The group made their way to the basement after exploring the rest of the mansion. They stood in a circle around the box Chero wanted them to open. They stared…and stared.
“Chero said there was “hope” inside of this box. What did she mean?” Kiki asked.
“If she was doing it for our sake…Maybe there is a “hope of escape” from the cell inside of the box,” Mocha suggested.
“She also said the box was empty, though…I think it was just a trick to lock us up,” Jenny said.
“It makes no sound when we shake it,” Hime said.
“Wait!” Kiki said suddenly, “There is a gear on the bottom of the box. I found one earlier and it restored some of my watch’s power. Maybe it’s freezing time around the box so we cannot open it?”
“So…this box belong to you, Twinnie?” Mocha asked.
Kiki shrugged and placed her pocket watch on the little gear. The gear faded away and the box popped open.
“Oh! What is it? I hope it’s cookies or some sweet food!” Jenny cheered.
Everyone froze as they heard a voice.
…The…y
“What was that?” Jenny asked.
Everyone turned to see a projection of Kiki standing in front of them.
“Kiki?” Mocha questioned.
“Kiki, you look like Canada!” Jenny teased.
And….it!
“What is this? Why am I there? My pocket watch can’t do things like this!” Kiki exclaimed.
“Shhhh! You’re trying to say something!” Hime said.
“My future self who is watching this! There is no time to explain much, but if by any chance Chero dies…Find the journal! You will gain her memories as well as my life. Go back without fail! GO BACK IN TIME!! Sa…Chero…”
The second Kiki faded away.
“Huh?” Kiki questioned.
“Kiki…You looked really worn out there,” Hime said.
“Journal? What does that mean? Does that? I don’t understand!” Mocha sighed.
“So, that was a message from a past Kiki? To a future one? And she said something about going back in time? But isn’t it taboo for you to mess with the past?” Jenny questioned.
“And she also said to find a journal,” Mocha said.
““my future self”? Was she talking about me? Right now?” Kiki muttered to
herself.
“But…Chero is alive…and she was not specific about what journal….” Hime said.
“Oh! There’s more stuff in the box! It’s not cookies though…” Jenny said.
“A clock and a letter…with no address…” Mocha said.
“A letter?” Hime asked picking it up. She smiled and put it in her sleeve, “I’ll give it to her later…”
“Well…What are we going to do now?” Mocha asked.
“Why don’t we break the clock?” Hime asked.
“What?! Why?!” Jenny asked.
“I feel as if it is hiding a clue to what the other Kiki was telling us.” Hime said, “Besides, each time we break a clock…I can get a glimpse at a possible future.”
“Hm…Alright. Let’s break it. We have to fix the flow of time anyways,” Kiki said.
“Oh…But…I don’t…” Jenny said.
“I’ll break it,” Kiki said.
She picked up the clock and smashed it.
“Nice one, Twinnie,” Mocha said.
