Leah stumbled as the world solidified around her. The cold, sterile scent of the lab was gone, replaced by the sharp tang of ozone. She was standing in the middle of a towering city, its skyscrapers gleaming under a purple sky. Hovering vehicles zipped past, and streets were crowded with people wearing sleek, futuristic attire.
This wasn't just a different place—it was a different time.
Frantically, Leah checked the wristband. The dials were spinning out of control, as if the device had malfunctioned during the jump. Panic surged through her. She hadn't programmed this. She hadn't meant to come here.
"Hey, you!"
A voice broke through her thoughts, and Leah turned to see a young man approaching, his eyes narrowing as he took in her outdated clothes and panicked expression.
"You're not from here, are you?" he asked, a grin spreading across his face. "I can tell. You're another one of them, aren't you? Another time traveler."
Leah's heart skipped a beat. "How do you know that?"
The man held up a small device of his own, not unlike her wristband. "I've been chasing people like you for a while. Name's Jaxon. And if you're here, it means you're in deep trouble."
Before Leah could respond, a loud siren echoed through the city, and the sky above darkened. Jaxon cursed under his breath.
"They're coming for you," he said, grabbing her arm. "The Enforcers. They hunt down rogue time travelers. If you don't come with me, you're as good as erased."
Leah had no choice but to follow. As they ran through the futuristic city, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far bigger—and far more dangerous—than she'd ever imagined.