Try the ring on (Second Chance path)

You are not sure why, but an inner voice tells you to try the ring on. It fits perfectly. And you must say it looks really good. Fancy but still small enough to not look arrogant. You like the red ruby surrounded by gold. Carefully you wipe with your finger over the ruby. But when you take the finger away, you see the ruby has turned into an emerald. It looks exactly the same, but it is green now. You carefully touch it again and suddenly the crystal turns red again.

“Bad news, Jenny,” you say, “the ruby is not real. It just changes it’s color when I touch it. Must be some kind of toy.”

“A shame,” Jenny mumbles disappointed, “still, amazing that the batteries worked so long. Whatever, we better take the first boxes up. We are running out of space.”

“Of course,” you say and pick up one of the checked boxes.

Jenny, Connor and you each go up with a box and to your luck Allie holds open the door to the basement.

“Hey brother,” Allie says while you pass by, “since when do you wear a ring?”

“I found it in the basement,” you answer proud, “it’s cool, it changes it’s color.”

“Really, show me!” Allie demands and takes you box so you have free hands.

You touch the crystal again and turn it green. It is not a huge effect, but Allie seems to like it.

“Hey, that’s really cool,” Allie says smiling, “nice gadget. But I think we better keep going. Jenny will kick you in the balls if you go lazy.”

“Sure, sis,” you say and reach for the box, “you can give me this back.”

Suddenly the world around you spins for a moment. You hold your breath in panic. What just happened? It was for less than a second and nothing seems unusual. But instead of taking the box back from your sister, you just stay in the floor again and touch the ring. When have you moved?

“Hey, that’s really cool,” Allie says smiling, “nice gadget. But I think we better keep going. Jenny will kick you in the balls if you go lazy.”

“I … what?” you ask confused, “you just said this.”

“I did?” Allie asks confused too, “no, you must mix things up. Is everything alright? You look troubled.”

“I … I’m not sure,” you say and shake your head, “whatever, I can take the box back if …”

The world spins again. Only for a moment, half a second at best. And again, you are back in the moment when you touch the ring.

“Hey, that’s really cool,” Allie says smiling, “nice gadget. But I think we better keep going. Jenny will kick you in the balls if you go lazy.”

You just stare at your sister. Is this some kind of joke? Is she trying to pull a prank on you? But how could she make you move without touching you. And this short moment when the world spins is strange too. She can impossible do this. It is like you just moved back in time. But this is impossible either.

“Max, are you listening?” Allie asks unsure.

You try to remember. It all happens when you said the word back. But this can’t be. It would contradict the laws of physics. But you have to try it. Even if it is stupid.

“Back,” you say without any warning and feel stupid about it. But it seems to work. The world spins again. But this time you are prepared. Just like before you get back in the position you were when you touched the ring last time.

“Hey, that’s really cool,” Allie says smiling, “nice gadget. But I think we better keep going. Jenny will kick you in the balls if you go lazy.”

“Yes, I think you are right,” you say a little unsure, “can you take the box to the others? I take the next one from the basement.”

“Fine with me,” Allie says and leaves.

You look around. Everything seems normal. No one is laughing or looking strange at you. You hurry down to the basement. Your scientific mind clearly tells you that time traveling is not real. It isn’t possible. But you can’t explain what just happened otherwise. You need to make some tests.