Prologue

Berlin 1936

In the middle of the night, Massimo felt Elsa stirring. He woke up and opened the small lamp on the bedside table next to him. Elsa was sweating and moaning. He understood that she was having a nightmare. He tried to wake her gently. She woke up with a start, fear dominating her gaze. He immediately took her in his arms.

"Hush, hush mi Amore, non ti preoccupare , it was only a bad dream. »

"Oh ummm , Massimo, it was like I was there again. » Elsa cried.

"What are you talking about Love?" » he asked.

"The hotel room, the men, the chainsaw, they were all so real. They were coming to get me here to finish what they had started. » She cried, burying her face in Massimo's chest.

Massimo felt anger rising within him. As he had already felt often when thinking of the monsters who had harmed his angel. Elsa was scared, he could feel it, it was a very real fear.

"It's okay Elsa, you're safe." I am here. » He said to her to try to calm her down.

After a good hour, Elsa fell back asleep, snuggled up against him. Massimo took a little longer to get back to sleep. He wanted to make sure Elsa was okay.

In the weeks that followed Elsa had the same type of nightmare a few times. She was afraid to leave the workshop. She was afraid of meeting her attackers in the street or anywhere else. Then they heard over the radio that Hindenburg had died. They both knew who was coming. Elsa was more and more afraid to go out. Massimo too by the way. One morning, over a good breakfast, they were chatting.

"Mi Love?" » Massimo began.

"Hmm? » She replied.

"I think it would be wiser to flee Germany. »

" I know. Look at the newspaper. » She told him, handing him the paper.

"I read it earlier. If you agree, we'll leave before it's too late. I thought of America. They take German refugees in large numbers and it seems that the American dream is good. You could make your dream come true there, I'm sure. » He suggested.

"Yes, America is an excellent idea, but Italy? We dreamed of Rome, right? » she asked.

"Yes, but the borders have been virtually closed to people coming from Germany since the rise of Hitler. Me having an Italian nationality, maybe I would be lucky, but I'm not sure. »

"And me, having a German nationality, it would be more complicated. » Added Elsa to finish Massimo's sentence.

"Maybe, I don't know. But I don't want to take the risk. So I believe that America is an excellent plan b. And nothing stops us from leaving for Italy later if we don't like the United States. » Massimo suggested.

" I agree. I will follow you wherever you want to go. When would they leave? » Elsa asked.

"As soon as possible." We have savings for boat tickets on one of the ships. I have a delivery to make for the museum this morning. I'll take care of it this afternoon. »

" All right. I'm going to prepare our things. That way we can leave whenever we're ready. » Elsa suggested.

"You're awesome. » Said Massimo getting up. He kissed her then went to his workbench to pack the accessories to be delivered.

All afternoon, Massimo had been thinking. That night again Elsa had a nightmare about the monsters that they had savagely attacked her. She was afraid they would come back. It was obvious that moving away would help, but as long as the rot wasn't dead, Elsa would never be completely at peace. The mere thought made his blood boil with rage. His garbage had to die. They didn't deserve to live after what they did to Elsa, his beautiful Elsa. He was going to take care of it. Then, Elsa could finally live in peace and, as a bonus, avenged.

Around lunch time, Massimo returned to the workshop. He saw Elsa approach him and enter his arms.

" Buongiorno Amore mio . » She told him before kissing him tenderly.

"Te amo. Mi Amore. » He added.

"Look, in this morning's paper there's a whole article about America. You knew that in Boston there is a pretty incredible rise in music and arts. It seems they are building dozens of theaters. And in New York, they are opening art galleries. It's wonderful. Art really has its place there. » She said with stars in her eyes.

"I was sure you would." » He smiled at her before kissing her.

"I prepared some food, come on, it's ready. » she said.

"I eat quickly and rush to the port for the boat tickets. »

"I'm almost done gathering our things." It will only remain your work tools. I didn't dare touch it. »

"You could have mi amore." I'll take care of it when I come back. » He told her warmly.

"So we'll leave this week?" » she asked.

"Yes, I will buy open tickets. This way we will be spoiled for choice. But we won't leave the same day, you and I Angel mio . » Said Massimo, looking up at her, worried.

" What? Why is that? » she asked in surprise.

"I have an emergency for the museum. I couldn't leave Conrad in trouble. He asked me to save his life. He needs some special medieval style accessories, I'll help him, and then I'll jump on the first ship to join you. »

"But I can leave at the same time as you. » Added Elsa.

"No Elsa, I want you to get away to safety as quickly as possible. It's more and more dangerous here. »

"You want to break up with me? You've had enough of me, right? » Elsa asked tears now flowing freely down her face.

Massimo got up from his chair and approached Elsa. He took her in his arms.

"No, no. Mi Amore, No. Te amo Elsa. I don't want to break up, ever. Te amo. Te amo, Elsa you hear me. » He said, hugging her tightly.

"So why don't you let me go at the same time as you?" »

"Because I want to know you are safe as quickly as possible Elsa. I wouldn't recover if anything happened to you. »

"How soon will you come and join me? » She asked, looking into his eyes.

"Two weeks to finish my work plus a maximum of two weeks for the crossing. If you leave this week, about two weeks after you arrive in America, I will get there too. »

"I won't see you for a month." It's going to be too difficult. » Said Elsa.

"You're going to choose a nice apartment for us. You will leave with enough money. Prepare a little love nest for us, okay. » He said to her, wiping the tears that were sliding down her sweet face with his thumb.

"You promise me that you will join me two weeks after my arrival. »

"Te lo prometto mi amore. » He said to her before kissing her.

In the evening, Massimo and Elsa had prepared a romantic evening. They had agreed that Elsa would be leaving the next day, so they wanted to take advantage of the time they had left together, since they would be spending a month apart. Massimo had cooked a delicious Italian meal and they had a small candlelit meal. They then spent the rest of the evening consuming their love and simply staying in each other's arms.

The next morning, Massimo went to drop Elsa off at the port. They took several minutes to kiss and hug. Tears streamed down both of their faces and they kept telling each other how much they loved each other. Massimo then watched Elsa get on the boat. He then watched the boat leave and move away. He watched his angel leave for another continent, in safety. He felt tears flowing down his cheeks, freely. He knew he was going to join her, but he had no idea what awaited him, nor that he was going to be so late.