Underground

Chapter 2: Trouble

I woke mid-morning the next day, but I only knew that because of the clock on the bedside table.  Climbing out of bed, I walked over to the window and pulled the curtains open, resulting in a loud, angry groan behind me.  Whirling, I saw Christine sitting up in bed and clutching her head on either side.  And holy crap, she was… a mess.  She obviously had way too much to drink last night.  She had dark bags under her eyes and her pale, blonde hair was in complete disarray.

“Whoa, Chrissie…”  I laughed and then quickly composed my expression so that I wouldn’t make my aunt too angry.

“Yes, Cassie, this is what a woman looks like with a hangover.  Now, shut the curtains.”

I frowned at her.  “Christine, when we came here, you told me we would hang out since my mother is practically on her honeymoon.  I don’t know about you, but I think this city is gorgeous and worth exploring, but my mom would kill me if I did that on my own.” Even though I am fifteen…

Christine gave me a fierce glare.  “I have a horrific headache and your mom left me in charge of you, so listen up.  If you can find a map and if you promise not to go too far, I’ll let you go out alone and ‘explore’.  And then it’ll be on me if your mom gets mad.”

My mouth fell open.  Was she serious?  I resisted the urge to jump up and down in excitement like a two year old and merely pulled the curtains shut and scurried over to my aunt.  I gave her a fierce, grateful hug.

“Thank you, Chrissie!  I promise and I’m going to go ask for a map.”

She chuckled.  “Just do it quietly, Cassie.”

I tiptoed back over to my side of the hotel room and quickly changed from my pajamas to a pair of pale skinny jeans, a white tank top with red, plaid button up over top and my usual black, lace-up, heeled ankle boots.  Being only five foot three, I almost always wore heels, but not the crazy stilettos some girls wear; I’d fall over and break my leg.

After getting a map from the kind (and English speaking; score!) man at the front desk of the hotel, I was off, out into the beautiful and unfamiliar city of Volterra.  I tucked my map safely into my pocket, though I didn’t think I’d need it.  The hotel was rather large and there were short and fat green trees all around it.  It looked different than the other buildings in coloring slightly as well.

Once I was out in the city, I took off running, eagerly taking in all that I could see.  There were many buildings and people and it all seemed so… lively.  It was a warm day; the sun shone brightly from up above, but it wasn’t unbearable.  I preferred cold to hot, but I knew how strange that was, considering that I lived in Elk Grove, California.  I just didn’t like hot weather.

I found a fountain and I sat on it, admiring the view of the beautiful country.  Laying on my back, I closed my eyes and sighed contentedly.  I liked being free to roam all on my own…  I liked having time to think and time to enjoy silence.

Suddenly, I jerked up at the sound of a loud toll.  My eyes flew open and I quickly located the sound.  A clock tower was on the other side of the fountain, a clearly ancient building with a small alley.  Curious, I stood and walked toward it, wanting to know if that alley led anywhere.

I wandered inside of it and walked down, casting one final glance over my shoulder, out at the street.  I looked away and I was back on my strange adventure, going on to find a strange corridor that I followed.  There didn’t seem to be an obvious point to the corridor; I couldn’t imagine where it could lead.  And then, as I pondered, I tripped and fell down a hole that looked like a giant pipe and slid all the way down, into what appeared to be utter oblivion.