AC 2 story/fanfic groups

Chapter 2

"ATTENZIONE! IT HAS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SIGNORIA….."

I suddenly lurched forward. My entire body still felt heavy, well rested, but very much sore. I blinked several times as my eyes adjusted to the brightness. I looked around and found myself in a small wooden booth.

Right. I remember. I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. For a moment I thought was back home with my family and that everything that I had experienced from the day before had just been a crazy dream. Much like inception, dreams within dreams. I truly wished it was. Out of curiosity I pinched my arm. I flinched than began counting my fingers. According to this video I watched on Youtube, when people dream, things would appear normal at first but then change drastically and would continue to change and fluctuate as the dream carries on. I pinched my arm again, looked around and recounted my fingers. Everything remained the same.

"Gah…ugh…my back," I exclaimed.

I turned to see that I had worn my backpack for the entire night. Inside my backpack was some of the stuff I had prepared for my trip. An extra shirt, cellphone, Itouch, wallet, gum then I noticed my toothbrush and passport. I immediately remembered my mom reminding me in the car before the accident. My heart sank and I could feel the tears well up. I honestly just wanted to go back to my family. I didn't even know what happened to them after I found myself here. I didn't even know where to start, because frankly I still couldn't fully comprehend what had happened in the past 24 hours. I prudently stood up, and flood of dizziness overcame me. I held my head then noticed a large bulge on the corner of my forehead from the impact of the accident. Thinking about it, I was pretty beat up and needed some medical attention especially for the number of cuts and grazes from both the accident and the skirmish with Vieri's men. The thought of that man made my skin crawl. Then I remembered the white hooded man from last night. I wasn't quite sure what to make of the instructions he had given me, but at least I had some kind of direction. I needed to get to Palazzo Auditore…

I peered through the drapes and saw that the sun was rising over the city. I gasped at the beauty as the sun spilled over the roofs while the tall towers casted long shadows in the distance. I climbed out of the booth and scanned the area before making my way down towards the alleyway from the afternoon before. As I made my way back to the main road, I kept looking out for any of Vieri's men, just in case. I was in no shape to run. The city streets were already full of people. I grabbed a white sheet from a nearby pile of boxes and pulled it over my shoulders and made my way through the crowd. I noticed another man with a beak mask and made my way towards him.

"All who need aid are welcome" said the man. What a coincidence, I definitely needed aid…also an explanation of how I got here. Where exactly is "here"? And oh yeah I desperately needed a bath with a nice glass of iced cappuccino.

"Excuse me I was wondering if you could direct me to Palazzo Auditore?" I asked the man. The man in the beak mask paused for a second to look at me.

"You don't seem to be in very good shape yourself signorina do need assistance, I offer medicine and supplies here at a reasonable price," he responded.

"No I'm fine, besides I don't have any money. But I need to find Palazzo Auditore can you show me where to go?" I asked again.

"Palazzo Auditore is not too far from here," he answered. The man gave me the directions. I thanked him and went on my way, trying to recall everything he had just told me.

Great. I'm lost.

I stopped walking and looked around. None of the places and markers the doctor had instructed was in sight. I sighed heavily and turned around and bumped into a man carrying a box. I've been bumping into a lot of people ever since I got it here, and it was starting to get a little exasperating.

"Oh I'm sorry," I apologized

"Quite alright. No harm done, the streets have gotten a bit busy since I left my workshop and unfortunately I need to carry a lot of things back and forth," a young man answered. He looked about his early twenties, with light brown hair and brilliant blue eyes. He wore a red cap and matching cape. His dark blue clothes seemed a little fancier than those of the people around us, and he carried an assortment of scrolls next to his belt bag. I noticed the box he was carrying was filled with small frames of art pieces and miniature sculptures. All of sudden another man collided into the young fellow in front of me while the box he had been carrying plummeted to the ground.

"Merda, my art work!" the young man exclaimed as he quickly reached down to pick up his box. Suddenly he placed his hand to his side and expression of shock filled his blue eyes.

"My money pouch it is gone. Bastardo, that other man must've taken it. Ah the earnings I had made for my art pieces are in there!" exclaimed the distraught young man. I wasn't quite sure why, since it wasn't really my business, but I found myself running after the thief. I dodged through the crowd and saw the thief make his way to a pile of wooden boxes. Just as he was about to climb onto the first box, I quickly seized the end of his cloak and dragged him back. The thief tumbled backwards but swiftly stood up. He stared at me, he eyes frantic and in his right hand was a small pouch. His eyes darted to the side and he suddenly snapped on his heels to the right. I drew my leg up to the side and struck him with a roundhouse kick to his torso. I pulled back my leg, as the thief fell backwards letting the small pouch escape from his grasp.

"Stealing isn't right you know," I rebuked. As I reached down to recover the money pouch, I realized the thief was no more than a tall teenage boy. I pulled around my backpack and retrieved a chocolate bar from inside.

"Here, take it. It kind of melted along the way but it still tastes good," I said as I chucked over the chocolate bar. The boy caught it but just narrowed his eyes at me.

"Relax. It's food and I promise it's really good. Oh yeah, and don't even think about stealing from me because I'll make sure to kick you so hard not even the doctors here can save you," I warned him, my voice low and calm. The boy looked at me than gazed down at the chocolate bar in his hands. He gave a slight nod then turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

I guess he got my point.

I returned back to the artist and handed over his money bag.

"Here's your money back, I don't think that thief will bother you anymore," I said.

"Grazie! Molte grazie signorina! I am in your debt. With my money back I can buy the supplies I need for my next painting!" he answered with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

"Ah, where are my manners. My apologies, I haven't even introduced myself." exclaimed the young artist waving his hands in the air.

"My name is Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci. It is an honor and a privilege to have met you signorina," he continued with a bow. I blinked and just stood there trying to process what he had said.

Maybe I misheard him.

"Sorry but could please repeat what you just said. Your name is…?" I asked with a doubtful tone.

"Well most people just call me Leonardo da Vinci," he answered pleasantly. I shook my head. All this time, not once did I bother to ask someone where "here" was or if I somehow managed to…No. It's impossible. Seriously time travel? I've thought about it before, but I tried to convince myself that time travel can't actually happen. But then again, THE Leonardo da Vinci, mastermind behind some of history's greatest works of art is supposedly introducing himself to me, when he lived nearly five hundred years ago. It can't be. I thought Leonardo da Vinci, was well, a lot older and wiser looking with a lot more hair.

"Um…Signore da Vinci…" I started.

"Please Leonardo is fine," he insisted.

"Signore Leonardo, where am I and what year is it exactly?" I asked slowly.

"Well were currently in the San Giovanni district of Firenze. And the year is 1476, why do you ask?" Leonardo simply replied.

Suddenly a wave of dizziness swept through me. I've been going around the whole city on an empty stomach and I just gave that thief my chocolate bar. I was in desperate need for food and some Tylenol.

"Signorina, are you okay? Do you need a doctor?" Leonardo asked worriedly.

"Yeah, I think so. I'm just so dizzy…I haven't eaten for a while," I answered as I squat down with one hand on my head and one on my stomach.

"Come follow me, my workshop is just around the corner. Please rest there, while I go find a doctor to help you," Leonardo implored quickly grabbing his wooden box. I nodded and closely followed Leonardo through Firenze's street.

Soon enough we reached Leonardo's workshop. Upon entering, I could make out a distinct musty scent mixed with the smell of paint and wood. There was also something else, an aroma that I couldn't quite put my finger on, but it didn't smell very good.

"This way, you can rest here. I apologize for the mess. I've been trying out a few new things. Though it didn't turn out as well as I had hoped," said Leonardo as he ushered me through his workshop. It definitely was something, his workshop was indeed a little…well it was really messy, but it was that mad-genius-kind-of-mess. There were so many things all over the place it was hard to focus on just one object. From half painted canvases to peculiar contraptions, maps and other instruments. I settled myself unto a bench covered with layers of blankets. Perhaps Leonardo himself took naps on this bench, but by the looks of things I doubt he even sleeps at all. It must be very interesting to have lived a life of a genius in the Renaissance period. Renaissance Italy 1476, it appears I did time travel after all. How or why, I still don't know, but at least I can cross out Italian movie production and Italian carnival festival from my list of logical explanations.