humming with energy that only he could feel.  “This here is an old beauty, the back is engraved with the last name of the family whose this crest belongs too.” He flipped the watch around and sure enough engraved on the back was a name, Angleheart. Alex’s stomach dropped. “You okay boy, you look like you’ve just seen a ghost.” The shopkeeper said. “Yeah, fine, it’s just…Angleheart is my last name..” he said gulping. The shopkeeper’s eyes went wide and Alex could swear he saw fear in the old man’s eyes. The shopkeeper smiled his old demeanor back. “Well boy, that seems like a very interesting coincidence.” He started putting the watch back in its case. “Wait- I wanted to buy that.” He said reaching over the case. The old man yanked the watch away before he could touch it.
“I’m not sure you can afford this boy.” The old man’s eyes narrowed.  Alex’s eyebrows knitted together in frustration. “Really? Well how much is it?” He asked. The shopkeeper slipped the watch into his pocket. “Too much for you. Now listen boy, I want you to go home. I want you to forget you ever saw this watch. It’s trouble do you understand me? Now go. Get out of here.” He said, his voice rising. Alex almost tripped while he ran, his fear bubbling inside him. What could be so bad about an old pocket watch? Chloe found him near the front, a big bag slung over her arm. “Hey I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Where you been?” She could see something was wrong. “What’s wrong?” She asked. He didn’t realize that he was breathing heavy. “Nothing….I was..I was in the clown section.” He lied quickly, Chloe knew he hated clowns. Her face lit up in a smile. “Oh! Hahaha oh Clyde, still afraid of clowns?” He put on a fake smile. “Yeah, there was a really creepy one in the back. I aint going back there again.” He said. She looped her arm through his and they left the shop. Alex’s mind wandered back to the crest on the watch. He knew it wasn’t just a coincidence that his last name was on it.

~~~

That night he tossed and turned, dreaming of the watch. Images of an unknown war danced through his head. He dreamt of wolves biting his skin, ripping his flesh from his bones. He dreamt of the moon in the sky, so black and eerie. He dreamt of himself holding the sword. Its blade cut deep into the stomach of man he had never met. “Goodbye father.” He whispered as the man fell to the ground, lifeless.

He awoke with a start, his cheeks wet from tears. He was having memories of a life he never knew. They weren’t dreams; they were too real to be dreams. He had to forget the watch. He shuddered at the thought of opening it. Would it reveal more memories? He didn’t care to find out. Last night was too much for him. Too many images that will haunt him for the rest of his life. He could only imagine what would happen if he had that watch in his possession.