In the middle from afar

Esme brisked about the non-mustered, barren, otiose, and unbounded half-sized, wood house shack; she mussed through her bantam packed tote in search of a warm blanket. Abruptly, she smelled the attar of perfervid barrage near close to her; henceforward, she paused to see where the smell was coming from.

Lark carried two logs and camping supplies while keeping a fleet-footed pace on her way back from the market; once arriving fairly to the door, she halted in her steps for one second after elliptically smelling flak. Without any further delay, Lark clobbered through the door as her breathing filliped alongside her escalating heart rate. Esme finished packing up her tote over again; in time, she glanced back to see Lark gazing at the entrance way.

“I think this place is burning.” Exposed Esme.

"I know, me too, we have to get out of here, I'm going to go get my bag upstairs; I'll be back, try to get some water to dispatch it." Lark explained.

Lark cursorily flew uphill to her disconsolate room of the intemperate hooch; tip-toeing at every discrete peg to watch for wholly stupefaction. She panted watching the fire burgeon, fencing her carry-on, and ceasing to come to an end. Attempting to cross past the volley, she bustled and stopped after hearing a ubiquitous sounding voice from behind her where she turned to gape at Esme standing in the foyer.

"Everything's in there, the declaration, the time portal... my locket. Told Lark who was in momentary thought.

Esme departed the doorway, returning with a sheaf heaped of water, pegging on in front of where she stood. Lark eschewed the slew of water in front of her, grappling her bag in aftermath; resulting in deceased sniping and dredged boundlessly for the cloistered declaration in the middle of panicking. Salvo grew upward out of nowhere leaving Esme and Lark in greater atrocity than ever.

"Where the hell is it? Lark wondered furiously.

“Where is what Lark? Interrogated Esme.

“My locket, it was the locket that my cousin gave to me on the first day of school. She’s my only family. It must’ve slipped out or something. Lark answered with panic.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure that we can find it.” Esme said before taking a deep breath.

“I’m going to make a run for it. Get some more water okay.” Lark instructed.

Esme nodded and hurriedly ran to the restroom then back to catch Lark in no time. She catapulted the bucket of water with all of her physical strength she had left inside; effortfully more than last time. Lark froze in dismay; tears nippily flooded her eyes as she gawped at the floor.

“Lark are you alright?” Esme muttered.

“Of course, I’m not. That was the only memory of the only family I ever had!”

Mooching across the room, Esme noticed a miniscule anomalously shape object sitting over in the corner. She picked it up to examine her lilliputian discovery facing her.

“Lark, look. “Esme revealed to her.

Lark looked at the sound of Esme’s voice, seeming as if her interest had been piqued.

“What is it?” Lark grilled goggling at it while making her way over to Esme.

“I’m utterly unsure, barring there’s only one way to find out. We have to get out of here forthwith.” informed Esme.

“You’re right, come on.” Lark agreed.

They left the room in a rattlingly fashion; Lark stopped half-way, taking a glance behind her one more time until unremittingly catching up with Esme who was on her way downstairs.

Lark closed the shanty door on their way out where they met the pitch plutonian night; air was repose and aberrantly cold for the incipiency of September.

“Hey look, there’s a river.” Lark said running closer towards it.

“So... what.” Esme rejoined.

A green light shone from the gadget Esme held cupped in her hands, lighting up each of their faces.

“That’s funny. It’s the same green light from this morning in the hallway after Tulip disappeared; it led us to being transported from school.” Realized Lark.

“We need to jump in the river.” Lark stated.

“What! Are you crazy? It’s probably freezing cold.” Esme replied.

Lark nobbled Esme’s arm over to the river, giving no room for hesitation.

“Lark, Lark listen to me. I need you to slow down at this instance.” pleaded Esme. The tip of the edge caused them to pause; they held hands perpending their next move. Lark gave Esme a reassuring looks for further comfort afore jumping in.

‘Woo Hoo!” carped Lark.

Reflections of green light spotted the river nearly mirroring its ensign. Esme sprung upward from the water.

“I didn’t tell you I can’t swim.” Confessed Esme.

Their eyes opened to an astir village-like setting where they found themselves in the midst of women ambling through the city dressed in quaint attire, men taking breaks outside of shops smoking cigarettes, and young women and teenage girls dancing around in curt skirts.

“This is the nineteenth century.” Esme announced.

One of the women across the street from them mingled with a man who had just come out of a café. Lark studied the scene when the man in the suit and tie grabbed her arm, pulling her close to him with his hand around her waist; the woman plodded to break free. Esme turned to Lark after the touch on her shoulder. She caught up with the situation in front of her, she gasped. Dragging the weeping woman away, disregarding her consent, the man dashed off. Lark marched in their direction, followed by Esme urgently.

“Hey dude leave her alone!” Bayed Lark, turning her pace into a run.

“Stop, wait!” Esme enjoined.

“I’m not having this conversation. I told you I’m not ready to care for this child!” A woman bellowed from her home.

Lark and Esme made an unforeseen stop thereafter failing the chase by a dinky, shoddy, home. Sounds of glass shattering and a crying child shot out through the windows.