Testing the Limits of Time

Chapter 8: Lessons from the Past

"Oh dear, it's half past two already. Nevermind." Skylar viewed the reminder on her phone, which said that it was way past her bedtime and she needed to sleep. But she was wide awake, her eyes fixed on the flickering T.V. screen. After hours of switching between channels, she paused at one that was playing an old episode of "The Twilight Zone" was playing, one she remembered well—"Back There." The story revolved around a man who traveled back in time to prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, only to return to a future where his intervention had caused more harm than good. The moral was clear: even with the best intentions, tampering with history could lead to unpredictable and disastrous consequences.
The episode concluded an hour later. As Skylar switched off the TV, the room plunged into an unsettling quietness. The episode left her with a feeling of uneasiness, one that she could not shake off. What was once a random, enjoyable episode now seemed to haunt her. A tale of fiction seemed to mirror her reality.
Skylar got up and walked to her bookshelf, running her fingers over the spines of her collection of history books. She pulled out a volume on the American Revolution and flipped through its pages.
"Did we really have the right to intervene?" she wondered aloud, "Even if it was to preserve history?"
She turned and faced the dark window at the side, glancing at her reflection, which showed the lines of worry etched on her face. The only place other than her real estate office where she found solace was her room. But tonight, the atmosphere felt oppressive. The walls seemed to enclose her in a tightly-packed space; the bed seemed to consume her whole.
Skylar sank back onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. She could hear the distant noise of traffic from the window.
"How blissfully unaware is this world outside of the heavy truth we carry."
Her mind wandered back to their recent adventures. A series of flashbacks played. Their journeys were exhilarating but also fraught with peril. What people read in books is what they witnessed first-hand. In the legends that are read in schools, Skylar and her friends had the honor of not only seeing them but also saving them from big trouble. They played a significant role in preserving history. But what if they had changed something without realizing it? What if their presence alone had ripples they couldn't foresee?
"Was it worth the risk?" she wondered. "Can we truly handle the responsibility of keeping history intact without altering it?"
The silence of her room seemed to aggravate her doubts. The shadows in the corners seemed to consume her, like repressed fears waiting to pounce. She closed her eyes, trying to distract herself from these racing thoughts by falling asleep.
"Maybe I'm overthinking this," she said, trying to reassure herself. "Anyone with a sense of obligation would undertake this responsibility. We are only doing what needs to be done."
But deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple. The power to travel through time, to witness and potentially alter pivotal events, was both a miracle and a curse. They were playing with forces beyond their full understanding, and the stakes were incredibly high.
Skylar got up and walked to her window again, looking out at the quiet street below. The familiar sights of her neighborhood provided her with a small measure of comfort. But the uneasiness lingered still, like a cheap mask she couldn't wash off.
"We have been very careful," she thought. "But maybe we need to be more vigilant of everything. We need to think through every decision, every action."
She turned away from the window. They had taken on a grave responsibility, and the only way to honor it was to proceed with carefulness and calculation. The lessons from the past were clear: history was not something to be handled lightly. They had to respect it, protect it, and ensure that their interventions did not harm.
Skylar picked up her notebook and began to jot down her thoughts, outlining a plan to discuss these concerns with her friends. They needed to understand what their mission really meant, weigh each decision carefully, and be vigilant about the potential consequences.
As she wrote, the oppressive atmosphere of the room began to be replaced by a sense of determination. They had a mission, not one of ambition but of obligation. It was a noble cause. But they had to be smart about it. They needed to take measures to safeguard history without disturbing its course.
Skylar closed her notebook and set it aside.
"We can do this," she told herself.
She felt a bit more at ease, though the weight of their task still burdened her shoulders. She took a deep breath, tightly shutting her eyes, but sleep was still a reserved stranger.
Skylar got up and paced back and forth in her living room. She scrolled through her contacts and dialed Jamie's number to calm her anxiety down. The phone rang twice before Jamie's comforting voice picked up, sounding sleepy but concerned.
"Hey, uh, Sky, all good? What's up?" Jamie asked, struggling to brush off her sleepiness.
"Jamie, I can't stop thinking about everything," Skylar said in a trembling voice. "What we're doing, it's... it's so huge. What if we mess up? What if we change something we shouldn't?"
There was a pause on the other end before Jamie responded calmly, "Sky, we've talked about this. We have been very careful, haven't we? We make sure we're doing the right thing. But yeah, I get it. It's a lot. I've been there."
Skylar sighed, feeling the weight of her fears. "It's just, I can't shake this feeling that we're playing with fire. You saw that episode of 'The Twilight Zone,' right? The one with the guy who tried to stop Lincoln's assassination?"
"Yeah, 'Back There.' It messed things up pretty badly," Jamie replied. "But that's fiction, Sky. We have each other, and we're smarter than that."
"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier," Skylar admitted. "I feel like we're balancing on a tightrope, and one wrong move could send us crashing down."
"Look, Sky, you're not alone in this," Jamie assured. "We've all got each other's backs. If you're feeling this way, let's talk about it with everyone. We're a team, and we'll figure it out together."
Skylar nodded, even though Jamie couldn't see her. "You're right. Thanks, Jamie. Let's get everyone together and talk this through. I just feel like venting to you all. And it's been so long since we planned a proper meet-up. Let's meet in the real world again."
"Absolutely. You're not carrying this weight alone," Jamie reassured her. "We'll meet up and make sure we're all on the same page. Love you."
***
Two days later, the group met at their favorite restaurant, a cozy diner with checkered tablecloths and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and fast food. Skylar, Jamie, Tyler, and Kody sat in a booth at the back. It was a warm, sunny day, a contrast to the storm whirling inside Skylar's mind.
"So, what's been eating you, Sky?" Tyler asked with a concerned face. "Jamie told us you were feeling pretty down."
Skylar had her head down. Taking a deep breath, she finally looked, her eyebrows furrowed with stress. "I've been thinking a lot about our missions and the responsibility we have. What we're doing isn't just about having adventures—it's about preventing the wrong, right? But the more I think about it, the more I worry about the consequences."
Kody nodded after thoughtfully examining Skylar's words. "I get where you're coming from, Sky. I know it's a lot to take in. We've been through some intense stuff, and it's natural to worry about the what-ifs."
Jamie leaned forward, "Skylar and I talked about this. We're walking a fine line that requires us to tiptoe on every inch. But we also need to remember why we're doing this. We should be confident that what we have undertaken is worth the risk."
Realizing that the conversation had become too somber for his temperament, Tyler tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, hey, hey. We're like time-traveling guardians, okay? And although our journeys are fun, they ain't for fun, and we know it. And come on, we aren't kids. This isn't our first time, either. We have had quite a decent experience of this mission by now. It's a big thing, no doubt, but we've got each other's backs. That won't change."
Skylar smiled slightly at Tyler's enthusiasm. "I appreciate that, Ty. But we need to be even more careful. Double-check our plans and anticipate every possible outcome. We can't afford any slip-ups."
"Agreed," Kody said. "Maybe we should set up some protocols—like, if something feels off, we regroup and reassess before moving forward."
Jamie nodded. "And we should document everything. Keep a detailed log of our missions, what we observe, and any changes we notice. It'll help us track our impact and make better decisions."
Skylar looked at her friends with gratitude and went for a group hug. "Thanks, everyone. I needed this. We must keep the bigger picture in mind and trust each other."
The group continued their discussion, outlining new strategies and safety measures. They decided on a buddy system for every mission, ensuring no one ventured alone into the past. They mapped out pre-planned escape routes and rendezvous points in case of emergencies. They agreed to hold regular debriefings after each mission to reflect on their observations, actions, and possible implications.
Tyler raised his cold drink in a toast. "To the best time-traveling team ever. To friends I find annoying but can definitely vouch for!"
Jamie and Kody clinked their glasses against Tyler's, and Skylar joined in, feeling hopeful and pacified. After all the challenges they had faced together, their bond only grew stronger. Whatever the future or the past held, they were ready to face all the dangers and complexities together as a team.
As she headed back home, Skylar reflected on her friendships that were nothing less of a blessing for her. History was not the only thing that needed to be preserved. This unparalleled friendship and this incredible trust also deserved a legacy to be honored on its own.