Clementine staggered forward not because she was trying to be difficult but because she had no energy left in her. Physically, her strength had been depleted and she was wondering how she was still conscious. Mentally, she felt even worse. Her resolve had basically been diminished by the jury’s verdict. There was no way out for her now. That was a fact.

The muscular guards threw her into her cell showing no remorse or even the slightest bit of pity. She landed roughly on her knees but didn’t stand up immediately. The guards laughed at her mockingly.

“Those bloody bastards” she thought to herself.

Then she heard a loud clang as they slammed the metallic door shut. Glad that they were gone, her cellmate Izzy, hopped off her bed and walked towards her.

Wordlessly, Izzy stretched out a hand and pulled Clementine up. They sat down together on the lower bunk which was Izzy’s, still absolutely quiet. Then Clementine’s shoulders began to shake and Izzy pulled her closer. She was sobbing really hard releasing all the pain and hurt she’d had to hide in the courtroom. She would never let them see how much they had broken her.

“What happened?” Izzy asked calmly patting her back. She could already tell what had happened but she knew that Clementine needed a place to vent.

“I’m going to the chair tomorrow” Clementine wailed, her face in her hands “The jury vote was unanimous, they all believe I did it for the money. I can’t even believe I was in his will”

Clementine cried even harder, feeling completely hopeless and alone. The pain in her chest wouldn’t go away. Unlike all the other times, crying wasn’t making her feel better. It wasn’t making anything better, if anything she wanted to stop but she couldn’t. She could feel a mix of anger and regret too brewing within her as continued to sob.

“I’m so sorry Clementine” Izzy said pulling her even closer “I’m so so sorry”

“I don’t want to die” Clementine sobbed in a voice that didn’t sound like her own. The voice was hoarse and weak. It sounded like a desperate plea.

“I don’t want to die Izzy” She continued “Why can’t anyone realize what that bastard did?”

Izzy didn’t know what else to do or say. She was usually good at consoling people and convincing them to do things. It was basically the reason she had ended up in prison. But how on earth do you console someone who’s fate is set in stone? Someone who without a doubt was going to die tomorrow?

Izzy held Clementine silently, rubbing her back at certain intervals. The only sounds that could be heard from their cell, were Clementine’s gasps and pained sobs.

***

Clementine blinked in complete disbelief. She rubbed her eyes till they burned and she was still seeing the same thing. She was still in the same place.

It was her childhood home. She had never moved growing up, not until she had got accepted into Harvard. Standing here in front of the door of her old room made hope seep into her subconscious. Maybe the whole thing had been some sick and twisted dream. Maybe she had never killed Robert.

Still somewhat shocked, she opened the door and stepped inside the room before closing the door behind her. The lights were on but that wasn’t even the first thing she had noticed. Seated on her bed with the same black  curls, cute glasses and tiny frame was a younger version of herself. Clementine hadn’t noticed how much she missed her long hair until this moment. Robert had made her cut it. He’d said she looked better without it.

The girl didn’t notice her at first because she was reading a book. With an annoyed huff she said;

“Mum, I’ve told you I’ll go to bed in five minutes. I just really need to finish up this assignment”

“I’m not mum” Clementine said tentatively. She was still standing by the door, too afraid to come any closer. It wasn’t just because she knew something was wrong, she also had no idea how the girl would react.

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and she looked up. Taking in the stranger in front of her, her eyes widened and she scrambled backwards on the bed, trying to get away. Clementine hurried towards her, already knowing what would happen next. This was her past self after all.

“Mo-” The girl’s voice was cut off by Clementine’s hand which she had placed right over her mouth. She looked at clementine with panic in her eyes and Clementine could hear her muffled cries as the young girl tried to get away.

“Please listen” Clementine said quietly “believe it or not, I’m you from the future”

That made younger Clementine calm down and she stopped struggling. Clementine pulled her hand away from the young girl’s mouth.

As a teenager, Clementine had been obsessed with sci-fi novels and the idea that time machines and other dimensions could possibly exist. Younger Clementine eyed her calmly albeit suspiciously.

“Prove it” She said before folding her arms over her chest.

“You presently attend More wood Academy”

“And?” Younger Clementine said in a “Continue or leave” tone

“You’re at the top of your class and your best friend is Izzy Fisher” Clementine continued

“You still don’t have me convinced” Younger Clementine said shaking her head.

“You’ve been smitten by Robert Dickson since your very first year” Clementine said.

Younger Clementine blushed looking away “You didn’t have to say it like that… I’m not smitten”

“Well you are and I am” Clementine said before noticing her mistake “Or at least I was”

Younger Clementine’s face fell at that statement. Her shoulders sunk and she looked like she was going to cry any second.

“Is he dead?” She asked.

Clementine bit her lip. She probably should have approached this subject more tactfully. But she had an idea. It was a desperate one but it could work. She nodded wordlessly and the first tear drop fell from younger Clementine’s eye.

“What happened to him?” Younger Clementine asked angrily “Tell me so I can kill the bastard before they have the chance to do it!”

Clementine swallowed hard. Was it too late to run out the door and not turn back? Probably. Did she really want to tell her younger self about the terrible thing she had done? No. But she had to, this was her chance to keep the whole thing from happening in the first place.

She took in a deep breath before replying stoically “You did… Or at least you will”

“What?” Younger Clementine said. It was a breathless whisper but Clementine could hear it. She could hear a lot of things. The girl’s face, her voice, her quickened breathing, it was all begging, praying that what Clementine had just said wasn’t true. But it was and the only reason why she regretted her actions was because she valued her own life, not Robert’s. He deserved to die.

“You freaking liar” Younger Clementine said shaking her head “It’s not true, it- it can’t be true. This is just your idea of a sick prank!”

“It’s true” Clementine replied plainly “And I would do it again if I had to”

“But why?!” Younger Clementine cried visibly shaking. She looked Clementine in the eye with anger and fear, wondering if this was the monster she was going to become.

“Why did you do it?!” She cried, covering her face with her shaky hands.

“He told me how he felt during grad” Clementine began “We had been dating for about four years when I decided it was time for him to meet my family. Our family.”

Younger Clementine didn’t reply but she has pulled her hands away from her face. Clementine took in a deep breath before continuing.

“He got familiar with everyone. Including Ruby, our sister. Then one day, I left them both alone at home because I needed to buy something”

Younger Clementine had caught on already and was shaking her head vigorously.

“No… No he wouldn’t”

Clementine wasn’t sure she could handle the truth but she said it anyway “He raped and killed her. Then he ran away”

Retelling this story and seeing her younger self cry even harder broke Clementine. She hadn’t even realized she was crying till she felt a tear drop roll down her left cheek.

“But if he ran away” Younger Clementine sniffed “How did you kill him?”

“The police told me to stay put” Clementine replied “But I didn’t listen, I looked for him in all his favorite places, till I found him hiding out at his mum’s place”

“Was she home?”

“No” I replied “I had a gun on me. The one dad keeps in the left drawer in his office”

Younger Clementine nodded.

“I pulled it out and shot him, twelve times in the chest”

Younger Clementine wailed. Clementine reached out to wipe away her tears but she swatted her hand away.

“So that’s why you’re here” She snapped “You’re gonna convince me to become a cold blooded killer like you”

Her words stung but Clementine couldn’t blame her for getting angry. If the roles were reversed, she would be too.

“No” Clementine said calmly “I’m here to stop you from making the same mistake I made”

Younger Clementine studied her for a moment to make sure her older self was telling the truth. Clementine knew by the look in her eyes that her younger self believed her

“Are you-” She stuttered “Are you in prison?”

“Yes” I replied. Clementine was hoping she wouldn’t ask her anymore questions. She was here to warn her not terrify her. Luckily for her, she didn’t.

“It’s gonna be hard” Clementine said “But I need you to avoid him completely, don’t try to change him and don’t give him any chances. I can’t afford for you to end up like me”

Younger Clementine nodded sadly.

“Please” Clementine pleaded tearfully.

“I will” Younger Clementine said “I promise”

***
Clementine sat up abruptly in bed blinking rapidly. She wasn’t just trying to adjust to the light. She was also blinking because she couldn’t believe it.

So it was really just a dream.

She was really going to die today.

“It’s time!” The guards bellowed before one of them, the leaner one yanked open her cell. They woke up Izzy who jumped suddenly and peered around before her eyes landed on the guards. Clementine climbed down from her bed and Izzy stood by hers waiting for her to get down.

“I’m gonna miss you so much” Izzy said before engulfing her in a hug. Clementine could hear her crying softly and she wanted to cry too. But she couldn’t, not right now. It would make this final goodbye way too hard.

“I’ll miss you” She said before pulling her into a hug.

“Me too” Clementine whispered “Stay strong. And finish this dumbass sentence so you can go see Emma” Emma is Izzy’s little sister, Izzy loved that girl more than anything.

“I will” She sniffed before pulling away.

Clementine walked out and one of the guards, stepped towards her and cuffed her. The other slammed her cell shut and walked away.

She looked back at the cell door one last time and saw Izzy standing there, clutching the metal bars. She smiled sadly at her as she was led away.

“You’ll have your last meal” The darker guard said without looking at her “Then you’ll be executed”

Clementine said nothing as they walked. It’s not just because she didn’t have anything to say, it’s also because these two idiots didn’t deserve any answers.

It was all over. All the choices she had made had led up to this moment. And though she didn’t regret making any of them, she did wish she didn’t have to pay the ultimate price.

She was terrified of death, because she  had absolutely no idea where she’d end up on the other side. But she had sworn that till she took her last breath, none of these terrible people would ever see her break.

None of them.

---

I’m just trying out a new style. Usually I write romantic comedies or basic teen fiction but I hate smut and would rather read mystery/thrillers anyway. I hope you enjoyed reading this. Leave a comment if you have any suggestions.