Stranded Time Traveler

*blop*

The warnings stopped blaring. "WHAT?!" Rafael exclaimed, jumping from his seat and standing up abruptly. Looking around, he saw through the large glass that made up almost the entire upper part of the machine. He realized he was in the middle of a forest, with the machine parked right in front of a small cave at the base of a steep mountain.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck..." Rafael muttered, clutching his head. To his right was a small control panel—the same one that had accepted the chosen date before it began flashing red warnings. Moving closer, he managed to make out the flickering message on the screen:

'Warning: Failure of both 45.9 EHz Phase-Shifted Tachyon Emitter Array. Turn off your FC1000 and contact our support service, or consult the repair guide stored under your seat.'

Rafael quickly turned around and reached under the chair, pulling out a hardcover book without a title. At that moment, the door of the time machine opened automatically, startling him despite knowing it would happen, only deepening his panic. "Calm down," he told himself, taking several deep breaths before opening the book.

[INTRODUCTION:

Congratulations on your rental of the FC1000!]

Rafael snorted in frustration. "No! Where are the repair instructions?!" He flipped through the pages until he finally found what he was looking for.

[REPAIR GUIDE:

The FC1000 cannot be repaired.]

Rafael froze, feeling a wave of dizziness. The book slipped from his hands. "WHAT THE FUCK?!" he screamed, staring blankly ahead. Just then, he heard movement outside, followed by a high-pitched noise. Turning around, he searched for the source of the sound but saw nothing. Fear began to mingle with his panic.

This can't be happening! How will I get back? There has to be something… Rafael thought as he bent down to retrieve the book from the metal floor. Before he could open it, he heard voices outside, as if someone was speaking.

He stepped out of the time machine, trying to pinpoint the direction of the sound. Finally, about 20 meters away, behind some bushes and a tree, he spotted a small head peeking at him, but it quickly ducked out of sight.

"Who are you?! I saw you!" Rafael shouted, taking a few steps forward. Two children then emerged from their hiding spot and ran away. Seeing them, Rafael felt some relief, knowing he wasn't stranded in a time period before the existence of people.

"Hey! Stop!" he called out, preparing to chase after them, but he stopped short. A man with brown hair falling over his face, wearing a dirt-stained dark yellow shirt and brown pants, stepped out from behind the tree where the kids had been hiding. He was holding a bow, an arrow pointed directly at Rafael.

"Halt! Who are you?!"

Rafael stopped in his tracks, focusing on the threat in front of him. He had to look slightly downward because of the height difference between the cave entrance and the forest floor.

For fuck's sake! Why is this happening? he thought, his expression serious, but he remained silent.

"Wha... Where are you from? You're not from our village!" the man said, but Rafael noticed a change in his voice. It wasn't strong and commanding anymore—it sounded afraid.

"Calm down. I'm from a distant place. I was traveling and got lost." Rafael knew he couldn't reveal he was from the future. The company that manufactured the FC1000 had warned about the dangers of telling the truth to people from certain historical periods.

Many travelers had reported being hunted and almost killed (some were) by locals, the church, or ruling powers after revealing their origins.

Why is he shaking? Rafael noticed the man was pale and trembling, but he couldn't figure out why.

From the man's perspective, Rafael appeared as a young man with black hair, about 1.80 meters tall, wearing strange black leather pants, a white coat with long sleeves decorated with blue lines and details, and dark brown boots.

He was holding a book and didn't seem afraid of him. Moreover, there was something odd behind Rafael—something the man had never seen or heard of before.

This man isn't like most people. These strange clothes and the book he's holding mean he must be a noble or a merchant. But why was he shouting? Where are his guards? If he really is someone important, then... I'm dead... No, no, no. Now that I've threatened this noble or whatever he is, if I let him go, he'll kill me and my family! I can't let my family die!

"Hey, calm down, okay? I don't want troub—" Rafael started to say, but before he could finish, the man released the arrow. It flew in a small arc and almost hit Rafael's leg, but he sidestepped at the last second.

"Stop! I'm not an enemy!" Rafael shouted, not expecting the man to actually shoot. Why do people in ancient times always resort to violence? he thought as the man began nocking another arrow. Rafael sighed and started walking toward him.

"No! You're not going to kill us!" the man yelled, pointing the bow at Rafael. 'He's closer now. He won't be able to dodge this time,' the man thought.

Rafael was less than 15 meters away and still approaching. What? Why is he still walking? Aaahh, just die!