Traveling to England, Colchester in 1956 AD...
"Would you like to change the destination?"
"Yes."
"Please choose a year."
"1956 AD."
"England, Lakes District... Could you drop me off in a place where there are no people within a five-square-mile radius?"
"Arriving in... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."
As I'm being spit out, I land in a massive puddle of mud that completely covers everything below my waist. Mud splatters onto my face and hair, drenching me as rain pours down. Despite my condition, I spot a nearby lake and decide to walk there and continue my journey. Holding the white powder in my hand, I approach the edge of the lake, throw the powder in, and touch the surface, becoming engulfed once again.
"Traveling to England, Lakes District in 2003 AD..."
"Would you like to change the destination?"
"No, just drop me off in a place where there are no people within a five-square-mile radius."
"Arriving in... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1..."
I'm spit out in the same spot near the lake. Fortunately, it's not raining, but my clothes are soaked, and I begin to shiver as I make my way back to the lake. Though the rain has stopped, the evidence of recent rainfall is visible—the place is incredibly muddy.
It's 2003, my own century, but memories of high school exams and other events flood my mind, reminding me that I don't wish to relive those experiences. Nonetheless, I'm almost home—just one more trip.
As I hold the powder in my hand, ready to throw it in the water, my foot slips on the mud and gets caught in a partially exposed tree root. I'm sent flying into the air, hitting my head hard as I descend. My body slides down the muddy lake bank and into the water, and I lose consciousness.
When I wake up, I find myself lying on freshly cut grass with a pleasant fragrance. My head throbs, indicating the force of my impact. Gradually, my senses return, and I hear noises around me.
As I open my eyes, the sounds overwhelm me. I'm in a busy city center, sitting on a patch of grass near a bus stop, and people are staring at me as though I'm crazy. I quickly stand up, shake off the mud, and realise I'm still dressed in Viking attire, complete with furs and a sword. I must look incredibly strange to them.
But wait, what year is it? I was supposed to return home. Where have I landed? I consult the AI and inquire about my location. When I turn to face the bustling city life, I notice large posters and advertisements adorning tall buildings, reminiscent of Piccadilly... Hang on a second. My face is on one of the billboards!
The AI promptly informs me that I've arrived in England, Bolensbry City, in the year 2098 AD. The briefing from the AI mentions numerous things, including my name.
"Bethany Gonzales leading the peace talks between the unions and the government for the last five days. A deal is expected within the next couple of days."
I'm leading peace talks? How am I even alive in 2098? I can't bear to see or hear any more. I turn away from the billboards and search my bag for the water bottle from Sarah. I need to leave this place, this time. I need to go back.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a woman approaching a station guard and pointing at me. His gaze turns in my direction, and his eyes widen. Time is running out. I clutch the water bottle in my hand just as someone asks,
"Excuse me, are you okay?"
I look up at the concerned young man before me.
"I'm fine, thank you," I quickly reply.
"You do know you're not allowed to walk on this grass, right?" he continues.
"Pardon?"
"If the guard catches you on this grass, there will be a penalty, maybe even jail time. You need to step off the grass now, lady."
"The grass?" I ask, surprised, as I look down at my feet standing on the beautiful grass.
He grabs my arm and pulls me to the side, ensuring I'm on the pavement.
"Oh, bollocks. He's spotted you. We'd better run!"
"What?"
"The guard, he's seen you."
He points at the guard who was speaking with the woman just moments ago and is now approaching us.
"Let's run," I hear the man say as he pulls my arm, propelling us down the street. The guard's shouts echo behind us.
"Oy! You two! I've got you on the cameras! You won't escape!"
We sprint down the street, swiftly turning the first corner to disappear from sight. We continue running, veering into every available alley until we reach a dead-end, gasping for air as we come to a stop.
My heart races, and my throat feels dry and sore from the rapid breathing. I try to calm myself down, stealing a glance at the young man. There's something strangely familiar about him—his blue eyes and dark hair. He's dressed in an elegant black coat, his scarf hanging loosely around his neck after our sprint. Underneath, I notice a crisp white shirt and a tie.
"You look rather elegant for a sprint like this," I comment.
"Well, I wasn't planning on going for a run when I got dressed for work this morning... Anyway, you're hardly one to talk. You look like you've just stepped out of a history book or something."
"Yeah... I know. It's a long story."
"Are you here for some kind of convention?" he asks.
"Yes, something like that."
"Well, I must say, I admire your costume. It's very realistic for a Viking warrior. I could swear those skins and fur are the real deal."
"You have a keen eye... What's your name?"
"Peter, Peter Bezos."
"Nice to meet you, Peter. I'm Beth... I am Beth," I say, realising that I already exist in this time and don't want to complicate matters by getting mixed up with myself.
"Just Beth?" he asks.
"Beth Kowalski," I reply, using my mother's maiden name. That should suffice.
"Oh, how strange... Did you know that Bethany Gonzalez's mother's maiden name was Kowalski too?"
"And did you know that Bezos is the name of the owner and founder of Amazon?"
"Like the river or the rainforest?"
"Is that the only thing that comes to your mind?"
"What else is there?"
"Never-mind," I wave my hand dismissively as I start walking back towards the main street, and Peter follows me.
"So, what happened to you? Why were you standing in that grass? Were you unwell?" he asks.
"Something like that."
"Are you feeling better? Will you be okay getting home... or to the convention... or wherever it is you're going?"
"I'm fine. You can go now. I can see you're dressed to impress, so go and wow whoever it is you're trying to impress. Thank you for all your help, and good luck!"
He looks into my eyes, and there's a brief, enigmatic silence before he realises it and says, "No problem, anytime. See you around!" With that, he joins the pavement of the main road and heads towards the nearby underground tunnel. Once he disappears, I walk back to the end of the alley to avoid being seen by anyone. I retrieve the bottle of water from Sarah and tightly hold the white powder in my other hand, waiting for the message:
"Begin the process now."
I throw the powder into the bottle of water, ready to continue my journey.
As I prepare to touch the water, a sudden impact strikes the back of my head, causing me to stumble and lose my balance. I feel disoriented, but in a final effort, I manage to make contact with the water before collapsing and vanishing into thin air.