“Dammit, Dylan.” I want to stomp my feet and rip my hair out. This is getting so frustrating. Then a thought dawns on me. 1993. If it’s August 1993— “Dylan, what’s your last name?” I ask, trying to hide the quiver in my voice.
“Hart, why?”
I step back, away from him, body going into full-blown panic right now.
Suddenly, everything around me goes black as I fall to the ground with a thud.
Chapter Fourteen
Iblink a few times, opening and closing my eyes as they adjust to the light and my surroundings. I’m on the ground, but Dylan is holding my head in his lap as he strokes my hair gently. Around me, I hear muffled voices, concern and worry in their tones, but Dylan’s strong, deep voice cuts through.
“Don’t worry. I’ve got her.” I make a small noise, and those green eyes shoot down to me, his mouth parted slightly. I take a breath and try to offer a glimpse of a smile. “Luce, are you okay?” He keeps stroking my hair and holding my gaze as he waits for me to answer him.
“I-I am.” I swallow. “Sorry about that.” None of this makes sense. How could his name be Dylan Hart? This all feels like some fucked-up joke. “I’d like to get up now, please.” I can’t handle being here anymore; all these people around me and the worry in Dylan’s eyes are almost too much.
“Okay, but slowly.” I sit up, and he stands first, offering me his hand as he pulls me to my feet. Hands hold on to my waist while he makes sure I’m steady. “You good?”
“Mhm,” I reply as I turn around and start to walk back to the lighthouse. My legs speed up, taking me as fast as they can, out of the main street and away from all the houses, back down the path we came until I’m breaking out into a full sprint. “This is nuts. I am nuts. I’m dreaming. Or I hit my head and am actually in the hospital right now, not suddenly back in time in 1993 with a lighthouse keeper who is about to die.” I’m rambling to myself as I run; anyone watching me would think I’ve completely lost it. Hell,Ithink I’ve completely lost it.
Dylan’s long legs help him catch up to me much faster than I anticipated, though he knows enough right now not to say anything, just to let me continue with my panic attack.
When we get back to the red-and-white striped lighthouse—the lighthouse that looks almost brand new now, with its fresh, bright paint anduncrackedwindows—I go toward the back door we came out of. I open it up and walk inside; everything looks the same as when we left it. Dylan follows me in and closes the door behind him, that damn newspaper still rolled up under his arm.
“Are you okay?” He must be so thrown off right now by how I’m acting. I still don’t get howheisn’t freaking out either.
“How are you not freaking out right now?” I decide to ask, turning to face him with my hands on my hips.
“I mean, you’re freaking me out a bit,” he replies honestly. “But I think one of us needs to be calm right now while you sort this out.”
“You’re talking to me like I’m the crazy one!” I’m full-on yelling now, which isn’t helping my case, but I don’t care. “When I woke up this morning, it was 2025, and now I am somehow in a town that thinks it’s 1993. Are you in a cultor something?” I wave my hands in the air dramatically. “Let’s stay in the good old years of 1993!”
Dylan stands and listens patiently, waiting for me to finally stop and take a breath. His hand comes down gently on my arm. “I don’t think you’re crazy,” he starts. “But the year is 1993, Lucy. I don’t know how else to prove it to you.”
That’s it. I’ve had enough. I move away from him, his hand on me falling, and walk over to the entry room to leave through the red door I always come in from. “This is ridiculous. I’m going.”
I leave him and head into the room, speed walking to the red door, opening it and slamming it behind me. I’m now standing outside the lighthouse. I look around me. The sun has hidden behind a cloud, and it’s back to the overcast day that I remember. I look down the gravel path, and there’s my car. Right where I left it a few hours ago.
A smalldingcatches my attention, and I pull my phone out of my purse. It’s on, battery fully charged, and I can see a text from Priya that just came in.
“What the fuck is happening?”
I look back at the door, its faded red paint staring back at me. I reach my hand out to open it and go back inside, but I’m too worked up right now. Too confused. Why is my car here now? Why is my phone suddenly working? What is going on?
I walk down the gravel path to my car, unlock it, and get into the driver’s seat. Instead of heading back in the direction of Pleasant Cove, I drive somewhere else. A place where I’m hoping I can find some answers to all these questions I have.
I punch Killick Bay into my GPS and drive.
Chapter Fifteen
Ipark on the main street in Killick Bay and look around. The town is right on the water and has the stereotypical East Coast colourful shiplap buildings that I’ve come to love. It’s cute. Similar to Pleasant Cove, but definitely smaller. And fishier. There are people set up outside their shops, selling all different kinds of fish, clams, and oysters that were caught this morning, based on the signs they’re displaying. I don’t really know where I’m going, but I get out and walk around, trying to find anything that might stand out to me.
I spot the general store Dylan and I went into not long ago, noticing it looks different with fresh paint and newer windows.What the fuck?I walk inside and pick up a local newspaper.
August 23, 2025
Okay, this is getting really freaky.
I turn around to leave and am stopped by an older woman in her seventies. There’s something familiar about her face, but I can’t quite pinpoint it. I go to sneak past her, and she stops me, a wild twinkle in her faded blue eyes. Herhair is long and wavy, and she’s wearing wire-rim glasses, circular frames that magnify her eyes and make them almost appear bug-like. She holds out her tie-dyed cane and stops me.
