Chapter 29

"I don't like storms," Luke whined, pulling the sheet on the hospital bed up to his chest.

"Me neither," I said, sitting next to the four-year-old on the bed. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and his eyes widened.

"It's coming," he said, and I nodded. "The rain'll start any minute."

"I know," I said, "But I'm going to stay with you until your Mama comes."

Luke threw his arms around my neck, and I hugged him tightly and securely, looking out the window at the dark sky. The moon shone bright above, but as I watched, the clouds moved over it and hid it from me.

It was long past my shift, and the hour was approaching nine, but some of the children had needed me even after my work day was over. I had already called Piero from the hospital to tell him I'd be staying later, and not to wait for me at my apartment.

"Do you want me to sing to you?" I asked soothingly, and Luke nodded eagerly.

I made him lay down and I tucked him in, then sat beside him again and looked up at the dark sky.

"Where do I begin?...To tell the story of how great a love can be…?"

I sang softly, and the little boy began to relax until the thunder sounded again. He sat straight up and peered fearfully out the window. I touched him softly and encouraged him to lie back down. As I finished the song, the door to the room opened, and a woman appeared holding a dry umbrella in her hand. The rain hadn't begun yet.

"Mama!" Luke cried, leaping from the bed and running into her arms.

"Hi, sweetheart!" she said, scooping him up. She smiled over at me, "Is Julia taking good care of you?"

"Oh yes, Mama!"

I smiled and stood from the bed. I watched for a moment as the young mother tightly hugged her child, holding him close and burying her face in his neck.

When Luke looked up at me, I moved toward him and gave him a good-night kiss on his head, and left him in the care of his mother. I left the room and walked down the quiet, bright hallway to the lounge, observing the little ones in nearly every room peering out the window at the stormy sky. I collected my things without a word to my colleagues and walked back down the hallway to the front of the building.

I stood under the covering, clutching my things and observing the night. The thick darkness filled the parking lot and then fled as the light above the door flickered on and off. There was an uneasy stillness surrounding me.

It wasn't raining yet, but a few cold drops splashed me as I finally stepped out of the covering over the hospital and headed through the darkness toward my car. A wind sprung up and whipped my hair about my face, and I squinted and clutched my bag to my chest. The loud whooshing disturbed the stillness and pushed at the garden alongside the hospital, whipping bushes and yanking petals from flowers. It quickly quieted back down and the night resumed its uneasy quiet. It was chilly outside, and I looked longingly up at the sky for the serene glow of the moon, but it was still hidden.

The growling of thunder echoed throughout the sky, and I began walking briskly to my car. The rumble gradually quieted, and the night was still around me, with the brewing storm prowling about, hunting for another opportunity to disturb the quiet. My tennis shoes sounded loud against the cement, but were hushed by the loud jingling of my keys.

A few cold raindrops fell across my face and down my shirt, and I began to hurry toward my car, hoping to get there before the rain commenced. The wind resumed its attack and I squinted as I jogged toward my car.

As I approached it, I saw a folded piece of paper tucked under the windshield wiper, splattered with drops and fluttering in the chilly wind. Advertisement.

But as I got closer, I saw my name scribbled on the outside. Rain started to fall all around me, and I snatched up the paper and quickly clambered into my car, slamming my door against the unfriendly rain. I set down my bag in the seat beside me and reached up to click the light on inside the car. I looked down at my name scribbled on the raindrop-splattered paper, and it looked as if it had been written in a frantic rush.

I cautiously unfolded the paper and found a short typed note.

Julia, you are not safe. Go immediately to the Jackson theatre. The side door should be unlocked. Go in and I'll meet you there. I'm sorry I had to tell you this way. -Piero

My breath caught in my throat and my heartbeat quickened, picking up to a pace as fast as the rain pounding against the windshield. My first impulse was to run back into the hospital and hide there. But the note said to go to the theatre.

I slowly looked around myself, fearfully searching for any signs of the hidden danger.

Why couldn't Piero have come to get me, instead of leaving me a note? Why couldn't he call the hospital?

Was he in danger? Immediately a jolt of fear struck me.

I felt stuck in place, as if I couldn't move. I was filled with a desperation to see him and see that he was okay. I re-read the note, and lingered on the promise that Piero would meet me at the theatre. I wondered what he was doing at that moment, and pleaded silently that he was alright.

I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to muster my courage. I hurriedly checked the car door, making sure it was locked and simultaneously breaking out of my frozen state. I began to move frantically, shoving the note into my bag, turning the key in the ignition, and backing quickly out of the parking lot.

I was trembling as I drove onto the street and rode swiftly over the wet cement, my eyes darting around uneasily. My heart pounded, and I wanted to hide.

Just get to the theatre. Don't think, just get there.

I stopped in front of a red light, and was forced to be still for a moment. I flipped down the mirror and looked at my pale face and windswept hair. I reached up and touched my white cheeks, and tried to breathe more slowly, attempting in vain to calm the shaking.

The light changed, and the car jerked as I started it again, driving through the roaring gray shroud of rain. I peered up at the sky, and the moon was still hidden.

"La luna hizo esto…fue culpa de la luna…"

I tried to calm myself with the song, but my voice was too shaky and fearful to be comforting, so I stopped quickly. I wished that I had left an Il Volo CD in the car, but they were all in my apartment. I was reduced to silence by the roaring rain, and I drove fearfully.

When I turned onto the street of the theatre, the headlights revealed that my car was the only one in sight. The street was normally busy and filled with activity, but today the rain had driven everyone away. I pulled slowly up to the theatre and parked in front of it, against the side of the street. I looked up at the darkened building looming over my little car. I sat still for a moment, looking fearfully at it.

The note had said to go in, but I was uneasy about leaving the car. The car was locked. The car was safe, and I wanted to stay hidden inside it.

I reached cautiously into the pocket of my scrubs and felt the cold metal of my keys. I looked over at the note, and reached for it. I unfolded it and read it one last time, then impulsively folded it and shoved it into my pocket.

I sat quietly in the car for a moment, trying to muster my courage to leave as fear and helplessness washed over me, and I felt like crying.

I reached out for the door handle, and hesitated a moment before shoving it open and jumping out into the rain. I was doused in shockingly cold water as I slammed the car door and dashed toward the theatre, my shoes sending up splashes of puddles around me. I sprinted around the side of the building and found a door that I yanked pleadingly on. It swung open and I jumped inside.

My feet landed on cold hardwood floor and the door swung shut behind me, eliminating the light and thrusting me into an even deeper darkness than the one outside. The roaring of the rain relented, and was replaced by a softer drumming sound of the roof of the tall building. I must be in the entrance hallway to the stage, and it was dark and cold, especially now that I was wet. I shivered and squinted through the darkness. I saw a faint slit of light shining a few feet in front of me, and I crept forward, my shoes squeaking loudly on the hardwood floor. I extended my shaking hand out in front of me, reaching for something to hold on to.

I approached the little light, and my hand hit a cold, closed set of double doors. I pushed at one of them, but it was heavy. I strained against it, and heaved it open. To my relief, I was met by light. It was dim, but it allowed me to see the vast theatre surrounding me. I recognized it as the same theatre that Il Volo had done a concert it, the night Piero brought me with him. The light was coming from the empty stage, and I immediately started to run toward it.

"Piero!?" I called, and my voice reverberated throughout the theatre. My shoes pounded against the aisle floor as I ran toward the stage. I dashed up the steps and stopped in the middle of the stage, looking around hopefully. There was no one there, and I paused and listened as fearful disappointment filled me. I heard an echoing click coming from the doors I had entered through, and I whirled around expectantly. The doors fell silent, and no one entered. I took a cautious step forward.

"Piero?"

My voice echoed, then fell quiet.

Silence. I looked around at the dimly lit stage, the floor space in front of it, the hundreds of empty seats all facing me, waiting for me to do something.

I was cold and shaking, and I wrapped my arms tightly around myself.

I stood for a moment on the stage, then slowly slid one foot forward, and then the other. I went cautiously back down the steps, and turned to look up at the empty stage. I walked fearfully down the aisle, toward the huge doors. A noise had definitely come from them.

I cautiously approached the doors and paused in front of them, looking up at them in the dim light. I extended a hand, and it shook in front of me. I wrapped it around the cold metal handle, and then yanked. The door didn't budge. I yanked again, and it didn't move. It was locked!

My breath caught in my throat, and my heart began to pound. I whirled around and stared around me at the vast empty theatre, and slowly stepped backwards, pressing fearfully against the cold doors.

I looked around and saw exit doors on the sides of the theatre. I hesitated, then instantaneously leaped forward and scrambled through a row of seats toward the door. I ran up to it and pushed, but it didn't budge. I turned sharply and ran back down the aisle toward the other door. My shoes pounded against the floor, echoing throughout the whole theatre and frightening me. I ran to the door and threw myself against it, but it didn't open either. I ran back to the doors I had entered through and yanked at them again and again.

Then I spun around and stared at the theatre, shaking, crazed tears starting to run over my cheeks. I never had a panic attack before, but I thought that one could be near.

"PIERO!?" I screamed, and the frenzied screech echoed again and again throughout the building. I clasped my hands tightly over my ears and sunk down to the floor, my back sliding down against the doors as my hope quickly depleted. My breaths were shaky, and I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my face in them.

I sat there, shaking and crying, rocking myself back and forth until I heard footsteps echoing at the other end of the theatre. My head jolted up, and I watched in terror as Ray stepped into the dim light of the stage.