Through time; The ripper

Meet Miles

*Leo*

The fog thickens as I lead Lily down the winding streets, my mind racing with thoughts I can barely articulate. I can feel her confusion, her hesitation, but I can’t afford to dwell on that now. We’re in a time and place that could spell disaster if we’re not careful.

But I need her to safety, and I can’t afford her panicking, so I just quickly move her along.

“Welcome to Scotland Yard,” I say, gesturing towards a slightly worn building that stands just ahead of us, its stone façade almost lost in the swirling mist. Everything about it is worn and old.

Lily furrows her brow, glancing back towards the street where the sign for Scotland Yard hangs. “But… why does it say Scotland Yard over there?” Her voice is incredulous, the confusion etched deeply on her face.

I take a breath, preparing to explain as I push open the heavy oak door. “This is a smaller branch, a bit off the beaten path,” I say, stepping inside and holding the door for her. “There are many layers to this city, and not everything is as it seems. You’ll learn that quickly if you stick around.”

The interior is dimly lit, with shadows dancing along the walls as gas lamps flicker to life. The wooden floor creaks beneath our feet, and the air is thick with the scent of old parchment and something metallic. A few scattered desks line the room, cluttered with papers and odd instruments that suggest a scientific curiosity.

“Leo!” a voice calls out, breaking through the tenseness that has settled around us. I turn to see Miles, my partner, bustling toward us. He’s the kind of man who seems to thrive in chaos, his wild hair and spectacles giving him the appearance of a mad scientist straight out of a storybook. “Is there news?”

I shake my head, my jaw tightening. “Not yet. But we have a problem.” I nod toward Lily, who stands just behind me, looking out of place, lost in time as she is.

Miles’ eyes widen with curiosity as he takes in Lily’s modern attire, a clear indication that she doesn’t belong in our time. “Interesting,” he mutters, adjusting his glasses. “And who is this?”

“This is Lily,” I say, keeping my tone steady. “She followed me here. We need to get her back before…”

“Before what?” Miles interrupts, his voice rising with excitement. “Before someone notices? This is absolutely fascinating! A time traveler, Leo. Do you realize what we could learn?”

“Learn?” I snap, frustration bubbling to the surface. “This isn’t a science experiment, Miles! She’s a person, and she’s scared. We can’t just treat her like some curious anomaly. Also I have been in her time many times, you can just ask me.”

Miles looks at me like I am an i***t, “it is different to talk to a… native.”

Lily shifts uneasily, and I glance back at her, taking in the uncertainty in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” I say, softening my tone. “Miles tends to get carried away. The truth is, we need to get you back to your own time as soon as possible. The longer you stay here, the greater the risk.”

“Risk?” Miles echoes, his enthusiasm dampened slightly. “Yeah you are right of course.”

I step closer to Lily, lowering my voice. “There are forces at play in this city, dark forces that you do not want to get involved with. You don’t understand the danger you’re in.”

“Dark forces?” Lily repeats, her voice barely above a whisper. The fear in her eyes is unmistakable. “What are you talking about?”

I hesitate, knowing I have to tell her the truth, but I want to shield her from the worst of it. “These are the time of Jack the Ripper, it is harder for me to protect you here than in your time. The police are scrambling to find him, but he’s cunning, and he’s always a step ahead.”

Lily pales, her eyes widening as the weight of my words sinks in. “But… why are we here? Why now?”

“Because,” I say, my voice firm, “this is my time too and this is where and when I need to be to stop him.”

“Stop him?” she asks, skepticism creeping into her tone. “You think you can stop him?”

“I have to try,” I reply, the determination in my heart igniting a fire in my chest. “But I would very much like to get you back as soon as possible, sadly I think we will have to wait till tomorrow night.”

I can see the wheels turning in Miles’ mind, but I also see the fear in Lily’s eyes. “We’ll need to get her some proper clothes, something that fits in here,” he says, ignoring the tension.

“Clothes?” Lily asks, incredulous. “You want me to dress as if I belong in 1880? This is all insane!”

Miles look at me, “I think she doesn’t believe you… she might be thinking us kinda crazy.”

“Well you are crazy,” She says stubbornly. “You can’t travel in time.”

Miles look at me, then sighs, before he grabs a newspaper, handing it to her. “What does the date say?”

She looks on the paper, “september 29.”

“Go on,” Miles says.

“1888,” She gasps. “But how?”

Before any of us can answers she faints, and I catch her. “Great Miles.”

“Well now she believes you.”