“Did we really need to take him, Kim?” The man’s voice was low, uncertain, as he followed the woman, Kim, into the kitchen. She cradled baby Alan against her chest, cooing as she moved, but the frown on the man’s face deepened with every step. 

Lena trailed behind them silently, her eyes scanning everything, committing every detail to memory.

“We wanted a baby, didn’t we, Oscar?” Kim replied, her tone sharp, dismissive. “And now we have one. So what’s the big deal? Isn’t that right, sweetie pie~?” she added, trying to nuzzle baby Alan affectionately.

Alan, however, was not in the mood. With a frustrated screech, he smacked his tiny palms against Kim’s face. Her smile faltered, thinning into a sigh. “Such a fussy boy…” she muttered as she settled him into a baby seat at the corner of the kitchen.

Kim moved quickly, setting up a bottle of milk while Oscar lingered beside the baby. His gaze was apologetic, almost pleading. Alan looked up at him, wide-eyed and silent… then he wailed.

Kim spun around with an exasperated groan, hands on her hips. “What’d you do to him, Oscar?!”

“Me?! I didn’t do anything! I was just looking at him!” he shot back defensively. “You’re the one always grabbing him and acting like this is normal!”

“Shh, shh… it’s okay, baby,” Kim soothed, picking Alan up and rocking him gently. She turned her gaze back to Oscar, her tone suddenly sharper. “What do you mean I’m the one who upsets him?”

Oscar’s fists clenched. “We never should’ve—”

The words died in his throat when Kim darted to the knife block and yanked out a long kitchen knife. She pointed it straight at him, eyes blazing.

“Never should’ve what? Take him?” Her voice was eerily calm now, teetering on the edge of fury. “Don’t tell me you’re regretting this. After everything that happened, you’re gonna back out now?”

Oscar’s hands shot up. “Kim, put the knife down. I’m just saying… this wasn’t how it was supposed to go.”

From the kitchen entryway, Lena watched the scene escalate, tension wrapping around her like a noose. She slipped away, heart hammering, and moved toward the front of the house.

‘I need to find something—anything—to identify them,’ she thought. ‘If Alan’s still with them in the present, this might be the only way to give his real family the answers they need.’

She eyed a wooden cabinet by the door. There were shoes beneath it and glass bowls for keys and mail on top. One bowl sat empty, but the keys had a tag—K.S.

‘Not much, but it's a start.’

Lena’s eyes flicked between the living room and the staircase. ‘The upstairs might have more. Maybe I should search the bedroom? The office?’

Then came more shouting.

“You wanna put him back and beg for forgiveness?!” Kim screamed. “You idiot! Even if we did that, we’d end up in prison!”

‘Not much time left at the rate they're going. She might actually kill him the longer this goes on.’

Lena darted up the stairs, the carpet muffling her frantic steps. There were six doors—three on each side. “Damn it, which one…” she muttered, eyes flitting wildly.

Then—she saw it.

A bright white light flickered from beneath the last door on the right.

“That’s suspicious… Definitely worth a shot,” she whispered and bolted to the door. As soon as she opened it, the light vanished.

She stepped into the master bedroom. Without hesitation, she threw open the nearest drawer of the nightstand. She instantly recoiled in horror.

“Ugh—seriously?”

It was a clutter of sex toys, some of which she couldn’t even identify. She reached in reluctantly, trying not to gag. Then—there it was. A magazine. She pulled it free, careful not to touch anything else.

A label on the cover caught her eye:
Kim Sullivan
11263 Magnolia Springs Ave

‘Gotcha.’

She allowed herself a breath of relief, but as she turned back toward the door, the knob began to twist as the yelling intensified.

‘Ugh, just go away, please!’

Before the door could open, the floor beneath Lena shimmered like water and collapsed into black.

She landed hard on her feet—but she now stood on the familiar soft carpet of her dorm room. The digital alarm clock in front of her blinked at 3:18 AM. Only an hour had passed.

Then—click. A lamp lit behind her. Lena turned, startled.

Sitting in bed with her legs crossed and an amused smile on her face was her roommate, Angelica.

Short black hair with a pink streak, deep brown eyes, and dimples that made her naturally captivating—even in pajamas.

“Well, well. Where’d you go, huh Lena?” she asked, smirking. “Sneaking off to see your secret boyfriend?”

Lena blinked. ‘She didn’t see the portal? Did it just…make it look like I came through the door for her?’

“You know I’m not dating anyone, Angie. I just… couldn’t sleep,” Lena mumbled, trying to sound casual. “Took a walk around campus to clear my head.”

Angelica chuckled and shut the lamp off. “If you say so. Good night, then.”

Lena sighed in relief. “Good night.”

The next morning, Lena sat in the campus library, her laptop glowing in front of her. She scrolled past police files and news articles, digging for anything tied to the name Alan Watson.

Her fingers trembled as she typed in:
1990s abduction, Magnolia Springs.

Just then, a familiar voice called across the table.

“Oh hey, Lena! Studying in the library again, huh?”

Angelica’s sudden cheer earned a wave of shushes from other students. She rolled her eyes and sat beside Lena, resting her head on her shoulder.

“Hmm?” she murmured. “You’re looking up an abduction case from the late 90s? What’s that about?”

Lena hesitated. “I… I heard about this old case. A baby named Alan. He was kidnapped out of his crib. The father was attacked and—”

Angelica suddenly went still. Her face paled as she sat up straight.

Lena paused. “Angie?”

Angelica scoffed, bitterly. “I thought you’d be different. I thought you wouldn’t bring up my past.”

Lena stared at her, confused. “Wait… what?”

Angelica stood abruptly, gathering her books. “It was a famous case around here. Don’t look at me like that.” And just like that, she walked off.

Lena’s eyes widened. Her heart raced as the clues clicked into place in her head.

Watson. Angelica’s last name was Watson.

‘The same name as the family banner in the photo I saw…’

Her voice cracked. “Angie—wait up!”

To be continued…