Read Once Upon A Port -ON HIATUS- :: Chapter 2

"17-1704," he said when it finally hit him what she had said. It was 1704, there was no way he was in 1704. He reached for his phone, only to be grabbing everywhere on him. No, no, no, no. Where was his phone? He looked back down at the book. It was the only other thing on him that would have a date. Granted it wouldn't be the date he needed but a date at the very least to prove to him that he was indeed going crazy. That this was all some kind of ridiculous joke. He opened the book and quickly found the copyright date. There. 2017. He looked back at the woman before him and he laughed, "okay, okay, very funny...really, what year is it?"

"1704, are you daft?" she asked, frowning a bit more and looking down at the book he had in his hands. She grabbed at it and looked at it and then to her books. "Where did you say you were from again?"

"Gallatin," he said, as his eyes kept on the book in her hands.

"Never heard of it. Is it somehow a different year there?"

"Yeah...somehow..." he said and moved to get his book back from the lady.

"Ah! Nope, I'm calling you a doctor and you're sitting dow-" she said, stopping herself when she looked just over Erin's shoulder, "Oh, captain. Sorry for the commotion, if you don't mind going to call the doctor for me," she said, smiling at whoever was standing behind Erin.

Erin turned and found himself taking in the man behind him. The man was tall, unlike the woman he had more of a dirty blonde mop sitting on his head, though it had been tied back into a low ponytail. And much like the woman he had on the same kind of randomly put-together clothes that reminded him of a ren-faire, though his shirt was much lower cut than the woman's and Erin's eyes couldn't help but land on the sword tied to his side.

"Certainly, Ms. Jones. However, I've come to collect the books I requested, you said they should be in by the time we came back to port again," the captain said. He took a glance at Erin, giving a rather friendly smile before returning his attention to the bookshop keeper.

"Of course, fetch me the doctor and I'll hand the books right over," Ms. Jones said, "This man has most definitely wrecked somewhere around here and needs the doctor rather quickly."

The captain looked over to Erin once again, "well, he hardly looks like he needs one," he said and sighed, "but I suppose if it's the only way I'm getting my books, I'll fetch for you. Woof, woof," he said, laughing as he turned around, waved over his shoulder and walked away.

Erin looked from the captain to Ms. Jones and then back to the captain, "I-I haven't wrecked anywhere! Give me back my bo-"

"Sit!" Ms. Jones said and was already pushing him over to the side to sit in a window alcove. "You aren't well, you don't know the year, do you even know your name?" she asked.

"I do, it's Erin, Erin Waters," he said, "I was born in 1996, my mom and dad are Gina and Ralph Waters. I live in Gallatin, I was just in Mr. Hickman's bookstore, opening that book you have in your hands, and the next thing I knew I'm in the middle of a dock in a place I've never heard of in a town of people that dress like they all are going to a ren-faire! Now tell me where the hell I am, this isn't funny anymore! And give me back my book!"

"I just told you that you're in Shivers Nest and this is the only bookstore for miles, we are surrounded by ocean so there is no way you came here but by ship. I'm telling you you're hurt and need help. Now you're going to sit here until the doctor comes and you're going to let him take a look at you and then I'll hand you your book. Lord, you are as bad as the captain."

Erin huffed but he figured there really wasn't much else he could do but play along for a while. So there he sat, waiting and glaring at Ms. Jones, who refused to move from her station directly in front of him, just in case he decided to make a break for it.