(Sorry if it's not up to your usual standards! I was kinda anxious about this one.)

Peggy, Eliza, and I stepped out of the house below the slowly darkening sky. When I looked back, I was once again impressed by its size; smoke roiled out of the chimney in front of the moon, making lights and shadows ripple across its front.

It looked almost intimidating.

Angelica said she would catch up with us in a little while, since she had to write a letter to someone. This only made me more nervous—she was the one that looked like someone I could confide in easily.

"What should I say?"

"We should weigh the possibilities first. Jefferson might forgive you, as I assume you will speak to him in a civil and ladylike manner." Eliza's tone was very stern, almost as if she was scolding me.

"On the other hand, Jefferson might not accept your apology because he... doesn't appreciate your views on women." Peggy said, her eyes flashing.

"The more likely possibility," I muttered. "How am I supposed to apologize, though?"

"Just approach him and say sorry."

"But—but, he's Thomas Jefferson! I can't just walk up to him and say sorry..."

"Now, we know he's very rich and holds over one hundred slaves, but he is still a person you can apologize to like normal, Katherine." Eliza looked at me sideways.

But he isn't just some guy in a street. He's your freaking President!

"Well, where do we find him?" I asked as we shared polite smiles with a man Hamilton said was named Aaron Burr.

"He must be here in the city; he enjoys walking here at night, doesn't he, Eliza?" Peggy glanced up at her sister.

"Yes, he apparently does. To him, it is the time where Alexander doesn't argue with him. I trust Mr. Jefferson finds a moment of peace at nighttime."

I noticed how Eliza's voice suddenly had gone into a whisper when she said Alexander. "Do you like him?" I asked, smiling at her.

"Why, yes, of course! He's a brilliant man."

"Yes... But do you have an infatuation towards him? As in, do you fancy him?" Peggy asked. Eliza turned red.

"Well—"

"Peggy, Lizzy, Katherine!" Angelica had reached us.

We turned around, and Eliza, grateful for the interruption, said, "Angie! What kept you?"

"Aaron Burr!"

"Ooh, now that's something!" Peggy exclaimed.

"It isn't like that!" Angelica protested as she fell into step with us. She looked a little flustered; I didn't know her too well, so I assumed her conversation with Burr led to a rather interesting turn of events.

"If you must know, he tried to charm me."

At this, Peggy erupted into a fit of giggles. Eliza wore a suggestive grin. "Go on!"

"Well... I also said to him... that he disgusts me," Angelica finished.

We all stopped laughing abruptly. Peggy stared at her older sister. "Oh, my."

She shrugged. "Really nothing to worry about."

We heard voices up ahead. "Is it Jefferson?" I asked nervously.

Peggy craned her neck to see beyond the trees. "I suppose so. There is another voice in the area as well—"

"Now, Katherine!" Eliza exclaimed. She had seen me bury my fingers in my hair and groan. "Listen, you have to do this, and you must do it confidently. We trust in you to do this well."

She's right... I can do this.

I squared my shoulders and walked on calmly.

"That's the spirit." Peggy nodded.

At last, we approached Jefferson and the other man. He was shorter, and I could almost feel the wave of fever wash over me when I stood across from him.

"Hello, Mr. Jefferson," I said, a little too quickly.

"Evening, Mr. Madison." Angelica curtsied. He gave a weak, but warm smile in return.

"Good evening, ladies." Jefferson was grinning, a little hungrily, as if he wanted to take a bite out of one of us.

I shook off the thought. "Jefferson? Can I have a word? Alone?"

"Sure." We walked away into a nearby alleyway.

"About earlier... I apologize for acting that way towards you. I hope you're not... not angry?" I shrunk away a little, fearing his response.

Jefferson raised an eyebrow. "The only thing keeping me from handing you over to the guards was Hamilton pulling you away."

A feeling of absolute dread settled in my stomach. "Sir—I got out of control. I didn't mean it, really."

"I understand that. But you should be more careful around others who don't express your views in your manner."

"I'm aware—" I stopped myself. "I'm sorry, Mr. Jefferson."

"It's quite alright. Make sure you don't do it again...?"

"Katherine."

"Katherine. There're good people out there, and bad people. Try to look for the good ones. If you don't spot 'em, lay low. You can act confident somewhere else."

There was a long silence. I fiddled with my watch. I could barely see Jefferson's face, let alone something on my wrist, but I assumed it was around 9 o'clock in the evening.

"May I ask, Katherine..." Jefferson began, and I started. "What did you mean when you said that you knew how... how I died?" Jefferson plucked at the ruffles on his sleeve.

I froze. "I-I..."

"How do I die?"

The book... it had said he died of unknown causes.

"I can't say, sir." I wanted to rush out of the alley, go back to Schuyler Mansion. I wanted the sun to rise.

"Why not?"

"How would you live with that information?"

Another silence, louder than the one before.

"Once again, sir, I apologize. Good night." I attempted a curtsy and walked out of the alleyway, taking a shaky breath.

"How did it go?" Peggy asked as we walked quickly back to the mansion.

"It could've gone better, in all honesty."

"Did he not accept the apology?"

"He said it was alright, but warned me not to do it again."

"Will you tell Alexander in the morning?"

"I will if I see him, Angelica."

We walked inside Schuyler Mansion, bid Mr. Schuyler good night, and went into our rooms to undress and retire for the night.

When I walked into the guest room, I looked over at my backpack, which was laid out neatly at the nearby desk. I made a beeline for it and grabbed my phone out of the pocket, pushing the ON button.

Dead.

I stared at my watch in dismay. The second hand was frozen, and the time showed 6:32.

I had been here for 2 and a half hours and already something had gone very wrong.

Scowling, I pulled out my copy of Crime and Punishment, burying myself in it.

A little while later, there was a knock on the door. I jumped and dropped my book. "I'm not ready!" I yelped, scrambling to snatch up a nightgown and undoing my corset. A wave of laughter erupted from the other side.

After a solid twenty minutes undressing, I climbed into bed, staring at the dark red ceiling.

In spite of what happened today, I smiled. My eyes slowly closed shut, and I felt more peaceful than I had ever been back home.

HOME! My eyes snapped open. How were my friends doing? Did time even run the same way there as it did here? I bet they were worried sick about me!

How do I get out of here?

I shifted in the bed and slowly, slowly, fell into an uneasy sleep.