Back to the surface

Caged

Preface:

Notes:

I wrote this story ages ago sometime in 2021. I'm not going to take it down now. Some things hurt, but deleting it completely hurts even more. Harbinger Trailer... Faces reveal... well cursed... damn it ><. Thought I had still a little more time before too.

It bugs me if some of the story parts are/sound -wrong- now, but it was just my idea of things at the time. And I don't feel like being ashamed of it or deleting a whole story now because of it or rewriting everything -____- (I wouldn't know how either. Should I switch Pulcinella with Capitano, but that also seems questionable and wrong to me).

Please no stupid comments about Pulcinella. Just don't say anything at all. Okay, thanks.

I just hope you all have read the story before already... if you are new to the story... just think to yourself.... he could've been handsome. I'm so sorry but truth to be told, mhy should be.

Here we go.

//

It was not very bright and inviting in the narrow alley. The young teacher Zhongli was almost certain by now that this was not the way to the restaurant where he had arranged to meet a friend. He wanted to turn on google maps, but unfortunately he had no connection at all here. How strange... Shrugging his shoulders, he walked on without losing his cool. But the path became more and more twisted. Zhongli looked around and wondered who lived here.... He had not thought that such an area even existed in this otherwise beautiful city. A little further on, he spotted a strange gloomy looking back entrance. Looked... dubious, yes. He noticed that he had ended up in a fenced-in backyard. Everything here was sealed off. There was loud music and voices coming from a metal door. He decided to ask for directions and peered into the room.

"And tell him I want to see the cash, or else..." he heard a voice and spotted only an imposing feather collar, which apparently belonged to a person's coat.

Suddenly he heard a noise behind him. Someone was coming through the open barred door through which he had just come. He quickly hid behind some transport boxes that were standing there in the courtyard. Uncertainly he watched the person and heard how he locked the door. So he was locked in, great. How was he going to get out of here? He had to try to climb over the high fence, only when? Whether the guy was still in the courtyard, he did not know, after all.

"Privet, Pulcinella," he heard a voice.

"Tartaglia," came back the reply, a little condescendingly, "where have you been again?"

"Orders... well, there might be someone out there in the yard. I heard noises," this Tartaglia explained. Zhongli winced. He was screwed.

"Ah. Fix the problem," the other said curtly.

"With the greatest pleasure," Tartaglia replied and shut the door, then went back into the courtyard. Zhongli did not dare to move. Possibly he was armed, and would shoot him directly if he moved. Fleeing was out of question. He would better not find him. Maybe he would just leave again? Zhongli didn't even dare to breathe.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming closer and closer. The next moment, someone was peering over the box. He was wearing a red mask, also a dark gray hoodie with a large hood pulled over his face. Zhongli looked at him with fear, especially when he then raised his hand. But he only made a gesture for him to remain silent. Uncertainly, Zhongli nodded and continued to hide behind the box. This masked Tartaglia then simply walked back into the building.

"I checked everything carefully, there's no one in the courtyard at all. Must have just imagined it," he said loudly, then clapped the door shut.

Zhongli breathed a sigh of exhaustion but also relief. Only... what should he do now? He was still locked in... Again he tried to call someone, but his connection was still nonexistent. His only option was to climb over the fence. But if that was safe, he didn't know either.