178 AD

• one •

The sun beat down on my face, shining through my eyelids and coaxing them open.

I grimaced, turning my head to the side as the sun burned my eyes, setting my temples throbbing.

Fuck, my head hurt.

The floor I was lying on was hot and dusty, the beige stone beneath covered in a thin layer of sandy dust that shoved itself up my nose, causing it to itch persistently.

Taking a moment to steady myself and let the world shift into focus, I grimaced, taking several deep breaths to clear the nausea settling in my stomach.

Pushing myself into a sitting position, I groaned as I wiped the dust and small stones from my bare arms.

The street I found myself on was small and completely quiet, the sand stone houses on either side shoved together haphazardly, the windows dirty, some even cracked.

Standing, I had to take a moment to steady myself as my vision blurred and my face began to become numb. It passed fairly quickly, allowing me to further survey the space I was standing in.

The sun, high in the otherwise empty sky, pierced through the gaps in the rooftops, setting the ground to scorching and already causing my skin to prickle. From over the tops of some the smaller, more run down buildings, the tops of other roofs, some quite tower-like, could be seen.

The street ended in what looked to be a square, only a few yards from where I stood, the other end curving in a sweeping corner.

Wiping the seat of my jeans, I began to walk towards the square, my palms already gathering a thin sheen of sweat.

The street did indeed give way to a square, the pale cobbled burning my bare feet.

I paused, frowning.

My phone. I patted down my pockets, locating my phone and pulling it out quickly. I turned it on, frowning at the 'no signal' symbol that appeared in the upper corner.

I frowned as my attention shifted to the time display. It was flashing at me, the numbers changing and shuffling quickly.

My forehead creased. Perhaps it was just the heat? Don't phones overheat quite easily? But then, surely it would just give me a temperature warning instead.

A shuffling from the other end of the square had me lifting my gaze as I pocketed my malfunctioning phone.

There a was middle aged lady at the other end of the square, outside one of the houses, a wooden woven basket in one hand and a small child's hand in the other.

I approached them, an easy smile covering the confusion and concern on my face. They turned to face me as I neared and I greeted them.

"Hello, can I have some help?" The lady didn't speak, instead eyeing me suspiciously and tucking her child behind her.

"Okay, um, I was wondering where I am?"

She frowned, looked around the square before landing her gaze back on me, eyes flashing in distrust.

"Rome."

I started, eyebrows flicking up.

"Rome?" I repeated.

Annoyance creased her features.

"Yes, Rome."

I paused, my mouth falling slightly agape, trying and failing to form words.

"Thank- erm, thank you." She merely nodded and pulled her child away, entering the house and shutting the door firmly behind them.

I glanced around, feeling hopeless an vulnerable.