Chapter 8 #2
He shot me a side-eyed glance, amused. “Like I said, I remember coming to the 21st century. There are so many gizmos and devices here that it’ll make your head swim. But don’t worry—I’ll help you figure it out.”
I nodded, still trying to process this horseless machine.
“Now, put your seatbelt on, and let’s get going.”
Lee reached over and helped me secure a strap across my chest, tightening it into place.
Then he pulled a lever.
I froze as an image flashed before us like something from a television.
I gawked at the moving picture, stunned.
“That’s what’s behind us,” Lee explained, tapping the screen. “It’s a backup camera. It lets me see what I’m doing as I back up.”
I had barely processed that information when the Jeep lurched backward.
My stomach dropped.
I clawed at the door handle, my heart slamming against my ribs.
Lee laughed, completely unaffected. “I was the same way when I first came here.” He pressed another lever, his foot moving against the floor. “This old Jeep will go faster than a horse—but just hang on for the ride.”
Faster than a horse?
I didn’t have time to question him.
The moment he pulled the lever again, the Jeep surged forward.
I pressed myself into the seat, gripping the handle for dear life.
By the gods—he was right.
This machine was faster than any stallion I had ever ridden.
We sped down a wooded street, trees blurring past in a green haze.
Then, the landscape changed.
The trees thinned. More buildings appeared. More roads. More movement.
I gaped at everything, my head swiveling, my breath catching in my throat.
This place—this world—was nothing like the one I knew.
And yet…
It was Olivia’s world.
Soon, we were surrounded by vehicles zipping past us, weaving through invisible lanes with precision and speed.
This was like a chariot race—only without the horses.
I probably looked foolish, my mouth slightly agape as I took in the chaos of the streets. But how could I not? The sheer number of these metal contraptions moving in perfect harmony was bewildering.
Lee barely seemed to notice.
He pulled the Jeep up in front of a tall, sand-colored building, pressed the button on his strange device again, and the engine died with a shuddering groan.
“There, there,” he murmured, patting the steering wheel. Then, almost offhandedly, he added, “I should’ve mentioned—this SUV was Olivia’s.”
I whipped my head toward him. “She navigated it without supervision?”
Lee smirked. “Is that what women do in this century? Travel about on their own?”
“I’m sure Olivia had to travel alone in your century,” Lee said, clearly entertained by my shock.
“Not if I could help it,” I said, my chest puffing with pride. “It was my role to care for her.”
Lee’s gaze twinkled with amusement, but he nodded. “And I’m sure you did your best. But Olivia isn’t used to being cared for by a man.” He hesitated. “Well, let me rephrase—Olivia is an independent woman. She’s spent her life making her own decisions, handling things her way.”
I frowned, my mind returning to the countless arguments Olivia and I had over our roles and responsibilities.
“At times,” I admitted begrudgingly, “yes. We struggled.”
Lee swept his arm toward the world before us. “And that, my friend, is the 21st century.”
I exhaled.
This era was something else entirely.
“Come on,” Lee said. “Let’s head upstairs.”
I followed him into the building, my eyes scanning the unnaturally smooth floors, the bright lights, and the rows of numbered doors that all looked identical.
Then, Lee guided me into a small, enclosed room made entirely of metal.
The doors slid shut behind us with a soft hiss.
The space hummed.
I stiffened. “What is this?”
Lee smiled, pressing a button on the wall.
“It’s called an elevator,” he said.
The room lurched.
My stomach dropped.
And for the briefest moment, I swore—I had left the ground.
My fingers clasped the metal railing as the sensation of weightlessness pressed against my ribs.
The pace of everything in this era was so relentless and unnaturally fast that it made my head spin.
I longed for my past, where time moved at a comprehensible rhythm, where I understood my surroundings.
But more than anything—
I longed for Olivia.
Wherever she was.
The doors glided open, revealing a long hallway with identical doors and numbers.
I stepped out cautiously. “How is it that our surroundings have completely changed?”
“This is the fifth floor of the building,” Lee explained, stepping beside me. “The elevator replaces stairs, allowing people to travel between floors swiftly.”
I rubbed my temple. My head ached from the endless flood of new information.
We strode down the beige-carpeted corridor until we reached apartment 5-15—the place Olivia had once shared with Tristan.
Lee retrieved a key from his pocket and fit it into the lock.
At last—something familiar.
The click of the lock disengaging. The swing of the door opened.
He stepped inside first. I followed.
A musty scent greeted me the moment I entered, like a space left untouched for too long.
The apartment was small, especially compared to Jack’s house. Only a few simple furnishings remained—a couch, a couple of chairs, and a table with dust settled on its surface.
A low rumble vibrated through the walls.
I wandered to the window and peered outside.
A sea of vehicles surged along the paved streets below, their movements abrupt and unpredictable. Some stopped suddenly; others lurched forward.
Then, blaring noises cut through the air—loud, shrill sounds that grated against my ears.
I flinched. “What is that?”
Lee chuckled. “Those are horns.”
I shot him a look. “Horns?”
“Yeah. Cars, trucks, SUVs—they all have them.” He grinned. “It’s how you yell at the person before you without opening your mouth.”
I scowled. “I don’t like it.”
Lee laughed and patted my shoulder. “Neither did I, at first.”
I pivoted from the window, scanning the sparse room. “Where do we start? This place looks bare.”
“It is.” Lee exhaled. “Jack and I have searched everywhere.”
“Then why are we here?”
“Because I want fresh eyes on it.” He gestured for me to move freely. “Go through the closets, open drawers, check every corner. I’ll start in the kitchen.”
I nodded.
I would find it if Tristan had left anything behind—anything at all.
I moved down the short hallway, my senses on high alert.
Nothing in this place smelled remotely like Olivia—no lingering trace of her perfume, no comforting warmth of her presence.
Instead—mold.
The scent of abandonment.
I raced through the apartment, flinging open doors and yanking cupboards wide, desperate to uncover any sign of Tristan’s whereabouts.
Nothing.
My heart sank with every empty drawer, every barren shelf—until I reached the bedroom.
I threw open a drawer and—
My breath hitched.
An onslaught of delicate lace lingerie met my eyes.
Olivia’s.
A visceral ache swallowed me whole.
My fingers hovered over the soft fabric, a last, fragile remnant of her presence.
My beloved wife, lost to me across time.
I swallowed against the emotion sticking in my throat.
Then, something caught my eye.
A book—poking out from beneath the bed.
I crouched down, grabbed it, and turned it over in my hands.
Dirty Little Secrets.
My brow furrowed as I flipped it open—
And immediately regretted it.
My face heated as my gaze landed on images of naked couples entangled in a variety of imaginative positions.
Reverse Cowgirl.
Couch Grind.
G-Whiz.
My pulse spiked with agitation, embarrassment, and—God forbid—something else entirely.
I slammed the book shut and pitched it back under the bed as if it had personally offended me.
I had barely recovered my composure when I met Lee in the front room.
“My search yielded nothing,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.
Lee exhaled, hands on his hips. “Same here. No trace of Tristan. He took everything he could and vanished.”
I sighed, my shoulders slumping. “So, what now?”
Lee snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it. The last time I saw Olivia, she was at a festival in Fremont.”
A shadow crossed his face.
“She was worried,” he admitted. “And I… didn’t pay much attention. I was too caught up in my affairs.”
His gaze dropped to the floor.
“I wish I had given her my full attention. Maybe then, she wouldn’t be where she is now.”
A heavy pause.
“But then again…” He glanced at me with a small, knowing smile. “She might never have met you either.”
I wanted to know whether to thank him or curse time for its cruel designs.
Lee sighed, shaking off his thoughts. “Anyway—let’s head there. Let’s follow the trail.”
Without hesitation, we strode back to the Jeep and zipped onto the road again, racing toward the next clue.
We crossed a wide bridge, entering a small township that hummed with energy. The streets bustled with people dressed in strange, mismatched attire, cafés spilled onto sidewalks, and murals painted in wild colors stretched across brick walls.
Lee gestured around us. “This is Fremont. It’s a cute little hipster city.”
I frowned. “Hipster?”
Lee scratched his head. “Just a phrase. Kind of like fribble, popinjay, dandy… or fop.”
Recognition sparked. “Ah. Someone who fancies their appearance and puts on airs?”
“Sort of. Close enough.” Lee grinned. “You’re learning.”
I wasn’t sure why his compliment pleased me, but… it did.
Lee pulled the Jeep into a tight parking space and cut the engine. We stepped onto the sidewalk, and I immediately became overwhelmed by the cacophony of modern life.
Music poured from speakers mounted on buildings. People moved in and out of shops carrying steaming cups and plastic bags filled with items I couldn’t name.
As we strolled, I caught sight of a storefront that made me pause.
Large pictures hung in the window, depicting bodies covered in elaborate symbols.
A man had a dragon coiled down his arm.
A woman, nearly naked, had a snake winding up her thigh, across her hip, and slithering up her spine.
My face burned.