Fawn's POV

Ow.

My eyes blinked open, and I squinted. The sun was bright, and I shielded myself from it. There was soft crunching beneath me, and I looked down.

My hands felt around, and I picked up a handful of what was crunching.

Leaves?

I looked around, finally registering my surroundings.

I'm outside?

In the woods...and...

I looked over

By a creek.

The sound of gently running water was soothing, and then a birdsong sounded from somewhere above me.

How did I get outside? Did I sleepwalk? I've never done that before, how far from home am I?

I stood up, my legs wobbling beneath me. My entire body felt like I'd just been hit by a bus.

A groan forced its way through my lips as my body protested against having to stand. With a long stretch, my bones cracked and popped, leaving me to sigh in satisfaction as I relaxed once more.

I looked down at my outfit, seeing it was the same but had small scorch marks on it.

What the fuck?

What happened?

All I remember is that tape...and then a feeling like I was on fire before I woke up here.

I shook my head, and closed my eyes, counting to five.

When my eyes opened and my surroundings were still the exact same, I determined this is real. I thought perhaps I'd hit my head a little too hard on that fall over the coffee table.

However, determining that this is real doesn't help with the fact that I don't really know exactly...where I am.

I guess I just need to...find my way home?

I began walking, and the woods were actually beautiful. They looked familiar, but I couldn't give it that much thought before I heard the sounds of the city.

A smile bloomed across my face as relief flooded my system. I pushed my way out of the thicket, stumbling out into the open.

Then I froze.

My smile slowly faded, being replaced with a confused frown as I furrowed my brows and scanned the area.

Any person I saw was wearing dated clothing, just chatting casually with whoever they had accompanying them.

Horse drawn carriages rolled around leisurely, and the bustle of the city created a low hum and was the only noise I could seem to focus on.

Occasionally a car would pass, but they were extremely old.

I blinked and rubbed my eyes, then blinked again.

What the fuck.

I recognized where I was. That's not the issue. This is definitely New Orleans, but...why is everything so old? Or...new, I guess?

I took a few steps out, and looked around. Some people noticed me, seeming just as intrigued and confused about me as I was about them.

None of them spoke to me, they actually turned their noses up. This annoyed me, every single person I approached seemed almost either disgusted or scared of me.

This has to be some sort of...convention. Yea, it's just some convention I didn't know was going on, and...and I'm just not dressed properly for it, is all.

As I bargained with myself, I began to walk. Everything was so...new looking. All the buildings had shiny new signs, and seemed as if they had only opened a short time ago. Before, everything looked run down...not in a bad way, but nothing looked brand new like how everything looks right now.

It was all so bizarre. How did they pull this off?

My eyes lit up when I saw a very familiar building.

The library!

My steps quickened, and I dodged people to get to it. Hopefully everything will make sense when I-

I shoved the doors open and completely froze.

No. No. There is no way.

Inside was an office, and to the right was a door that said "studio". It looked exactly how it did in the......

The tape...

I stared blankly at everything around me. It was empty, and I noticed a clock sitting at what looked to be a front desk. I quickly walked over to it, and it read 7:32 pm.

That is almost the exact time I was shocked by that cassette. There is literally no possible way that that's true...unless...

Unless...

No. That is impossible. I refuse to believe...I refuse to believe what every single sign is pointing to.

My breaths quickened and I glanced around at everything. Sitting on one of the desks was a rotary phone. There was also a clock hanging on the wall that seemed to be a mini grandfather clock, and the small pendulum swing swayed
back and forth at a lazy pace.

This is impossible. This is not happening this isn't happening, how did this happen?!

Just then I heard footsteps followed by whistling. I panicked and looked around, frantically looking for a place to hide.

I can't let anyone see me! If this really is the past, I probably look like a damn lunatic!

My brain couldn't come up with a solution fast enough, and my entire body went tense at the sound of a door opening behind me.

The whistling ceased.

I heard the sound of keys being set aside, and then a soft hum.

"Do you need help?"

No.

That voice.

My hands began to shake, and I slowly turned around.

Standing there-in full color this time-was Alastor. The fucking radio host from nineteen twenty five.

My eyes rounded, and I could only imagine I looked like an owl. Pure, cold terror set into my bones. He noticed my expression and cocked his head.

Oh my god this cannot be real. There's no way this is real.

Any second now I'll wake up from this wacky dream, and I'll be back in my warm apartment surrounded by old newspapers.

Any second now.

There was a thick silence between us as I just stared at him, horrified.

"Are you alri-"

His voice set off a fuse inside me and I snapped.

Screaming, I scrambled to put some distance between him and I. His eyes widened and he glanced to the side before quickly looking around.

Probably looking for whatever was making me scream, not knowing it was him.

I pointed at him, "Y-you! You! N-no you...you're not...oh my god..." I was hyperventilating. I couldn't breathe.

How did this happen, how did this happen?!

He blinked and shook his head, "have you gone mad, woman?" He asked me, and I shook my head.

"No! You! You were just on a little tape, in my apartment! Then it exploded and now I'm-!" I shoved my fist into my mouth, "I'm in 1925...Oh my god..." I squeaked.

I raked my fingers through my hair and he took a step towards me. At that, I panicked and grabbed the clock that was on the desk next to me and stepped away from him, holding it out as a weapon.

"D-don't come near me!" I stuttered, "I-I don't even know if you're real or not, I-"

"Whoah there, hey..." he said calmly, holding his hand out. He gave me that charming smile as he bent forward slightly, "no need to abuse Father Time, my dear," he said with a little chuckle, "why not put that clock down, and tell me what has you so out of sorts?"

My lip was quivering just barely as I breathed heavily and observed his body language.

He seems friendly enough...

Slowly, my shaking arms lowered, but I kept the clock in my hands just in case.

"That's a good girl...now, what is it that has you so upset, darling?" He said, tilting his head slightly.

Quickly I thought over my words. The truth will surely land me in some sort of asylum, but...I don't know what else to say! I can't lie to him, what would my lie even be?

"I-" I stammered, my eyes flicking across his features. His relaxed smile quirked up slightly and he cocked an eyebrow at me.

Looking away, I bit my lip nervously, letting my arms relax at my sides.

"You wouldn't believe me even if I told you..." I mumbled, and he just stared at me a moment longer.

Standing back to his full height...which is very tall, he's got to be at least 6'3-6'5...he tapped his chin and hummed.

Suddenly he snapped his fingers, his smile widening before he pointed at me.

"I have the grandest idea, cher, why not come to my place...we'll get you cleaned up, and then you and I will have a little sit down so you can collect your thoughts, how's about it?"

Using my palm, I wiped the buildup of tears from my eyes and took a deep breath.

He waited patiently for my answer, and I looked to him skeptically.

"You promise you won't laugh...? Or call the cops?" I said warily, and he once again quirked a brow at that, but chuckled and shrugged.

"I can only promise you I'll listen, chérie, what comes after depends on whatever it is you have to share," he said, and I sighed.

I guess that's fair.

"Fine..." I mumbled, and his smile-which I've noticed he hasn't let relax once-perked up.

"Splendid!" He chirped, and suddenly my arm was looped with his. He disarmed me of my protective clock in less than a second, dragging me towards the door as he began to ramble.

My brows creased and I did my best to adjust to his touchiness.

The thoughts in my head were running marathons, and the only thing that was clear as a bell to me was the fact that I'm somehow back in time.

And I have no fucking clue what I'm going to do.