Chapter 3: A Glimmer of Hope
The New York Public Library's Rose Main Reading Room was a cathedral of knowledge. Its vaulted ceiling, bathed in diffused sunlight, gave Ally a sense of serenity despite the tempest raging within her. Shelves lined with ancient tomes loomed majestically, holding secrets spanning centuries. Ally felt a shiver of anticipation as she walked to the reference desk.
"I'm looking for resources on Charles Stewart, a 1700s inventor," Ally explained to the librarian, a bespectacled woman with an air of sagely patience.
"Charles Stewart? Ah yes, the 'mad inventor,'" the librarian murmured with a hint of amusement, scanning her computer. "We have a special collection of 18th-century manuscripts in the restricted section. You'll need special access."
Ally's heart skipped a beat. "What do I need to do to get in?"
After a brief procedure and signing an agreement to handle the documents with care, Ally found herself in a room that smelled of history, the scent of parchment and old ink hanging in the air. She approached a glass display case holding sketches and writings of Charles Stewart. The centerpiece was a vivid schematic of the time machine, annotated with cryptic notes.
An hour later, Ally was deep into the manuscripts, when she stumbled upon something pivotal—a letter, written in Charles Stewart's meticulous hand, addressed to someone named Jacob Collins. Her pulse quickened as she read:
_"If my calculations are correct, my invention has breached the veil of time, creating unforeseen consequences. Nevertheless, it holds the key to connecting with those in distant eras. To my friend Jacob Collins, I entrust this knowledge, should disaster strike. Beware the infinite loops; our bond across time hangs by a thread."_
"Jacob Collins," Ally whispered. "Luca's brother!" She now knew where her next step should lead.
In 1702, Luca stood before his patiently frowning mother, Esther, in their modest kitchen. Jakob, ever the pragmatic younger brother, looked at Luca with a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"You intend to chase a madman's musings?" Jacob asked, though his tone held more intrigue than disapproval.
Luca nodded solemnly. "I must. Charles Stewart's 'madness' points to something real, Jacob. I've seen things in those dreams—devices, symbols—that no sane mind could conjure."
Esther set her hands on her hips, worry etching lines deeper into her face. "Luca, I love you, my son, but this journey, it's perilous. What if the dreams are leading you astray?"
Luca's reply was resolute. "Mother, if I ignore this, I'll never know peace. I must seek out the remnants of Charles Stewart's machine. I believe it holds the key to ending this torment and perhaps, reuniting with someone who's become more than just a dream."
Jacob, inspired by his brother's determination, stepped forward. "Luca, let me help. Charles Stewart's estate still stands, a forgotten relic on the edge of town. We'll start our search there."
Back in her Brooklyn apartment, Ally rallied Emmett for support. "Em, I found a clue about Luca's brother Jacob. Charles entrusted him with key information about the machine—a machine that breaches the veil of time."
Emmett's skepticism was now tinged with excitement. "This sounds insane, but then again, so do your dreams. What's the plan?"
"We need to locate anything related to Charles and his machine. Next step might be—"
Suddenly, Ally's cell phone buzzed with an email notification. It was from an obscure history forum she'd posted a query on weeks ago. The message was from a historian specializing in Charles Stewart who wanted to meet.
Ally felt a surge of hope. "We need to follow this lead."
Meanwhile, Luca and Jacob navigated the overgrown path toward the dilapidated Stewart estate. The mansion, now more ruins than structure, resonated with an eerie atmosphere. As they explored, Luca found what he was looking for—a hidden compartment in the study desk, containing ancient scrolls and diagrams. Amidst the documents was a peculiar gem, glowing faintly.
"This is it, Jacob," Luca breathed. "Part of the machine, perhaps a power source or a key."
The dream that night was unlike any other. Ally and Luca found themselves in the mansion's study, side-by-side, palpably real. The dim room was illuminated by golden, flickering candlelight. On the desk before them lay the schematics detailed in both their worlds.
"We're close," Luca said, his voice filled with hope. "We just need more pieces."
"The historian I'm meeting might have what we need," Ally responded, excitement coursing through her veins.
Their eyes locked, and for a brief moment, the world outside of this dream ceased to exist. They stepped closer, the distance between them not just spatial, but temporal. The dream was vivid enough to make Ally feel the warmth emanating from Luca, the scent of wet earth and old paper, even the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth.
But as always, the fragile connection began to falter. Luca's form started to shimmer like a mirage, the room growing colder.
"No! Not yet," Ally pleaded, reaching for him. Their hands brushed, an electric jolt running through her.
With a heart-wrenching snap, she was jolted back to her own time, her hand outstretched to a void.
Luca awoke, clutching the strange gem, determination burning brighter than ever. The quest was more critical now—every piece they uncovered brought them closer but increased the risk tenfold.
In modern New York, Ally's resolve hardened. She called Emmett, her voice steady even though her insides quivered with anticipation. "We're meeting that historian tomorrow. We're getting those pieces."
Though separated by centuries, both were driven by an unshakable hope that they would soon bridge the temporal divide. Unbeknownst to them, a storm of greater challenges awaited, testing their resolve and love to its very limits.