Chapter 10

San Francisco, CA - 2022

Halona's fingers trembled as she clutched the TV remote, her eyes wide with disbelief as she flipped through the channels. The world had changed beyond recognition during her almost three-year absence. The news anchors spoke of a deadly virus that had swept across the globe. Images of deserted streets, masked faces, and overwhelmed hospitals filled the screen. Halona's heart raced as she learned about the Covid-19 pandemic, the lockdowns, and the race for a vaccine.

Switching to YouTube, she stumbled upon a video titled "Tiger King," which seemed to be a bizarre documentary about a flamboyant zookeeper and a fierce rivalry within the world of big cat enthusiasts. Halona shook her head in bewilderment, wondering if she had somehow stumbled into an alternate reality.

As she continued her virtual journey, more shocking events unfolded. Political upheavals dominated the headlines, from former President Trump's impeachment trials to the violent insurrection at the Capitol on January 6th. Halona watched in horror as protesters stormed the Capitol building. The war in Ukraine, sparked by Russia's invasion, added another layer of pain to Halona's already heavy heart. She couldn't fathom the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

As she delved deeper into the world of social media, Halona encountered a myriad of trends and movements. The "Hot Girl Summer" and "Soft Girl" aesthetics, the rise of cottagecore, and the viral "Renegade" dance craze on TikTok all left her feeling like an outsider in her own time.

The conviction of Harvey Weinstein, the ongoing legal battle between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, and the "Free Britney" movement shed light on the darker side of celebrity culture and the rampant invasion of privacy in the digital age. Halona couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by everything that had transpired while she was away. Her mind whirled with questions and doubts. As the sun began to set, Halona realized that her journey back to the present had only just begun.

Despite everything changing around her, Halona found some comfort in the fact that certain things remained constant. The Kardashians were still dominating headlines, Taylor Swift's popularity continued to rise and divide opinions and the West Coast was still ablaze with wildfires. She leaned back on the couch, trying to process everything.

As difficult as it was to adapt to life in 1870, it seemed strangely more natural compared to the fast-paced world she left behind three years ago. It made her understand Lieutenant Colonel Todd Madison's warning about another "visitor" like themselves, who went mad and was locked away. But as much as society in the past may have been deemed insane, Halona couldn't help but question the sanity of the present day.

"Mmm mmmm, no ma'am I know you aren't still plugged in." Sydney walked into the living room and turned the lights on. When she left the night before Halona was right where she was now, sitting on the couch pouring over news reports trying to catch up from the time she was missing.

"I guess I lost track of time." She yawned and stretched.

Even though Halona was annoyed that Damian rehired Sydney, she was secretly thankful. Sydney had assured Halona that it was a favor to get her out of a boring office job.

"You want a kale smoothie?" Sydney yelled from the kitchen.

"I'd rather dry swallow a catus." Halona grimaced.

"Seriously? You don't look good. Hope it's not Covid." Sydney hovered around, concern etched on her face.

"Relax, Syd. I was up all night," Halona pointed out the obvious. "I'll take my vitamins and a nap."

"You have a doctor's appointment in just over an hour."

"Shit I forgot!" Halona ran upstairs and quickly tossed some clothes on. She didn't have time for a shower so she brushed her teeth and put her hair in a messy bun before joining Sydney in the kitchen.

"You goin' out like that?" Sydney raised an eyebrow at her friend.

"Yeah," Halona lifted her arm and sniffed herself, finding no offensive odor she shrugged and looked at Sydney. "Why?"

"Looks like a seagull has been using your head as it's nest."

"I'm starting a new trend." Halona giggled deliriously from the lack of sleep mixed with the overwhelming information overload.

"No, girl stop. You look like you're doing the walk of shame from college days," Sydney insisted.

Frustrated, Halona ran back upstairs and put on a large grey hoodie and sunglasses to hide her disheveled state.

"Now you look like the Unabomber," Sydney joked as they climbed into her SUV.

The drive to the doctor's office was a blur for Halona as she struggled to keep her queasy stomach under control. Finally arriving at the sterile waiting room, she sank into a chair and took deep breaths.

The doctor's examination was quick, but the wait for test results felt like an eternity. At least her nausea seemed to be subsiding. When the doctor finally returned, he settled into his rolling chair with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Sorry for the delay," he apologized.

"My assistant and I have a bet going." Halona smiled weekly at him. "I say food poisoning she thinks it's Covid."

"Looks like a draw," the doctor chuckled. "You're expecting."

Halona's laugh died in her throat as the doctor's smile faltered.

"Pregnant?" She choked out.

"Yes," the doctor confirmed, holding up a chart. "Definitely pregnant."

Disbelief washed over her. "This can't be happening," she whispered, shaking her head in denial.

"I'll send in a prescription to help with the nausea," the doctor said, his voice gentle. He reached the door, and then paused. "Make sure to schedule an ultrasound when you check out at the front desk."

Alone in the silent room, Halona's mind reeled. Had she done something reckless, something beyond drowning her sorrows in the weeks after her return? Surely, she hadn't slept with a stranger! But the chilling doubt gnawed at her. Had she?

Then, a horrifying possibility surfaced. Could her abductor be responsible? The FBI had confirmed it was an abduction, but the details – how she escaped, who took her – remained unknown. The very thought of her abductor violating her in such a way sent a fresh wave of nausea crashing over her. Grabbing the nearby wastebasket just in time, Halona emptied her stomach.