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"But... I-I heard this girl with gigantic tits say that you were like this amazing sex god or something. She was definitely talking about you!"

I had the sneaking suspicion he overheard Natalie talking to someone. Why Natalie felt the need to talk about me or bring up our tryst, especially considering the whole time stopping thing was involved, was beyond me. I just sighed. Best to go with the old deny everything route and move on.

"I don't even know any girls with gigantic tits, man," I calmly said, much to his surprise. "Sorry, I have no idea what's going on, but, I really need to catch my bus. See ya."

"Okay! Um... I'll see you later, man!"

I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I quickly walked away from him. I really hoped I wouldn't see him later.

I didn't think my escapades were going to bring trouble my way, or that I'd feel as annoyed as I did at that moment. If more people were going to act like Johnathan, try to suck up to me in the hopes I'd help them get laid, then I figured it was time to cool down for a while. The best idea was to probably let this buzz about me blow over and let everyone forget about it. The longer people stop obsessing over me, the less they'll care about me. That's all I could hope for.

That night, I was beginning to settle into bed. I'd already finished my homework and shut off my computer. I turned off the light and then slipped under the covers with a happy sigh. As I laid staring at the ceiling, I recalled Sarah's suggestion for me to simply stop using my time-stopping power. I had to admit, there really was never any practical use for it and I really didn't have any compulsion to abuse it for evil. But before I could do that, stop using it forever, I recalled for a moment one final loose end. It was the one that unnerved me, but it's been there in the back of my mind since it had occurred: The odd men in black robes. I furred my eyebrows, recalling the first glimpse of them down the hallway in school. After that, there was the more up close and personal meeting on the beach. I was never going to get any sleep until I knew…

I paused for a moment before I slowly peeled away the covers from my body with a sigh. I quickly got to my feet in the darkness. I must've looked pretty stupid just standing there in the dark with nothing but my boxers on, but I didn't care. I took into consideration the fact that those guys never seemed to bother me until I was by myself like they had to make it personal for some reason. But why? What did they want from me?

I figured if there was any more a personal setting for them to appear again, this would definitely be it. I nodded to myself, blinking once to stop time and stood dauntless in the silence.

"All right," I spoke up. "You know who I'm talking to. Let's have one more meeting, all right? Show yourselves, I know you know that I'm here."

I waited patiently. A few tense moments passed by in the unnatural silence.

"Come on," I spoke up again. "I'm not just going to be on your time. There has to be some give and take."

And with that, I felt my head buzz just before they showed themselves. The air escaped my lungs as I watched them slowly emerge from the pitch blackness of my closet. My eyes widened and my heart began to race from the terrifying sight. My breathing quickened, but I tried my best not to show my fear to the three tall figures that showed themselves to me one by one. I swallowed, feeling sweat begin to break out on my forehead. They stood calmly, stoically, near the far end of the room. I took a deep breath and sighed.

I remained as calm as I could as I spoke to them. My head kept buzzing, as though I was in great danger. But I wasn't going to end this conversation until they gave me the answers I wanted.

"I'm not going to take my eyes off you this time, I don't want any disappearing acts like before."

The one in the center raised its bony hand and pointed to me.

"Time ...," it whispered in its raspy, ethereal voice. I straightened my posture, smiling confidently.

"Yes, I know that one. You already said that before. Now you're going to tell me something that actually makes sense."

"What do you wish to know ...?" it asked, surprising me. Its voice seemed to change a bit, not speaking as otherworldly and perhaps, a bit quicker.

"Okay ... so you do know more than one word...," I replied in intrigue. "I'll skip the formalities this time. What I really want to know is ... what brought you to me? Are you ... are you the ones that gave me these powers?"

Amidst the darkness, I saw all three of them slowly shake their robed heads back and forth.

"You did this. This is your power ..."

I was stunned. How could that be possible? I didn't just wake up one morning and bless myself with superpowers with a flick of my magic wand. However, they weren't quite done yet.

"Now... you will turn it off ..."

"Turn it off?" I wondered aloud. "You want me to turn off ... the time-stopping?"

Its voice suddenly became much louder and menacing.

"Turn it off."

That's when the three of them began to advance on me, their arms stretched out as if to grab me. The buzzing sensation in my head was practically vibrating my entire skull.

"Turn it off! Turn it off!"

I screamed in terror, covering my face, shutting my eyes tight.

After a brief moment of silence, my ears caught the gentle sounds of crickets chirping and the quiet honk of a car in the distance. I shot my eyes open, everything was back to normal. Well, everything except for the fact that I was trembling harder than I ever had in my life. My eyes were wide, terror gripping my entire body like an icy hand that refused to let up. I couldn't move, totally paralyzed by fear. I panted sharply with terrified gasps, a cold sweat rolling over every inch of me.

I just stood there, shocked, horrified, and incredulous for several minutes. I was still too scared to move, fearful that they would return if I moved so much as an inch. Were they still there? Were they invisible? Were they waiting to grab me and tear me limb from limb? I had no idea what to think anymore. If there was ever a really noticeable downside I could've ever thought of upon acquiring the power to stop time ... this was definitely it. Honestly, I would take getting pestered by other guys to help them get laid over this any day.

Finally, my legs gave out from under me and I fell to my hands and knees. I continued trembling. My eyes stayed wide open. I didn't want to blink, I couldn't. If I blinked, I might stop time and they might return. I cared not for the tensing pain around my eyes as they dried. I'd sooner lose my vision than feel the wrath of those. things screaming at me.

It took me a little while, but I eventually managed to pull myself back into bed. I pressed myself firmly against the wall. It gave me one less angle to have to watch for them. I couldn't take the pain in my dry eyes anymore and squeezed them shut with a terrified shout. When I quickly opened them again, there were no robed things in black to be found. Time was still flowing nicely. I think, at that moment, my mind was far too frightened to stop time and so it wouldn't allow me to. I slowly laid my head down on the pillow, keeping watch over the room. My eyes were as alert and focused as they'd ever been.

I swallowed a few times. My mouth felt as dry as cotton. I couldn't find the willingness in myself to get up and go to the kitchen for water that would've brought me past the closet. I wasn't going anywhere near that area. I kept myself under the covers, trembling and as frightened as any kid could be when faced against the bogeyman or things under the bed. These monsters, however, were as real as it gets.