This manor belongs to the wealthy gentleman Edward Huntley. It is extravagent and servants are eager to please visitors.

::Huntley walks in with Aidan and lets go of him. He nods meaningfully at a servant.::

"Bring him clothes."

::The servant leaves and Huntley turns to the boy.::

"Stay here, my lad. I will be back soon."

::He locks the door and keeps the key in his pocket.::

"In fact, go into that room. You will find a table laid with the finest meat you could imagine."

::He shows Aidan the room, and it is filled with food.::

"I will not be long."

::He leaves.::

::Aidan gasps at the spread before falling upon it, eating as much as he can. Even if he gets thrown out, this will have been worth it.::

::Aurellia appears in front of the boy and smiles.::

"Hello, Aidan."

::Aidan jumps in shock and falls back from the table, still clutching a leg of chicken in one hand. He stares at Aurellia.::

(Where...?)

"Where did you come from?"

"The future."

::Anissa speaks calmly. Aidan looks as though he could scream and run any second.::

"I'm here to help you."

"... help me? But I'm fine, I just got... you're from the future?"

::Aidan quickly wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, wondering what kind of being Aurellia must be.::

::Aurellia shows Aidan his death as it is about to happen. Having eaten his fill, Aidan sits back for a while. He starts to feel woozy. His head spins, and he gulps back some water, but it's getting worse. Suddenly panicking, Aidan stumbles to the door, but falls flat before he reaches it, crashing to the ground. He can't move. He can only lie still as Huntley returns gazing down at his victim on the floor. Aidan will feel every nerve, vein and tendon snap and break as the maniac starts to saw and cut through his arm, ever so slowly. He can hear it slice through the bone. The vision ends.::

::Aidan staggers back against the wall, barely able to stand through the blinding pain. But it's over so suddenly. He looks blearily at Aurellia through half-closed eyes.::

"What... was that?"

"That is how you're going to die."

::Aurellia indicates the food.::

"It's laced with a herb that will paralyse you. You haven't yet eaten enough for it to take effect, but don't doubt that Mr Huntley will murder you regardless."

::She pauses for this to sink in, and then continues.::

"If you come with me, it will not happen. I can take you to the future where this is another life you can live - one where you will have food, money, clothes... even a house of your own."

"Really?"

::Aidan can only imagine such a wonderful life. His whole existence has been suffering and pain.::

(A house of my own...)

"But how?"

"In this future, there is a young man just like you. He looks the same, and in essence he is you. Your soul in another life. If you convince him to switch places with you, you can live his life and he will come back to this time."

"But that would mean that he dies."

"In a sense, yes. But it would not matter. He is still you, and he has lived a full life already. He eats when he likes, he is warm and dry through winter, he has friends and companions. You deserve that happiness now."

::Aidan is still for a moment. The image of a warm bed, a house, a kitchen... he yearns for this. And what would it matter if he switched places with the other Aidan? They are the same... He nods slowly.::

"Please. I'll come with you."

::Aurellia smiles smugly inside and holds out a hand for him to take.::

"Very well."

::They both disappear to the fourth dimension.::

::Huntley arrives with Aidan once more.::

"Why on earth did you leave so suddenly? After the servants had gone to such trouble to prepare that feast for you."

(Servants... ok this is a long shot.)

"I...am sorry..."

(Erm... amnesia?)

"I became lost looking for the bathroom... and I thought you might be back at that place you found me..."

(Maybe the serum affects his brain because he does not look that stupid.)

"Why would I not be at home, Aidan?"

::Edward smiles and puts a hand on the boy's back, leading him back into the room where his past self had been enjoying a lot of great food, much of which is still there.::

"Now. How about you have a little more to eat while your bath runs?"

"Yeah erm, sure."

(Taking food from strangers? But, he's only a stranger to me, past Aidan probably knows him well.)

::Aidan takes a small piece of fruit and takes a courtesy bite with a smile.::

"It's good, thanks."

"Try the wine."

(Getting drunk? In my past life? Close to death from unknown means? Definitely not!)

"Wine? You want to get me drunk?"

(Wasn't it odd for kids my age to drink wine back then? I mean... back now... as in, wait. In this time.)

"I said 'try it'..."

(What is up with this boy?)

::Aidan takes a small courtesty sip of the wine.::

(Bleurgh! White wine.)

"It's nice..."

"And an apple?"

::Holds a green one out.::

(He made all of this food for me?)

"I'm stuffed, I ate a lot whilst you were out of the room. Maybe after a bath I'll feel hungry again?"

::He smiles friendly like.::

(Need to get out of here.)

(Then why are you still awake?)

"Perhaps. It's getting close to bedtime anyway."

::He leads Aidan upstairs and into a bathroom where it's all warm and there's a bath that's been filled with hot water. He then shows Aidan the room he'll be in when he's finished. It's a study.::

"Wow, all of this for me?"

(If that's were I'm staying and he's only just showing me. This is my first day here.)

"I'm a wealthy man, Aidan. It is not much to me."

::Edward puts a hand on the boy's shoulder for a moment then goes into his study.::

::A maid comes bustling in and tests the water.::

"Right, young master. Let's get these things off you and washed so we can dress you up in some nice proper clothes and not have you running around like a scruff and looking respectable instead."

"Thank you, but I can bath myself."

::He gives a polite smile.::

"Everybody benefits from a helping hand, young master. Now come along, we don't want to keep Master Huntley waiting too long."

"Er yeah sure."

::He shrugs and undresses, sitting in the water.::

(This was totally normal back then. I take a bath but I refuse to eat food? I guess I can't get out of this one. I need to think of a spell to contact the powers at this time.)

::The woman picks up a cloth and plunges it into the water in front of Aidan. She wrings it out tightly and then starts scrubbing his back for him.::

"The Master's very kind to be taking you in like this."

(Play along.)

"Yes, I know. Who is he? I mean, he seems important."

"Well, he's a wealthy businessman... but surely you know that! He's a kind man, indeed, so he is."

(Disgusting, hateful beast that he is.)

"He seems it, making me all of that food and things... do you have any idea where my family are?"

"No, master. You didn't look like you had much family to be honest."

"Ah, that's what I feared."

(Guess I should have appreciated mine more when I was in England.)

"Does he take in many boys like me?"

"He likes to help people."