A Woman from the future

Trapped in.

I tiptoed onto the hallway, making sure no one heard me, I took the left turn and headed straight for the door when i heard a man's voice, it sounded so close and given that i could make out some of his words, i'm positive the door is not completely shut.

i pressed my back against the wall as if i could penetrate through it, I looked around for an escape route, just incase someone steps out, I wouldn't want to be caught sneaking around on my first day here, despite the fact that I don't want to stay here any longer than required.

I listened in on the conversation coming from what now appears to be Mr O'Callaghan's office, I could here someone else speaking too.

"No, you can't do that, we barely manage to run this place, the wages are too much, and now you talk about an increase, where do....."

"you mean to say he's extorting you Ed?, is that what you are driving at?" the other man countered

"of course not, but you know how it is, I'm always in this office hunched over my table trying to come up with new ways of cutting our expenses, I can barely keep up and now this" he paused for a bit, I assume he wants his words to sink in.

"look, we had a new servant today, she has to get her wages too, and Christine can't keep doing everything, it's not that easy, please put in a word for me with the gov'nor will you"

"I'm not promising, and I'm not sure he'll change his mind, but I'll try.... also, piece of advice, let that maid or servant whichever, let her go" the man replied Edward after so long.

"and the work here?, laundry, cleaning and, I... I just can't tell her to..... just, just talk to him then let me know whatever he say"

hold up, did Mr grumpy just call me servant, maid whatever?, ahhhh, it's just for a while, I'll be out of your hair, all of you.... now my determination is fired up, I don't like this place one bit, and whatever Edward was discussing with grumpy now is his problem, I mean this people are long dead before I was born, now that I think that out loud it freaks me out a little, it made me feel like I'm in here with ghost, yikes....the word dead seems too colourful, I better not think that way again till I'm out of here.

"join me for a drink will you" Edward offered his late night guest.

"would love to"

this was my chance, the time I've been waiting for, I ran past the door on my toes, making sure not to linger, I pulled the door in gently and closed it quietly behind me.

I released a breath I wasn't even aware I've been holding, I bent over and tied a side of my dress, if I was going to get anything done, it won't be in this long baggy night dress, so I improvised.

all the occupied rooms in the Inn were dimly lit, time to be invisible, I ran across the street to the spot I was standing earlier, at least I think it is, now that I am outside I regretted not holding on to a torch, but I can put the moon to a good use though.

Thirty minutes later I heard Mr Edward's voice, he emerged with grumpy, I quickly ducked behind a cart nearby, and just incase you were wondering, I haven't seen the time activator.

"night Ed"

"night Turner, my regards to Martha" I waited a bit longer after Turner left, to make sure he won't be coming back for a forgotten coat.

I resumed my search, it was evident its not in the spot where I gained consciousness, so I went a little bit further, I might have been walking before finally stopping at the Inn.

seconds stretched into minutes, and minutes into hours, after searching for nearly two hours, I realised the activator was nowhere close, at this point all I want to do is sink to the floor and cry my heart out, I am exhausted from the search, I'm a bit far from the Inn too, but I need to find it, just then I started to think of the possibilities of where the time activator could be.

I came up with nothing encouraging, just speculations, perhaps could it have fallen someplace else before I got here, but where, now I'm starting to sound crazy, but I have to return back to the Inn soon, I can't spend the night out here, then have a scandalous tale making the rounds tomorrow.

I made my way back, my heart sinking at every step I took back towards the Inn, I decided to search tomorrow, but search where?, could someone have taken it off the floor, probably spotted it in the afternoon, then what will I do in that situation?

millions of thoughts crossed my mind, I kept on going, I looked around carefully before going into the Inn, tiptoed back to my room, Mr Edward's office was now shut, no surprise.

I fell on the bed as hard as I could, only I won't bear the weight of this awful situation I find myself in, sharing it with the bed sounds like a master strategist plan.

I rolled over, I really want to cry, but I just can't cause of the uncertainty of the activator's where about, I stared at the wall, the ceiling, anything I could stare at, and just when I started to fall asleep, I heard a knock on my door, I ignored at first but the knock came again, groaning inwardly I stood up, and went to the door.

"who is it?" i asked, that it's 1853, doesn't mean assassins don't exist.

"it's Christine, it's 5:30, you have to get up now, let's start early".

what is she kidding me 5:30?, I didn't even get any sleep, I feel like a mess, my eyes are heavy, my body is so weak, I'm not sure I can pick a spoon, not to talk of laundry and the other chores.

"go away" I don't know why I said that, but I guess that's what my brain wants, what we want.

"I'd pretend you didn't say that, I believe you are dressed for the day, and if you're not I'm out here waiting"

waiting, oh no, this woman meant business, she won't let me have this rest for sure, I freshened up quickly, using the chamber pot, though it feels a bit weird though.

I met her at the doorstep in 10 minutes, I had to rush all that.

"morning Eliza"

I mumbled good morning half heartedly

she reached for a small watch beside her skirt "but maybe next time you can finish up more quickly" Christine said.

is that an inquiry or a request, and goodness, no one is even up, its too freaking early.

she turned on her heel and started walking up the hallway, I didn't have to wait on her to call out my name, I followed her lead.

"first we start with breakfast, we help Victoria with chopping and dicing, so we can have the food ready in time before our occupants starts waking up"

"I don't have to cook the food right?" I had to ask cause I'm not sure I can work well with the ingredients I see in the kitchen, I'd have to make everything and anything from scratch, I'm not the best cook you see.

"no, you won't have to do that, we just help her get on and that will be all, then your chores"

Well, it's just chopping and dicing nothing I can't handle.

in five minutes, I took back that thought, I've been crying nonstop over a bucket of onions, I mean who consumes so many onions, I think I'm slow too or maybe not, considering I've only been able to slice 6 while Christine sliced half the bucket already.

it was to my relieve when we finally finished slicing things: tomatoes, onions, potato's, carrot and the likes, I feel like I've outdone myself today.

just as I was about to sit on a stool in the kitchen Christine called out to me.

"Eliza, some occupants are up, its time for cleaning, also find out what they'd like to take for breakfast"

really, you've got to be kidding me now, I looked at Victoria, effortlessly wasting away, how does she even manage all this?, well good for her she doesn't wash the sheets.

I took turns of every room and did as I was ordered, Christine joined me shortly, we cleaned after the occupants that left early, I took a quick break to eat, and resumed helping Christine.

After some more hours, now that it is starting to turn noon, there is less to do, I even had the chance to seat, I shut my eyes to will a quick nap, when I heard someone come in, i opened my eyes to see a man standing at the entrance looking all around, he looks unhappy and hostile in his grey coat, I swallowed.

"Good afternoon, what can I do for you?"

"I'm here to see Ed, is he busy?" now that he said something, I realised it is Mr grumpy, Turner.

"I'd check on him for....." he cut me off.

"never mind, I'd go see him myself, it's quite urgent, this can't wait on a servant"

now that use of his word 'servant' is starting to annoy me, but what's more is that his expression and the pace at which he walked to Edward's office signifies trouble, something bad is about to go down, or maybe not, it's Mr grumpy after all.