Matt opened his eyes and felt a terrible headache. He took a look around and saw nothing but trees. Memories were slowly coming back to him; getting ready for the wedding, the car crash. He looked around but could not find the car, not even the road they were on. The night was falling fast and he surely did not wanted to be outside at night. Camping was one of the worse inventions of men since the dawn of days. He looked at his iPhone but it was out of battery.
"Liv? Andrew?" he yelled as he surveyed the surroundings.
"Who is there? Identify yourself at once!" they heard from the wood.
"It's Matthew Brown. I'm the wedding guest list, you can check," Matt said loudly since he could not see anyone yet. "Are Olivia and Andrew okay? We had a car crash, I think."
"I do not know those people you are talking about. Where do your loyalties lie?" the man said, coming closer.
"What? I'm on the guest list for Maggie's wedding…"
"This is not what I asked for, sir," the man said as he cocked his gun. With the sound the gun made, Matt started to doubt those men were only acting.
As the unknown man came closer, two other men came closer with torches, allowing Matt to have a closer look. His eyes widened. Those costumes looked done to perfection; every detail seemed to be authentic. Maybe this was like Colonial Williamsburg, a site where people impersonate 18th century lifestyle or some sort of Revolutionary War re-enactment. As he distinguished the color of their coats, he realised he was on the wrong side of history and would have to improvise and play their game if he didn't want to be hang at first light tomorrow.
"To king and country, sir," Matt replied. "I am lost and need your help."
"Men, lower your guns. Let's be good host for tonight. Sorry for doubting you, we are close to continental territories here. Better be safe than sorry. I am Captain Bordon, of the Green Dragoons. Are you hungry, M. Brown?"
"Yes, thank you,"
Matt came forward as the men all looked at their superior officer with doubting eyes. Around twenty men were gathered around different fire pits, next to several white canvas tents. Bordon signaled one man and they were brought bowls of soup. They sat down next to the fire.
"Those are quite strange items of clothing you are wearing," he inquired, pointing his black tux.
"Yes, I like heum, unconventional items. I had those made in Rhode Island," he replied, eating quickly his soup. "You haven't come across my friends? I think we are lost. Can you tell me where we are?"
"Just outside Charleston, along the Santee. No, we have been patrolling the surroundings and haven't seen your friends, Andrew and Olivia."
"I think I knocked my head pretty bad, since time seemed to have flown by. Can you tell me the complete date of today?"
"Of course, it is May 30th 1778. Maybe a good night of sleep will do you good.
Hearing the year, Matt tried not to react, but his mind raced. How could that even be possible? They didn't touch any stone. He laughed at his thoughts of Outlander he saw on Netflix recently.
The men made small talk but went to sleep early. Tomorrow, he would be brought to Fort Carolina, hoping for other patrols to have come across his friends. From there, he would figure out what to do. He rolled his jacket and laid his head on it. Before he closed his eyes, he could not believe his luck; what a great article he would write on his way back. His tenure would be assured.