CHAPTER TWO

Scarlett’s POV

I struggled to open my eyes, groaning in pain as I tried to sit up. My body was sore all over, and I felt like I had been run over by a truck. As I looked around, I felt a wave of confusion wash over me. I was back in my room, surrounded by familiar things, but something was not quite right.

I blinked a few times, trying to clear my head. The old rugs on the floor were the same ones my mom had thrown away years ago, and the chair in the corner was one I had donated to Goodwill ages ago. I couldn't understand how they had ended up here.

My heart racing, I reached for my phone, hoping to find some answers. But when I looked at the screen, my confusion only deepened. The date on my phone was indicating that I was two years back in time. I stared at it, unable to comprehend what was happening. Had everything that had just happened with Ethan and his werewolf friends been a dream? Or had I somehow been transported to the past?

I stumbled out of bed, still feeling weak and unsteady. As I made my way downstairs, I was met by my parents, who were looking at me with concern. But they looked younger, as if they had aged backwards by a few years.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice trembling. "What happened?"

My parents exchanged a look, and then my dad spoke. "Scarlett, are you feeling alright? You've been acting strange all morning."

I shook my head, still unable to make sense of anything. "I don't know what's happening," I said. "Everything is just... different."

As I looked around the house, I realized that everything was indeed different. The furniture, the decorations, even the layout of the rooms. It was as if I had been transported to a parallel universe, one that was almost identical to the one I knew, but with some key differences.

I sat down at the kitchen table, feeling overwhelmed and confused. My parents tried to reassure me, but I could tell they were just as bewildered as I was. How could this be happening? How could I be back in my old room, two years in the past, surrounded by things that should not exist?

As I sat there, trying to make sense of it all, I couldn't help but think of Ethan and his werewolf friends. Had they had something to do with this? Had they somehow caused me to travel back in time? The thought was terrifying, but it was the only explanation that made sense to me.

*******

As I stepped out of the house, my eyes were greeted with a sight that left me utterly bewildered. The buildings that lined the streets were old-fashioned, with an archaic style of architecture that harkened back to a bygone era. I couldn't help but feel like I had stepped into a time machine and been transported to a different era.

The shops that lined the streets were similarly out of sync with the times. The signs above the shops were hand-painted and hung by rusty chains. The windows of the shops were dirty, and the products on display looked like they had been there for years. I had grown up in this town, but I had never seen it like this before. It was like a parallel universe where time had stood still.

As I walked further down the street, I noticed that the people around me were also dressed in clothing that looked old-fashioned. The women wore long skirts and petticoats, while the men wore suits with top hats. Some people even had handlebar mustaches and mutton chops. It was surreal, like I had been transported to a different era.

I walked on, still trying to make sense of what was happening. The more I looked around, the more I realized that everything was backdated. The cars parked along the curb were ancient, with wooden wheels and hand-cranked engines. The street lamps were gas-powered and flickered weakly, casting long shadows on the buildings.

As I walked, I couldn't help but feel like I was in a dream. The world around me was so different, so anachronistic. I had no idea how this could be happening, and I was starting to feel a growing sense of unease. I had never felt so out of place, so disconnected from the world around me.

And then, as I turned a corner, I saw him. Ethan. The last person I wanted to see right now

. As soon as Ethan saw me, his face lit up with surprise and joy. "Scarlett! What are you doing here?" he asked, pulling me into a warm embrace.

I hugged him back, feeling a mixture of emotions - confusion, anger, and sadness. This was the Ethan I knew before he had transformed into a werewolf and ruined my life. This was the Ethan I had loved and trusted with all my heart. But now, I couldn't help but feel a sense of bitterness towards him for what he had done to me.

"What's going on, Scarlett?" Ethan asked, sensing my hesitation.

"I don't know," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "Everything is so different. The buildings, the people...it's like I've been transported to a different time."

Ethan's expression turned serious as he took my hand. "Whats the problem Scarlett, you looked stressed.Whatever it is, we can handle it."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in his words, but at the same time, I knew that I couldn't trust him completely. Not after what he had done to me in the future. But maybe, just maybe, I could use this chance to make him pay for what he had done.

As we walked through the unfamiliar streets, Ethan pointing out landmarks and places that we planned on going on our next date, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. This was the Ethan I had fallen in love with, the one who had always been there for me, even in the toughest of times.

But the anger inside me was still simmering, threatening to boil over at any moment. I wanted to hurt him, to make him pay for what he had done to me. And yet, a part of me couldn't bring myself to do it. Maybe it was the memories of the good times we had shared, or maybe it was something else entirely.

As we reached a quiet park, Ethan sat down on a bench, pulling me down beside him. "Scarlett, I don’t kniw exactly you are going through, but just know am always here for you," he said softly. "You don't have to go through this alone. I'm here for you, no matter what."

His words made me want to trust him again, to believe that everything would be okay. But the memories of the past were still fresh in my mind, and I knew that I couldn't let my guard down just yet.

"I appreciate that, Ethan," I said, my voice hoarse. "But there's something you need to know. Something that you did to me in the future."

Ethan's expression turned serious as he looked at me. "What did I do, Scarlett?"

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was about to come. "You and your pack of werewolves attacked me. You almost killed me."

Ethan's eyes widened in shock, “Me? I am nit even a werewolf, How can I hurt you? You know what, let me work you home, You look really stressed.

I stared at Ethan with a mix of anger and disbelief. Could I really trust him again after what he had done to me in the past? His eyes pleaded with me, as if he was genuinely sorry for everything. I tried to keep my emotions in check, but the memories of the past flooded back, and I couldn't help but feel a rising fury inside me.

Despite his sincerity, I knew that I couldn't just forgive and forget. The hurt he had caused me was too great, and I couldn't let him off the hook that easily. No, he needed to pay for what he had done. He needed to know how much he had hurt me and what it had cost me.

As he spoke, I could feel the rage boiling inside me. I just wanted to lash out at him, to hurt him the way he had hurt me. But at the same time, there was a small part of me that wondered if maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for us to make things right.

I looked at him again, studying his expression. His eyes were filled with regret, and I could see the pain etched on his face. Could I really trust him again? Could I put my heart in his hands once more, knowing that he had crushed it before?

I knew the answer deep down. I couldn't just let him off the hook. He needed to feel the pain and hurt that he had caused me. But at the same time, there was a small part of me that still cared for him, that still hoped for a future where we could make things right.

I took a deep breath and looked away, trying to gather my thoughts. This was not the time to make any hasty decisions. There was too much at stake, and I needed to be careful. I needed to think this through, to weigh the options, and to decide what was best for me.

For now, all I could do was listen to Ethan's words and try to make sense of everything that was happening. But deep down, I knew that I couldn't let him off the hook that easily. He needed to pay for what he had done, no matter how much it hurt.