Page 3 of Rose's Ripped Van Winkle

Perhaps I’ve really slept until I was awakened by my one true love, just as the prophecy foretold.

I don’t move for fear she’s going to use that carving knife. It doesn’t keep me from taking her measure. Fiery red hair cascades past her shoulders. Eyes the color of emeralds glare at me.

She's average height and build, wearing a clinging shirt that says, “There’s no such thing as too many books” and men’s blue denim trousers that hug her curves in a shocking fashion.

Her bare feet are delicate against the hardwood floor. Though she looks ready to attack, there's a captivating beauty to her fierce gaze that draws me in.

I’ve been sleeping for months, possibly years. The last thing I should focus on is this woman, yet the back of my mind is thrilled, announcing joyously that the prophecy has come to pass.

But reality sets in once more. It’s imperative I explain why I’m here in a manner compelling enough that this woman will put down her knife.

“I’m sorry,” I say, holding up my hands in surrender. “I don’t mean any harm.”

“Then why are you here in this…” she gestures with the knife, “in this tiny secret room?”

Swallowing hard, I search for the right words. “A while back, I bought this cottage, hoping to find some peace and quiet. I came across the amulet and followed the instructions, not really believing it would work.”

“The amulet?” Her voice is skeptical, but I can see the curiosity in her eyes.

Reaching under my beard, I hold up the swirling orb I’ve worn around my neck since I took this long nap. It feels heavy in my hand, and, just as I did before I went to sleep, I sense a strange energy emanating from it.

“It was supposed to put me into a state of suspended animation until I was awakened by my true love.” I shrug, embarrassed by how pitiful my story must sound.

She looks at me as though I’m crazy. I can’t blame her. I’m in a hidden room with a foot-long beard and I’m claiming to have been put to sleep by a magical amulet.

“Look, I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep, but I’m sorry for scaring you. Can you please get me a glass of water and help me figure out what’s happening?”

She hesitates for a moment, eyeing me warily, before finally lowering the knife. “Fine. But if you move a muscle, all bets are off.”

“You don’t have to worry about me leaping at you. I’m so stiff I can barely move.”

She stands still, her eyes searching my face as though she’s looking for deception. She gives her head a shake and mumbles what sounds like “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” then turns to leave the room.

Rising to my feet, my body protesting being in one position for so long, I trail behind her as we exit the hidden room. Underneath my beard, my hand tightly clasps the amulet.

Pausing before the fireplace, I indicate a loose brick nestled in the far recesses of the firebox. “It was here that I discovered the amulet.”

I unclasp it from around my neck and lift it in her direction. After what appears to be a lengthy internal debate, she stretches out her palm and I place the orb in it. From the way she jumped, perhaps it gave her a little shock. She inspects it with interest as she turns it over.

“What does it do?”

“I’m not sure, but it seems to have put me to sleep for a long time.”

She seems fascinated by the swirling purple glass orb.

“It’s beautiful.” She quickly hands it back to me as though she doesn’t want it in her possession for long. “It’s still hard for me to accept that magic is… real, but I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt.” She swallows hard, her face pinched in worry. “I mean, that’s a hell of a beard. It couldn’t have grown there overnight.”

“I really didn’t believe it either, but here I am and I need to figure out what’s going on,” I admit, feeling lost.

“Agreed. I’m Rose, by the way.”

“Rip.”

“Okay, Rip, let’s start by figuring out how long you’ve been asleep and why no one knew about this hidden room for all these years. When did you go to sleep?”

I pause. No matter that she already knows I’ve been in that room a long time, I have a feeling I’m going to shock her.

“1911.”

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