Targaryen Musings

Message in a Bottle Mirror Mirror Prompt

Message in a Bottle

Prompt ▼

Mirror Mirror Prompt #42 – Message in a Bottle dated 3024

FORUM

The North Remembers  (13+) Part of GoT #2126573 by Gaby

Word Count: 980


Jose unpacked the jeep, grabbing his snorkel, fins, and towels. His fiancée, Elise, grabbed the beach bags and drinks. Elise had never been to Key Lago, and he couldn’t wait to show her the coral reefs. She smiled at him as they ambled down the walkway, onto the sandy shore at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The sea salty air was mild; the wind, gentle. The sky was clear, no clouds, yet the temperature was comfortable.

Elise picked a spot. The beach wasn’t too crowded. Jose glanced at his watch. More beachgoers would be arriving within the next couple hours, and it would get crowded quick.

“I think we should go snorkeling, first,” he suggested.

She flashed him that agreeable smile which melted his heart. “Sure. I’m game to see it all.”

“The coral is unbelievable, and the manatees are sweet. You’re going to love it!” he said.

She slid on her fins.

Jose admired her adventurous nature. They eased into the warm June water and Jose pointed in the direction he wanted her to go. She stayed close, following him. Manatees and sea turtles swam near them. Jose waved at each one and Elise did the same. She pointed to a clownfish. Jose nodded his head and directed them to the nearby coral reef.

It was alive in color! Vibrant pink, yellows and gold flittered around. Soft sponges swayed gently in the ocean current. Jose could have sworn Elise ‘ooh’d’ and ‘aah’d’ at every nook and cranny he pointed to.

Then she pointed to a part of the reef that looked rocky which had several holes in it. Jose had seen this reef before, but this was different.

There was a glass bottle stuck in one of the holes.

It must have drifted in on a current. Elise swam over and tugged on it. It appeared stuck. Jose put his hand over hers and they tugged on the object. It came lose. He pointed to the surface, and they swam to the shore, Elise holding the bottle.

When they got to waist level in the water, Jose took off his mask and snorkel. Elise did the same.
“Let’s see your bottle,” he said.

She held it up. An old, yellowed, rolled up piece of paper was inside. The opening was secured with a cork.

“How exciting, Jose! We found a message in a bottle. Let’s go check it out.”

Jose smiled, thrilled at her exuberance and they made their way to their blanket. They put their snorkeling equipment off to the side, dried off a little, and sat on the blanket.

Elise held up her bottle, studying the paper. “Do you find these often?”

“Sometimes.” Jose pointed toward the east. “The Bermuda Triangle isn’t far from here.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I remember when I was a kid, my cousin, Miguel, found a message in a bottle that was dated 1667.”

“That’s crazy! Really?”

“Yeah, it was a treasure map, but none of the markings on the map made any sense.” Jose rubbed his chin. “You know, I haven’t seen or heard from Miguel in a couple of years. I wonder what he’s up to.”

“I’m sure he’s fine. Let’s open the bottle and check it out. Maybe we found another treasure map,” Elise suggested.

Jose twisted the cork. Nothing. He needed a cork opener. “We might have to wait until we get back to the apartment.”

Elise frowned. She took the bottle back from Jose and ran her fingers over the smooth glass. The bottle grew warm, not uncomfortable, but warm. “Jose, feel this.”

He placed his hand where hers was. The bottle grew even warmer. “That’s odd. It’s like it’s reacting to us, but just now when I held it before you – it wasn’t this warm.”

“Maybe it had to wake up?” she suggested.

The cork spit itself out. Elise and Jose dropped the bottle on the blanket.

“That thing was pretty tight! What the heck just happened?”

Elise cocked her head and stared at the bottle. “Where did you come from?”

It just sat there. The cork laid on the sand next to them.

“You didn’t expect it to talk back to you?” Jose chuckled.

“I didn’t expect it to warm up in my hand, either.”

The paper in the bottle turned. Elise’s eyes grew wide. Written on the paper was “the triangle.”

“You can understand me?” Elise asked.

The words disappear and ‘yes’ appeared.

“That’s freaky, Elise.” Jose rubbed his chin with his hand. “I wonder why it reacts to you?”

“Maybe I was the first one to touch it?” she suggested.

‘yes’ disappeared and ‘good guess’ appeared.

“Can you come out of the bottle?” Elise asked.

‘If I do, then only the original message will appear. I won’t be able to reply to you.’ It wrote on the paper.

“What makes it possible for you to reply to me now?” asked Elise.

‘I am an A.I. program.’

Jose arched an eyebrow. “A.I? This is more magic than A.I.”

Elise reached for Jose’s hand and squeezed it. “I really don’t know what to ask it.”

“Well, anything coming from the Bermuda Triangle is bound to be, ah…”

‘unique,’ the paper offered.

“Well, paper, do you have a message for Jose and I? Do you know what lies in our future?” asked Elise.

’Do you really want to know?’

“Elise, I don’t know if I want to know. This bottle is starting to freak me out.”

’It’s nothing bad.’

“That’s good. I think.” Jose rubbed the back of his neck.

The paper rolled over and cleared the last sentence. Then another message appeared.

‘Beware the triangle. Never go in it. Stay away from all the islands close and near. To touch the water in the triangle will ruin your timeline.’

“How do you know?” asked Jose.

’I’m a message in a bottle from 3024 written by your cousin, Miguel.’