时晴wokeuptothesoundofherphonebuzzingonhernightstand.Sheslowlyopenedhereyes,groggilytakinginhersurroundings.Shewaslyinginacomfortable-lookingbed,withsoft,whitesheetsandaplushduvetcoveringher.Theroomwasdecoratedinasleek,modernstyle,withlargewindowsthatletinplentyofnaturallight.

Asshesatupandlookedaround,shenoticedasmalltablebesidethebed,withalaptopopenonit.Amessageonthescreencaughthereye:“Welcomeback,timetraveler.Youhavebeenbroughthereforareason.“

Timetraveler?Whatdidthatevenmean?Sherubbedhertemples,tryingtorememberhowshehadgottenhere.Thelastthingsherememberedwasreadingaromancenovelinbed,andthen...this.

Shelookedaroundtheroomagain,takingintheunfamiliarsurroundings.Everythingseemedso...modern.Wherewasshe,exactly?

Suddenly,thelaptopscreenflickeredbacktolife,displayingamessage:“Youarecurrentlyinaworldwherethemainplotrevolvesaround‘runningwiththeball‘.Youwillneedtonavigatethroughkeyeventsthatcannotbeavoided.“

“Uh-huh,“shemutteredtoherself,tryingtomakesenseofitall.Whatdidthatevenmean?Shehadnoideawhat‘runningwiththeball‘referredto.

Justthen,therewasaknockatthedoor.“Comein!“shecalledout,hopingsomeonewouldanswer.

Thedooropened,andatall,handsomemanwalkedin.Hesmiledather,andshefeltajoltofelectricityrunthroughherbody.

“Hello,“hesaid,hisvoicedeepandsmooth.“I‘mgladyou‘reawake.MynameisEthan,bytheway.“

“Ethan?“sherepeated,feelingalittlemoreawakenowthatshehadsomeonetotalkto.

“Yes,“hereplied,sittingdowninthechairoppositeherbed.“So,what‘syourstory?Howdidyouenduphere?“

Sheshrugged,feelingalittleself-conscious.“I‘mnotreallysure,“sheadmitted.“OneminuteIwasreadingthisromancenovel,andthenextthingIknew,Iwashere.“

Ethannoddedthoughtfully.“Well,you‘recertainlynotfromaroundhere.Butdon‘tworry,we‘llfigureitouttogether.“

Justthen,herphonebuzzedagain,displayingamessage:“Reminder:YouarecurrentlyinWorld1.Themainplotrevolvesaround‘runningwiththeball‘.Keyeventsincludemeetingyour‘ball‘andnavigatingthroughkeychallenges.“

Theball?Runningwiththeball?Whatwasgoingon?

Ethannoticedherconfusionandleanedforward.“Don‘tworry,it‘sallpartofthestory,“hesaidreassuringly.“You‘llgetusedtoitsoonenough.“

Butasshelookedintohiseyes,shefeltashiverrundownherspine.Therewassomethingabouthimthatmadeherfeel..nnected.

“Well,thanksforexplainingthings,“shesaid,tryingtosoundcalm.Butinside,shewasfreakingout.Whathadjusthappened?Andwhatdiditallmean?

Ethansmiledagain,hiseyescrinklingatthecorners.“Noproblem,“hesaid,standingupandwalkingovertoherbedsidetable.“Ithinkwehavealotofworktodo.“

Ashehandedheraglassofwater,shefeltasenseoftrepidationwashoverher.Whatlayahead?