The line goes dead before I can finish my threat.
My fingers grip the phone so tight my knuckles turn white.
Lucia pats my shoulder. “I’ll work with AJ and see if we can try to track where the call came from. Don’t worry everyone is safe right now Cipi.”
My mind races as I think about where everyone I care about is.
Everyone is with someone right now except…
Nonna!
I look across the street at Nonna’s house.
The curtains are closed and I don’t see any movement.
Without thinking, I rush out of the room and down the stairs.
“Cipi! Where are you going?” Lucia yells after me.
I reach the front door and yank it open. “I have to check on Nonna!”
Lucia sprints after me as I race across the street.
Reaching the porch I freeze.
Sitting in front of the door is another one of Dad’s chess pieces.
It’s a pawn and a single black feather is pinned into the head of it.
“No.” I whisper.
Lucia is next to me, she gasps at the sight of the pawn.
I throw open the door and burst inside.
“Nonna!” I scream.
No answer.
“Nonna!”
Lucia runs into the living room. “She’s not there.”
I sprint into the kitchen.
I don’t see her.
Did someone kidnap her too?
Walking deeper into the kitchen, I move around the center counter and scream.
Nonna is lying on the kitchen floor.
“Nonna!” I drop to my knees beside her.
Lucia is by my side. “I’m calling 911.”
I feel for a pulse. It’s there, but faint.
