The Chime Of The Bell- Chapter 16

Sampreeti's narration

The human body has a queer way of dealing with terrifying situations, known as the fight or flight response. In this situation lot of things happen as a bunch of hormones are released, heart rate increases, digestion slows, the blood flow to some muscle groups is shut down, blah blah blah. It is like the body starts working on its own accord, without much consulting the brain. Maybe this is the reason why the last time I met such a situation, I chose flight. At least this is the explanation I give myself.

Though it is not something I am very proud of, I still manage to live with it. Even today, looking back I think there was something better I could have done. The good thing is my friends never blamed me for the irresponsibility but a part of me still bears the guilt. There are some stories in the past that you can’t change no matter how much you regret it. Anyway, I will continue my narration of what happened after I fled into the forest.

When the rush of adrenalin finally let up my system I found myself amongst some ancient ruins. I closed my eyes for a moment as my heartbeat returned to normal. Not totally normal though; how could one be calm knowing the urgency of the situation? The Ogre may still be on my trail. But then I couldn’t hide there forever. My friend was in trouble and Farheen’s bodyguard was in serious danger. How could I wait any longer knowing that so many people required my help?

I had taken refuge in the ruins of a chapel in the dense cover of vegetation. I was crouching on the ground with all my senses alter, listening very carefully for approaching footsteps. I could hear none yet a weird sensation spooked me that there was something very unpleasant waiting for me outside. However, there were duties I had to do before I could give baseless fears. So I shook off the uneasy feeling and crawled to the end of the little wall fragment I was hiding behind.

After carefully examining the surrounding I had unmitigatedly convinced myself that I was not being followed. The road seemed clear. I absconded hesitantly. The trees were so enormous in that part of the forest that even the sunlight hardly slipped in. I tried to peer through the leafy branches to spot the bell tower.

I paced a few steps forward but the tail to the tower was not very clear. Then I retreated a few steps back. Hardly had I caught a glimpse of the bell tower when I suddenly bumped into something or someone. Before I could even react,it grabbed me. I tried a futile struggle to free myself as a strong smelling cloth was pressed against my mouth. The smell was so strong that on inhaling it my head started spinning and my body started losing balance and I soon my body gave in.

After that, I don’t remember what happened until I woke up in a comfortable living room. I yawned as I looked around not being able to discern where I was or how I got there. A little candle was glowing dimly in the middle of the room on an archaic center table. It wasn’t like the room was very dark but it could use some more illumination. There was only one window with the curtains drawn. All the furniture looked ever old and antique as if from the medieval age. The room was tidy but not very clean. You can say it was like the room of a hygienic bachelor. There was one door that led to the inner compartment of the house.

I was lying on a couch near the fireplace. It seemed like the fire had been recently put out as the room was still warm. A blanket had been placed over me. The atmosphere was so perfect that I had totally stopped bothering why I was there. At that moment I just wanted a cup of tea and a book; this would have been heaven. But then the memories began to rush back. I had been abducted! The anesthesia still had its effect on me, I felt a little dizzy.

Where was I?

“Hello” “Is anybody around?” I asked hesitantly not knowing what else to do. Nothing came in response.

“Hello?”, I cried again and this time in a little more confident tone. There was nothing more to do. Even this time there was no reply. I had almost given up when I heard the doorknob turning.

To my horror, the man in the weird mask stepped in. His eyes peering menacingly through his mask. Some herbs protruded from the beak-like projection of his mask in a very hilarious fashion but swear God I was not laughing.

“Fuck”, I said to myself. So much for my big mouth.

Once again my heartbeat increased, blood flow decreased, etc. but this time I couldn’t run because of the dizziness. My head still felt very heavy. While my heart raced at top speed, I just stood there staring at him with fear and trepidation.

The man walked close to me and paused in front of the couch, opposite to the candle.

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“Dottore”, he said as he stripped off his mask.

The flickering light of the candle made his face visible while the light from the window made him almost a silhouette. The was a strange play of lights. But that was no time to admire the wonders of nature. I looked carefully at his face.

Behind the mask was a Caucasian man approximately in his late thirties. Auburn hair- short- military style. The cowl covered his entire body from which his hand had emerged. He then pulled out both of his arms as he spoke to me. The brown coat looked quite dirty on a closer look. His face was flushing red. I couldn’t help noticing the ---company--- t-shirt he was wearing.

Dottore? Does that mean doctor? What language is he speaking?

I disparaged myself as I realized Italian. Of course.

“Doctor?”, I asked and the man nodded quite seriously. He sure seemed excited that his message was successfully interpreted.

Then he very enthusiastically started talking to me in Italian. I had no idea what he was saying but it sounded very intense and pleading. He paced around the room as he kept speaking occasionally making eye contact. Every time he looked at me I was afraid he was going to attack me.

He kept speaking without any break as if the matter was very serious or as if he was running out of time or both. I was puzzled. Should I pretend like am understanding everything or should I tell him I don’t understand Italian? My life seemed like a game of choices- just a little more intense-one wrong choice and you die.

He finally stopped and looked at me. I must say that was an intense nervous look. Ihadn’t really caught any of his words but his last sentence sounded like a question.

He was waiting for an answer. “English?”, I offered with a stupid grin.

“Italian” answered the man. Then he said another sentence in Italian that sounded like ‘Parli Italiano’ with a question mark.

I wanted to answer Na parina. I just wished I had been more attentive in the language class. In case you do not know, we took a survival and sustainability course before coming to Italy. The course included language study which I hadn’t bother to attend.

Helplessly I shook my head. “Don’t you even understand English?”, I asked hopefully.

The man shook his head. Damn.

He then muttered something under his breath which I bet was an Italian curse and then turned back in utter disgust. He beat his head as he again started pacing across the room.

What is this new mess I got myself into, I wondered.