Chapter 2: A Decade Ago

The world reassembled around Aria in a dizzying rush of colors and sounds. Her feet hit solid ground, and she staggered, clutching her head as the pull of the timestream faded. The smell of rain and pavement filled her nostrils, and the hum of distant traffic buzzed in her ears. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, and when they did, her heart nearly stopped.

She had arrived—April 7, 2225, exactly ten years ago. The street was familiar: a long row of neon-lit storefronts and holo-advertisements projected into the night air. Rain fell in light sheets, turning the sidewalks slick and reflective. She was here, in the past. She'd done it.

Aria took a moment to steady herself, glancing down at her own reflection in a puddle at her feet. Her appearance remained unchanged—a sign that the Chronocore's jump had worked. She crouched, studying the image staring back at her.

Her face was a study in contrasts—delicate features set against the intensity in her eyes. Her sharp, green eyes were a striking contrast to her warm, olive-toned skin. A cascade of raven-black hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, currently damp from the rain. She had tied a few strands back into a small braid, a habit she'd developed during her late nights in the lab. It was practical, but it also carried a small charm—a keepsake clip that once belonged to Mara.

Her clothes, though practical for a scientist working underground, also hinted at the futuristic world she came from: a fitted black jacket with faint glowing circuitry patterns sewn into the fabric—a personalized touch she'd made to her gear. The jacket was both lightweight and reinforced, protecting against various environmental hazards. Beneath it, she wore a plain gray tank top, its fabric capable of regulating body temperature. Her pants were slim-cut, flexible, and designed for movement, paired with low, combat-style boots that allowed her to run if needed. Strapped to her wrist was a multi-functional watch-like device—the ChronoLink—that displayed data feeds, tracked her vitals, and served as an interface with the Chronocore.

The combination of her determined expression and her utilitarian attire spoke volumes—Aria was a woman ready for anything, even if she had to face the past alone.

Taking a deep breath, she scanned her surroundings, watching as people moved through the rain under glowing umbrellas. This was the exact location where Mara had vanished. Her heart pounded, and she looked around for any sign of her sister. She knew she was close—if the anomaly she detected was accurate, it would happen within the next few minutes.

Then she saw them.

At the end of the street, two figures stood beneath the awning of an old bookstore, their backs turned to her. Even from a distance, Aria recognized her sister's frame. Mara, dressed in a long coat and laughing as she leaned closer to a younger version of Aria, her ten-years-younger self. The sight sent a pang through her chest. She wanted to run up, to call out, but she knew she had to stay hidden. One wrong move could change everything—or worse, the timeline could reject her presence altogether.

Aria stepped into the shadows, crouching behind a parked delivery drone as she watched them. The rain intensified, blurring her vision, but she focused on her sister's smile. It was the same smile she'd held onto for a decade, the memory that had driven her to build the Chronocore. But as she observed, something felt off. She wasn't alone in watching.

Her eyes flicked across the street, narrowing as she caught movement. A figure, tall and cloaked in the shadows, was standing just a few meters away, partially hidden behind a storefront display. He watched the same scene she did, but his attention wasn't on Mara; it was on her younger self.

Aria's breath caught in her throat. The figure's posture, the way he shifted his weight—it was familiar. She squinted through the rain, trying to make out his face. And then, as if sensing her gaze, he turned.

Her heart skipped a beat. The man's face was sharp, with dark eyes and an expression of grim determination. She didn't know him—at least, she didn't think she did—but something about him tugged at her memory. His eyes locked onto hers, and she felt a jolt of recognition, though she couldn't place where she'd seen him before.

Her mind spun. Who was he, and why was he watching her sister and younger self? She felt a sudden urge to confront him, to demand answers, but the risks were too great. If she made a scene now, she might alter the past beyond repair. She needed to wait, to figure out his intentions first.

Aria pressed herself tighter against the wall, her hand instinctively moving to the ChronoLink on her wrist. The screen flickered to life, displaying time readings and a small blinking dot—her tracker. The dot was pulsing, a signal confirming the anomaly's presence. But now, her thoughts were split. She had come here to save Mara, but this mysterious man's presence complicated everything.

She watched as he moved closer to her sister and younger self, his expression guarded, as if waiting for something. Her instincts screamed danger, and she braced herself. Her fingers hovered over the ChronoLink's interface, ready to trigger an emergency jump if things went wrong.

Just as she prepared to move, the lights from the store flickered, casting strange shadows across the street. Her sister looked up, her face momentarily illuminated, and Aria felt a pang of longing. It was as if Mara sensed the shift too, her laughter fading, replaced by a look of confusion.

The air suddenly grew cold, and the monitors on Aria's ChronoLink began to glitch. Static filled the display, and she cursed under her breath, trying to stabilize the readings. The anomaly—it was happening now.

She glanced back at the man in the shadows. He had stopped, his gaze fixed on something behind her younger self. Aria's heart raced. If he was here for the anomaly, then he knew more than he let on. She had to act—she couldn't just stand by.

But before she could move, a bright flash of light split the air, and the anomaly erupted. Aria's eyes widened as the world seemed to ripple around her, the figures of her sister and younger self blurred by a wave of energy.

"No!" she shouted, reaching out instinctively. But it was too late.

The past dissolved around her, pulling her into the void.