Leo blinked awake, his heart racing as he took in the unfamiliar surroundings. The ornate bedpost and the patterned wallpaper seemed to whisper of another era. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and realized he was clad in a nightshirt that didn’t belong to him. [@ch_1]Leo[/@ch_1_d]"Not again,"[/@ch_1_d] he murmured to himself, a mix of frustration and determination in his voice.
Leo descended the staircase cautiously, the wooden steps creaking under his weight. As he entered the room, he was startled to see Clara seated elegantly by the fireplace, a book resting on her lap. She looked up, her eyes meeting his with a knowing smile. "I was wondering when you'd show up," she said, her tone playful yet reassuring. "Clara! How is this possible?" he asked, relief washing over him.
Clara closed her book and stood up, brushing invisible dust from her skirt. "I don't know how I got here, but I’m glad I'm not alone in this," she admitted. Leo nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie with her. They had met in different times before, each encounter strengthening their bond. "We need to figure out why this keeps happening," he said, determination in his voice.
Leo traced a finger along the Thames, searching for something that might provide answers. Clara leaned over his shoulder, pointing to a spot marked with an X. "I found this in a book about time anomalies. It seems to suggest a convergence point here," she explained. "Then that’s where we need to go," he replied, a spark of hope igniting within him.
Leo and Clara navigated the labyrinthine streets, dodging hansom cabs and avoiding suspicious glances from passersby. Their destination was a small, unremarkable building on the edge of the city—a place rumored to hold secrets of time itself. "Stay close," Clara whispered, the excitement and tension palpable in her words.
Leo approached the book cautiously, his fingers tingling with anticipation. Clara joined him, her eyes wide with wonder. "This might be it," he breathed, reaching out to turn the pages. Together, they pored over the text, the words revealing the key to their journey—a way to navigate the currents of time and find their way home. "We can do this," Clara said, her voice filled with newfound resolve.
