Tangled In Time

Through The Armoire

The darkness enveloped me, my heart thumping in my ears, the anticipation of finally going home contrasting with a weighing sense of disappointment at having to leave him behind.

Silence engulfed me in the darkness of the armoire. There were no sounds at all—no buzzing, no shaking—just a stillness that echoed my own uncertainty, the only sound the relentless thumping in my ears. My imagination had conjured expectations of something magical, perhaps a tangible shift in reality. But as moments passed without incident, disappointment threatened to overshadow my hopes.

"Blake, nothing's happening," I murmured, my voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and resignation. The cramped space offered no solace, only the sensation of pins and needles creeping into my limbs. I shifted uncomfortably, seeking relief from the confinement, but Blake remained silent.

"Blake?" I called out softly, the sound of my own voice reverberating in the emptiness. Another minute dragged on, each second stretching into an eternity. With a surge of urgency, I pushed against the door of the armoire, yearning for answers in the void. "Blake, can you—" I stopped mid-sentence because, as I swung open the armoire door, Blake was no longer there. My heart pounded in my chest as I stood there, frozen in disbelief.

Could it be possible that I was back?

I looked around the room, scanning for any sign that things had changed, but everything appeared exactly as it had been before, the only difference being Blake no longer standing in front of me.

With a mixture of hope and trepidation, I made my way to the stairs and descended to the door at the bottom. I placed my hand on the doorknob, listening for any sounds out in the hallway before turning it. The familiar sounds of my family's life filtered through the door, and I hesitated for a moment. It was a strange feeling, a mix of longing to return to my time and a growing curiosity about what might be waiting on the other side.

I squeezed my eyes closed, took a deep breath, and then opened the door, stepping out into the hallway.

"And where the bloody hell have you been?" I jumped at the sound of my dad's voice. He was standing just outside the library doors, letting out a relieved sigh. His rough Black Country accent was as comforting as ever, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Dad!" I exclaimed, rushing to him and hugging him tightly, the familiar scent of his cologne wrapping around me comfortingly.

"And what the heck are you wearing?" he asked, a puzzled expression on his face as he held me at arm's length.

"Well, I was playing hide and seek, but the boys didn't come and get me," I explained innocently. I glanced down at Blake's dinner jacket. "I found it in the loft."

Dad's face crumpled into a frown. "For ten hours?" he asked in disbelief. "You've had everyone worrying, even your mom." As he said the word "mom," it was like a light bulb had gone off. He began to head for the stairs and shouted, "Annabelle! I've found her."

"Where are the boys?" I asked.

"Will's asleep; it's way past his bedtime. Tom is outside looking for you in the gardens. Honestly, Felicity, what has gotten into you?" Guilt washed through me.

"We were playing hide and seek, Dad. I found some old books up there and lost track of time." My father gave me a strange look as if he didn't believe me, and I couldn't blame him. The excuse sounded lame even to me.

"We'll talk more later," he said, his voice stern, but he squeezed my shoulder as we got to the top of the stairs.

We continued walking down the stairs together. "Honestly, Flick, we've all been looking everywhere. Even poor Mr. Baker," Dad continued, his tone a mix of scolding and relief.