Ibiss remained behind the bar counter, his hands moving methodically as he wiped clean the glasses and arranged the bottles with practiced precision. The grand lounge was silent, except for the soft clinking of glassware and the occasional sigh that escaped from Ibiss lips.
Suddenly, the tranquility was shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps. Ibiss looked up to see a blonde young girl dressed in a vibrant red jacket and a white seifuku, standing before him.
"Did she leave?" the girl inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Ibiss regarded her with a stern expression, his crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "You don't belong here," he warned firmly, weighing his words as he spoke. "You should return, or else."
The girl met his gaze with a playful smirk, seemingly unfazed by his words. "Or else... what?" she retorted, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "At least fix me a drink, I'm quite parched."
Ibiss let out a resigned sigh, his resolve softened at the girl's persistence. Shaking his head, Ibiss reached for a sleek highball glass. He poured a generous measure of clear soda into the glass, the bubbles fizzed with lively energy.
Next, he drizzled a splash of blueberry syrup. With a quick flick, he tossed in a handful of ice cubes, a pleasing clinking sound echoed. As he stirred the mixture with a swizzle stick, the colors swirled and merged, creating a mesmerizing whirlpool of blue and white.
Finally, Ibiss garnished the drink with a twist of lime, the citrus aroma adding a refreshing zing to the concoction. With a flourish, he placed the highball glass in front of the girl, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he presented his craft, sliding the highball glass towards her. "Here you go," he said, "A sparkling blue soda, just for you."
She took a sip of her drink, and then the girl cast a curious glance in Ibiss's direction. "So, what's the deal with her?" she asked, gesturing towards the spot where Sarah had vanished.
Ibiss regarded her with a stern expression, his crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "Apparently, she's the new Master of this mansion," he replied.
The girl's eyes widened in shock, her expression is one of disbelief. "Does that mean Eddy is dead?!" she shouted.
Ibiss's gaze hardened at the mention of the name. Raising his voice, he replied sharply, "Watch your tone, we still don't know for sure."
The girl recoiled slightly at Ibiss's harsh tone, her expression shifted from shock to apprehension. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered, "I didn't mean to—"
Ibiss waved off her apology with a dismissive gesture. "It's not your fault," he said, "But you should be careful. Some things are better left unsaid."
With a curt nod, the girl turned on her heels towards the stairs, her red jacket swaying with each hurried step. Ibiss just sighed and resumed his work, his gaze followed her until she disappeared from view.
xXx
As the blinding light fades, Sarah finds herself standing alone in a narrow, dimly lit alleyway. The cobblestone beneath her feet feels slick with moisture.
Questions flood Sarah's mind as she surveys her surroundings. "Where am I? How did I end up here? The last thing I remembered was a flash of light."
Her eyes tried their best to adjust in the dark before noticing the faint glow emanating from the alley's end. Her curiosity aroused, she cautiously approached the source, her footsteps echoed softly against the brick walls. The glow intensifies with each step.
Eventually, Sarah emerges from the alley, she finds herself thrust into the midst of a bustling city street. The air is thick with the scent of exhaust fumes, and the loud noise of honking cars bustle the atmosphere. People rushed past her, their hurried movements creating a blur of motion as they navigate through the crowded area.
In the midst of the chaos, Sarah's attention was drawn to a young boy darting through the crowd, clutching stack of newspapers tightly to his chest. Behind him, a group of angry adults chased him, shouting threats and curses.
Instinctively, Sarah intercepts the boy, reaching out to grab his hand and pulls him out of harm's way. "Hey, are you alright?" she asked, concerned.
The boy nods frantically, grasping in between heavy breaths as he struggles to keep pace. He stuttered over his words as he replied, "Th-thank you," he stammered, his eyes wide with fear.
As Sarah assisted the boy in collecting his scattered newspapers, her gaze noticed the headline of one of the papers—a date, April 19, 2003.
She skimmed through the articles, and noticed several major events happening around that time—political upheavals, breakthroughs in medical research, and significant cultural shifts.
"Wait a minute," Sarah thought to herself. "If this date is accurate... and these events are happening now... then does that mean I've somehow traveled back in time? But how is that even possible?"
Her thoughts raced, each possibility more bewildering than the last. Yet, the evidence presented by the newspaper seemed to point to one undeniable truth—she was no longer in her own time.
The boy, still catching his breath, looks up at her with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. "Hey, lady, you okay?" he asked.
Sarah blinked, torn from her thoughts by the boy's question. She offers him a reassuring smile, she replies with a tembling voice, "y-yeah, I'm fine," she replies, her voice a little shaky. "Just got lost in my own head for a moment there."
Nodding yo her words, he replied, "well, thanks for helping me out back there. Those guys were real jerks."
Sarah shrugs, dismissing his gratitude with a wave of her hand. "No problem," she said, trying to sound casual. "Just glad I could help."
The boy notices the newspaper in Sarah's hand and hesitates for a moment before speaking up, "you can have that newspaper if you want, consider it a thank you for helping me out."
Sarah's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, thank you," she said, genuinely touched by his kindness. "I really appreciate it."
With a nod of gratitude, the boy scurries off to resume his newspaper-selling duties, leaving Sarah alone on the bustling city street.
Sarah took another glance at the newspaper, her eyes scanning the headlines once more in an attempt to confirm the reality of her situation. The major events listed in the articles seemed to reinforce her suspicions—she had indeed traveled back in time.
With a sigh of resignation, Sarah folded the newspaper under her arm and began to walk aimlessly through the crowded streets, her mind whirling with questions and uncertainty.
Suddenly, a woman brushed past her, her footsteps echoed against the pavement. Sarah's gaze flickered to the pocket watch nestled in her pocket, its surface let out a vibrant green light.
A surge of curiosity washed over her as she watched the woman disappear into the crowd. "Green light? That woman? What does it mean?" Sarah thought to herself, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Determined to uncover the meaning behind it, Sarah quickened her pace, weaving through the bustling crowd in pursuit of the woman. After several moments of frantic searching, she finally caught sight of her target—a figure standing near a street corner, her features obscured by the shadows of the surrounding buildings.
Sarah closed the distance, she tried to approach the woman cautiously, her mind racing with anticipation. "Could it be her? The woman from the mansion?" she wondered.
She held her pocket watch tightly, and with a deep breath to steady her nerves, she finally reached out to tap the woman on the shoulder.
"Excuse me," Sarah began, her words hesitant yet hopeful. "I couldn't help but notice... are you...?"
But before she could finish her sentence, the woman turned to face her, her expression is one of confusion and bewilderment. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" the woman asked, with uncertainty.
Sarah's heart sank at the woman's response, a wave of disappointment washing over her. It seemed that her hopes of finding a clue had been dashed once again.
Confused and disheartened, Sarah took a step back. "I-I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice tinged with regret. "I must have mistaken you for someone else. Please, forgive my intrusion."
The woman regarded Sarah with a curious expression, her gaze lingering on the pocket watch tucked into Sarah's pocket. Sarah's heart skipped a beat as the pocket watch suddenly lit up with a vibrant green glow, illuminating the dimly lit street with its ethereal light.
For a moment, Sarah was frozen in place, her eyes wide with surprise. But as quickly as the light had appeared, it faded away, leaving her feeling more bewildered than ever.
The woman, however, seemed unfazed by the sudden display, her attention fixated on the pocket watch. "What a beautiful pocket watch," she remarked, her voice filled with admiration. "Do you mind if I buy it from you?"
Sarah's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the unexpected request. "Um, I'm sorry, but it's not for sale," she replied, her tone hesitant yet firm. "It's... it's very important to me."
But the woman refused to take no for an answer, her insistence unwavering. "Oh, come now," she said, her voice coaxing. "Surely you can part with it for the right price. I assure you, I will take excellent care of it."
Despite the woman's persuasive words, Sarah couldn't shake the uneasiness within her. Something about the situation felt off, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
As if sensing Sarah's hesitation, the woman changed tactics, her expression softening with a hint of sincerity. "I understand if you're reluctant to part with it," she said, her tone gentle yet persuasive. "But perhaps you would consider joining me for tea instead? I would love to get to know you better."
Intrigued by the offer and still curious about the strange encounter, Sarah found herself nodding in agreement. "Alright," she said, her voice tinged with curiosity. "I suppose a cup of tea couldn't hurt."
With a grateful smile, the woman gestured for Sarah to follow her, leading the way down the bustling street towards her residence.