The Eve Story

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“Four, three, two, one…” Salma took two deep breaths. She was counting her steps to the unauthorized zone when Aliyah stopped her in her tracks.

“What do you think you are doing Salma? Did you forget it is forbidden to go in there? Well, at least until you are crowned Eve the 100th. Besides, your coronation is only a day away. Why the hurry?” Aliyah quizzed Salma. Her brows furrowed as she waited for an answer. “Uhun?”

“Aliyah, aren't you curious about what's in there and even out there sometimes?” Salma pointed at the zone, then at the mountains and vast land that overlooked their little village. “Why is this village called Sector 57? Perhaps there is a sector 1, 2, 3...we do not know about.” Salma settled on a rock beside the unauthorized zone. “That post sign at the village gate says ‘caution, pollution ahead’ Why?”

Salma began questioning her existence as soon as she learned to read. Occasionally, she would find pieces of paper and information that didn't seem to fit their time. Sector 57 was only a small community of people that had settled and become self-sufficient. They believed they were the first settlers on the land.

Their legend had it that their ancestor Eve the 1st was the first settler in sector 57. Then came other settlers. Eve’s lineage multiplied and the settlers created a community of people that learned to live in peace and harmony with the little they had. They created schools, hospitals, and a system of governing. Eve was the first custodian of sector 57 and it was passed down her lineage.

Salma never seemed satisfied with their history. Especially because history was watered down from generation to generation. She felt there was more to their story and only the unauthorized zone could give her answers. The unauthorized zone was a massive oval-shaped vessel much like a ship. The villagers believed the zone was the sacred place of their ancestors. Only the custodian was allowed in there and they all obeyed without questions.

“Salma, when you become Eve, you will have the answers to all your questions.” Aliyah rubbed Salma’s shoulders. She caressed her sister's thick black her and gestured, “Let us go and have dinner now.”

The two sisters left the unauthorized zone with Salma feeling more disturbed than she ever felt before.

“If I'm going to be custodian, I must seek the truth for myself.”

“Patience Salma, patience.”

After dinner, when Salma was sure that Aliyah had gone to bed and when she was sure no one was in sight, She set out to the unauthorized zone. She had made up her mind to go in there. She needed answers before she became Eve. Salma held on to the pendant on her neck and said a prayer. The pendant had an inscription “Eve” on it. It was given to her by her mother before her death. It was a generational piece and Salma would pass it on to the next Eve.

Salma looked at the mountains, vast land, and barbed-wire fencing that ended at the mouth of the village gate before she entered the zone. She was now in front of the vessel and her heart began to pound. “This is it, Salma,” she whispered.

Salma grabbed the hatch and opened it with her eyes closed. When she opened them, she saw a wide space containing the kind of objects she had often read about in her books. Inside was dimly lit blue. There were switches, popping lights, screens and monitors, and pools that looked like sleeping pods. She was neither shocked nor disappointed. Salma wandered for a bit before she turned to leave the ship.

Just then a wave of light much like another door caught her eyes. Something inside of her moved and she became curious. The light began expanding to look like a portal.

Salma got closer. She passed her hand effortlessly through it. She paused and pondered about her village before letting her entire body through the portal. “How would I know what is there?”

Lost in that thick black void, Salma began to hear voices that sounded like commotion, shock, and excitement at the same time.

“We’ve found the portal.”
“There would still be life on earth.”
“Someone is coming through.”

When Salma finally came through the portal, a bright light blinded her eyes before she regained her vision. She found herself in a space much like the one she came from. Fear gripped her when saw a dozen people staring back at her as though they had seen a ghost.

“Excuse me.” A woman rushed through the crowd. ”I am Dr. Eve. What is your name and what time do you come from?”

Salma became perplexed. She managed to mutter, “I'm Salma.”

“Listen carefully, Salma. We may not have much time but I need to know. Are there others where you come from and is the air safe?” Dr Eve held Salma’s hand and looked into her eyes.

Salma nodded.

“Our world as we know it is facing the greatest air pollution known to man in history. It is a contagion and only sector 57 is safe to breathe right now. Our ship is the last hope for mankind.

“We've been tasked to lead a delicate experiment into the future. I will be leading the time-travel expedition. If we find that the future is safe and habitable, the rest of surviving mankind can find a new home again. It was just our luck that you came through that portal right now.”

Salma tried to take in all that the doctor had just said to her when her eyes caught the pendant on the doctor’s neck. It was the same kind as hers. She smiled at the thought that she had deciphered the mystery. “You are my ancestor Eve the 1st. Your expedition was successful and I am proof of that. Tomorrow, I will become Eve 100, ninety-nine generations after you.”

Salma and Dr. Eve locked eyes before the rays of light began consuming Salma back into the void. The two women now had satisfaction and accomplishment in their eyes. The uncertainty and puzzle called time had been unraveled.