Chapter 7: Promise

Your head fell in shame once Mrs. Crabtree and Mr. A approached you and Lottie. Their scorn expresses did nothing for the new rift between you and Lottie. They made a quick example of you as they scolded you over and over again, the entire class and some passing tourists as the spectators.

For days, you said nothing to Lottie and she said nothing to you. The time in Florence was brief and bitter, with no more strange occurrences. You probably would have easily forgotten the vision but the fact that Lottie knew something you didn't, kept the memory fresh in your mind.

The tour finished by the end of the week and the group of soon-to-be-college-students were sailing away on a ferry to Venice. Mrs. Crabtree thought the trip by ferry would be adventurous than taking the trip by bridge.

The salt burned your lungs while you lean over the railing of the ferry. A mist from the waves below would occasionally grace your face and cooled your heated skin. Lottie, later, accompanied you but you pretended that she never appeared. Honestly you wanted nothing more than a quiet trip to Venice, only the soundtrack of the sea filling your thoughts. And respectfully Lottie stayed silent.

Mr. A watched the tension between you two religiously. There wasn't anyone who missed the change in atmosphere with you and Lottie but Mr. A was the only one whom seemed to care, a curious thing you admitted.

A foghorn sounded off in the distance as the city Venice grew closer. The whistle hummed in your ears and you involuntarily closed your eyes.

"Daniela."

Your eyes snapped open, the day turned to night. In your shock you pulled away from the once metal railing. You scanned your surroundings and discovered you were not on the steel ferry but a wooden one. The new yet old ferry was equipped with old fashion sails and creaking wooden floors. A ferryman stalked behind you, excusing himself between you and the one who called you out.

Confused you stepped farther back. There, against the railing was a clone of yourself, the same clone from before.

The world became a play, you the audience and your clone the star. She relaxed on the railing as if she was taking over from where you left off. Daniela drew her shawl closer, stretching it across her shoulders. The icy breeze from to sea below through you with the same strength it did Daniela. She made no notion to the man who called out to her. Either she didn't hear him or was upset and chose to ignore him. Without hesitation you looked for her, it was Ezio.

"Daniela?" He said again, rather hasty, but she barely turned his way. A slight nod came from the clone. She was clearly enjoying the night air and was in no mood to be interrupted. Ezio sighed and approached her cautiously.

He joined her on the railing and watched Venice come farther into view. The silence for you was unbearable. Silence left you with, well silence. Never has the silence of a movie answer your questions. You wanted to yell at them yet somehow you knew they wouldn't hear you, not even a whisper.

Finally Ezio broke the dreaded stillness, "What's the matter?" Daniela glanced his way, trying to find the reason of his inquiry. She tugged a stray hair behind her ear before replying, "What do you mean? Do I appear ill?"

"You're unsure…worried, no?"

She blinked as if she hadn't blinked before. Daniela smiled. You were taken aback. Never once had you remembered seeing yourself (well, Daniela) so happy. The sight of her lighthearted smile glowed brighter than the stars above.

"And I was so sure you were to say I looked jealous…"

"Jealous? You never," Ezio mimicked sarcastically. Daniela shoved him playfully in the arm. For their age you had to admit they looked like a couple of kids.

"On a serious note, I have been worried."

"It's has something to do with that man before, isn't it? The man who appeared to be me?"

Daniela quickly glanced away, "Yes," she paused, "I have a horrible foreboding about Venice." Ezio watched as Daniela left the railing of the ferry and walked toward the center. He soon followed after, "What do you mean?"

"Something about the sea and the,"

"The smell," Ezio played light of the situation. Even though the matter Daniela spoke with much seriousness, she paused long enough to laugh. He joined her briefly and paced around her before facing her comfortably.

She continued, "I just, I think something bad is going to happen." Daniela stared at him for a few seconds. Her express made you feel that she had more to share, more that she wanted to tell him. But Daniela fell silent. Ezio, however, didn't notice instead he asked, "Something bad?"

Daniela sighed with a sweet smile, "Don't worry, I'm probably just over thinking it."

Suddenly, Daniela spun to you, staring at you deeply. You felt yourself inhaling before pushed with a force that pulled and twisted the scenery around you. You remembered thinking that if you were Alice you knew how she felt when pushed down the rabbit hole.

The night still lingered above but your neck was held by some wicked fingers. The malice poured out nearly knocked you out. Ezio was wide-eyed in front of you. Your brows furrowed, could he see you? No this was different.

Something cold, with a bite and sting like ice pierced right through you. Involuntarily you screamed as the pain rippled down your body. Then ice met fire as a warm sticky liquid slid underneath you shirt. You stared down at where the sensation exploded. Screaming again you saw metal sticking through you…a sharp tip shard poking out of your skin.

"Ez-E-Ezio?"

You spoke, not Daniela, you. Your legs gave way and gravity pulled you forward. "Daniela," Ezio raced to catch you. You were dying, this was it?

"Danny!"

"Wake up, Danny!"

You jumped forward, almost smacking Mr. A in the face. Panting you tried to catch your breath before you wiped the sweat from you brow…that was a dream?

Lottie and Mr. A were at your side while ferry workers were yelling in Italian. Mr. A smiled gently and placed a comforting hand on your shoulder. Then he went straight to one of the workers to explain what had happened.

Quickly Lottie explained that you had passed out and Mr. A had raced to your rescue. She was admiring him more than you had wanted to hear. Even with your anchor, Lottie, there you weren't completely back to your reality. For a few minutes you sat on the deck, eyes close listening to Lottie talk. You didn't reply until your heart was calm and beating regularly.

"Lottie," you said, and she stopped to stare at you, "Please tell what's happening." There was nothing more for you to do, that was far too real, and if Lottie knew something you need her to explain.

Lottie glanced behind you, searching for permission and thankfully she must have received it, for she smiled. She grabbed your hand and lifted you to your feet, "I promise when it's time I will explain ever-."

Her smile faded as quickly as it appeared. "What?" Her silence unnerved you as much as her stared. You peered down to your chest only to find a blood stain shirt. Shocked and dizzy you almost fell back toward the deck but Lottie held you firmly.

There was no wound, only blood. If it wasn't for the firm grasped of your friend, you would've cry.

"Danny," she said sternly, "I promise I will tell you everything. I promise."

Author's Note:

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