ECHOES OF TIME

**Chapter 1: The Call of the Past**

FLASHBACK.

Ava stood in the middle of her dimly lit living room, the faint smell of dust and old books lingering in the air. As she flipped through a worn photo album, she stumbled upon a picture that sent a wave of memories crashing over her. She saw her younger self, just seven years old, smiling brightly in a frilly dress, standing next to her parents on a sunny day.

Suddenly, she was transported back to that fateful afternoon in the 19th century.

It was a chilly autumn day, and leaves danced in the wind as she and her parents drove their elegant carriage through the countryside to their family estate. Laughter filled the carriage as they shared stories and sang songs, the air alive with joy and anticipation. Ava felt safe, nestled between her parents, her heart full of love in a world of opulence and tradition.

But then, in an instant, everything changed. A loud crash echoed through the air, shattering their world. The screeching of wheels, the crunch of metal against metal—Ava remembered it all too vividly. Her father’s frantic shout, her mother’s terrified scream, and then, darkness.

When she awoke, the sterile smell of a hospital flooded her senses. Confusion enveloped her as she struggled to piece together what had happened. A nurse hovered nearby, her face a mask of concern. “You’re safe now, sweetie. You’ve been in an accident.”

Ava’s heart raced as she looked around, searching for her parents. “Where are they?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. But the nurse’s silence spoke volumes, filling Ava with dread. The memories that followed were fragmented and painful. Snippets of conversations, faces blurred, and the realization that she had lost everything.

Days turned into weeks, and the memories of her life before the accident began to slip away like grains of sand through her fingers. Once a bright girl from a luxurious family, raised with the finest education and dreams of becoming an inventor, she now struggled to remember who she was, her identity scattered across the void of her mind.

Despite the pain of her loss, Ava found a way to rebuild her life in the 21st century. She poured her energy into her studies, eventually achieving great success now she is successful computer scientist. Her innovative designs and groundbreaking research earned her accolades, and everyone around her celebrated her achievements. Friends and colleagues praised her brilliance, and she often found herself at the center of attention at conferences and gatherings.

Yet, amidst the applause and recognition, her mind was stuck in one place—haunted by a single desire: to know what happened that day. The accident remained a gaping wound in her heart, and no amount of success could fill it. As the years passed, the drive to uncover the truth only grew stronger. She immersed herself in books, trying to piece together the life she had lost. With each page she turned, she learned more about her family, her dreams, and the love that had once surrounded her.

Sitting on her bed now, the memories washed over her like a tide. The pain of loss fueled her determination to create the time machine. If she could go back, she could discover what happened that day and, maybe, find a way to change her past.

PRESENT.

Ava Chloe stood in her cluttered workshop, the faint hum of machinery filling the air around her. She glanced at the time machine, a complex assembly of gears and wires, its surface gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights. Months of tireless work had led to this moment, but she felt an unsettling mix of excitement and trepidation. Today was the day she would unlock the secrets of her past.

Ava’s gaze drifted to the clock on her workbench. Its hands ticked steadily, a reminder of the relentless passage of time. She had spent years meticulously researching, designing, and building the machine that could bridge the gap between her present and the shadows of her past. Today, the clock would be more than just a reminder of time—it would become a portal.