The Enforcers

Jaxon led Leah down narrow alleyways and into a dilapidated building that looked wildly out of place among the pristine skyscrapers. Inside, a group of people were hunched over various pieces of technology, their faces tense with concentration.

"Another one?" a woman with dark hair and a mechanical eye muttered as Jaxon pulled Leah into the room. "They're getting more reckless."

"She doesn't know," Jaxon said, pushing Leah toward the group. "She's fresh. Just made her first jump."

The woman studied Leah with a critical eye. "Rookie mistake. Didn't anyone warn you about the ripple effect?"

Leah swallowed hard. "Ripple effect?"

The woman sighed. "Every time you jump through time, you create ripples—changes to the timeline. Sometimes they're small, barely noticeable. Other times, they're catastrophic. The Enforcers are tasked with keeping those ripples in check. If you're not careful, they'll erase you before you do any real damage."

Leah's head spun. She hadn't even considered the possibility that her actions could have consequences beyond her own life.

"But why are you all here?" Leah asked, her voice shaking. "What are you doing?"

"We're fighting back," Jaxon said grimly. "Time travel is controlled by a few powerful organizations. They manipulate history for their own gain. We're trying to stop them—and stop the Enforcers from silencing anyone who gets in their way."

Leah's stomach churned. She had thought she was embarking on a scientific discovery, but now it seemed she had stumbled into a war.

Before she could ask more, a deafening crash shook the building. The ceiling cracked, and the walls trembled. Panic erupted among the group.

"They've found us!" Jaxon shouted. "We have to move!"

As the Enforcers closed in, Leah realized her journey had only just begun. This was no longer a simple experiment—it was a battle for the future itself.