Eclipse

The afternoon passed uneventfully as you wandered through an old antique shop. The place was crammed with all sorts of objects forgotten by time. Among so many curiosities, an old pocket watch caught your eye. It was carved from a single block of black obsidian, its polished surface reflecting the light like a dark mirror. Its case was decorated with delicate gold engravings forming ancient symbols of unknown meaning. It hung from a fine sterling silver chain, from which dangled a small, genuine puma tooth held by a discreet gold setting. Yet it showed not the slightest wear.

The shop owner noticed your interest. He smiled slightly and remarked that no one had wanted to buy that watch for years. He claimed it was a very old relic. But there was something about that piece that was hard to ignore. After thinking about it for a few seconds, you accepted the offer and left the shop with the watch tucked away among your belongings.

The rest of the day passed without incident. You returned home, left your keys where they always were, prepared something to eat, washed the dishes, and settled down to rest. The strange clock remained on the table, motionless, like just another antique.

As night fell, "Do you always take this long to get settled, or are you trying to break a record today?"
A female voice broke the calm with a relaxed and mocking tone.

As you turned around, a woman leaning casually against the wall was watching you with an amused smile. She wore a long black coat and a black hat adorned with a feather.

"You don't need to look for anyone else. Only you can see and hear me. No, you're not schizophrenic, I'm not dead, and unfortunately for you, I don't intend to disappear."

"You can call me Eclipse"

A mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"Now then... I suppose the introductions have been made. You bought the watch... and I came with it."