It was in the evening that Elsie was served bread and pressed vine. The meal was simple, yet after days of hunger, it felt almost satisfying. Still, the ache of hunger hadn't left her completely. She sat in silence, her thoughts heavy, when the door creaked open.
A girl stepped in-young, lively, and full of wonder. A telescope hung from a rope across her shoulders, and she clutched a thick book. "Science is just fun!" she declared cheerfully.
Her mother, who had taken Elsie in, glanced at her with a soft smile. The girl's name was Skyler-a self-taught learner fascinated by time travel and cosmology. Z-12 had once been her tutor, but in his absence, she filled her days with imagination and discovery.
Skyler's eyes landed on Elsie. A new face. She set her things down and walked over, stretching out a hand. "Skyler," she said, then pointed at her mom. "That's my mother."
"Elsie," came the quiet reply. "I'm from Oxford."
Skyler tilted her head. "Never heard of that place. Sounds fancy." She grinned. "We're friends now, right?"
Elsie gave a small nod. "Yeah."
Skyler dashed into her room and returned moments later, making herself comfortable opposite Elsie. The two girls began to talk, laughter slowly breaking through Elsie's guarded demeanor. For the first time in days, she felt warmth-not from the food or bed, but from connection.
When bedtime came, Skyler led Elsie by the hand to her room. But there was only one bed. Without hesitation, Skyler offered to sleep on a pile of covered hay, insisting Elsie take the bed. It was a simple act of kindness that Elsie couldn't refuse.
Skyler was talkative-always spinning wild stories that made Elsie smile. All the while, Elsie wore a local dress Skyler had given her, something she kept carefully tucked away when not in use.
Back in the present world, Tony had nearly finished reading the Codex using the Prism of Life. He was close-closer than ever. But one question haunted him: would he truly be able to reach her timeline?
Elsie.
His mother, still desperate, had reported her daughter missing. The police had searched the city thoroughly, but there was no sign. Tony did everything he could to comfort her, whispering promises he wasn't sure he could keep.
"I'll bring her back. No matter what," he had said.
He spent his nights studying the traveler's time clock, wondering what each piece meant. So many questions flooded his mind. One evening, while researching theories on time, he discovered something: some timelines-once closed-might reopen briefly, and objects or people entering the stream could be drawn into the open one instead.
This revelation brought him hope. If Elsie's timeline had closed, maybe he could pull her into the present by traveling into it at the right moment. But there was risk. What if it didn't work?
He clutched the Codex, its pages filled with strange incantations and arcane diagrams. "All I need is the fabulous time clock and the prism," he murmured.
He began memorizing texts, chants, and symbols-anything that might aid him. For Tony, this wasn't just study anymore.
It was a mission. A new chapter.
And perhaps, a chance to reunite with the girl lost in time.