The Strange Man At Leaning Tower of Pisa [Fiction]

Stacey stared at the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa in wonder while her fiancé, Wesley clicked away, taking pictures from every angle as fast as he could. The gathering dark clouds hinted that it might rain soon and he did not want them caught in it.

"This is magnificent!" She exclaimed for like the third time.

After crouching to get a fine angle shot, Wesley stood and gazed at his fiancée, a little jealous. He frowned. "Don't praise it so much. It's just a building."

"Not just any building, Wes. Look at it," Stacey pointed at it. "It's better than the pictures in the magazine."

"If I wasn't sure you were referring to a building, I'd think you were in love with it."

Stacey chuckled, her attention fixated on the arches. "I am in love with it!"

Just then a man casually dressed in a maroon polo shirt and blue jeans holding a folder drew close to them. He wore dark sunglasses which made it hard to see his eyes. His glance darted back and forth, scanning the area around the Leaning Tower like he was being followed and did not want anyone to see him.

Stacey stepped close to Wesley and held his hand. They were tourists and must be careful.

"Hey man, are you alright? Can we help you?" Wesley asked.

The strange man smiled slightly and moved close to the couple. "I must warn you—," he began to whisper.

"Warn of us? Of what?" Wesley interjected, his voice grim and his face stern. He and his fiancée got engaged the weekend before and took this weekend trip to Italy to see the iconic building in celebration of their engagement.

The weekend was supposed to be fun and he was determined not to let anything or anyone spoil their memorable trip.

The man took off his sunglasses, revealing sunken, bloodshot eyes that darted back and forth. Okay, something is very, very wrong with this dude, Wesley thought.

"I must warn you that this building will soon collapse in the next," the strange man paused, gazed at his wrist that held no watch and said, "Ten minutes."

"What is he talking about?" Stacey asked Wesley while glancing up at the tilted building. Truly, that was one feature that made the building iconic, the way it leaned and people feared it would collapse. But architects and engineers have assured the world that it could last for another two hundred years in its tilted position.

The man's eyes became wild as he drew close to them. "I mean it! You must believe me. No one listens to me anymore! Run now." He grabbed the hand that Wesley held the camera with.

The couple were shocked. Wesley forcefully detached his hand from the strange man's hold and wore his camera strap around his neck.

"Man, you are crazy. Stay away from us or I call the police," Wesley said and pulled Stacey along as they walked away from the area.

"Wait, please! I say the truth!" The strange man screamed. "We must tell the authorities to avoid casualties!"

Passersby glanced between the strange man and the young couple walking away.

Wesley sighted a café and they went in, ordering two cups of latte.

"Phew. What was that?" Stacey asked, nursing her drink.

"I have no idea but that guy's crazy." He squeezed her hand lovingly on the table. "That wasn't supposed to happen. Do you want us to go back tomorrow?"

Stacey shook her head. "No way. That guy has scarred my visit there. Let's go see the Baptistery of St. John…"

A song began to play on the television mounted high above where the barista stood serving beverages. The large writing on the screen stated, "BREAKING NEWS". A reporter came on the screen while a cropped portrait snapshot of the strange man appeared beside him.

"Honey, look," Stacey pointed to the TV.

"We interrupt this program to inform you that the famous Alessandro Giovanni who is known to foretell the imminent collapse of the world's most lopsided building has been found. He disappeared five months ago after he was arrested for assaulting tourists who visit the site. Passersby reported sighting him around the building this afternoon after an attempt to assault a couple. He has since been admitted into the psychiatry ward at Santa Maria Nuova Hospital in Florence…."

Stacey and Wesley stared at each other for a long moment.

"Poor man," Stacey remarked, looking a little sad.

"He actually sounded mental," Wesley said. Seeing his fiancé was unusually quiet, he touched her hand. "Honey? Are you okay?"

Stacey gazed at him. "What if Alessandro Giovanni is right?" She whispered.

Wesley groaned inwardly and wished they had left the scene before Alessandro began his weird talks.

The End.

What I See

I see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, standing tall as dark clouds gather in the sky, shutting out the sun.

What I Feel

I feel the dark clouds herald something ominous that is about to happen around the iconic building.

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