Once I had managed to safely escape the area surrounding the lab I slowed my quick and quiet pace to a slower and more normal walk; trying to avoid stepping on any stones, twigs or anything that could break the skin on my feet as I walked through what seems to be a woodland area. All I have been seeing for the past hour or however long I have been walking for have been trees and grass, and no sight of civilisation or even streams or lakes. I have also been hearing plenty of birds singing to each other at the tops of the trees and seen a few animals on foot such as squirrels and a handful of rabbits, but still... No people.

I was actually quite relieved of that fact though – the last time someone had walked around my local area, they had been taken away by officers to have a ‘few words’, as my mother had told me and my younger brother, Mikey.

I do miss my family a lot, but I cannot help but think that my mother will be very angry at me once she has gotten over her relief that I am alive and well. Obviously it’s not easy bringing up a child without a father, and even worse when the older sibling isn’t even there to help. I’m just hoping that Mikey would have been able to fend for himself, and that mother would have been able to fend off any unwanted strangers in my absence...

Either way, I am going to be in deep trouble when I get home, when I really don’t deserve it.

It was only then when I started to try and think of [i]how[/i] I had ended up in that place, though my brain couldn’t seem to remember any details whatsoever of the abduction. I could remember my family’s names and ages as if they had just told me them, but I also discovered that I couldn’t remember what year each of us were born on, or the current year at this point in time. The same goes for my own age, which just confuses me to no end.

Why can’t I remember what year it is, or when I was even [i]born[/i]?

I must have been in there longer than I first thought; was my first answer, though I knew that couldn’t be true. My body hasn’t changed or grown at all since I had been taken in – save from the multiple bruises and other markings on my skin – and I still feel like an average 19 year old.

So how did I forget? Did they deliberately wipe my memory clear so that I wouldn’t be able to go to the police and tell them the full story?

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when I started to hear voices, and I lifted my previously lowered head to glance around the area I was in. Most of the trees had now started to look as though they had been trimmed or axed as many of the branches are now just small stumps poking out, and there are now an increased number of tree stumps as I continued to walk towards the voices that were starting to sound more and more like children’s. Of course this had surprised me slightly, as they don’t sound very old, and New Jersey isn’t exactly the best place for children out in broad daylight, unless they were within five or ten feet of their parents.

What really surprised me though; was the scene in front of me once I had finally managed to get out of the woodland area.

There was a large grassy area with a children’s playground, and also a skate park not too far away from that. Families were sat or walking on the grass as they either ate or had fun together, not to mention the large amount of dogs running around with Frisbees and other toys.

One of the main things that caught my eye however, were the cars that drove by on the road beside the field, and the clothes people were wearing. From what I can actually remember, women were mostly always seen in long and flowing dresses or skirts with relatively short hair, but now... Now, they were wearing trousers with shirts that reach their waist, and now there are a lot more of them with longer and coloured hair. The men haven’t changed much, I guess... But their clothes do have more colours now rather than the normal brown, grey or black, and they seem to be more skin tight, compared to the slightly baggy trousers and work shirts.

As for the cars, well... The license plates seem to have changed, and the styles now are completely different than the ones I have ever been in. They are about the same size; though they now have quite vibrant colours, and some look like they can hold a couple more people than others.

It was only at that moment when I realised there was a small boy with dark coloured hair stood in front of me fiddling with a button on his short-sleeved shirt, and I smiled kindly as I knelt down to be at his level.

“Hello,” I softly spoke to him, as not to scare him away, and it seemed to work as he just stood there; his soft blue eyes boring into my own with curiosity. “Where are your parents? I need to ask them of a very important question.”
He then screwed up his face slightly, before replying, “They’re at home across the street. Why are you dressed like that?”

I just looked at him for a while in slight shock; not believing that they had just left their young son out here on his own. I decided to ask him what I had wanted to know, just in case he actually knew. I raised one of my hands and used it to scratch the back of my neck, trying to come up with something for his own question.

“Well...” I started, but just gave up and let out a soft sigh. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you that... But can you please tell me where we are right now? I desperately need to find my home and make an important apology to someone...” At my latest question he smiled confidently, and I felt myself become a little relieved.
“We’re in Belleville, New Jersey.” He spoke, and I frowned.
“Then may I ask what the date is?” I then asked, and he seemed to think for a little as he scuffed his shoe across the ground to kick away a small stone.
“It’s the 5th of February, 2012.” He smiled up at me, and I laughed a little.
“That’s cute, kid. But seriously; what’s the date? I’m sure I haven’t been away for that long.”

This time it was the boy’s turn to frown, and he shook his head at me before speaking once again, his voice pretty sure with his answer.

“It’s February the 5th in 2012, I swear!” He protested, and I just ran a hand through my raven hair that now feels like it clearly needs washing.
“Okay, I’m sorry for doubting you... Thank you for your time...” I quietly replied, before standing up straight and walking to a bench nearby on the edge of the large field.

As I sat down and leaned back against the smooth wood with my arms and legs folded, I couldn’t help but think;

[i]How am I going to get home now, in a completely different century?[/i]