CLOUD TO GROUND ☂︎ FIVE HARGREEVES

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ANAGNORISIS
linear motion

☂︎ ☂︎ ☂︎

October 20th, 1963

As the ground faded from beneath her feet, Hypatia was met with an odd falling feeling, her stomach rising to her throat. It took a moment to realize she was literally falling, crashing to the ground seconds later.

The hard pavement hurt like hell, but she supposed she preferred it over getting incinerated with the rest of the world in 2019. Befriending a time traveler had its perks. Speaking of which, she looked around the alley she'd crash landed in, finding she was the only current occupant.

Stumbling to her feet, she took in her surroundings, the hot midday sun hanging in the sky. For the time being she was on her own, and considering she didn't know when or where she was, she figured she should proceed with caution.

Stepping out onto the street, she knew this was far from the time she knew, retro cars and clothing with the sepia toned backdrop of stores and businesses. As she slowly made her way down the street, she noticed the eyes of passersby uncomfortably clinging to her.

Maybe it was the unusual way she was dressed, though Hypatia had the feeling it was a far more heinous reason. And rightfully so, as she picked up a discarded newspaper, the 1963 typed in small text glaring back at her. "Shit." Why couldn't Five have picked a more inclusive time period?

With this new new knowledge, Hypatia felt the need to get out of the street as soon as possible, not that she worried any of these people could hurt her, they couldn't, but dealing with them would be far too much of a hassle.

Picking a direction and walking, she moved quickly, ignoring the people around her to the best of her ability.

Perhaps that was why, as she turned the corner at the end of the block, she crashed headfirst into a person walking the other way. The two of them fell to the ground, involuntary breaths of air forced out of their lungs.

When Hypatia recovered, she looked up, only to find and unnervingly familiar pair of eyes staring back at her. She'd seen them before, just couldn't quite put her finger on it.

The owner of the eyes stood up, a young girl, all gangly teenage limbs and comfortingly brown skin. "Hey, are you okay?" She held out a hand.

Standing thanks to the outstretched hand, Hypatia dusted herself off as she responded.
"Yeah, it's just...been a long day."

"I've been there. You aren't from around here, are you?" She spoke with a slight southern twang, warm and welcoming.

"No, I'm not. Well, I don't think I am. Where are we?"

The girls brows creased in concern. "Right now? Dallas. Are you feelin' alright? We should get you outta here."

Noticing the accumulation of stares they were getting, Hypatia nodded. "Yeah, okay."

"Great, just follow me. I'm Gia by the way. Gia Clark."

Hypatia remembered where she'd seen those eyes before.

☂︎ ☂︎ ☂︎

Her mother, Georgia Clark, led her to a small house a few miles out of Dallas proper, it's green side paneling looking worn with age. They hadn't spoken a huge amount, Hypatia dodging as many questions as possible, able to count the things she revealed on one hand.