You’re in the 1980s!

Whether it was the stress of the last few days, an effect of the time travel or just your brain tapping out, you all but collapsed back into a chair. The woman at your side squawked with surprise but quickly came to your side. “You ok?” She gave you a look over, “don’t have low blood sugar or anything?”

You waved her off. “Sorry, it’s…it’s nothing.”

The locket was still cold and dull. Whatever energy that was within it had been used up. You stared at it for several moments, wondering what the hell you were going to do. There was also the enormity of what happened. If you traveled back 36 years, did that mean you could alter things? You had heard it said that if someone stepped on a bug in the past everything would change in the future. Maybe that’s just the Simpsons? No, you decided this was serious.

Rising to your feet, you made for the entrance. Silent Oaks had a long history of the supernatural, perhaps there would be something around town that could help your current predicament. If you didn’t accidentally rewrite all of reality into a horrible mess.

You were at the doors when you felt a hand grasp your wrist. The woman was looking at you with big concerned hands. “Are you sure you want to be just up and leaving? You’re still looking really out of it.”

“I appreciate it, but really, I’m fine.” You tried a smile. “Besides, I’ve got some stuff to do.”

She looked at you sceptically. “Look, I’m a nurse and I wouldn’t feel right if I just let you go after you had a spell like that. Do you have a number I can call to check up on you later?”

You shrugged. “I’m not …from around here.”

“Well, where are you staying?” When you didn’t answer her expression shift. “Ok, how about this? I just finished my shift, why don’t I take you to the local motel?”

A part of you wanted to argue with her, but then you realised that you had nowhere to go and you had no idea how long you’d be stuck in this time. Closing your eyes and pinching the ridge of your nose you let begrudgingly agreed. “Ok…”

What greeted you outside was a very different world than the one you were used to. The immediate thing was the trees, they were everywhere. The other thing that struck you right away were the cars. All of them older models than ones you had known in your lifetime. Businesses were different and as people came in and out you noticed not a single one was on their phones. Your hand went to your pocket, felt the familiar bulge of your cell. It was the only device of its kind now, and you would have to take care not to let it get away from you.

“C’mon,” the nurse said, leading you to her car. “Get in.”

You were continually amazed she drove you through the rest of town, seeing all the old locations that were still intact. The clock tower, the war memorial, the library. Some things didn’t change.

“So what brings you to Silent Oaks?” She asked, looking at you from the corner of her eye.

“I guess, luck,” you shrugged uncomfortably. “Just happened to find my way here.”

“So you’re just passing through?”

“Something like that.”

She hummed thoughtfully. Silence dragged on, and you felt even more uncomfortable. Eventually it got too much, and you made yourself speak. “Hey um…I didn’t get your name.”

“You didn’t give me yours either,” she pointed out with a grin. “I’m Channel.”

“Mike,” you said automatically. “Mike Maywood.”

The car jolted to a stop and you were jostled in place, alarmed. Channel turned to look at you quizzically. “Maywood?” She asked incredulously. “As in, Dr Maywood? Dr Maywood my boss?”

Ah, fuck. You hadn’t even thought about that. Your family were here, still very much active and present. How were you gonna play this one? You couldn’t just go back on it, not with how harshly she was looking at you. But telling her anything remotely close to the true connection would only raise questions.

“Distantly,” you said, lamely. “I’m a distant cousin.”

Channel’s eyes narrowed. “And that’s why you came to town? That’s why you came to Doc’s clinic?” She leaned closer. “ You know, you look an awful lot like him…”

Double fuck. This was getting out of hand. Your brain raced to find some kind of answer, any answer that might save you. “I’m his illegitimate kid!” You cringed internally, but kept on talking. “I’m just a bastard son, I came to…”

“To see him without him knowing,” Channel finished, nodding her head sagely as if she had seen it before. You supposed it was the 80s, the era of soap operas.

“You can’t tell him, or anyone.”

She let out a breath, her hands on the steering wheel and eyes locked in the distance. Eventually she gave a nod. “Ok, I get it,” she turned to regard you again. “But…that goes both ways, ok? You don’t do anything that could make trouble for me.”

You nodded. “Deal.”

The two of you continued on until she pulled up out front of the motel. It wasn’t great, but you supposed as far as motels went it was serviceable. Channel looked at you once again, something significant in her eyes. “Take care of yourself, Mike. I hope…whatever it is you’re looking for with your dad, you find it.”

“Thanks,” you said, getting out, “and thanks for the lift.”

She smiled at you, and then left. You wondered what became of her, in your time. The thought brought with it a pang of existential melancholy that you didn’t want to deal with. You turned and entered the motel reception.

The woman sitting at the desk was middle aged, with blonde hair that might have a touch of grey in it if you looked hard enough, but there was something playful about her as she chewed on a piece of gum. Her eyes lifted to meet you as you entered, and she shot a restrained smile your way.

“How are you doing today, hon?”

“Not bad,” you answered, “not bad at all….I’m looking for a room.”

“Any preference.”

You smiled. “Single bed is all I need.”

“How long you want it for?”

That gave you pause. It could be that you got this shit sorted out in a few hours, but it could also be days. “About a week, I think.”

The lady nodded, looked through her ledger, chewing her gum the whole while. “Well, 207’s free.”

“Great,” you said, reaching in to take out your wallet. It was only when you opened the thing up that you realised that you were in a shit situation. You had no cash and your cards weren’t about to work in 1989. “Shit…”

The receptionist frowned at you. “Something wrong, hon?”

“It appears I’m momentarily light…” you leaned close, eyes big and puppy like as you could make them. “I know this a scummy thing to do, but any chance you can give me the room for one night? I promise I’ll get you the money tomorrow.”

The woman looked uncertain. There might have been a flash of momentary anger in her eyes, but as she sat there, chewing her gum, her eyes began to roam up and down your form. There was appreciation in that look. She smiled and leaned in close, as if sharing a secret. “What are you going to do to make it worth my while?”

You took note of her cleavage, the curves of her body, and felt a stirring in your jeans. “I can think of a few things…”