Page 6 of Reversal of Fate

“Very well then. Two things, before we get started. The watch has a limited capacity. Once you’re in the past, there’s only enough power left to come home. So don’t be tempted to initiate a second time jump farther back into the past to make up for any mistakes you may have made in trying to convince your target to come with you. If you do that, you’ll be stuck in the past for good. Understood?”

“Yes, and the second thing?”

“The time jump home will automatically be initiated at 2 a.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025 unless you initiate the jump earlier. This is a failsafe in case you get incapacitated. Make sure your target is wearing her silver watch by then and is with you, or she will be left behind.”

“Understood. Let’s do it.”

“Oh, I almost forgot. You will arrive at the same location as this building, since you’re not moving in space, just in time. In 2025, this is a cemetery in Westwood, close to UCLA. Your iPhone will help you find your way. Switch it on once you arrive. It will automatically connect to the free Wi-Fi service in Los Angeles.”

Carter nodded. “I’m ready.”

“Please set your watch to March 25 at 9 p.m.”

Carter tapped a number of times to get the watch to show the correct time and date. “Done.”

“When you’re ready, press the two buttons on each side of the clock face simultaneously. It will initiate the time jump. Good luck!”

Carter nodded, then reached out his hand to shake the doctor’s once more. “I’ll see you again soon.”

Moments later, Carter touched his watch and felt for the buttons on each side of the watch face. His hands were suddenly clammy, and his index finger slipped. He looked up and noticed the doctor watching him. Not wanting to look inept, Carter cast him a confident look, then pressed the buttons without looking.

Suddenly, everything around him seemed to dissolve into pixels. His body remained still, yet the world around him swirled and turned so fast that the different colors blended and became the sum of all colors. A whiteness spread around him, before the light dimmed, and the pixels assembled again and formed a new world around him.

He saw gravestones all around him, and white crosses, and knew he’d arrived.

He pumped his fist. “I did it.”

Following Dr. Hong’s orders, Carter took out his cell phone and switched it on. It took only seconds for it to connect to the publicly available Wi-Fi. But before he could go to the map application to find his way, the home screen showed him the date: Thursday, September 25, 2025.

Shock coursed through him. “Fuck!”

He’d arrived less than a week before his scheduled return to 2085. Something had seriously gone wrong. He was so screwed!