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Ryan opened his eyes. He could tell that he was lying down on a couch but exactly where he was he didn't know. The room was dark, with only a small amount of light shining through a crack in the door. He sat up but had to wait a few seconds for the dizziness he was feeling to go away. As he looked toward the door again he saw the light that had been shining through suddenly get blocked by something. As the door slowly opened he could see the silhouette of a person. He assumed it was John since he couldn't think of whom else it could be, "hey John, you'll never guess the dream I just had".
"If you want us to find this John for you, you'll need to tell us a little more about him".
When Ryan heard the voice of a woman he froze. It's a good thing the lights were not on because whoever it was would have seen a shocked look on his face. Was he still dreaming or was he really still talking to the ghost of Lily Van Walken. "Who are you?"
"My name is Lily Van Walken, but I have already told you that". As she finished her sentence the room was suddenly bathed in a soft glow as she turned on one of the lamps in the room.
Ryan looked at the woman who had provided the light and saw it was the same person he had talked to before. "Am I dreaming all of this? I don't know how I could be sitting here talking to you".
Lily came and sat down next to Ryan, "Why do you keep asking that. Why do you think I am dead and that you're dreaming? You were saying some things in your sleep about this, but I just don't understand it. The doctor said your bump on your head wasn't that bad so I don't if this is a result of your injury or if you always this confused".
Ryan just kept looking at Lily. "You said earlier that this was 1939, but how is that possible. I must be dreaming this whole thing up; it has to be that. Maybe if I just close my eyes and tell myself to wake up". Ryan immediately closed his eyes and leaned back into the couch to try, but he soon felt Lily's warm hand touching his.
"You can't be dreaming because you are right here in this room with me".
Ryan opened his eyes to confirm she was still there, "but you can't be here with me, this is 2010 and I came here to study some claims of ghosts". He stood up as he continued, "Look I just need to find my friend John and maybe he can help understand what is going on. I don't mean to be rude, but I really need to go".
Lily stood up before responding, "I don't know if you should leave just yet. I told the doctor that I would let him know when you were awake. He wanted to check on you before you left. Based on what you keep saying, you may want him to look at you".
"No, I need to go. Thank you for everything". Ryan made his way to the door and opened it. When he stepped out he once again saw a portion of the theater that looked different from his earlier tour. He looked around and found the way out. Maybe once he got outside everything would go back to normal.
Lily wasn't sure she should just let him go so she decided to follow him. As she watched him leave she could tell that he knew his way around the place, but she still had not clue as to who he was and what he was doing here.
Ryan made his way to the front door and opened it, but instead of seeing the cramped little parking area where they had parked their van he saw it the sun shining down on a very wide open space. The buildings that he knew to be next to the theater were no longer there and the cars that he did see were like nothing he had seen before; except in pictures. He refused to move any further than the door. None of this was making sense. He turned back toward the inside of theater to see that Lily was standing behind him, "What is going on?"
Lily took his arm and pulled him inside, "I'm not sure what you mean, but I insist you come back inside with me. I can't just let you leave in this kind of state. Let the doctor look at you again, Ok".
Ryan followed Lily as she led him back to the room they just left. Then she excused herself to go and find the doctor.
Ryan sat back down on the couch and tried to figure out what was going on. If he was still dreaming then why couldn't he wake up? Was his trip down the stairs worst then he thought and was he now lying unconscious somewhere while his mind played tricks on him? He knew it was useless to try and come up with an explanation. He didn't have a clue as to where and start. Until he woke up there was nothing he could do about any of this. All he could do was go along with it.
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When Lily came back it was about 10 minutes later. She was accompanied by an older gentleman who reminded Ryan of the kind of doctors he saw on TV that were from the thirties.
Lily introduced the doctor to Ryan, "Ryan, this is Doctor Jones".
The doctor took a few things out of his bag and walked over to Ryan, "Ok, so can you tell me your name and what year it is?"
"My name is Ryan Wolfe and it is the year 2010".
"Interesting, why do you think you're in the future?"
Ryan was getting frustrated, "I don't think I'm in the future, I know it's the year 2010".
The doctor continued his evaluation and when he was done he sat down next to Ryan, "Where do you live? Is there someone I can contact for you?"
"No, there is no one you can contact. I just need to find my friend John".
"Do you live around here?"
"I don't live that far from here, I can find my way home".
"Well I don't think you should be left alone".
Lily stepped in at this point, "He's not alone Dr. Jones. I will take personal responsibility for his welfare and make sure he gets back home".
The doctor looked at Lily and was hesitant to agree, but he could tell by the look on her face that he wouldn't win this battle, "Ok Lily, but I want you to come and get me immediately if his condition changes".
"I promise Dr. Jones".
The doctor put his things away and said his goodbyes.
Soon it was just Lily and Ryan in the room. "So Ryan, do you really have a home to go to?"
Ryan didn't know what to think at this point. "I don't know anymore. I have a home but I don't know if it is just a short drive from here or if it hasn't even been built yet. So I guess the answer is no, I don't have a home to go to".
Lily felt sorry for him. She couldn't even begin to understand what was going on, but since she was the one who found him, she felt responsible for him. "Well, if you want we have a room in the back you can stay in until you feel better".
"That would be great Lily. Maybe I just need some more time and everything will be back to normal".
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