I had just dropped off from ringing at 1AM (or was it 11PM?), when there was the shatter of glass. I sat bolt upright.
“Who’s there?” I called out. Near silence; someone was making the floorboards creak. Before I could fathom what was happening, a scraggly boy was towering over me. I tried to shriek, but his callused hand shot over my mouth.
“Ya wanna wake the whole town?” he hissed. I nodded defiantly. He grabbed my midnight black ponytail and yanked my head next to his. “Listen, clock-girl. You’re coming with me whether you like it or not. Got it? Get your stuff together, we’re going in 5 minutes.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. I was leaving this place? I scurried around the tower, collecting my few possesions in three minutes flat.
Impatiently, he asked if I was ready. I nodded; the less I spoke, the less likely I was to say something snippy. Slowly he pulled out a strangly clean handkerchief from his pocket. Then, in a flash, he thrust it in my face. I tried to stop him, but I instantly blacked out.