Timelines and Tangled Hearts

Chapter 7: Ancient Clues

Once they'd lost the lions and soldiers, the group found a quiet corner in the bowels of the arena. Ava pulled out the hourglass, her fingers tracing the strange carvings along its surface.

"This thing keeps dragging us to places where something big is happening," she said thoughtfully. "What's the connection between Victorian London and Ancient Rome?"

Henry leaned against the wall, looking annoyed. "Maybe it's broken."

"No way," William cut in. "There's always a pattern with artifacts. We just have to figure out what it wants."

Ava smirked. "So says the history nerd."

William gave her a look. "And who was the one ready to charm her way through Roman soldiers?"

Isabella interrupted with a grin. "I think we can all agree that I was the star of that show."

Ava laughed and shook her head, then turned her focus back to the hourglass. The crystals inside glimmered faintly—almost like they were waiting.

"Whitlock said the timelines were connected," she murmured. "Maybe it's not just random travel. Maybe these places are linked somehow."

Henry frowned. "You're saying what we do in one timeline changes another?"

"Exactly," William said, catching on. "Like how Henry's invention back in Victorian London caused that mess in the future."

Isabella tilted her head. "So what's Rome got to do with it?"

"That," Ava said with a sigh, "is what we need to figure out—before we end up somewhere worse."

William raised a brow. "Worse than lions?"

After sneaking out of the arena (and narrowly avoiding being trampled by a Roman parade), the group found a hidden garden outside the city walls. Night had fallen, casting a blanket of stars across the sky.

They built a small fire, huddled close to keep warm. For the first time since their journey began, there was a brief, peaceful lull.

Ava sat cross-legged by the fire, fiddling with the hourglass. Across from her, William stretched out on the ground, arms folded behind his head. His usual sarcasm was nowhere to be found as he stared quietly at the stars.

"So," Ava said softly, breaking the silence. "If we don't figure this out... you think we'll be stuck hopping timelines forever?"

William smiled faintly. "Could be worse."

Ava raised a brow. "Worse how?"

"Well," he said, turning his head to look at her, "I could've been stuck doing this without you."

Ava's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, the usual banter between them melted away. There was something raw and honest in William's gaze—something that made her chest feel strangely tight.

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say a word, Isabella cleared her throat loudly.

"Oh, please," Isabella said, rolling her eyes. "Get a room—or, you know, a timeline."

Ava laughed, her cheeks warming. "You really know how to kill a moment."

"I try," Isabella said with a wink.

William groaned, dragging a hand over his face. "I swear, if I ever find a timeline without you, I'm staying."

Henry chuckled under his breath. "You wouldn't last a day."