In Your Time novel Chapter 2

I woke with a cough as I sat up slowly. It took a moment, but eventually, all the memories of what happened came flooding back to me. Even having the bruises to prove it, it still didn't seem real. Now for the real question: what exactly happened? I sighed as I looked around. I had no idea where I was. A park, maybe? But it didn't look like a park I knew. I stood hesitantly on shaky legs before falling back to the ground immediately. I felt weak. I clutched my chest as my breathing worsened. Whatever happened, it sure was taking a toll on my body. Did I teleport across the world or something?

"Oh! Honey! Honey, there's a girl here," someone yelled. I felt a pair of hands on me gently. I looked up to see a woman who looked to be in her late thirties.

"Are you okay? Did something happen? Where are your parents?" The woman asked me. The man joined her to kneel beside me as he placed a hand on my forehead. I painted as I tried to catch my breath.

"She's burning up," the man said. He picked me up gently and they started walking with me.

"Sweetie, what's your name? Where are your parents?" The woman asked.

"Phoenix Di, and I'm not sure," I answered shortly between pants. We ended up at a police station, but it didn't look anything like the police stations where I lived. Even the people who brought me here were a bit off. People weren't this nice where I was from.

"Where am I?" I asked as my breathing started to calm down.

"We're at a police station in San Diego, California. My name is Elizabeth and this is my husband George," the woman answered. The woman turned to explain and give the police officer my name as the man sat me on the bench and handed me a paper cup with water in it. I drank it gratefully. The police officer looked up my information before looking at me curiously.

"It says here that your parents Derek and Felicity Di are currently in Australia, and you're eight years old," the officer said hesitantly. My eyes widened. I was at a loss for words.

"What year is it?" I asked hesitantly.