Chapter 2
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
The face on the newspaper closely resembled a younger Robert Downey Jr. but differed in aspects she couldn't quite name. She threw the useless newspaper into the trash bin and continued walking. It was a weird advertisement for the original Iron Man movie, or maybe a fan-made newspaper, some people were weird like that. Grumpily walking forwards she dismissed the papers from her mind that tricked her into thinking she might have travelled back in time. She needed a place to sleep, or at least spend the night without catching a cold. It was late spring so it could still get rather cold at night. Emilia suddenly felt grateful that she was still wearing her grey sweatpants and warm black hoodie she wore in her dorm room. Sadly she was only wearing some slippers and socks on her feet, not a shoe. But beggars can't be choosers as they say. She quickly examined her pockets for anything useful she might have on her. She had neither her smartphone nor her wallet on her. Those were left back on her dorm table. She found about 90 euros, a pair of earphones and a hand sanitiser. Not very useful overall. Probably enough money to squat in a 24/7 fast food restaurant for the night and not get booted by security, if she is indeed in the USA she heard that many homeless people use those as a place to sleep in the worse parts of towns. Briefly glancing at the scenery again she decided that this was indeed one such part of whichever town this was. Reaching an intersection she glanced both ways and quickly noticed a neon sign reading 'Mama Jackie's' on one of the side roads. It seemed to still be both a cheap restaurant and open so she made her way over to it. The door was open so she pushed it open with a chime from the entry bells above the door. "A moment and I'll be there" bellowed a matronly voice from the back, Emilia stood awkwardly in the empty restaurant while deciding that the woman sounded like she had a New York accent, just great, how the hell will she get a plane ticket over the Atlantic from 90 euros. In a few minutes, an elderly woman emerged from a back room, looks fitting her authoritative matronly voice. Before she could say anything Emilia nervously her whether she could pay with euros, luckily the slightly bewildered woman said yes but warned her that the rates would be bad. "Uhm, so could I get something cheap for a late dinner?" she asked, relieved. "Sure I will reheat some of the leftover food I prepared for today's dinner if that's alright with you, anything else?" asked back the woman, with a bit of cheer. Seeming happy that she doesn't have to throw away the leftover food. "Ahh. Well this will sound like a stupid question but where are we now? " asked the now even more nervous Emilia as she could feel the perplexity radiating off of the older woman. *How does someone not know where they are?* "Sure, honey this is downtown New York. " the sounds and thoughts reached Emilia nearly at the same time, followed by a wave of concern from the woman. Emilia awkwardly thanked the woman before she went to reheat her food. She suddenly felt grateful that she attended a university that held international courses in English. While her English had a German accent mixed a bit with her original Slavic accent it was understandable, as the previous conversation has proven. The woman acting as both chef and waiter returned quickly, barely taking a few minutes. She placed the plate in front of the young girl, along with a glass of water. "Do you mind if I turn up the evening news on the TV while you eat?" asked the woman while leaving, motioning with her head towards the old TV placed on a table in one corner of the room. "Sure, I don't mind," replied the girl, secretly elated. The news would provide her with useful information, unlike that useless newspaper. Meanwhile, she also paid attention to any of the distinct emotions she felt. After the ones she experienced while ordering the food and shortly after the emotions became kind of muted, like the woman wasn't feeling them as strongly or distinctly. An aura of concern and confusion still surrounded the matron but was reduced. Emilia also noted that she was sure that these weren't her own emotions. Why that was she didn't know. She also noticed she could feel the aura of the woman even when she was in the other room. Maybe she was going insane, having hallucinations, hearing voices and feeling sudden influxes of emotions. But all of it was too accurate, the woman's mannerisms and tone also always mirrored the emotions she radiated. *That pain either broke something in my head or turned me into a telepath* She thought. Allowing a brief smirk to appear on her otherwise apathetic face. "...It has been nearly six decades now, since the day the man known as Captain America sacrificed his life by driving the Nazi intercontinental bomber into the cold Arctic sea. Saving our city which has been the first target of the plane from its premature end. It is with great pleasure that I unveil this new statue honouring his heroic memory...." Emilia's attention shifted from her bland dinner to the television, where a man was cutting the red cord before a statue. Before she had time to consider it more the woman spoke up from behind the counter, "Ah, you know honey, my mother used to tell me tales about her time as a dancer on the Captain's shows, I think she had a crush on him before meeting my father," said the woman conversationally, interrupting the train of thought of the now utterly stumped Emilia. She tried to focus on what feelings the woman gave off, but she only sensed nostalgia and a bit of loneliness, no indication that she was messing with her. "What was he like?" asked back Emilia, without putting much thought into it. Her mind still trying to work out what was happening. Why was there that weird newspaper? Is this news about Captain America? The matron's story? What the hell was going on? Instead of the usual frustration that reared its ugly head every time Emilia failed to understand something she only felt confusion and puzzlement. The woman spoke up again, answering the girl, "She told me he was a kind and somewhat shy gentleman, who often seemed troubled by not being allowed to fight in the war. Sadly she couldn't stay in touch with him after he eventually did join the fighting." While absently continuing to eat Emilia's gaze eventually found a date and time counter on the banner below the newsreader. Much to her horror, it read the same as the one in the newspaper. March the 27th 2007.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
The face on the newspaper closely resembled a younger Robert Downey Jr. but differed in aspects she couldn't quite name. She threw the useless newspaper into the trash bin and continued walking. It was a weird advertisement for the original Iron Man movie, or maybe a fan-made newspaper, some people were weird like that. Grumpily walking forwards she dismissed the papers from her mind that tricked her into thinking she might have travelled back in time. She needed a place to sleep, or at least spend the night without catching a cold. It was late spring so it could still get rather cold at night. Emilia suddenly felt grateful that she was still wearing her grey sweatpants and warm black hoodie she wore in her dorm room. Sadly she was only wearing some slippers and socks on her feet, not a shoe. But beggars can't be choosers as they say. She quickly examined her pockets for anything useful she might have on her. She had neither her smartphone nor her wallet on her. Those were left back on her dorm table. She found about 90 euros, a pair of earphones and a hand sanitiser. Not very useful overall. Probably enough money to squat in a 24/7 fast food restaurant for the night and not get booted by security, if she is indeed in the USA she heard that many homeless people use those as a place to sleep in the worse parts of towns. Briefly glancing at the scenery again she decided that this was indeed one such part of whichever town this was. Reaching an intersection she glanced both ways and quickly noticed a neon sign reading 'Mama Jackie's' on one of the side roads. It seemed to still be both a cheap restaurant and open so she made her way over to it. The door was open so she pushed it open with a chime from the entry bells above the door. "A moment and I'll be there" bellowed a matronly voice from the back, Emilia stood awkwardly in the empty restaurant while deciding that the woman sounded like she had a New York accent, just great, how the hell will she get a plane ticket over the Atlantic from 90 euros. In a few minutes, an elderly woman emerged from a back room, looks fitting her authoritative matronly voice. Before she could say anything Emilia nervously her whether she could pay with euros, luckily the slightly bewildered woman said yes but warned her that the rates would be bad. "Uhm, so could I get something cheap for a late dinner?" she asked, relieved. "Sure I will reheat some of the leftover food I prepared for today's dinner if that's alright with you, anything else?" asked back the woman, with a bit of cheer. Seeming happy that she doesn't have to throw away the leftover food. "Ahh. Well this will sound like a stupid question but where are we now? " asked the now even more nervous Emilia as she could feel the perplexity radiating off of the older woman. *How does someone not know where they are?* "Sure, honey this is downtown New York. " the sounds and thoughts reached Emilia nearly at the same time, followed by a wave of concern from the woman. Emilia awkwardly thanked the woman before she went to reheat her food. She suddenly felt grateful that she attended a university that held international courses in English. While her English had a German accent mixed a bit with her original Slavic accent it was understandable, as the previous conversation has proven. The woman acting as both chef and waiter returned quickly, barely taking a few minutes. She placed the plate in front of the young girl, along with a glass of water. "Do you mind if I turn up the evening news on the TV while you eat?" asked the woman while leaving, motioning with her head towards the old TV placed on a table in one corner of the room. "Sure, I don't mind," replied the girl, secretly elated. The news would provide her with useful information, unlike that useless newspaper. Meanwhile, she also paid attention to any of the distinct emotions she felt. After the ones she experienced while ordering the food and shortly after the emotions became kind of muted, like the woman wasn't feeling them as strongly or distinctly. An aura of concern and confusion still surrounded the matron but was reduced. Emilia also noted that she was sure that these weren't her own emotions. Why that was she didn't know. She also noticed she could feel the aura of the woman even when she was in the other room. Maybe she was going insane, having hallucinations, hearing voices and feeling sudden influxes of emotions. But all of it was too accurate, the woman's mannerisms and tone also always mirrored the emotions she radiated. *That pain either broke something in my head or turned me into a telepath* She thought. Allowing a brief smirk to appear on her otherwise apathetic face. "...It has been nearly six decades now, since the day the man known as Captain America sacrificed his life by driving the Nazi intercontinental bomber into the cold Arctic sea. Saving our city which has been the first target of the plane from its premature end. It is with great pleasure that I unveil this new statue honouring his heroic memory...." Emilia's attention shifted from her bland dinner to the television, where a man was cutting the red cord before a statue. Before she had time to consider it more the woman spoke up from behind the counter, "Ah, you know honey, my mother used to tell me tales about her time as a dancer on the Captain's shows, I think she had a crush on him before meeting my father," said the woman conversationally, interrupting the train of thought of the now utterly stumped Emilia. She tried to focus on what feelings the woman gave off, but she only sensed nostalgia and a bit of loneliness, no indication that she was messing with her. "What was he like?" asked back Emilia, without putting much thought into it. Her mind still trying to work out what was happening. Why was there that weird newspaper? Is this news about Captain America? The matron's story? What the hell was going on? Instead of the usual frustration that reared its ugly head every time Emilia failed to understand something she only felt confusion and puzzlement. The woman spoke up again, answering the girl, "She told me he was a kind and somewhat shy gentleman, who often seemed troubled by not being allowed to fight in the war. Sadly she couldn't stay in touch with him after he eventually did join the fighting." While absently continuing to eat Emilia's gaze eventually found a date and time counter on the banner below the newsreader. Much to her horror, it read the same as the one in the newspaper. March the 27th 2007.
The face on the newspaper closely resembled a younger Robert Downey Jr. but differed in aspects she couldn't quite name. She threw the useless newspaper into the trash bin and continued walking. It was a weird advertisement for the original Iron Man movie, or maybe a fan-made newspaper, some people were weird like that. Grumpily walking forwards she dismissed the papers from her mind that tricked her into thinking she might have travelled back in time. She needed a place to sleep, or at least spend the night without catching a cold. It was late spring so it could still get rather cold at night. Emilia suddenly felt grateful that she was still wearing her grey sweatpants and warm black hoodie she wore in her dorm room. Sadly she was only wearing some slippers and socks on her feet, not a shoe. But beggars can't be choosers as they say. She quickly examined her pockets for anything useful she might have on her. She had neither her smartphone nor her wallet on her. Those were left back on her dorm table. She found about 90 euros, a pair of earphones and a hand sanitiser. Not very useful overall. Probably enough money to squat in a 24/7 fast food restaurant for the night and not get booted by security, if she is indeed in the USA she heard that many homeless people use those as a place to sleep in the worse parts of towns. Briefly glancing at the scenery again she decided that this was indeed one such part of whichever town this was. Reaching an intersection she glanced both ways and quickly noticed a neon sign reading 'Mama Jackie's' on one of the side roads. It seemed to still be both a cheap restaurant and open so she made her way over to it. The door was open so she pushed it open with a chime from the entry bells above the door. "A moment and I'll be there" bellowed a matronly voice from the back, Emilia stood awkwardly in the empty restaurant while deciding that the woman sounded like she had a New York accent, just great, how the hell will she get a plane ticket over the Atlantic from 90 euros. In a few minutes, an elderly woman emerged from a back room, looks fitting her authoritative matronly voice. Before she could say anything Emilia nervously her whether she could pay with euros, luckily the slightly bewildered woman said yes but warned her that the rates would be bad. "Uhm, so could I get something cheap for a late dinner?" she asked, relieved. "Sure I will reheat some of the leftover food I prepared for today's dinner if that's alright with you, anything else?" asked back the woman, with a bit of cheer. Seeming happy that she doesn't have to throw away the leftover food. "Ahh. Well this will sound like a stupid question but where are we now? " asked the now even more nervous Emilia as she could feel the perplexity radiating off of the older woman. *How does someone not know where they are?* "Sure, honey this is downtown New York. " the sounds and thoughts reached Emilia nearly at the same time, followed by a wave of concern from the woman. Emilia awkwardly thanked the woman before she went to reheat her food. She suddenly felt grateful that she attended a university that held international courses in English. While her English had a German accent mixed a bit with her original Slavic accent it was understandable, as the previous conversation has proven. The woman acting as both chef and waiter returned quickly, barely taking a few minutes. She placed the plate in front of the young girl, along with a glass of water. "Do you mind if I turn up the evening news on the TV while you eat?" asked the woman while leaving, motioning with her head towards the old TV placed on a table in one corner of the room. "Sure, I don't mind," replied the girl, secretly elated. The news would provide her with useful information, unlike that useless newspaper. Meanwhile, she also paid attention to any of the distinct emotions she felt. After the ones she experienced while ordering the food and shortly after the emotions became kind of muted, like the woman wasn't feeling them as strongly or distinctly. An aura of concern and confusion still surrounded the matron but was reduced. Emilia also noted that she was sure that these weren't her own emotions. Why that was she didn't know. She also noticed she could feel the aura of the woman even when she was in the other room. Maybe she was going insane, having hallucinations, hearing voices and feeling sudden influxes of emotions. But all of it was too accurate, the woman's mannerisms and tone also always mirrored the emotions she radiated. *That pain either broke something in my head or turned me into a telepath* She thought. Allowing a brief smirk to appear on her otherwise apathetic face. "...It has been nearly six decades now, since the day the man known as Captain America sacrificed his life by driving the Nazi intercontinental bomber into the cold Arctic sea. Saving our city which has been the first target of the plane from its premature end. It is with great pleasure that I unveil this new statue honouring his heroic memory...." Emilia's attention shifted from her bland dinner to the television, where a man was cutting the red cord before a statue. Before she had time to consider it more the woman spoke up from behind the counter, "Ah, you know honey, my mother used to tell me tales about her time as a dancer on the Captain's shows, I think she had a crush on him before meeting my father," said the woman conversationally, interrupting the train of thought of the now utterly stumped Emilia. She tried to focus on what feelings the woman gave off, but she only sensed nostalgia and a bit of loneliness, no indication that she was messing with her. "What was he like?" asked back Emilia, without putting much thought into it. Her mind still trying to work out what was happening. Why was there that weird newspaper? Is this news about Captain America? The matron's story? What the hell was going on? Instead of the usual frustration that reared its ugly head every time Emilia failed to understand something she only felt confusion and puzzlement. The woman spoke up again, answering the girl, "She told me he was a kind and somewhat shy gentleman, who often seemed troubled by not being allowed to fight in the war. Sadly she couldn't stay in touch with him after he eventually did join the fighting." While absently continuing to eat Emilia's gaze eventually found a date and time counter on the banner below the newsreader. Much to her horror, it read the same as the one in the newspaper. March the 27th 2007.
