[Chapter 20]

"I'm not the only one whose vision is blurry in their left eye, am I?"Martin questioned. 

"Seeing three of everything? That's normal, right? " Jax questioned squinting his eyes. 

"Yes, as I mentioned before, the effect of time travel on the human body increases with the length of each jaunt." Rip explained once again. 

"So where are we?" Sara asked. 

"Harmony Falls, Oregon. According to Captain Baxter's intel, Savage makes an appearance in this quaint little hamlet," Rip explained. 

"What the hell is Savage doing in Pleasantville?" Jax asked. 

"Murder, apparently," Rip said confused as he brought up a newspaper about a serial killer. 

"Several denizens of Harmony Falls have been brutally slain, and others have gone missing," Rip explained. 

"Huh. Kind of like Rory," Jax said, looking at Leonard with disgust. My deep indigo eyes glare at Jax. Yeah ever since my multiple interactions with rhodium, my eyes are now indigo instead of violet. Must be from the new powers or something.

"Reports are vague, but it seems like the killer is an expert with knives," Rip continued, trying to break the tension. 

"That sounds like Savage's MO," I stated, glaring at Jax. 

"Yeah, but serial killing isn't. Sounds pretty small-time for a guy who's had coffee with Hitler," Ray added. 

"Yeah, well, clearly we have to assume that Savage has a larger, more nefarious plan. But since we've jumped back in time, Savage isn't expecting us here," Rip explained excitedly. 

"Savage is pretty good at hiding, even in a small town, so how do you plan to find him?" Kendra asked.

"By investigating these murders. Now, there has to be a common link between the victims, starting with the first. A piano teacher was found slain in her home, which is now on the market. So Mr. Palmer and Miss. Saunders is going undercover as a couple to inspect the property," Rip explained before showing a picture of a dead male. 

"Dr. Matt Miller was found murdered on the grounds of the asylum where he worked. The sanitarium is in need of a replacement. So Dr. Stein and Sara will be going undercover thereto replace him and search for any clues," Rip explained. 

"Meanwhile, Jefferson and Isabelle is the perfect age to discern the facts behind the disappearance of three teenagers who went missing a week before these murders began," Rip finished. 

"Umm... I'm not a teenager." I point out.

"Yes but you can certainly pull off being one. In the meantime, you can keep an eye on Jax. Besides, I'm sure you wouldn't mind dealing high schoolers for the first time," Rip said and I roll my eyes.

"So Raymond and Kendra are shacking up, Sara's Nurse Ratchet and Isabelle and Jax's are the new kids in town. Where does that leave me?" Leonard asked.

"We will be going undercover as FBI agents," Rip explained and I started laughing loudly. 

"Really? Leonard an FBI Agent?" I asked laughing as the team just shook their heads and walked off to the fabrication room.

-In the hospital-

"It's a very impressive facility. I did my doctoral thesis on socio-pathology in relationship to serial murder, actually," Dr. Stein said to the doctor showing us around the asylum. 

"Well, that'll certainly come in handy around here. We've been short-staffed ever since Dr. Miller's sudden demise," The doctor explained. 

"Of course, I could never consider accepting a position here without my faithful nurse/assistant," Dr. Stein explained, looking over at Sara and she forces a sweet smile. 

"Yes, well, she looks like she'll fit right in," The doctor said as he looked at her body, grinning and glances at me. I glare at him, my indigo eyes flashing dangerously. 

"And who is this?" the doctor looks at me with curiosity.

"My daughter," Sara and Stein say at the same time. The doctor gives them a weird look and then walks away.

"Men are disgusting," I mutter. Then I turn to Stein and Sara. "Your daughter? I'm older than both of you combined!"

"He doesn't know that Isabelle. Anyways, this is going to be very difficult," Sara says to Stein. 

"Come on, it's time to meet up with Jax. The person you were supposed to stay with," Stein said as we left the asylum and walked to a local café. 

***

"Schwinn Hornets. I had the very same one when I was their age. Seeing white picket fences and perfect family houses, it's enough to make one nostalgic," Stein commented as we watched people outside pass outside the café. 

"Or nauseated," I added dryly, adjusting my beanie. 

"Oh, come on, Isabelle. Even someone as jaded as yourself can't deny how idyllic this time was," Stein said to me. 

"Yeah. If you're white," Jax said. 

"And a man," I add.

"And straight.," Sara adds.

"And..." I started but Stein cuts me off.

"Okay, okay. I get the point," Stein interrupted. 

"Dude, even if this town wasn't full of small-minded idiots, it'd still be creepy as hell. I used to watch all these old horror movies with my mom, and they all started off in places like this. See, first, it's all perfect, and then, boom, some alien monster beast thing starts killing kids on Lovers Lane," Jax explained. 

"Ooh," I taunted, fake being scared. 

"I'm telling you, man," Jax said to me before looking at a girl sitting at the counter. 

"What is it?" Stein asked. 

"An unhappy cheerleader. Now, that is scary," I mocked. 

"That girl was from the newspaper articles Rip showed us. She knows the guys that went missing," Jax explained. 

"Perhaps she can illuminate us as to their whereabouts," Stein added. 

"Dude, can you not just say, 'Hey, Jax, why don't you go talk to her and find out what she knows?' Like a normal person?" Jax asked annoyed. 

"Hey, Jax, why don't you just go do that?" Stein mocked. 

"All right. We mustn't dawdle. I believe our lunch hour is nearly at an end. Come along, Nurse," Stein said smirking. 

An annoyed Sara trails behind Stein as I wave by to her. Just then, a twenty-year-old boy wearing jeans, a jean jacket over a white T-shirt, and a gray beanie, walks in. He captures my attention and I watch him walk up to the counter and order a coffee.

He turns around and scans the café and catches me looking at him. He blushes and exits the café, making me sigh. What the hell? What was that?

I look over at Jax, watching him talk with the cheerleader. He doesn't need me to watch over him. Right? It's a small, simple town. He'll be fine.

I get up and take my expresso outside. The wind blew hard and I used the coffee to warm my hands a little. Ever since the rhodium incidents, my powers have been a little wonky. I've avoided using them as much as possible. 

I breathe in the autumn crisp air and start walking down the street, sightseeing. Yes, I was alive during this time period, but I didn't really take the time to walk down the street among humans. I hated them.

I hated myself for thinking this but the thought raced across my mind. What if the murders weren't Savage at all? What if it was me? I don't remember this time period at all so I can't help myself feel better. 

I turn down a few streets, feeling horrible and having a pit in my stomach when a strong wind blew against me and blew off my hat.

I gasp, whipping my head around, desperately trying to find my beanie in the sea of leaves that now blew all around me.

Oddly, as quick as it came, the wind and the sea of leaves were gone. The people walking around me seem unfazed of what just happened and it made me question if it was real or not.

I stand in place, frozen when someone taps me on my shoulder and I whip my head around. It took me a second but I realize that it was the boy from the café.

"Did you lose this?" his soft voice asked me, holding out my beanie.

Wow. He was even more handsome close-up. He had raven-black hair and a strapping jawline. But what struck me the most was his vibrant, golden eyes. I could swear there are little white flecks in his iris. He has a hint of an English accent. I realize that I hadn't answered him yet and I'm just standing there, staring at him.

"Umm... yeah. Thank you," I say in a small voice as I grab my beanie and tug it onto my head.

I turn to walk away but he stops me.

"Hey, do you wanna go grab a cup of coffee or..." he trails off blushing, noticing the expresso in my hands.

"You know what, I'm starved. How about we go grab a bite to eat?" I suggest, saving him from embarrassment. He smiles brightly and nods eagerly.

"I would love to. I know the best burger joint in town." He says, holding out his arm so he can escort me.

"Lead the way Mr...?" I say taking his arm. 

"Winter. Johnathon Winter. And you are?"

"Isabelle Light," I reply.

"Well it is lovely to meet you, Ms. Light," he says politely.

"Please, call me Isabelle," I say. "You're so polite. It seems like most of the men in this town are ready to kidnap you and take you home."

"You'll see I'm not quite like the others," Johnathon says distantly, his English accent becoming more prominent.

"Are you from around here?" 

"I originate from England, but I move from place to place. I moved here recently," He replies. His choice of words surprise me, but I pay it no mind. "How about you Isabelle? Do you live around here?" 

"Not really. I'm moving around a lot these days so I technically don't live anywhere," I reply. The Waverider isn't really my home, considering no one there 100% trusts me. Back in Central City, I don't have a home. I don't even have an "evil lair".

"Ah, I understand completely. Here we are, Mim's Burger Joint. I hope you like burgers!" Johnathan said happily.

"I've never really had a burger before..." I say embarrassed. It's not like I can walk into McDonald's and order a Big Mac without causing a panic.

"Well, today is your lucky day!" He said, holding the door open for me. I walk inside and I immediately get hit by the smell of coffee beans and peppermint. There are a few people inside, laughing and enjoying their food with their families and friends.

The lady by the door took us to a booth where Johnathon and I sit across from each other. We both ordered and I realized that I should be getting information instead of having fun. I'm still on a mission.

"So, did you know anyone personally who was murdered?" I ask, cringing at how blunt I was being.

"Yeah, a friend of mine was killed," Johnathon looks down sadly.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," I say sincerely.

"It's alright, I just want to find out who's doing this and stop them," He said determinedly.

Me too, I think. "Any leads?" I ask.

"Nothing really. Nobody is connected. I think the targets were chosen randomly or they were in the wrong place at the wrong time," Johnathon said. 

Our food finally came and I watch Johnathon take a huge bite out of his burger. I pick mine up and take a small bite. My eyes widen at the great taste of the fast food and I eat the rest of it hungrily. Humans may suck sometimes bu their evolution of food is AMAZING!

"I'll take it you like the burger?" Johnathon said, smiling at me licking my fingers. I blush and wipe my hands on a napkin.

"That was really good!" I say smiling brightly.

"Nothing but the best from the greatest burger joint in town," Johnathon said happily.

"Isabelle, where are you? We're having a meeting on the Waverider," Rip said through my earpiece. Crap, I forgot about the mission. And about Jax! I hope he didn't do anything stupid.

"Thank you so much, Johnathon. I'd hate to leave you but I really need to go. I've lost track of time and I have to go meet someone," I say, standing up. Johnathon smiles at me but looks at me like he wanted something. 

"It's alright darling. I hope we'll do it again soon," He smiles and I wave bye. I rush quickly from the burger joint to the Waverider. I rush away from the first date I ever had.