Replica

Chapter Two

I look all around me, unsure of what to do. I consider flagging down a vehicle and hitching a ride. I take a good look at them now. They do not resemble the ordinary car I would see while I was walking down the street. These vehicles didn't even have wheels-instead, they seemed to levitate above the ground. Strange.
I begin walking down the street hoping to find any sign indicating my location. Observing everything around, I find that this place doesn't look like a modern city. Everything looks futuristic -from the skyscrapers to the people. It resembles the kind of stuff you might see in a movie or read in a book. The buildings are abstract and there are structures floating in the sky. Looking down the street, nature is almost everywhere among the metallic man-made buildings. I don't believe my own eyes could ever conjure up something so beautiful and something truly out of this world. I feel as if I've somehow traveled forward through time a few dozen centuries. There must be some logical explanation as to where I am and how I got here. Maybe someone somehow snuck something into my drink and now I'm seeing things. I could very well be lying in that office room tripping out right now. And yet, how is it that I would be able to imagine something this magnificent? Shouldn't I be instead seeing some weird, trippy world where everything is alive?
Perhaps this is real. Maybe somehow, the owner of that house managed to build something that allowed one to move through time. If so, the only way I can think of finding my way back is through that portal in the alleyway. The one that vanished in a swirl of light so I have absolutely no way back. But of course it's theoretical. I couldn't have traveled to the future, right?

***
We enter the house and the music intensifies. I glance around at the people. Everyone is either dancing, drinking, or socializing. Every visible room is packed with people. Some of them glance at us and I begin imagining what it would be like if we just went to the movies-we'd be picking out a good seat all the way in the back row, Londyn would already be munching on our snacks when we sat down.
We head to get drinks, filling our plastic red cups with punch. I put the cup to my lips, catching a strong scent emitting from the punch-alcohol. I sigh and drink it anyway.

***
I begin walking down the street, in search of anything that might help me. I don't even know what to look for, but I need some goal in mind to keep myself from having a panic attack. I spot a woman walking down the sidewalk. I hurriedly make my way to her. "Excuse me, ma'am," I tap her on the shoulder to get her attention. She turns to me and looks me up and down. She seems to be surprised by what she finds.
"Could you help me? I'm not sure where I am," I tell her.
"Well...of course. This is Elidi." She looks confused by my question.
"Elidi?" I furrow my eyebrows as I say the name.
"Yes. Elidi."
I'm dumbfounded by her words. I couldn't be in the future. I turn to look at the environment before me, taking in the sight again.
"May I ask, are you alright?" She says, her face wrinkled in concern.
I look back at her. Impossible. I refuse to believe it. I turn on my heel and start down the street. As I walk, I encounter more people on the street. Moving past them, I notice the peculiar glances they share looking my way. With a few of them, I'm almost certain they are disgusted by the mere sight of me. They're stares give me chills , so I decide to keep my eyes trained on the ground and pick up the pace. After a few moments I round the corner of the sidewalk and run right into a man. "Sorry!" I don't bother glancing up as the word rushes out of my mouth. I quickly move away from him, continuing down the street. When I've taken a few paces forward, I glance back to see the man. I spot him, he is turned completely toward me, frozen in his place, staring. I lock eyes with him for only a second before snapping my attention back in front of me. I walk even more swiftly now, I'm at a point where I might as well start running. Why are these people acting so strange?
As the night draws on, I begin to search for any place to sleep. Walking down street after street, I'm utterly confused as to how this city works. I don't recognize any of the business names and I eventually just ask a stranger. Thankfully, I'm redirected to a hotel within walking distance. I'm almost relieved I brought my phone so I have a perception of time and maybe a way to call someone. That was, until I realized that the time was completely wrong and I had no service.
I walk quickly, and make sure to stay in lightened areas. Remembering the manner in which people are acting and my distrust in strangers, especially at night, I proceed to my destination with caution. In only what feels like ten minutes, I find the name of the hotel I was given. When I enter the building, the hotel looks luxurious. I wonder if I'm going to be able to afford a nights stay when a woman approaches me.
"Hello, Ms. Everston, we are very pleased to see you return. How may I be of service?" She asks me.
"Oh, no ma'am. I'm not- my name is Amelia Gray. I'm looking to buy a room for the night."
"Oh! My apologies," she says, hesitating. She seems to shake it off and brings me over to a desk. When she tells me the price, which is a shock to me, I slowly begin counting out the amount due with the only money I have on me. Goodbye, sweet money. When I hand her the money she looks baffled at the paper bills.
"I'm sorry, but where did you get these? I've never seen money like this." She looks at the money closer. "I'm terribly sorry ma'am, we can't accept this." Her response shocks me and yet again, my logic contradicts the idea of the world before me. "Do you have any other form of payment?" She asks. I shake my head and thank her for the time. As I'm leaving, my anxiety builds up to a new high. If I really have time traveled, how am I supposed to get back home?