The Unwound Future

CHAPTER 3 - TIME TRAVEL

"W-Wh-What?!" Des screamed, whilst peering out of the door to the machine. "L-L-London St-Street! It's gone!" She finished. As I stared out of the door I noticed that what once was London Street was replaced with a pitch-black room. "We'll just have to make do with our senses when exploring this room." I said, whilst stepping outside of the machine. There was not even a ray of light entering the room, nothing but blackness. As I walk around the room, the silence was broken by a loud scream-like sound, coming from behind me, followed by a bang. "W-What was that?! Des! Are you okay?!" I shout into the darkness behind me. Before noticing the tiny spot of light now coming into the room. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. I just tripped on something." She said, followed by a sigh. "Wait, what?" I heard her say shortly afterwards. Turning around, I notice it instantly. A ray of light, shining from the floorboards. "Des! I think you've just found our way out!" I cheered. Before making my way over to it. It would appear that there was a secret hatch hidden under the rug, Des must've tripped over it, causing it to move out of place slightly. "Hey, can you help me pull this open?" I asked, whilst pointing at the hatch. Des replied with a nod. It wasn't as heavy as I thought it was, but I'm glad she would help me, nonetheless. After light had made it's way into the room, I noticed that the room was completely empty, despite the machine and carpet, or course. After opening the hatch, Des went down the ladder. I followed shortly after. It turns out, the room we had been placed into from the time machine was an attic in a clock store. "Woah! Jean! Look at the size of this one!" I heard Des shout from the other side of the building. Although I should've told her to keep her voice down, I must admit, the clock was quite interesting...

Before us was a giant clock, the roman numerals for numbers were made out of gold. But that's not what had me most intrigued. The giant clock also had a date on it. The date was the 9th of March 2011. "J-J-Jean! You've noticed too, right? The date... It's-" Before she had time to finish her sentence a voice came from behind us. "The 9th of March 2011. What's so special about it, Hun?" Stood behind us was an old woman. Who knows how long she had been standing there for. "Oh! Hello Madam, I apologise if we disturbed you at all. We shall be leaving shortly, do not worry." I reassured her, before giving Des a slight nudge to suggest that we leave. We then started to make our way towards the door, before I realised something. "Oh! Actually, madam, I'm sorry to over stay our welcome, but I must know. Where exactly are we?" I asked, waiting eagerly for a response. "Huh? You don't know where you are? That's rather strange, considering you made your way into a clock store whilst being lost, wouldn't you say. But that's none of my business, I suppose. We're at Pristenbrook Alley." She replied, confused with the fact we're lost. "Oh. Okay, thank you for your cooperation!" I say, before tilting my hat and walking towards the door. Pristenbrook Alley...? Where are we... I thought to myself, as I left the building. It was quite light outside, but that wasn't my main priority, I have to locate the mayor. And make sure he's okay. "So... Erm... What now?" Des asked from slightly behind me. We obviously had the same understanding of the situation, little to none. "Hm. I think we should explore for a little bit." Right when I say that I notice something strange. "Hey, Des. That's an abnormally high building, wouldn't you say?" I finish, whilst pointing towards a huge building in the distance. She cuffs her hands and places them over her eyes, the way you would use binoculars. "Oh yeah! That building is a WAY different size compared to the all of the others." She points out. "Should we go and check it out?" She asks not long after. The thought struck me that the building could potentially lead us to the mayor. "Yes. I believe we should, it could give us more information on the situation." I say, as I start to make my way to the nearby street.

Just as we approached, some men interrupted our journey. "So where do you think you two are off to, then? Think you can just waltz right past us and inside?" The voice said. The man spoke in a rude manner, but that wasn't all he had to say. "If you even try to come back here, then I must warn you..." Shortly after he pulled his jacket back slightly, revealing a gun. Frozen in place, I was speechless. Thankfully Des was there to speak up for me. "Listen, Sir. I'm sorry for any trouble we might of caused you. We shall be on our way now." The man then pulled his jacket back over the gun. "Damn right, you're lucky you know what's good for you, lady." He said, with a grunt. Des then grabbed the sleeve of my jacket and pulled slightly, to suggest that we leave this area. "O-Oh. Yes, I see." I replied not long after, before we made our way out of the alleyway. "What was that guy's problem?" I asked, still a little shaken. "Hm. He was most likely guarding the area. Maybe there's something that he doesn't want us to see inside." She suggested. "We should try talking to some people in the nearby buildings. Maybe they know something about the situation." She finished. Hm. Some place nearby that has people in it. I thought to myself, whilst gazing around the main street. "Oh! What about over there? I think that's a café! We can talk a bit about what's happened today over a cup of tea, as well as converse with the nearby people to see if they know anything." I suggest, wearing a cheerful expression and pointing at the coffee sign. "Yeah! That sounds quite nice, actually." She replied, wearing the same expression as myself.

Upon entering, we were given strange looks by the nearby customers. It was an unsettling feeling, having people give you the look as if you've just made a horrible decision whilst you order a cup of tea. "Hey, Des. Can you grab us a table whilst I see to the tea?" I ask politely. She didn't respond verbally, but she gave a slight nod. Suggesting she would. About a minute had passed and our tea was finally ready. I took it over to the table Des had chosen. It was isolated from everyone else. Most likely so no one would eavesdrop on our conversation. I take my seat. Then take a sip of tea. "Okay, so what's happened today, a brief summary. We were in London, 2001, before receiving a strange parcel with a tape in it. After watching the tape, it gave us a location. That location being London Street. Upon arriving we witness a phenomena. That phenomena being time travel. We didn't once consider that it would actually work. But when the mayor disappeared that day, it was still a bit wary to believe. So I had to go and look around inside it. To my surprise, the machine worked when a specific code is put into it. The machine had taken us forward in time to the 9th of March 2011. Exactly ten years in the future. That sound about right, to you?" Des asked me, for confirmation.

"Yes. I believe everything you have so said so far is correct. But we're missing something. The strange building. They wouldn't let us enter. And if we tried to anymore we would've been shot. So they're obviously hiding something inside." I replied, before taking another sip of my tea.

"Hm. 'Hiding something inside' is a bit of an assumption at the moment, wouldn't you say? We still need to talk to people to see if they know anything about the building." She reminded me. Oh yeah. I should probably do that once I finish my tea, then. I thought to myself, whilst gazing around the corner at all of the customers talking. As I try to bring my attention back to the table. Something catches my eye. A rather tall figure, wearing a black coat and suit, was staring directly at us. I couldn't make out who it was exactly. But when I tried to focus, they made their way towards the door and walked away.

"Hey! Wait!" I shouted, before standing up and running out of the door. "J-Jean! What is it?!" Des shouted from behind me, before running after me. I look to my left, there was nobody there. I quickly turn to my right, I just managed to see a corner of the coat before it disappeared into and alley. "Over there!" I shouted to Des. Before running into the alley. As I entered, I noticed that there was nobody in the alleyway. Out of breath, I hear Des enter the alley. "W-What? I-I swear I saw someone come in here!" I shouted, as I frantically look around. A crunching noise came from the entrance of the alley, followed by a voice. "And you would not be mistaken. Jean..."