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APRIL 18, 2003
QUINNS CAR OUTSIDE SONR

Quinn's car slowed as they reached the edge of the dense woods near the secluded SONR facility. He glanced over at Alexis, his gaze soft but determined. "I'll be back, okay?" he said, his voice low but firm. "I'm gonna go help Lucy and get the SONR container. You stay here. Don't leave the car, no matter what."

Alexis looked at him, her eyes full of concern, her hands gripping the seat in front of her. She nodded slowly but couldn't mask the fear in her voice. "Be safe, please." Her voice cracked slightly, though she tried to keep it steady. Quinn's eyes softened, and he leaned over, pressing a quick, reassuring kiss to her lips.

"I will. I promise," he said, his words like a promise he had every intention of keeping. He pulled back, giving her one last glance before stepping out of the car, closing the door behind him with a soft thud. Alexis watched him walk toward the edge of the woods, his silhouette disappearing among the trees as he joined Lucy. The tension in her chest didn't ease. She knew something was off-she could feel it, the weight of everything that was happening.

She turned back to the windshield, watching the distant trees sway in the breeze. The minutes dragged on, each one more suffocating than the last. Ten minutes had passed when she saw movement in the corner of her eye. Her heart jumped into her throat as she saw Quinn and Lucy sprinting toward the car, their footsteps frantic, a sense of urgency radiating off them as they ran.

Quinn reached the car first, throwing open the passenger side door and sliding in without a word. His breathing was quick, his face flushed from the run, but his eyes were hard with urgency. Lucy followed quickly, diving into the back seat without so much as a glance at Alexis. She slammed the door behind her, her face pale and tense.

"Go!" Lucy shouted, her voice high with panic. She didn't wait for Quinn to respond, her hands already fumbling with the seatbelt as she settled in.

Without hesitation, Quinn slammed his foot on the accelerator, the car lurching forward with a sudden jolt. Tires screeched against the gravel as they sped off into the night, the headlights casting long shadows against the trees that seemed to stretch endlessly on either side of them.

Alexis, still trying to process the scene, turned to Quinn, her voice shaky with confusion. "What's going on? What happened? Why were you-"

"The killer's from the future," Quinn interrupted, his voice grim. He kept his eyes on the road, but his grip on the wheel was tight, knuckles white. "He took one of the SONR containers. We got one, but... this means he's a step ahead of us." His words came out fast, each one edged with the kind of fear that Alexis had never heard in his voice before.

She stared at him, her mind struggling to catch up. "The killer's from the future? How is that even possible?" Her voice wavered with disbelief, but there was no time to question it. The reality of the situation hit her like a wave.

Quinn's jaw tightened as he glanced over at her, his eyes sharp and focused. "I don't know, but it doesn't matter right now. What matters is that we have to get to Summer before he kills her." He paused, his words lingering in the air, heavy with dread. "He's already ahead of us. We have to move fast."

Alexis' breath caught in her chest as the weight of Quinn's words sank in. Summer... was in danger. And everything they'd been working toward-everything they'd been fighting for-felt like it was slipping through their fingers. The killer from the future. The SONR containers. Time seemed to be bending, breaking, and everything was unraveling faster than she could process.

Her eyes widened as the realization hit. The terror was real. And it was too close.

"Summer?" Alexis repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "What... what do we do?"

"We get to her before it's too late," Quinn said, his voice steady but filled with an edge of desperation. He kept his focus on the road, weaving through the darkness, the car's engine roaring in the silence of the night.

Lucy, her face still pale, turned toward Alexis. "We don't have much time," she said, her voice low but firm. "The killer is already on his way to her. We have to stop him."

Alexis nodded, trying to push down the anxiety rising in her chest. This wasn't just about finding the killer anymore. It was about saving someone they all cared about. Someone who was in the crosshairs of something far bigger than they could fully understand.

The car sped down the winding roads, the tension mounting with every second that passed. Alexis's heart raced as they drove, her mind spinning with a thousand questions, but one stood out above all the others.

Would they make it in time?

APRIL 18, 2003
THE BARN

Quinn's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes burning with the need to get them out of there, to get Summer to safety. His foot pressed harder on the accelerator as the car flew through the dirt road, aiming for the barn where they knew Summer would be killed. The urgency in the air was palpable, the seconds slipping away faster than any of them could afford. As they neared the barn, Quinn's pulse pounded in his ears, a mix of adrenaline and fear.

"Hold on!" Quinn shouted to Alexis and Lucy, barely registering the frantic tension building around them. The barn loomed ahead, dark and foreboding. His heart thudded as he slammed the car into the barn, its tires kicking up dust and straw as they careened inside.

The impact was jarring, sending all three of them flying forward briefly before they were thrown back into their seats with a hard thud. Alexis's head jerked forward, and a sharp pain shot through her skull. She gasped as she felt something wet trickling down her forehead, but she didn't have time to focus on it.

"Ow!" Lucy groaned, but her voice was filled with relief. "It worked! She's alive!" Lucy was already moving, scrambling out of the car, her face filled with determination. Summer, looking dazed but very much alive, slowly stood up from the haystack where she had fallen.

Summer's hand found Lucy's, and with Lucy's help, she climbed into the backseat of Quinn's car. Alexis still clutched her head, trying to steady herself as the pain throbbed beneath her skull. She saw Quinn's face flash with concern but didn't have time to reassure him. They needed to leave.

"Come on! Go, go!" Alexis screamed, her voice high with panic. Her heart raced. The plan had worked-Summer was alive, but they weren't safe yet.

"Hold on," Quinn muttered under his breath, his foot pressed firmly against the pedal as he yanked the gear stick to pull the car out of the barn. But just as they were about to get moving, everything came to a crashing halt.

A figure stood up in the darkness, his silhouette slowly rising from the ground, the shadows stretching across the dirt. Quinn's breath hitched, and the car jerked to a stop, the tires screeching against the gravel. The figure had a smirk plastered across his face, the eerie gleam of recognition flashing in his eyes.

Alexis's blood ran cold as the figure stepped into the light. The mask the killer had been wearing was shattered, lying in pieces at his feet. The man slowly lifted his hand to reveal his face, his features twisted in a malicious grin. The world seemed to freeze around Alexis as she locked eyes with him. Her stomach dropped.

It was Quinn. Her boyfriend. But it wasn't her Quinn. It was him-the future version of him.

Quinn's mouth went dry, his eyes flickering from the man to Alexis, his breath catching in his throat as the terrible realization began to hit him too. "No..." Quinn whispered, his voice shaking as he stared at his older self.

Alexis's heart shattered as she slowly turned to Quinn, her voice barely a whisper, but filled with disbelief. "Quinn... you- you tried to kill me," she stammered, the words leaving her lips like they were made of stone.

Quinn froze. He shook his head rapidly, his face a picture of horror. "No, no, no. I would never-" But the words felt hollow in the air, swallowed by the oppressive tension that filled the space around them.

The future Quinn let out a low, menacing laugh, and every muscle in Alexis's body tensed. "You should have known this was coming," he said, his voice cold, devoid of any empathy. "The past, the present, and the future. It was all part of the plan."

"Go!" Lucy screamed, panic lacing her voice. "We need to move now!"

Quinn's hands shook as he desperately tried to shift the car out of park, but nothing happened. The gearstick was jammed, stuck in place. He tugged at it frantically, but it wouldn't budge.

"I can't! It's stuck!" Quinn yelled, his voice filled with frustration.

"Put it in reverse! Get us out of here!" Summer screamed from the back seat, her voice tight with panic.

In that moment of chaos, Alexis's brain kicked into overdrive. Without thinking, she shoved Quinn's hand away from the gearstick, her fingers moving with practiced precision. She yanked the stick back into drive and slammed her foot down on the pedal. "Drive!" she screamed, her voice filled with sheer panic as her heart hammered in her chest.

Quinn didn't hesitate. He threw the car into gear and spun the wheel, reversing quickly and then speeding out of the barn, the tires spinning on the gravel. The future Quinn watched them go, his smirk never leaving his face as the car tore away from the scene.

Alexis's breath was ragged, her pulse still racing. The world outside the car blurred as Quinn sped down the road, trying to get them as far away from the barn as possible. She glanced back toward the barn, her thoughts spinning.

Everything had just changed. Everything they had been working toward had just taken a dark turn. She was no longer sure who she could trust, who she could even believe.

But one thing was certain-her boyfriend, Quinn, was no longer the only Quinn she knew.

The future Quinn had just shown her how twisted everything had become.

And Alexis, for the first time in what felt like forever, didn't know what to do next.

APRIL 18, 2003
QUINNS GARAGE

Quinn's heart raced as he parked the car outside his garage, the weight of everything that had just transpired crashing down on him. Summer, Alexis, Quinn, and Lucy all piled out of the car, their faces a mix of exhaustion, fear, and confusion. Quinn barely noticed the tension hanging in the air, his eyes only on Alexis. He needed to talk to her, to fix things between them.

Before he could say anything, he reached out to grab Alexis's hand, his fingers brushing against hers in an attempt to close the distance between them. But she quickly yanked her hand away, her eyes flashing with anger.

"Do-Don't touch me," Alexis snapped, her voice trembling with hurt and frustration. Quinn's face fell as she backed away from him. The sting of her words hit him like a punch to the gut, but he tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill.

"Please, believe me," Quinn pleaded, his voice breaking as he stepped closer to her. "I won't ever become that monster. Lucy changed the future-I won't let that happen."

Alexis shook her head, her lips pressed together in a firm line. "No-No. We're done. After he's gone... We're done." The finality in her voice left Quinn breathless. His mind scrambled for the right words, but they escaped him. Instead, he just stood there, frozen, watching her walk into the garage, leaving him alone in the quiet, suffocating silence.

Quinn stood still for a moment, his heart aching with the weight of her words. He followed her inside the garage, but his feet felt heavy, like he was moving through quicksand. This wasn't the future he had envisioned. He hadn't expected this... this pain.

Lucy's voice broke through his spiraling thoughts. "When he shows up, keep him distracted while I power up the time machine," she said, walking toward the machine with determined steps. She immediately started working on the controls, her fingers flying over the buttons and switches.

Then, the knocking started. Three sharp raps against the door.

"Guys!? He's here!" Alexis shouted, her voice full of dread as she moved to stand beside Summer, protectively.

Quinn's breath caught in his throat. He moved toward the door, standing between Summer, Alexis, and the impending threat. He grabbed the handle, ready for whatever came next.

The door unlocked with a loud click, and Quinn's blood ran cold as the door creaked open. Future Quinn stepped inside, his face a twisted version of the man Quinn had come to know and love, a smile stretched across his lips that sent chills down Quinn's spine.

"Hey, guys," Future Quinn said, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he casually shut the door behind him.

Alexis's glare was icy, her chest heaving with emotion. "What's going on?!" she yelled, her voice trembling with anger and fear.

Quinn's heart clenched in his chest, but it was nothing compared to what came next.

Future Quinn laughed-a cold, hollow sound that seemed to vibrate through the room. "What happened to me? What happened to us?" he asked, a twisted gleam in his eyes. Quinn felt his stomach twist as he stepped forward, trying to keep himself between Alexis, Summer, and this version of himself.

"No..." Quinn whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. He couldn't fathom the words his future self was about to say.

"I'm the same as you, buddy," Future Quinn continued, stepping forward slowly, his gaze never leaving Alexis or Summer. "A lot of things happened... People looked down on me. No one cared. They treated me like shit. And then the river happened. Oh, the river. They threw you in. And Summer... Summer laughed while you screamed." He paused, letting the words sink in, watching Quinn's face pale as he spoke.

"And Alexis... She tried to stop them. But she didn't really help. She tried to after the incident... but then she broke up with you for not 'opening up.'"

Quinn stood frozen, staring in horror at his older self. His words made no sense, but they still struck deep. That wasn't the future he had hoped for. It wasn't even a future he recognized.

"That never happened," Lucy pointed out quickly, trying to diffuse the growing tension.

Future Quinn's eyes narrowed. "It did in my timeline," he snapped. "And then things got worse. They made things worse!" He spun to face Alexis and Summer, his finger pointing at them like they were the source of everything wrong.

"What!?" Alexis yelled, her voice shaking with disbelief as she held Summer's hand tightly.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Summer demanded, stepping forward protectively.

Future Quinn stomped toward them, but Quinn quickly stepped in front of Alexis and Summer, positioning himself as a shield.

"Hey, hey!" Quinn yelled, holding his hands out to stop his future self from advancing any further.

Future Quinn let out a dry chuckle, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Remember that letter I wrote you?" he asked Alexis, his voice dripping with disdain.

"What letter?" Alexis asked, furrowing her brow in confusion.

"In my timeline, I gave it to you after we broke up," Future Quinn explained, his voice rising with anger. "I spilled my guts out. And you told me..." His eyes darkened. "You told me I was stupid and pathetic!"

The words hit Alexis like a slap to the face. She clutched her chest, trying to steady her breathing as tears welled in her eyes. Quinn, however, was livid. He took a step forward, his hand balled into a fist.

"Shut up!" he shouted at his future self. "She is not stupid and pathetic!" His voice was full of fury, but there was no way to erase what had been said.

Future Quinn's grin widened. "I wanted to escape. So I made a plan. Kill Summer. Kill all of her closest friends. And for Alexis, I'd just do it right in front of her. Traumatize her. Then I'd disappear through time."

Alexis gasped, her eyes wide with horror. "You... You want to murder me for that?" she cried, her voice breaking.

"Stop!" Quinn shouted, stepping between Alexis and his future self once more. But it was too late. Future Quinn was already moving toward them, the sinister grin never leaving his face.

In a split second, Quinn grabbed a pocketknife from the table and held it up to his neck, his eyes locked with his future self's. "Hey, don't touch her! If I die, you die, right?" Quinn's voice was low and steady, despite the fear building inside him.

Future Quinn chuckled, the sound dripping with disdain. "You'll learn that's not how time travel works."

The time machine hummed to life, its light flashing brighter by the second. Quinn's heart leaped in his chest as he saw the machine power on. He turned toward Lucy. "Now!" he yelled, his voice full of urgency.

Lucy's voice rang out. "Something you didn't plan for when you murdered Summer and Alexis..." she trailed off as she grabbed Future Quinn.

Suddenly, everything was chaos. The light from the time machine grew blinding, and Future Quinn struggled against Lucy's grip. Quinn grabbed Alexis's hand, pulling her toward the door, but just as he reached for her, Future Quinn reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"QUINN!" Alexis screamed, her voice filled with terror as she fought to break free.

Quinn's heart shattered as the blast from the time machine erupted in a violent explosion, sending him flying backward. He crashed to the concrete outside the garage, his body aching from the impact.

"ALEXIS!" Quinn screamed, his tears mixing with the dirt on his face as the light from the blast illuminated the sky.

His world had just fractured. And the only thing that mattered now was finding Alexis-before it was too late.

APRIL 18, 2024
THE FUTURE

The sound of a low, unsettling hum filled the air as Alexis, Future Quinn, and Lucy landed with an unexpected jolt in the heart of an unfamiliar garage. Their feet met the cold, hard concrete with a force that sent a shock of pain through their legs, but before they could even collect themselves, the realization of where-or when-they were struck them. Alexis gasped loudly, the air in her lungs suddenly feeling thinner, sharper. They had landed in the future, in 2024.

The garage around them was industrial, with dim, fluorescent lights flickering overhead. Shelves lined the walls, cluttered with a mix of tools, metal parts, and old crates. In the far corner, a sleek black Tesla sat, its futuristic design reflecting the soft light of the garage, standing out like a strange beacon in this otherwise mundane space. Alexis slowly rose to her feet, her hands pressing against the rough concrete floor to steady herself. She blinked, disoriented, and took a deep breath. This was the future-she could feel the weight of time pressing down on her.

Her lips curled into a smirk, a mix of triumph and disbelief. "We're here. The future," she said, her voice a little breathless from the sudden shift in reality. She couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at being here, at knowing what no one else did.

"Alexis?!" Lucy's voice cut through the air like a sharp knife, filled with both concern and urgency. She spun around, her eyes scanning the garage until they landed on her friend, who was already regaining her bearings. Before Alexis could respond, a familiar voice, cold and laced with malice, interrupted them.

"Alexis... Lucy..." The voice was like a hiss, coming from the figure standing ominously in front of them. Future Quinn. His face was twisted with an expression that mixed mockery and contempt. His eyes gleamed with something darker, something more dangerous, and Alexis could immediately sense the change in him, the cruelty that seemed to have only grown over time. He wore the same clothes she remembered-dark jeans, a black jacket-but there was a sharper edge to him, a sharpness in his movements.

He smirked, looking them over with a twisted amusement, as though they were nothing more than mere pests to be squashed.

Before either of them could react, Alexis's eyes landed on the knife clutched tightly in Future Quinn's hand. It gleamed in the soft light of the garage, its edge reflecting the glow like an ominous promise. Alexis's instincts kicked in. She knew she had to get to that knife before he could use it against them. But the moment she made a move toward it, Future Quinn's gaze locked onto her, and he was already anticipating her every move.

"You're both really starting to get on my nerves," Future Quinn said, his voice dripping with venom. He took a step forward, the blade still in hand, and a chill seemed to creep through the air. The atmosphere was heavy, thick with tension, as though the entire garage had frozen in time, waiting for the inevitable.

Instinctively, Alexis and Lucy backed away from him, their backs hitting the side of the Tesla. Alexis glanced around frantically, looking for something-anything-that could give them an edge. The car was sleek, almost otherworldly, its design so advanced that Alexis was momentarily distracted by it. "What the heck is this fancy car?" she asked, half in awe and half in confusion.

Lucy shot her a sharp look, her brow furrowing with impatience. "A Tesla. Not the time, Alexis," Lucy snapped, her voice tight as she frantically tried to open the car door. Her fingers worked the handle with desperation, but it wouldn't budge.

Suddenly, Future Quinn was upon them. His movements were lightning-quick, and before they could react, he lunged at them, the knife glinting in the dim light. Alexis's heart raced as she and Lucy scrambled to defend themselves. In an instinctive move, they grabbed the gas canisters stored on the side of the Tesla, their fingers gripping them tightly as they swung them at Future Quinn.

Alexis swung first, the gas canister connecting with Future Quinn's face with a loud crack. He staggered back, a brief flash of surprise in his eyes, but it wasn't enough to stop him. Lucy, determined not to let him get too close, swung her own gas canister with precision, the canister arcing through the air toward him. But Future Quinn dodged, his movements fluid and quick, as though he had anticipated their every action.

Alexis let out a frustrated yell and flung her gas canister again, hoping to land a solid hit. But she missed, the canister careening through the air and crashing against the garage wall. In that split second, Alexis stumbled forward, thrown off balance. She barely had time to react when Future Quinn seized the opportunity, shoving her hard in the chest. The force of the impact sent her crashing to the ground, the concrete scraping against her palms as she fell.

Lucy cried out in panic, but she didn't have time to check on her friend. Future Quinn, sensing his advantage, was already turning toward her, the knife raised high. Alexis's breath came in ragged gasps as she scrambled to her feet, her mind racing. She could hear the sounds of the struggle-Lucy's desperate movements, Future Quinn's taunting laughter.

With a surge of adrenaline, Alexis launched herself at Future Quinn, sweeping her leg out to knock his feet out from under him. He went down with a startled grunt, the knife flying from his hand, skittering across the floor. Without a second thought, Alexis dove for the knife, grabbing it tightly in her hand. But Future Quinn wasn't finished yet. He reached out, grabbing her foot and twisting.

Alexis screamed in pain, her muscles straining as he tried to hold her down. She could feel his grip tightening, but she wasn't about to give up. With a roar of determination, she kicked her foot free and drove the knife deep into his chest. The moment the blade made contact, Future Quinn's eyes widened in shock, and his body went rigid. Blood spurted from the wound, and he crumpled to the floor, lifeless.

Alexis stood over him, her chest heaving as the adrenaline of the fight slowly faded, leaving behind an eerie calm. She looked down at the lifeless body of the person she had once known, the realization of what she had just done settling over her. Her hands trembled, but she didn't allow herself to fall apart just yet. They were still in the future, and she still had no idea how to get home.

"Lucy, how am I gonna go home?" Alexis asked, her voice a mixture of exhaustion and uncertainty. She looked to her friend, hoping for an answer that would make everything feel less... impossible.

Lucy, who had been watching the scene unfold with a tense expression, walked over to her, her eyes scanning the garage for any sign of a way out. She nodded, pointing toward the far corner of the garage. "We'll power it back on," she said, her tone reassuring but still laced with worry.

Alexis nodded, taking a deep breath as she forced herself to focus. But before they could move toward the panel, Alexis turned back to look at the scene in front of her. The still body of Future Quinn, the garage, the Tesla, the future-it all felt overwhelming.

"First," Alexis said, her voice softer now, "I wanna see what my future is like." She couldn't help it. The curiosity gnawed at her. She had always wondered what she might become, what choices she would make.

Lucy nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Me too," she said quietly. "I wanna see if I even ended up being born." There was a hint of melancholy in her voice, a vulnerability that Alexis hadn't expected.

The weight of those words hung in the air between them, and for a moment, neither of them moved. There were so many questions, so many unknowns about the future. And neither of them knew what they would find.

APRIL 18, 2024
THE FIELDS HOME

The air had a strange stillness as Alexis and Lucy approached the house that should have been Lucy's-if she had ever been born. The street was quiet, the kind of peaceful suburban neighborhood where everything felt frozen in time, almost like a scene from a movie. The houses were neatly kept, with perfectly trimmed lawns and flower beds that looked like they were picked straight out of a catalog. The world felt warm, but with a sense of unease gnawing at Alexis's chest.

Lucy's hand hovered nervously by her side as she approached the front door, her eyes darting over the house, unsure of what they might find. Her mind raced with questions. What had she missed? What could she have been like if she had never existed?

Finally, they stopped in front of the door. Alexis gave her a gentle nudge. "You okay?"

Lucy nodded, her gaze softening as she looked up at the house. "I think so. Let's see what happens."

Before either of them could knock, the door swung open, revealing two figures standing in the doorway. A man and a woman. Both were mid-40s, dressed casually, their faces warm yet filled with an unfamiliar kind of confusion as they looked at the two of them.

The woman's smile faltered slightly as she took in their presence. "Can I help you?" she asked, her tone polite but confused.

Lucy stepped forward, swallowing the lump that formed in her throat. She hesitated, then spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you... do you know me?" Her heart thudded in her chest as she searched their faces for any flicker of recognition, but there was nothing. No sign that they had ever known her, or that she had ever been a part of their lives.

The man's eyes scanned her, and then he shook his head. "Sorry, dear. We don't. Are you sure you have the right house?"

Lucy looked down, her breath coming in shallow bursts. Her mind seemed to stall, unable to process the finality of what she had just heard. She had never been born. She was a ghost in this version of the world.

"Okay..." Lucy's voice was a little shakier than she'd intended, but she quickly regained her composure. "Sorry. I'll be gone now."

The woman's expression softened, a hint of concern rising. "Are you sure? Do you need something? Can we help?"

Alexis glanced at Lucy, her heart breaking for her friend. But Lucy just gave a small, forced smile and shook her head. "No, thank you. I'm good. But actually..." She hesitated, turning toward Alexis.

Alexis, now noticing the awkwardness, stepped forward, her mind still racing, but she had a question that had been burning at her since the moment they arrived. "Actually... do you know a Quinn Stanfield and Alexis Cruz?" she asked, her voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling within her.

The man blinked, then gave a small laugh. "You mean Quinn and Alexis Stanfield?" he asked, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Yes!" Alexis said, eager now. "That's them."

"Of course, of course," the woman said, nodding eagerly. "They live just a few doors down from us. Lovely people. They have kids, too. You'll see them out front, playing right now."

Alexis turned to look toward the yard of the neighboring house. There, she saw a couple of children running around, laughing as they played together, their faces full of joy. Her heart skipped a beat when she spotted them-Quinn, a little older but unmistakably the same. The relief that flooded through her was overwhelming. They were okay. They had a family.

She didn't even realize she was smiling until the woman at the door spoke again.

"Those are their kids," the woman said, her tone a little warmer now. "Are you family?"

Alexis felt a weight lifting from her shoulders as she turned back toward the woman and her husband. "No," she said, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "But thank you. I just... needed to know they were alright."

The man gave a soft smile. "Glad to hear it. Nice of you to check on them."

Alexis nodded, her gaze lingering on the children, especially Quinn. They were okay. He was okay. The thought of that made her heart soar.

But then, as if everything in the universe had decided to shift in that very moment, Lucy spoke up again.

"I think I'm going to live with you, Quinn, and Summer in 2003," she said, her voice much steadier now, though her eyes shone with vulnerability. "I need to get to know my sister."

Alexis blinked, surprised by the clarity in Lucy's voice. Lucy was choosing her path now. She wasn't lost anymore. She had decided where she belonged. The weight of the past few moments, the confusion and pain of feeling forgotten, suddenly felt like it was lifting from her as she spoke those words.

Alexis smiled warmly, a deep affection for her friend welling up inside her. "Of course," she said, her voice soft but filled with certainty. "I think that's a great idea."

Lucy smiled back at her, her gaze softening with a mixture of relief and determination. It wasn't the future they had planned for, but it was the future they were making for themselves. Alexis could feel the strength in Lucy's words, the newfound sense of purpose, and she knew that whatever happened, they would face it together.

"Alright," Alexis said, her voice steady as she looked toward the street and then back at the woman and man standing in the doorway. "I'm ready to go home now, Lucy. It's been nice knowing you. I'm glad you're my friend."

Lucy's eyes glistened, but she nodded. "Yeah, me too."

They turned together, their feet moving toward the sidewalk as Alexis led the way, feeling for the first time that they both were walking toward something-someone. It might not have been the future they expected, but it was the one they could make together. And with a shared glance between them, Alexis felt an overwhelming sense of peace settle over her.

She wasn't alone anymore. Neither was Lucy. And for now, that was enough.

APRIL 18, 2003
THE PAST/THE FUTURE

The blinding light faded, and Alexis and Lucy stumbled forward as the ground beneath them shifted back into place. They were no longer in the future; they had returned to 2003. The familiar scent of the summer air hit their noses as they looked around. They stood just outside the garage, the one that felt like home, but also so much different now that they had experienced a glimpse of what could have been.

The world was quieter here, less cluttered with questions. Everything seemed so simple, and for a moment, Alexis felt the weight of everything that had happened over the last few days-weeks?-just lift away. But then her eyes found Quinn and Summer.

Quinn and Summer were sitting on the sidewalk near the garage, their backs against the concrete, their faces distant. Summer's gaze was vacant, her hands resting on her lap, but Quinn-Quinn's face was a mask of sorrow. His shoulders slumped, and his eyes were bloodshot. He was staring down at the ground, blinking back tears that betrayed the vulnerability he usually kept hidden.

"Lucy and Alexis are gone," Summer said softly, as if speaking about something that was already in the past. Her voice wavered, but there was no trace of surprise-only a quiet acceptance.

Alexis froze. For a moment, it felt like the world stood still. She had come back, but hearing Summer's words made everything feel like a dream again. Was this reality? Had they truly gone?

"No. We're not," Lucy said, her voice firm but warm. It was like she had finally found her voice, her place in this world. She stepped forward, her eyes searching for Quinn.

The air between them shifted in an instant. Quinn's head snapped up, and the moment his gaze met Alexis's, his face broke. He stood, a rush of emotion crossing his features, before he bolted toward her.

"Alexis!" Quinn yelled, his voice cracking.

Before Alexis could even think, Quinn was already wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close, the warmth of his embrace filling the hollow spaces in her chest. She buried her face in his shoulder, tears streaming down her face. Her body shook, not with fear, but with the sheer relief of being with him again.

"I'm sorry, Quinn," Alexis whispered, her voice trembling. "You're not a monster. You will never be him. I love you, okay? We're not over." The words tumbled out, each one like a balm for the pain they had both endured. The hurt, the loss-it all seemed like it was in the past now.

Quinn pulled back slightly, just enough to look her in the eyes. He smiled-his smile, the one Alexis had missed so much. His hands cupped her face gently, and then, without hesitation, he kissed her. It was soft, a promise that everything they had gone through had led them to this. They were here. They were together.

They turned to see Lucy and Summer, standing together, wrapped in their own embrace. The sight of them-of Summer's smile, of Lucy's relief-made Alexis's heart swell. It was strange, seeing how much they had all changed. How much Lucy had changed.

"I came back," Lucy said, her voice thick with emotion. Her words felt like a confession, a release. She was here, where she was meant to be.

"The Slasher? He's dead. You will not be him, Quinn," Alexis said, her tone firm. She glanced at him, determined to make him understand. The fear that had clouded their past was gone. The future was what they made of it.

Summer's brow furrowed as she looked at Lucy, her expression filled with concern. "But what about you? What about your life, your future?"

Lucy took a deep breath, her eyes softening as she turned to her sister. "When I got back to 2024 and started thinking that... maybe where I'm meant to be is here. With you."

Summer blinked, as though the weight of those words finally sank in. Her lips curled into a smile, one that radiated warmth. "You belong here. This is your future."

Lucy smiled back, her heart swelling at her sister's words. For the first time in so long, it felt like she had found her place, her family.

Alexis, still holding Quinn's hand, squeezed it tightly. She looked at him, her voice filled with determination. "We've both come a long way. Together. This is where we're meant to be."

Quinn raised an eyebrow, a small, incredulous smile tugging at his lips. "Wait, so you killed the Slasher and then, what? Just came back?"

Alexis laughed softly, shaking her head at him. "Well, I may have gone home to see if anything had changed," she said with a playful glint in her eyes.

"And?" Quinn pressed, clearly curious.

Lucy grinned, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "My parents had no idea who I was." She let out a small, bittersweet laugh. The absurdity of it all-the fact that in the future, she had been forgotten-wasn't lost on her, but it was also strangely freeing.

Quinn's face lit up with surprise. "What? Really? That's-"

"Yeah," Lucy said, cutting him off. "But we're happily together now." Her smile widened as she squeezed Summer's hand, pulling her in closer.

Alexis turned to Quinn, her eyes soft but filled with love. "And I'm here with you. Forever."

With that, the group stood together, the silence between them comfortable now, as if they had all come to an understanding. They began to walk toward the garage, the place that had always felt like a base, a home.

As they moved forward, Alexis looked over at Lucy, her heart full. They had faced so much together, and now, they had found their place. Whatever the future held, they knew they were ready.

ASH SPEAKS!

i cant believe this book is over. i'm so sad to say goodbye to quinn and alexis. i loved writing her and i hope you guys loved her as much as i did:)

maybe there will be a time cut 2... and if there ever is, alexis will be back :)

if not, this is the end. go check out my other books please!! i update a lot :) bed chem, paper rings, electric love and so much more!!!

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!!
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