WALKING THRU TIME (CHAPTER TWO)

"Life in Pompeii as a slave was not so bad," thought Odessa. I may be a slave, but I'm also Anastasia's best friend and her personal slave." She is the daughter of a rich merchant and life is good for both of us."

Pompeii, in the year 79 A.D. was a thriving port city. An abundance of ships from far away places graced the harbor at all times. Some ships arrived, while some ships left. They brought exotic commodities like ivory, glassware, silk, spices and other luxury products to the Roman world.

Along with luxury items, imports consisted of grains, oil, wine and other foods to meet the high demand of the Roman Empire.

Captured slaves were brought to the port city to be sold to the rich residents. Odessa had been one of these slaves brought here as a young girl. Anastasia's father purchased her for the exclusive use of his daughter.

Odessa remembered nothing before becoming Anastasia's slave. Living in Pompeii is all she knew. Playing with her owner as a child, waiting on her and attending to all her needs as she grew into a young woman made her happy.

Activities consisted of basically the same things every day. Upon arising, Odessa would assist her owner with going to the lavatory. She dressed and combed her hair, and helped her to the breakfast couch.

Breakfast consisted of bread, honey, a few vegetables, meat, and fruit which Odessa cut up and fed by hand to Anastasia. After washing her mistress' face and hands, they were ready for the day.

Source

"Odessa, what should we do today? Oh, I know, we shall go to the market, then go to the amphitheatre to watch the gladiators. Those muscular giants fascinate me and I love looking at their bodies."

"Anastasia, please, your father will hear you and lock you in your room," cautioned her slave.

"We should leave immediately before he hears," laughed Anastasia.

Walking through the crowded streets, they found the market full of life, sellers sold and citizens bought. In the forum, people walked, talked, and discussed town problems

Arriving at the amphitheatre, Anastasia insisted they review the gladiators in all their glory before the entertainment started.

She and Odessa strolled through the gladiator quarters peering in at each one as was the custom in those days. Beautifully built men of different skin colors and ethnic backgrounds resided here. Besides captured slaves forced to fight, some free gladiators signed contracts to fight in hopes of earning money and fame.

Source

Peering in one of the doors, Anastasia stared directly into the eyes of the most handsome man she recalled seeing. Her heart struck against her chest and would not stop!

Piercing hazel eyes cut through the sweat -drenched locks of rust colored hair that drooped into the ruthless angles of his face and square-cut jaw.

Tall and menacing, the man seemed immense with thick roped muscles bulging from broad shoulders and huge biceps. His forearms looked to be cut from stone. Clothed in nothing but a loincloth that did nothing to conceal his powerful thighs and bulge under the cloth, he stared back at her.

Source

Dangerously bold, arrogant and magnetic he stood there for her inspection. She held her breath, then smiled sweetly at him. He in turn, nodded and turned away!

Odessa brought her back to reality by insisting they must go. Yes, she agreed, she must get away.

Even if he set her heart racing and flooded her mind with dozens of thoughts of what his body might look like towering above her in bed...away was better!!

She thought about his huge hands gliding over her body, from the top of her head, down her chest and abdomen, down each leg and foot, back up to caressing the inside of her thighs....yes, she needed to leave right away!

Claudius realized for the few moments he looked into them, those striking gray eyes made him tremble in a way he had not trembled for years!

Source

"Who was she and would she return?" He wondered. He was accustomed to women scrutinizing him, but something was different about this girl. He longed to see her again, to get to know her, to touch her and yes, to make love to her!

Over the next few days, weeks, and months, Anastasia, accompanied by Odessa, visited the gladiator quarters many times. Since Claudius was not a slave, he was allowed to have visitors, so he got to know Anastasia well.

Both felt meant for each other and to be together was all they wanted. Claudius promised her he would give up being a gladiator as soon as his contract expired.

August 24th started out like any other day, only it wasn't! There had been tremors the day before, but that was normal.

Anastasia and Odessa hurried along the streets toward the gladiator quarters. By then the eruption was beginning. A dense black cloud of ash blotted out the light. They noticed crowds of screaming people fleeing around them in terror.

They would find Claudius and ride out the storm together. Little did they know, the gladiators had been moved out of their quarters the night before and herded northward to escape.

Claudius had no choice but to go along. Confident that Anastasia would be taken care of by her father, he did not worry. He would find her again once the danger was over and he returned to Pompeii!

After searching hours for Claudius, Anastasia decided it would be best if they took shelter under the nearest roof. She and Odessa, like everyone else, were totally unprepared for what came next.

A ground-hugging avalanche of hot ash, pumice, rock fragments and volcanic gas rushed down the side of Vesuvius.

Source

Hundreds of refugees sheltering in arcades and under roofs met their end swiftly from the intense heat of the first surge that reached the city.

The next waves reached Pompeii, asphyxiating others who survived the fall of pumice, and those fleeing across the open in the dark, or hiding beneath roofs.

Anastasia and Odessa opened their eyes to find......nothing! Everything was white, no people, no buildings, no fire, no pumice, no hot ash.......nothing!

"What happened, where is everything and everybody?" Cried Anastasia! Odessa looking dazed, exclaimed, "I don't see anything!"

Suddenly from the whiteness appeared a figure. "I'm here to help you" said the figure. "Help us do what?" Anastasia and Odessa stood there and waited.

"Are we dead?" Anastasia quietly asked.

"You are dead to the life you knew before" stated the figure. You are here to rest for a time and then you will need to make a decision on what you want to do. "Let me explain."

"Some decide to stay here and help in this time, others decide to return and help there."

"I need to be with Claudius wherever he is , cried Anastasia. Is he here?"

"Claudius isn't here, he escaped and is well in the other time," replied the figure.

Anastasia decided to return and find Claudius, but was not happy with what she learned next. She could return, but when she did it may not be in the same time period depending on her "rest time" on this level. No guarantee of finding what she was looking for, but still she wanted to try.

Source

Odessa, on the other hand decided to stay and see what this time level held for her.

Claudius, woke up drenched in sweat. Anastasia had visited him in a dream and he knew without a doubt she had perished in Pompeii. He also knew, without a doubt, she would find him again...in another time!

If you missed chapter one you can read it here

Hope you enjoyed it and thanks for reading!

Remember,

Keep on the Sunnyside!

Photo #1 Source