One. Two. One. Two. One. Two. The sound of flesh pounding against a dirty punching bag echoed throughout the empty gym. A young woman stood alone in the empty space, punching in rhyme. She stood six feet tall with hair as dark as a deep red rose and her skin had a sun bronze tone to it. For Io Kekoa, this was an ordinary morning. She continued to hit the punching bag until the flesh on her knuckles started to peel off and bleed. She staggered back to catch her breath. She was tired, a bit dehydrated, and she knew it. Frustration swelled up inside of her. She felt the pain in her hands and the sweat pouring from her head. She took a deep breath and charged at the punching bag. This time without rhythm. This time it was ferocious and chaotic. She took a hold of the punching bag with one hand and with the other started to punch mercilessly. She let out a howl as she continued to pumble the bag. In a final move she released the bag and took another left hook at it. With the final blow, the bag stand toppled over and crashed on the ground. Io stood over the bag in triumph. A cocky smile grew on her face as she looked down at the bag. After a few deep breaths she bent down and picked up the bag stand. After she set the stand bag she turned around and grabbed her black gym bag and headed for the showers. The sun was going to rise soon and Io got her early morning workout done before anyone else showed up. Just another day at the gym.

After getting dressed it was time to rehydrate. For Io that meant heading down to the nearest gas station and picking up some red Gatorade and a cheese stick. The air was cool and the sky was turning a slight grey. Io walked into the gas station and headed straight for the back. Another person walked in and headed for the cashier. As Io turned around with her drink and cheese stick she heard the sound of a handgun loading. She quickly ducked behind the shelves and carefully peeked around the corner. The other individual who followed in behind her was pointing a handgun at the cashier. The kid behind the register was shaking in his pants. Honestly who wouldn’t be in that situation? The kid behind the counter didn’t move, he just stood there scared out of his mind. The man with the gun got impatient and smacked the kid in the face with his free hand. The kid let out a cry. A cry that made Io’s blood boil.

Io moved. She charged like a raging bull. No control, no plan. All action. The man with the gun didn’t see her coming. Io slammed into the man with her head and brought him to the floor. Io grabbed the collar of the man’s shirt and headbutted him. The guy was knocked out cold. Io kicked the man’s gun away as she stood up. She turned and looked to see if the kid was alright. The poor kid now was in a fetal position on the floor.

“Hey kid. You okay?” Io asked. He didn’t say anything. He only let out a small cry equivalent to a small critter caught in a trap. Io’s rage faded away and she took a deep breath. She put her things down on the counter and walked around over to the kid.

“Hey come on” She said as she reached out to him. “It’s all over. Everything is going to be okay.”

The kid opened his eyes and looked at her. They were filled with fear and anxiety. He didn’t move. Io let out a breath and looked around. The guy she fought with was still knocked out. Just then her ears picked up on the sounds of sirens. Her heart started to race. Io jumped over the counter and started to move out of the gas station.

Lights of red and blue pierced her eyes. Io froze like a deer in headlights. Her mind went blank. Voices shouted at her. She didn’t hear what they were saying but she knew what she had to do. Io held us her hands and got on her knees. She didn’t say anything. Several officers came up to her and shoved her to the ground. Keep calm. Don’t struggle. Stay quiet, she thought to herself. Io didn’t struggle, she didn’t panic. She didn’t say anything. Truth be told she was dead scared and she hated it.

Io was carried to the police car and shoved in the backseat. She didn’t look at anyone, just kept her head down. For Io this was purely a matter of survival.

They brought her into the police station. They asked for her name. She gave it and they brought her to a holding cell where Samantha and Evelyn were being kept.

Samantha stood up as Io entered and quickly shuffled her way back.

“Excuse me. I don’t think she belongs here with us.” Samantha called out to the guards. Evelyn blinked a few times and sat up and looked at Samantha then back at Io. To Io comments like that were nothing new. She just shrugged it off and sat down away from the others. Samantha slowly inched her way to the cell door along the wall. Evelyn reached out and caught Samantha by her leg and gave a slight tug.

“What century are you from again?” Evelyn asked.

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“I...I told you. The nineteenth century.”

Io let out a quiet chuckle. “Yeah, sounds like it.” Io said with a smile. Evelyn looked back at Samantha.

“Okay I’ll humor you. This is the twenty-first century. That kind of mentality is outdated. You’ll get by a lot easier without that kind of thinking.” Evelyn said as she let go of Samantha and rolled back on the ground. She let out a grunt. “Fuck me, I’m sober.”

Samantha looked at Evelyn and then back at Io with a sheepish look on her face.

“I’m sorry.” Samantha said. Io rolled her eyes and waved her hand.

“Forget it, small fry.”

Evelyn let out a quiet groan. Io looked at Evelyn. “Been drinking a lot there, Blue?” Io said. Evelyn rolled her head over towards Io.

“No, I got in a fight with a freight train cause it owned me money.” Evelyn said in a sarcastic tone. Io let out a laugh.

“Ha! I like you Blue.” Io said with a smile on her face. “Names Io. Io Kekoa.” Evelyn rolled her head and stared up at the ceiling.

“Evelyn Aue.”

“Who's the runt?”

“Samantha.”

“Eh, too long. Small fry it is.”

“You’re a real simple woman aren’t you, Io?”

“Mahalo.” Io said with a grin. Evelyn jerked her head back towards Io and let out a soft chuckle followed by another groan.

“Sounds like you’ve been drinking all night, Blue.” Io said with a grin. Evelyn blinked her eyes a few times and kept staring at the ceiling.

“Golly, what gave that away? I thought I was doing pretty good up till that point. And now you’ve gone and ruined everything.” Evelyn said with a sarcastic tone. This only seemed to amused Io even more. Io sat there with an amused look on her face. Samantha stood there confused.

Footsteps could be heard coming from outside the holding cell. Io tensed up. Evelyn didn’t bother to pay much attention. Samantha turned and looked towards the door like a frightened rabbit. An officer approached the door. He took out his billy club and banged on the bars. The ringing caused Evelyn to let out a loud groan as she covered her ears with her hands.

“I see we have a volunteer. All right, come on over here and get your one phone call.” The officer said. He was a tall lean fellow with lazy eyes. Evelyn rolled over and pushed herself off the ground. She shook her head a few times and stumbled over to the cell door. She turned around and looked at both Samantha and Io.

“Play nice you two. Mommy will be right back.” Evelyn said with a grin. The door opened up and she walked out and followed the officer.

The door slammed shut and it was suddenly quiet. Samantha looked at Io and gave her a smile. Io returned her smile by raising her eyebrows.

“So...nineteen hundreds huh?” Io said looking at Samantha. She looked back at her confused.

“You look like someone out of an Oliver Twist play. Nineteen hundreds.” Io said.

“Oh! Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist! Yes I read that. Oh. You're referring to my wardrobe.” Samantha said. Her face lightened up there for a moment. Io nodded her head.

“Part of a play or a school project?” Io asked.

“I uhh...This is my work uniform. I work at the factory down by the beach.”

“So you’re really from the nineteen hundreds.”

“Eighteen sixty five actually.”

“Shit! You got a lot to catch up on then.” Io said. Samantha nodded and turned herself to slowly sit down on the bench.

“So you build a time machine or what?” Io asked. Samantha looked up at her and shrugged.

“I don’t know. I just wanted to build a ship to get away from here. Guess I did in some way.” Samantha said as she rubbed her chin and looked down. She started to get lost in her thoughts. For a moment nothing was said by either one. They just sat there in silence. Samantha was thinking about her ship and what could have possibly caused this to happen to her. Io on the other hand was thinking about her job and how long she might have to stay in jail until things get cleared up. If anything Io planned to use her one phone call to call in sick at her job. Io worked at a small diner as a waitress. It was a job she didn’t much care for but it helped give her some money and no one likes going hungry.

Samantha was in the process of piecing everything she has observed so far. She looked up at Io who also looked like she was lost in thought. It was quiet. Not an uncomfortable quiet after an awkward conversation but one that occurs when you just met someone and have nothing else to say. This kind of situation was something Samantha was familiar with and that made her feel a bit more relaxed given her circumstances. Probably the first time since landing in a new time period that she was able to relax. Despite the uncomfortable comments she made earlier it didn’t seem to bother Io too much. Her body language suggested that she had other things on her mind and her tone was rather comfortable and reassuring. Io may have been a giant amongst men but she had a kind heart. No matter the situation she always tried to help others who couldn’t defend themselves. And when she looked upon Samantha she saw a small frighten doe lost in a new world. Regardless if she was telling the truth or not about being from the eighteenth century, she clearly stood out as someone who is looking at the world with fresh eyes.

Meanwhile, just down the hall Evelyn was facing a payphone with a blank expression. She held in her hand a couple of quarters. She let them dance around in the palm of her hand for a moment deciding who to call. She stood there in silence while the officer waited patiently behind her.

“Having trouble deciding who to call?” The officer said.

“Yeah..” Evelyn said in a dry tone. She was thinking of originally calling her older brother. But she didn’t know his number and the chances of him being in Albany to help her was slim to none. And then an idea came to her. An old friend. One that will most likely be able to help. A wicked grin stretched across Evelyn’s face as she put the coins into the payphone.

“Alright Parker. Here’s a blast from the past.” Evelyn mumbled to herself as she dialed.