4

"I didn't realise we were so close to it...I thought we were in the old country?" Jessica spoke the last two words with air quotes.

"Yeah I just said that to impress you, Alfreido is my uncle though I do not lie when I say he is the best in Roma, and it is in more of a less commercialised area of Roma, hence the locals there, the restaurants are generally better in that part of town" he admitted. Jessica looked unimpressed however she was too distracted by the beauty of the Coloseum to be bothered to think of a remark to his confession. There was something about it being night time that made it that bit more magical, there was this sense of mystery to it as well as one of grandeur. They crossed the road and began to walk up the path to the main gates as a security guard approached them.

"Ciao Gio" Antonio called out to the young man dressed in a smart dark blue uniform complete with a peaked hat.

"Antonio" the man called back grinning and waving to the two as they approached.

"Do you know everyone in this city?" Jessica asked.

"Just about" replied Antonio smiling proudly, "This is my friend Jessica" he said nodding over to where she was standing gazing up at the magnificent structure which stood before her.

"Peacere Jessica" Gio reached forward kissing Jessica on both her cheeks.

"Nice to meet you" she replied still distracted.

"So Gio, any chance of a night tour?" Antonio asked grinning at the young man with his wide smile.

"Ohh Antonio, I don't know, I could get into serious trouble if anyone finds out?" Gio hesistated.

"Come on, this is the only chance Jessica will get to see it before she returns to England, we couldn't get earlier because of that accident. Besides, no one will find out and if anyone does we are just two tourists that have lost something important?" Antonio pushed his friend.

"Okay okay, anything for a beautiful lady" Gio smiled at Jessica.

"Seriously?" Jessica couldn't help but smiled excitedly at the prospect.

"Yes yes of course, a short tour" Gio replied as the pair followed him towards the gate which he proceeded to unlock with a large metal key. He pushed open the gate slowly causing it to creak and whine as it moved in its hinges towards the stone of the building. "Come come" Gio ushered them in in hushed tones.

"Wow thank you so much, I really appreciate this" Jessica exclaimed excitedly as Gio began to take them round the in's and out's of the building. As they stood in the middle of the theatre she gazed up into the clear night's sky, the stars twinkling down upon them. She thought about the pain and torture that had occurred where she was standing but then also that great plays and performances which had taken place there, it was such a mixture of emotions. The three stood still, their vision still fixed into the night's sky.

"It's a beautiful night" Antonio announced.

"Isn't it just?" Jessica agreed. There was something about it that night she thought as she gazed mesmerized at the stars and that was when she saw it. A large golden star which seemed to be getting brighter and brighter like it was somehow impossibly getting nearer to them; she had never seen anything like it in her life.

"What is that?" she asked in amazement as her eyes followed the star's movements, "Can you see that?"

"Yes..." Antonio said slowly.

"I don't know" Gio added as they all continued to watch.

"It looks as though...as though it's getting closer" Antonio continued sounding increasingly confused.

"But that's impossible...unless it's some sort of comet or meteorite" Jessica began as the golden star was beginning to look nearer and nearer to them "and I'm pretty sure some scientists would know about that..." she finished. The star continued to approach as the trio watched unable to take their eyes away from it. It eventually stopped right over head, above hovering just above the wall of the Colosseum. It stayed there momentarily before it started to descend down the wall and towards where the group were standing.

"Mio Dio!" cried Antonio, "Everybody quick! Get out of the way!" he shouted.

"Incredible'" Gio said astonished at what he was witnessing as himself and Jessica stood fixed to the spot whilst Antonio ran around frantically trying to avoid the stars decent. It had now reached where Gio and Jessica were as Antonio stood back and watched cautiously from a distance, it was so bright Gio had to shield his eyes from the glow of the unnatural light it was producing, but Jessica continued to study the star although now it looked like some sort of intricately designed spherical devise.

"Is it an alien?" Antonio's voice called out from where he was standing.

"I...I don't know what it is" Gio replied nerves causing his voice to tremble but Jessica remained completely silent. It was like this thing had suddenly hypnotised her, all her focus was on this sphere and nothing else. For some reason she had an uncontrollable desire to reach out and touch it, the more she fought against this desire the more her left hand began to tingle. Gio and Antonio could see the effect it was having on her.

"Jessica stay back" Antonio warned lurching forward towards her but it was too late. Before either of the two men could stop her she had raised her left arm and carefully placed her hand on top of the golden sphere.

"Jessica" Antonio shouted once more as her entire body began to glow with the same unnatural golden light as the sphere and within a few moments later she wasn't anywhere to be seen.

"CAZZO" Antonio yelled as he watched her disappear in front of his own eyes, "What just happened?" he asked Gio but there was no reply, "Gio?" Antonio looked around confused, had Gio been taken too? He spun around on the spot to see his friend disappear out of the gates and into the night, "MERDA" he shouted and without another thought followed in his friends footsteps.

Okay so here are the first four chapters!

This is my first time doing anything like this, I love writing and I hope this reflects in my work. Please review, let me know your thoughts and opinions, all comments will be taken on board!

Edgey (^o^)

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