Metal Man

Chapter Five: I am caged

Today is the day I get to see Aunt Elisa get duped. Oh, joy.

I shifted my stance, beginning to feel impatient. Didn't she know we weren't going anywhere? A pigeon cawed over my head.

"Where is he?" Aunt Elisa impatiently paced around in circles. "He said to meet here, in St. Marks Square." I cringed at the memory of her trying desperately to find this place, and ending up taking a train that took four hours. At least I got to stretch my legs before we went back to the hotel. Without Mother. 

"Maybe he isn't really coming." I suggested. "Maybe he doesn't even live in Italy. Maybe I was right all along, and he's a fraud, just like all the others."

Aunt Elisa glared at me. "And maybe I'm right, and we'll have your mother back in an hour."

I rolled my eyes. As if.

I spotted a man across the square that was so huge he parted the tourists and pigeons. I frowned and squinted at him. He was making a beeline right towards us. In a few more strides, he reached where we were sitting.

"I'm here to pick up Elisa Ford and Rosemarie Carpenter on behalf of the man whom you had been corresponding with," he said, his voice as low as a bass drum. For once, somebody didn't pronounce my name wrong. How did he know how to pronounce my name? Did Aunt Elisa tell him?

Aunt Elisa stifled a squeal. "Yes, that's us. I'm Elisa and this is my niece Rosemarie."

"Come with me. You are looking for Andrina Carpenter, correct?" He led us into a dark street, where ominous-looking alleyways reached out towards us.

"Yes, we are." I could see Aunt Elisa practically shaking with excitement. I didn't trust the man. I strayed behind the two.

I could see the man smile, and a silver tooth peeked out of his grin. "Well, I dare say you'll find her."

Just then, a hand in a black glove shot out of the alleyway and wrapped around my mouth. I screamed, but I was muffled. The next alley over, I saw the silver-tooth man inject Aunt Elisa with something from his coat pocket. I felt a prick in my neck and the deep ache that came with a shot.

My last thought was I black out again? Then I collapsed.

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I woke up and immediately wished I was back asleep again. A huge knot had formed at the back of my head, blurring my vision.

I blinked a couple of times and my vision came into focus. I was staring at a dirt ceiling, a tree root poking out of it. I pushed my hands into the soft soil and stood up. The world blurred again, but I shook my head back and forth a couple of times and realized where I really was.

An underground jail cell.

My dream from two nights ago made itself noticed. I'm in my dream. It certainly looked just like it. There were bars all around me, making a circle about ten feet wide. I pinched myself, just to make sure I was awake. It hurt. I was awake. Living in a nightmare.

I ran to the bars and pounded on them. "Let me out! Let me out!" I yelled. "Help!" 

It was no use. I sat down on the ground. Tears made their way down my face. I was going to be trapped here until I died. Why did they want me, anyway? My only talent was metalworking.