𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙴𝚁 || Original Story (Open Novella Contest)

three- the old world

Victorian England wasn't what Ellie expected. It was better. Of course, she knew about that era from history lessons at school and from reading books and watching documentaries. She'd always been interested in the 1800s and never in her wildest dreams did she think that she'd be there in the flesh, experiencing things that no other person in the modern day would ever experience.

Just being there was an honour.

Time travelling was the most bizarre thing that Ellie had ever encountered. She had learned that turning the dials on the pocket watch to certain times on the clock face allowed them to travel to different time periods. Having the big hand on the one, the little hand on the six, and the second hand on the three sent them straight to Victorian England. This made Ellie realise that time travelling was complicated because there must be a huge amount of number combinations to remember. She wouldn't like to be in Henry's position when it came down to memorising them all.

"Putting the second hand to any of the other points between three and four sends you to different countries during the Victorian period," Henry had explained to Ellie's great interest. "For example, the first point after the three would be Victorian era France, the second Victorian era America, and the third being Victorian era India."

"That's amazing!" She had exclaimed. "Maybe we could go to India!"

"Not with a thick coat and boots you're not," he'd smiled.

"Oh, should I go and get my suncream and sandals before we leave then? You know, just in case."

"Unless you're planning on going on holiday- a very long holiday, in fact, in which you won't return, then no."

Ellie frowned. "Oh, you're such a killjoy, Henry."

"What? I'm just being brutally honest."

After their little bickering, Henry turned the dials of the pocket watch and told Ellie to hold his arm otherwise she wouldn't be transported with him. He also warned her that since it was her first time time travelling she would experience some form of nausea and she may even feel faint at some point.

"Death may also occur," he had grimly and bluntly added.

"And this of you being brutally honest again?" Ellie retorted.

"Sorry... Well, the watch is ready. Are you?"

She nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."

As Henry pushed down the largest dial on top of the watch with a firm click, Ellie grabbed his arm and watched the modern world disappear in a nanosecond. She rapidly felt herself become lightheaded and weightless and she definitely felt sick. It was as if she was in zero-gravity, floating in space and struggling to breathe.

But after that split second, she felt her feet hit the ground and her hand gripping Henry's sleeve like a vice. She took a long moment to make sure she could breathe and to make sure she was alive; she felt weak in the knees and collapsed to the floor, hunched over with her eyes closed.

"Are you okay, Ellie?" Henry asked in a concerned tone, bending down beside her and setting his flintlock rifle on the ground. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and its heaviness made Ellie feel that bit better.

She nodded in response. "Yeah. I just... I just feel sick."

"That's normal. Just take deep breaths and the feeling will subside in a moment."

Ellie did as she was told, breathing steadily and trying to focus on only that. It took longer than Henry thought to make sure that Ellie was okay and he was worried that she would take a turn for the worst.