Take One
A champagne cork popped and laughter was herd around a group of friends at a local bookstore somewhere in Michigan.
"I can't believe you're leaving Eve! And to Egypt of all places! How exiting!" Ying said in her thick Japanese accent as she poured drinks for her long time friend, Eve.
"I can't either…but it's all I've dreamed of since I was a little girl." Eve replied, her steely eyes dropping to the glass in her hands.
A drunken arm draped over her shoulder and she looked up to see Travis Benker, her other co-worker smiling at her. He took her half filled glass out of her hands and swigged it down in a matter of seconds and sighed.
"You know a lady shouldn't drink." He said and his speech slurred noticeably, "It's, oh how do you say…unbecoming?"
Eve pushed his arm off and smiled. "Well, who told you I was a lady?" she taunted back and winked as she sauntered off.
Travis sucked in air and smiled at the retreating figure in the red dress and black heels and smiled seductively. "Damn…I'm jealous of her boyfriend…that's a nice piece of ass there…" he said to himself.
"What boyfriend" Ying said pouring more glasses. "Eve is single."
Travis's mouth dropped. "She told me she was taken!"
"Nope. She has been single since she started working here. She probably told you just to keep you from drooling. Smart girl." She said as she also walked off to socialize.
Travis looked at Eve, mirth in his eyes. "You bitch!" He said and he downed another glass adding to his traced state.
Eve was still smiling when she reached out and tapped her boss, Mrs. Leery, on the shoulder. The elderly woman's eyes lit up at the sight of her employee.
"Eve! I thought I wouldn't see you tonight! How are you?" she asked wrapping her arms around the 23 year old.
"I'm fine Mrs. Leery and you know I would never leave without seeing you." She consoled gazing at her lovingly.
"I know, but the anxiety is still there. Are you leaving?" she asked watching her walk to the coat rack.
Eve picked her black fake-fur coat out of the bunch and put it on. "Yeah, it's getting late and graduation is tomorrow. The last thing I need is black bags under my eyes during the celebration."
"You're right. I wish you luck and I'll see you at noon tomorrow. Remember I want a picture for my scrapbook!" she said as Eve left nodding and smiling.
She walked down Main Street with her coat tightly hugged around her.
'Tomorrow is the last day of college... then off to Cairo... for four years… my dream!' She thought smiling brightly to herself. She crossed the street to her apartment and fumbled with the keys. A screech from tires was her and she turned and saw the truck coming towards her at a frightening speed.
She froze and her mouth dropped in horror as the headlights blinded her vision.
Searing pain in her head woke Eve from her unwelcome slumber. She inhaled deeply the scent of blood and sea breeze. Her hand went to her head as she sat up.
"What happened? Where am I?" she asked herself.
"Malady, are you alright?" a man's voice asked from behind.
Eve turned around and took in the gentleman. He was dressed in odd clothing, 17th centaury, consisting of a white undershirt, blue overcoat, and blue pants and black buckle shoes. He also wore an old style wig that was used by the English at that time.
She pondered a moment trying to remember if there was a recreation of some kind that she didn't remember. There was none that she new of.
"Malady? You have an injury on your head! What has happened?" the man said with concern in his deep voice.
Eve snapped out of her daze. "I do?" she asked quizzically.
He looked her over. "It doesn't look too serious…but, if you don't mind me asking, what is the origin of your odd wardrobe?"
Eve looked down at her simple red dress. It seemed quite normal when she chose it for the party. Looking down, she saw she was sitting on a wooden deck. How could that be? She was crossing Main Street and was hit by a car while opening the door to her apartment complex, there was no wood in site.
She looked around and saw to her left was a very large, very old, naval ship. Part of the recreation maybe? She continued looking around and saw the beach. Why was she at a beach and a recreation and not in a hospital? What in the hell was going on?
The navy man lifted her up and she brushed herself off. "Where did it come from?" he asked again.
"What in the world are you speaking of? My dress is quite normal. I should be asking what you're wearing. Better yet, what event are you recreating sir?" she asked.
"Recreating? I believe you have hit your head harder than I thought Miss…?" he stopped, looking at her.
"Eve Hathor. And you?"
"James Norrington. Commander of the British Navy in the Caribbean at your service." He replied bowing respectively.
"Right…well, I do believe I should be seeing a doctor now…I think I may have brain damage…" she said smiling.
"Right, Miss Hathor. This way please." He instructed lending his arm to her.
Eve took it and was lead down the docks. Looking around at her surroundings, she noticed that everything was dated back to some English 17th century past. It all looked authentic.
They walked down a few streets and up a private road to a large mansion.
"Here we are. This is the closest doctor I know of. She's quite good really." He gloated as he knocked.
After a moment, a servant looking man opened the door and let them into a sitting area. A moment later, a young woman about her age came in smiling brightly wearing a long, cream dress with white shoes and her golden hair down slightly past her shoulders.
Eve stood alongside the 'Commodore' and shook the young woman's hand.
"Good afternoon Elizabeth. How's William?" James asked sitting back down when Elizabeth took her seat in the arm chair.
"Oh, just fine James. He's working now. What brought you and this woman here to my home on my day off?" she asked with fake anger in her voice.
"My apologies Elizabeth, I was walking down the docks admiring the ships and found Miss Eve Hathor lying on the dock near one of them. It seems that she has hit her head. I thought you could take a look to see its severity." He replied motioning to her.
Eve smiled and nodded to the medicine woman. "If you wouldn't mind." She said somewhat sheepishly.
"No! Oh dear not at all! Come to the back. That's where my office is." She said. "James, ask the servants if you need anything."
James stood. "No thank you Elizabeth. I must be going. I hope you are alright Miss Hathor. Good day to you both." He concluded as he bowed and left.
"Well," Elizabeth said taking her arm and leading her to a large office "let's get started."
Eve sat on a seat and Elizabeth inspected her wound. "It looks nasty, but it's treatable." She explained while she cleaned the wound and patched it.
"All done. She said as she admired her work.
"What recreation is this?" Eve asked.
Elizabeth looked at her oddly.
"What recreation?" she asked.
"You know, what 17th century are you recreating?" Eve restated.
Elizabeth sat in front of her. "This is the 17th century Miss Hathor. This is no recreation."
Eve stood. What in the hell was going on? Maybe she was dreaming? What was she going to do? Should she tell this woman and risk being locked in an insane institute if it was real? Dream insane institutes are the worst anything could happen. No. She would figure this out on her own. She'd play along for the time being until she sorted this out, and hope she didn't die.
She noticed Elizabeth looking at her, and then herd a door slam down stairs.
"That must be Will." Elizabeth figured.
She stood and walked down the stairs and Eve followed. She saw a trimmed, handsome man with blue pants and a white ruffled shirt with black buckled shoes. His brown hair was to his neck and slicked back in sweat.
"Hello Elizabeth." He said as he looked at her lovingly.
He looked past her to Eve and smiled. "And who is this?"
"I'm Eve Hathor. Miss Elizabeth was tending a wound I had." She said looking at him.
"I'm William Turner, Elizabeth's husband. You must be American with that accent. You don't see many of them in the Caribbean, especially with the conflict going on." He babbled.
"Well, I for one 'elive the Brits should leave 'em alone." A voice said from behind.
Eve looked behind William to the man behind who was in the process of walking to her. He looked quite unkempt and…she studied him closer…is that…no it can't be…Jonny Depp? HOW?
He approached and looked at her oddly. "Quite a revealing dress, luv. Might give the wrong impression." He said looking her up and down.
Embarrassment reddening her face, she slapped him and oddly it echoed.
"Don't think I deserved that…"