3001

Jane's eyes flew open to darkness. For a long moment, she lay still, straining her ears against the silence. Why had she woken up? What was wrong?

Slowly, she slid her feet to the floor and groped along the bedside table for the lamp switch. With a click, warm light flooded the room. Jane squinted, eyes adjusting. Everything looked normal—her secondhand dresser, overflowing bookshelves, shoes kicked haphazardly in the corner.

Jane stood and padded barefoot across the room. She had almost reached the bedroom door when she froze. The usual creaks and groans of the old house past midnight were absent. The silence was absolute.

Heart thudding, Jane crept through the doorway. The darkened hallway yawned before her like an empty cavern. She inched along, hyperalert. Where were the familiar nighttime sounds? The drip of the bathroom faucet, the sigh of the attic settling?

At the end of the hall, Jane took the stairs one by one. She didn't dare turn on a light. The utter stillness felt heavy, oppressive. Like the held breath before a plunge.

Jane reached the front door. Slowly, she unlocked it and eased it open. Moonlight speared through the gap, illuminating a small patch of hard gray floor. Jane froze again, staring. Where was her worn welcome mat, the creaky porch boards?

With a deep breath, she pushed the door fully open. Silver moonlight washed over sleek metallic buildings, strange domed structures. Hoverspheres glided by in the sky overhead. Not a soul stirred on the walkways below.

Jane's hands trembled. This was not her world. The year was no longer 2023. Somehow, she had awoken in the future.

She stepped forward. The walkway was smooth and cold beneath her bare feet. What dangers lay ahead? She had no idea. But she knew one thing: she must find out what happened to her world. Steeling herself, Jane set off into the night.

Jane walked cautiously down the metallic path, gazing around with wonder and fear. The silver buildings curved and looped in unfamiliar shapes under the moonlight. She passed into the shadow of one tall structure and shivered. Without the warmth of the sun, the night air felt brisk and cold.

Jane wished she had grabbed a cloak from the foreign garments in her closet before venturing out. But she had been too panicked and confused to think clearly. Where was she? How had she gotten here? And more importantly, how could she get back home?

Lost in thought, Jane didn't notice the dark figure coming toward her until he was only a few feet away. She halted, stifling a gasp. A tall man wearing a dark red uniform stood before her. On his sleeve was an insignia of a hawk with wings spread.

"Identification," he said in a stern voice.

Jane's mind raced. "I...I don't have it with me," she stammered. "I wasn't thinking when I went out, I'm sorry."

The man's eyes narrowed. "Wandering after curfew without ID is a serious violation," he said. "Come with me." He took Jane firmly by the arm.

Jane's heartbeat quickened, but she didn't dare resist. She walked beside him silently as he led her further beneath the indifferent moon. Jane had no idea where she was being taken, but she knew one thing: she had to find a way out of this mess. And fast.

Jane was marched through the streets, the hawk-insignia officer gripping her arm. She racked her brain trying to think of some escape or explanation, but came up empty.

They approached a massive building with no windows or decoration. The officer steered Jane toward an entrance flanked by two armed guards. As they stepped into a harshly lit gray corridor, Jane felt a swell of despair. She was trapped.

The officer led Jane to a small white room containing only a table and two chairs. He gestured for her to sit, then took a seat across from her. Jane tensed, bracing for an interrogation.

"I owe you an apology," the officer said.

Jane blinked in surprise. "What?"

"Breaking curfew is a minor offense. Your nervousness told me you were hiding something, but scanning reveals you were merely disoriented. We should have simply escorted you home."

Jane's shoulders relaxed a fraction. "Then...I'm not in trouble?"

"Not at all." The officer offered a reassuring smile. "We'll help you regain your bearings and send you home shortly."

Jane nodded, exhaling. Maybe this future wasn't so bad after all. She had a lot to learn and adjust to. But with time, she felt certain she could find her way. This wasn't a trap, but a chance. A new start.

"Let's get you home," the officer said, standing and gesturing toward the door. Jane followed him out, no longer afraid. She was ready for whatever future lay ahead.