I claw at his face, punching and scratching every part of him I can reach, but he’s too strong and doesn’t budge one bit.“Bye-bye, sweetheart,” he mocks, as I fall unconscious.
Chapter Seven
Adriano
Istand in front ofCapri’s apartment, about to knock on her door.I hang my fist midair.I’ve never actually bothered with knocking before.Why did I suddenly bother now?I silence the voice in my mind that proffers an answer.I don’t even want to consider it.It simply isn’t possible.
I exhale.Why am I acting like a wuss all of a sudden?The same thing happened yesterday, and the day before.I had come here but left without stepping in.I look at the bunch of red roses in my hands.Will she like them?I never actually bothered to ask her what she likes.It’s high time I do.I take another deep breath and, for the first time, I knock on her door.The dog across the street barks aggressively.It seems to have been restless since last night.I knock again.Still no response.
I guess I’ll just have to go in unannounced again.
I unlock the door and give the flowers in my hands another glance, considering dumping them in the garbage.It probably makes me look weak.After a long, hard thought, I conclude that she’d like it, and that makes it worth keeping.I enter her living room, surprised that it—for the first time—looks like someone actually lives here.
The clothes and dishes that littered the living room have been cleared, and she even started shading something on her canvas.I look closely at the sketch.It looks somewhat familiar, but I probably have no idea what it is.Someone seems to be in high spirits.
The thought that I might be responsible for this renewed vigor spreads a smile across my face—an action which almost feels alien.I noticed the crutches on the floor.It seems strange that she’d clean up this place but leave one of her crutches sprawled across the floor.I walk over to pick up the crutches.
Now, where is she?
I make my way quietly to her room, and the first thing I notice is the broken door.My heart immediately begins to race as adrenaline shoots through me.What the hell happened here?
“Capri!”I shout, hoping she’s somewhere in the house.I check the bathroom.Empty.“Capri!”
My palm becomes clammy, as a series of thoughts shoot across my mind—none of it good.I rush to the kitchen.Empty, except for the dirty dishes on the counter.I hear a phone ring, and relief washes through me.Perhaps she stepped out, and I am overthinking things again.I pick up her phone, which is on the table beside her canvas, where her pencils and palettes are neatly arranged.The caller ID saysMom.I contemplate picking up the call, but ultimately decide against it.
The phone rings again, and I watch it till the call ends.I check her call log and find sixteen missed calls.A couple of people have been trying to reach her all day.That means she didn’t just step out and forget her phone, as I thought.Fear immediately grips me.Without a second thought, I dial her mom.
She picks up the first ring.
“Capri?”Her voice sounds a little chirpy, unlike Capri’s calm voice.
“No.I’m Adriano.Her—”
“Her boyfriend?”
“Um...”I freeze, unsure of what to say.
