Part three:
"Hey john!"
Johnny stopped just outside the door way of his fathers study. Anthony Zacharra stood rigidly with his back turned, staring out at the garden.
"Come in and sit with me. Come see the roses." As with most things the man said, it was more of an insistent demand than a polite request.
Johnny Frowned wearily. The roses weren't even in bloom any more. "I can't. I'm going out."
"Come here John!" His father's voice acquired a menacing tone.
"I can't. I have to go somewhere." He replied in a leveled voice.
The older man spun quickly spun around, his face the picture of raging furry. "Where are you going John? What's more important than your father and his flowers?" He shouted.
"I'm just going out. No where in particular, just out." He was finding it increasingly difficult to forbear his father's manic obsession.
"Oh really?" Anthony asked peering darkly at his son.
"Yes"
All was quite for a moment as both men watched each other. Finally Anthony spoke. "Who is she?" His voice was barely above a whisper.
Johnny's eyes widened slightly in startled disbelief. Did he know? How could he? That night Johnny had reluctantly left the roof and returned straight home. His handlers hadn't even bothered to question him about his absence. His father was clinically insane, a certifiable basket case. There was no way he could have known about her. He was just behaving as paranoid as usual.
"There's no 'she'." Johnny replied making an effort to sound and appear unmoved.
Anthony scoffed. "Don't lie to me boy! You and I both know that you've gone and found your self a woman!"
"No, I—
"She probably just like your mother!" he spat. "A weak sniveling little whore, Always whining to you, 'oh Johnny this' 'Oh Johnny that'. The harlot wants to take you away from me just like your mother did, but I wont let her!! Your mine, you hear me!!" he screamed suddenly picking up a vase and launching it at the wall besides Johnny's head.
Within seconds three orderlies rushed past Johnny and shut the door in his face. The sound of breaking glass and the rustle of bodies drifted in to the small dark hallway and seemed to echo off every wall. He had to get away. It wouldn't be hard because his handlers didn't take their jobs half as seriously as they should have.
As Johnny slipped out of the southern gate, he didn't dare look back. Deep down inside he was afraid that he'd be sucked right back into that bleak hole if he chanced a glance. Maybe on some off chance he would find her. They'd both be walking the lonely streets of PC and he would once again find solace in her smile, in her eyes.