Lyndsey in Ancient Rome

I hadn't meant to tamper with Doctor Sally's newfangled thingamajig. She'd said it was completely safe and wasn't even operational yet. It was a small thing, barely larger than my palm, so I just started twirling it around in my hands, thinking, how the hell is this thing a time-machine?

I must have pressed a button or something because a huge white light enveloped myself and the entire lab. I barely even let out a cry for help when I was suddenly struck by a piercing hot sensation, like my whole body was being branded with a red-hot iron poker. It felt like eternity, but the feeling must have only lasted seconds, because one moment I was in Doctor Sally's lab, and the next minute I was out in the middle of an open field.

Had I just time-travelled? The idea seemed ridiculous. Everyone always said Doctor Sally was a bit nutty and there was no way she'd ever develop something that extraordinary. Still, here I was. If nothing else she had definitely designed a teleporter, which was pretty impressive. Except...where was the thingamajig? It had been in my hands when I was in the lab. Was it left behind? Now I really hoped it was still the modern day and I'd just teleported. With a cold sweat on my back I realised that wherever I was, I wouldn't be able to use the machine to get home.

Telling myself not to panic, I decided I should investigate. It would be no use just hanging around an open field. I set off down the hill to see if I could find anyone to talk to. God I hoped I hadn't been blasted back to dinosaur times or something.

I'd barely made it several paces before a group of men suddenly popped out from the grass! They must have buried themselves I'd had no idea they were there! All of them were armed with spears and swords, and they were all pointed directly at me! Maybe dinosaurs weren't so bad after all?