Hi to anyone who happens to read this :) this is my very first fan fic which takes place a little earlier than the events in the game. English really isn't my strong suit, but ever since i started playing assassins creed 2, I fell in love with the story and the adventure. I'm currently playing the game right now, so i apologize in advance if I've left things or events out. Also, i'd appreciate reviews and constructive criticism, and to any of those who speak fluent Italian, I'm sorry if my later chapters have sentences and phrases that don't make sense or needs correcting. Please let me know how of any more accurate or concise translations so I can fix and improve the story. Thank you :D

PROLOGUE

"Did you pack your toothbrush and toothpaste?" my mom asked as my dad pulled out the car from the driveway.

"Yup, got them right here," I answered as I rummaged through my backpack.

"And you've got your passport and airline ticket? Now promise me you will never let those documents out of your sight, if something happens…."my mom continued on.

"Yes mom, calm down, don't worry I promise I won't let them out of my sight, beside I double-checked everything. It'll be fine." I assured her. My mom looked over her shoulder and smiled back at me. I mean I understood why she needed to be uptight since, by later this afternoon I'll be half way across the Atlantic on route to the beautiful country of Italy.

"Oh, I'm totally calm, it's your dad here who needs all the reassurance," my mom answered gesturing to my father, who was abnormally quiet in the driver's seat. I smiled; she was right though, among the two of them, my father tended to be more paranoid and at times high strung. But I can't blame him, for as long as I can remember my dad has always been the conservative father and sole factor to my sheltered childhood. But those years are in past. I'm 19 years old now and this trip to Italy with my best friend would add to my list of first-time experiences in this new adult world. Though the transition from my sheltered adolescent years to adulthood will, without a doubt, harness many difficulties from now and into the future, I tried to remain optimistic and resilient to the adversity. Note: I try, but I still have a lot of doubts. Nonetheless, those worries were easily overpowered by the sheer excitement and overwhelming happiness I felt as i yearned to jump on that plane and leave this small city.

"Mary, I wish I could go with you too. I want to see the Roman Coliseum and I those old ruins…oh and that other building. Right, didn't you say you'd be stopping over Paris? I want to see the Eiffel Tower too!" exclaimed my motor-mouth of a brother beside me. My brother has this adept interest in architecture, especially buildings and of course cars. And quite frankly, Europe is indeed loaded with all his interests. But to his disappointment, being a fifth grader, he remained closely attached to good, old home base.

"Let me know when you happen to have three thousand dollars and for sure we'll go to all those places and see all those really nice cars." I teased.

"That'll take, like, more than 10 years!" He whined.

"Exactly." I answered sarcastically. My brother shrugged upset. Don't get me wrong, I love my brother to death, but, well, our behaviors of affection and endearment involve a lot of teasing and annoying habits, to the dismay of my parents. And usually our crazy antics results with either one of us vegetating in our rooms to let the anger subside.

I nudged him, "I promise I'll get you a souvenir from each place I go too, and maybe snacks too." I told him. My brother, unlike most boys his age, has the biggest appetite than any normal 11 year old kid really should have.

"Okay." He agreed with a half-hearted nudge. As the car drove down the highway to the airport, I gazed out the window and stared at the familiar city lights and the sounds of cars going about their early morning commute. The sun gradually began to peer over the blue mountains and crisp morning air cast itself across my face. This day was going to be perfect. Here was my family who eagerly insisted to see me off and who I love so dearly that despite, the struggles and mistakes from the year before, everything was going well. I couldn't be more wrong.

As my thoughts drifted to my hopeful and exciting plans in Italy, I suddenly heard a loud electronic chime, similar to the hum and tune of a computer downloading some form of illegal content. Come on, not everyone downloads from iTunes. I spun my head from left to right to see where this electronic humming was coming from, my eyebrows furrowed together in confusion.

"Did you hear that?" I asked.

"Hear what?" replied my brother. I shifted in my seat and slouched a little closer to the space between my parent's front seats. The sound continued to grow louder.

"What is it Mary?" my mom asked. I was just about to answer her when my mom suddenly yelled.

"PAUL LOOK OUT!"

Instantly my entire body jerked violently to the right and within a split second I crashed into the side door, as though I was hit by a speeding car. Our car somersaulted across the asphalt and I, being the genius that I was, neglected to put on my seat belt. Disorientated I had no time to think as my entire body continued to collide against the sides of the car like a rag doll in the dryer. Suddenly everything stopped. Still dazed and in pain, I groggily attempted to focus my eyes to the layout in front of me. I couldn't believe what I saw. Before me, the entire environment around me was frozen, as though everything was set on pause then played gradually in slow motion. Shards of glass dispersed throughout the interior of the car, each suspended in mid-air. As my vision slowly cleared, I could see droplets of blood everywhere. To my horror, these droplets of blood drew from the cuts that appeared across the faces of my loved ones around me. Among the devastation, I immediately recognized a strange object which clearly didn't belong. A golden sphere decorated with intricate lines emitted sparks of gold light as it rolled around in the air. As I continued to regain my focus, the spherical object was completely devoured by blinding white light and then there was only darkness.

Life moves in mysterious and ways, and I always thought I could control it.

"If you do not expect the unexpected you will not find it, for it is not to be reached by search or trail."

Heraclitus

This was just the prologue, but I'm sure people who have played the game will recognize some things in the next chapter. Please review and let me know what you guys think so far.