Back and Forth through Time

A New World

"Christ! My head!" Cheyenne moaned, gripping her pulsing temple with one hand while feeling her way up the darkened stairs with the other. She should've just turned on the lights, but her headache was already splitting as it was. Besides, her balance was shaky, so she would be running her hand along the wall one way or another.

Finally, she reached the top and made a direct beeline for her room. Going out drinking probably wasn't the best idea, she decided whilst pulling on her pajamas. Then she plopped down on her unmade bed, only sparing her packed duffle bag a quick glance before she laid back.

Cheyenne had to get up at eleven to go to brunch with her parents. Then, immediately after, drive to the next town over and board the bus for vacation. It had taken forever to convince Mary to give her a week off to go to the Black Hills. They really needed her, but her boss recognized that a stressed out worker would be counterproductive. At least the woman had managed to make it work, as Cheyenne would not get another chance to do this for a long time.

Yeah. Maybe she should have thought through this 'going out drinking' decision a bit more.

But what's done was done, so she only let out another exhausted groan before shutting her eyes and drifting off, hoping the hangover tomorrow morning wouldn't be too bad.

...

The sound of objects being shuffled around was what woke her, followed quickly by birds chipping and bright light in her face. She grimaced, baring her teeth in a silent snarl, ripping her arm out from under the covers and bringing it to her head. There was a pounding sensation burying deep in her skull, causing Cheyenne to groan while sitting up.

Wait a minute, she realized, and finally opened her eyes to look down at the unfamiliar blanket covering her. She hadn't gotten underneath her bed covers last night, and this wasn't even her bed!

Then the sound of a zipper sounded in the otherwise silent room and she finally noticed the other person in there with her.

The other person who was going through her things!

"Hey!" she said without thought. "Put that down!"

The man whirled around immediately, dropping both her purse and flexible, silicone cup he'd been examining. He examined her closely, as if sizing her up, and she suddenly regretted being so aggressive. This man was huge, his thick muscles covered with tan skin that suggested a life lived under the sun. She found herself backing away, but as quickly as he'd turned on her, his gaze softened and he straightened up.

"I am sorry," he apologized, voice low toned and sincere. "I did not expect you to wake up."

She blinked twice, confusion flooding her mind as she looked around the room. She didn't recognize this place, nor had any explanation as to how she arrived here.

Unless...

"Well," she spat out. "Now that I am, would you mind telling me how the fuck I got here?"

The man was taken aback, brown eyes flashing with surprise. "I-"

"Did you kidnap me or something?! You sick fuck!"

"Keep your voice down!" he snapped back. "And stop cursing. I did no such thing."

Her eyes narrowed.

"You have been drinking," he continued, hands clasped in front of him as he tried to reason with her. "Perhaps you had too much-"

"I did not! I would never drink that much!"

His head lowered slightly and the thick, black hair and single braid framing his face moved with the action. "Miss, please calm down. I did no-"

"And what seems to be the problem here?" an elderly voice spoke, interrupting the other man.