Eve felt herself free falling until she finally crashed into the ground below where she laid still for a few moments, gathering her bearings. Once she felt herself, she stood and looked around to see she was in the jungle described to her by those she'd interviewed. She wasn't in the form of anyone but there as who she was, which made her feel a bit strange.
"Who are you?" she heard a male voice ask causing her to look in the direction of the sound to see tall, buff man who she would not want to fight.
Eve knew who he was and she extended her hand, "Dr. Smolder Bravestone, I'm Eve Dixon. I came here to play the game and prove that it was real," she paused before continuing, "Which may mean nothing to you since I came alone and you're most likely a NPC."
Bravestone shook his head as another voice joined, "We aren't NPC's, just eternally trapped here, even when others join and occupy our bodies," the man Eve knew as Mouse explained.
"Franklin 'Mouse' Finbar, it's an honor," Eve extended her hand once more, "So, you all are really here all the time which means this entire game may actually be a curse. Are the others here?" she asked, looking forward to meeting each of them.
Mouse nodded just as the other three emerged from the bushes. Ruby Roundhouse was the first to speak, "Are we really playing again?" she asked, her tone filled with annoyance, "You wanted to come to our world too?" she directed her second question to Eve.
Eve nodded, "Yes, I'm writing my thesis on this place and the game and how it all ties together and there's no real way to prove it unless I've done it myself," she replied before looking at the younger man, sporting aviators, "Jefferson 'Seaplane' McDonough, you're character is the one I don't know as well. It seems you are the first to be chosen each time someone plays the game and they have the least memories by the time I see them."
Seaplane nodded, shaking her hand, "It's been nice not to be a host for someone recently but only time will tell how long it lasts. Welcome to Jumanji," he added.
"When I turned on the game, it wouldn't allow me to choose any of you," Eve replied before Professor Sheldon Oberon stepped forward, his hand reaching for Eve's.
"Welcome," he said as he took her hand in his, "It's strange to play the game with an outsider but a relief since most of the time a girl chooses my character. I still can't shake some of the mannerisms they've added to me."
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Professor," Eve replied, "I have a special place for you in my heart," she confessed before looking at the group, "So, the hippos are up first?"
Bravestone nodded as he led the group toward the pickup location where Nigel would drive up without even waiting for the hippos to attack, "This saves time, trust me," he assured her as they walked.
Sheldon moved to walk beside Eve, "Bravestone doesn't have much tolerance for the game anymore. I apologize if you don't get everything you need from this trip."
Eve shrugged, "Whatever I learn will undoubtedly make my paper better then having no personal experience. By the way, you're just as handsome as I imagined you," she confessed, her cheeks blushing as she looked away, shocked that she'd been so forward with a 'fictional' character.
"That is certainly the opposite reaction I usually receive from females who enter the game, especially the ones who reside in my body," he replied, a small smile creeping across her face.
Eve, slightly embarrassed, changed the subject, "In both versions of the game I've been briefed on the hippos come first but in one there are motorcycle men next but in the other, the threats are animals. Do you happen to know which one I'm in?"
"Oh you little Dear," Sheldon answered, a laugh in his speech, "We don't know either, not until Nigel gives us the map. I'll be just as surprised as you are," he finished, offering her a smile, "Don't be shy because of what you said, Eve. I'm a real person trapped here and I would be lucky to have a woman like you interested in me."
Before Eve had a chance to say anything, Nigel's SUV pulled up and the group got inside to find out the course of their game.