Year: 1476
Repubblica Fiorentina, Italy.

We run faster than either of us ever have in our lifetime to escape the guards that chase us. Ezio grabs my wrist as we turn a corner, and pulls me with him into an alleyway. The guards quickly run past the alleyway entrance, assuming we have continued our path forward. My breath returns to my lungs.

"Is it safe?" I whisper, peeking over Ezio's shoulder.

"Nowhere is safe now." Ezio answers, regaining his breath as well as he adjusts his hood so it covers most of his facial features completely.

We return back onto the street, checking behind us every so often. Ezio and I are both startled, but relieved, at the sight of Annetta, the Auditore's maid, running towards us.

"Ser Ezio (Sir Ezio), thank God! I've been looking everywhere for you." Annetta says quickly. Her eyes now dart over to me, but they seem to be filled with gratitude as well as relief.

"I...I couldn't stop them, Annetta. I tried, I swear! But there were so many guards..." Says Ezio sorrowfully.

"Please. Come with me. We need to get you two off the streets." Annetta pleads.

"What of my Mother and Sister?" Asks Ezio with much concern.

"They're safe. I'll bring you to them." Annetta answers.

"No! It's too dangerous for us to travel together. Tell me where to go, Valentina and I will meet you there." Ezio responds.

"My sisters house, just north of the Duomo." Annetta answers.

"We'll see you there." Says Ezio to Annetta as he looks down at me. "Let's go."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ezio knocks on the large door of the home of Annetta's sister. Walking inside makes me remember the reason, besides wanted to find Ezio, that I wanted to leave this place so badly.

A certain kind of women live here, a kind that my Mother warned me never to become. One woman blows Ezio a kiss and I watch his facial expression light up with interest as he takes off his hood. This does not surprise me one bit.

Ezio now snaps back into reality. "I think we have the wrong building..." He says to Annetta.

"No, no. This is it." Annetta responds with a slight smile.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Messer Ezio..." Says the woman I recognize to be Annetta's sister. "Annetta speaks quite highly of you. I can see why."

"I appreciate the kind words Madonna...?" Ezio trails off, clasping his hands together.

"Ti prego (Please), call me Paola." She answers.

"Thank you for offering your home to my family and Valentina, Paola." Responds Ezio.

"It was the least I could do. You must be tired. Perhaps you'd li-" Begins Paola.

"No, grazie. (No thank you.) I can't stay." Ezio responds quickly.

"Why? Where are you going?" Paola asks Ezio the question before it's able to leave my mouth.

"To kill Uberto Alberti." Ezio answers, turning his back to Paola and I.

"That's a death wish." I mumble.

"What do you mean?" Ezio's head snaps over his shoulder to look at me with narrowed eyes. "Do you wish Uberto to still be living?" Ezio's body now fully turns back around as he walks over in front of me.

"Of course I want him dead, Ezio! It's just- I'm positive he'll be heavily guarded, expecting your arrival to assassinate him." I answer, staring up into his eyes.

"She makes a point." Paola says. "I understand your desire for vengeance, but The Gonfaloniere is a powerful man. You're not a killer, Ezio-"

"Spare me the lecture." Ezio says quickly, turning his back to us once more.

"-But I can make you one." Paola says smoothly.

"And why are you going to teach me how to kill?" Ezio asks Paola.

"I'm not. I'm going to teach you how to survive." Paola answers, placing a hand on Ezio's shoulder.

"Come." She says, walking away from Ezio and I.

I look up at Ezio with concerned eyes, but he looks only back into mine with compassion. I soon watch Ezio and Paola's figures leave my sight.