Somewhere in a Dream

Annie drank the little pill that she hoped would help her find rest. She'd heard melatonin was a natural remedy for insomnia and she hoped it worked tonight. Her head still felt a bit muddled from the wine at dinner but it wasn't enough to allow her to sleep soundly.

She pulled her eye mask down and settled into her pillows. Her mind raced as she remembered only a few hours earlier she was kissed and held in a way she'd never experienced. She groaned. She had flirted with her professor for goodness sake! What had she been thinking?

"You were thinking about how handsome he was and how good it felt to be in his arms." Her mind mocked her silently. She rolled over and pulled a pillow over her head. How was she going to face him? What would he say?

"Probably that you're a little girl who knows nothing about he real world. And he'd tell you it was unethical to behave like a lovesick teenager." Her inner voice mocked her

"Since when have I cared about convention? I'm not a kid. I'm an adult and I can flirt with anyone I want!" She argued inwardly. Somewhere in the midst of her mental soliloquy she managed to fade into sleep.

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Annie felt herself awaken to a bright and warm sunlight. She groaned. That didn't make any sense. Her apartment had blackout curtains in the bedroom. Where was the light from? Her eyes flew open. "What…where…where am I?" She mentality screamed.

"My lady, have you awoken at last?" Annie heard a soft female voice ask.

"Who's there?! Who is it?" She cried out in alarm.

"It's me, Elizabeth." Came the voice again, as this time a young girl came into her line of vision. She was probably only thirteen or fourteen years old and dressed in ancient clothing.

"Where…where am I?" Her voice shook as she tried to hold back tears.

"The Zeelandia settlement, my lady. The Portuguese named the island Formosa. Are you feeling alright?" Elizabeth asked with concern in her voice. She was an indentured servant to the Hambroek family, but their daughter Anna, named for her mother, had thus far treated her as a friend.

"I'm not supposed to be here." Annie said as she jumped from the bed. In her haste, she tripped over the long nightgown. Where were her pajamas? What was going on?

"Annie, you better not ever drink wine again. Hallucinations are not a good thing." Annie muttered to herself.

"My lady! You mustn't say that out loud! If your father heard you he'd beat you!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

Annie snorted. Her father was a social drinker like many in their circle of influence.

"My lady, I mean it. You know how he is! He always says that the daughters of a pastor must be virtuous!" Elizabeth tried again.

"Pastor? My father is the furtherest thing from a pastor that I've ever seen." Annie said.

Elizabeth bit her lip. Annie spoke with more boldness than normal but her words were true. Antonious Hambroek was arrogant and took piety to a level that Elizabeth was certain the Bible didn't require.

"Let me help you dress, my lady." Elizabeth hurried to unbutton the nightgown and tossed a dress over Annie's head that looked straight out of the 1600's!

"What year is it?" Annie asked.

"My lady! It's 1662!" Elizabeth exclaimed, thinking if Annie had tasted wine, she must never again.

Annie froze. She'd learned about this just recently in her History of China class. 1662 Formosa was in actuality the Island of Taiwan. And this was the year that the Dutch settlement of Fort Zeelandia fell to Ming Dynasty loyalists. Koxinga led a military assault that lasted a year and broke through in 1662, claiming the Island was to be returned to China. And if she were a pastor's daughter that meant…oh no!

"Elizabeth! We have to get out of here! We aren't safe!" Annie yelled.

"My lady, please! Calm down. Our soldiers are brave and will hold the fort. Don't worry!" Elizabeth assured her.

"My God! We're already under siege?" Annie cried out, running out of the room, out of the building and into the fresh air. She could hear cannons in the distance and she knew it was only a matter of time before they would be taken prisoner.

She dashed into the woods, running through the underbrush hoping she could manage to escape. She ran until her clothing was tangled with leaves and sticks and her breath was labored. She was a city girl! She had no idea how to survive in the wilderness.

Just then she heard the snapping of twigs as spun around. There before her was a middle aged Chinese man and his men behind him. He pointed his weapon at her. But the most surprising thing of all was the face of the man holding her hostage was none of their than her language professor, Guang Xia! Forget being embarrassed about a kiss! It seemed they'd both traveled through time together, and he was her salvation.

She ran to him, heedless of the weapon in his hands, throwing herself in his arms. He awkwardly held her and stared into her eyes with confusion.

"Don't you recognize me?" Annie asked meeting his gaze.

"No. How do you speak the language of the Great Ming?" The grave voice asked her.

Oh my God! He transmigrated back through time without his memories!

"Wh—who are you?" Annie whispered.

"I am Koxinga, prince of the great Ming Dynasty." He said with perfect seriousness.

"No!" Annie yelled as she felt herself floating forward in a sea of confusion and disbelief.