The frozen water poured on me brutally wakes me up. I need a bit of time to realize that I am in Solazzo's mansion, tied up to a chair. Solazzo is sitting on a couch in front of me, a whip in hand. His face is crossed with a dreadful grin.

"Ah, you are finally awake."

I come to my senses, and pain also flows back into my whole body. I start recalling the events that occurred before I passed out. Going to Aunt Tara's for Solazzo's birthday, the gun I was carrying was found.

Solazzo immediately cancelled the celebration and asked his men to bring me here. Despite the torture, I gave away no information on Iero or our plans.

"So, why were you hiding a weapon?" He asks severely.

"It's... It's for self-protection..." I say quietly. Solazzo gives me a sly smile and whips me without hesitation. Pain pierces through me and I almost pass out again.

"Please, you have to believe me, Mr. Solazzo... It's the truth!" I cry.

"Do you honestly think that I am going to believe you, Arthur?" He whips me again. I break out in cold sweat and start feeling faint. I can't tell if it's because of the ache or exhaustion. My wounds are burning because of the swear.

Solazzo takes a break and sips his coffee. Then, a knock breaks the silence. "We found something, boss."

Solazzo tells the voice to come in. He glares at me and motions for his man to come closer. Hearing what he has to say, Solazzo's face turns red in anger.

He turns to me and gives me a ruthless kick . It lands in my stomach and violently pushes me back. I'd like to curl up from the pain, but I am still tied up to the chair. The only thing I can do is to pant, wince and wriggle like a fish on land. I can feel drops of sweat drip on my face.

Solazzo steps closer, his heels clicking on the marble floor. He towers over me like a God judging a damned.

"I suppose that I underestimated you..." He gives me a smile. "...Gerard Way."

My heart gives up on me. It's over... He knows it all. Forgive me for failing you, Frank.

______

The dancers of the notorious Sparrow Hall of New York City are busy preparing themselves. A woman named Madam Lana in velvet dress claps her hands.

"Hurry up! Mr. Solazzo is here!"

"Do we have other guests besides Mr. Solazzo? I think this evening is going to be legendary!" Claire, an adorable, blonde dancer exclaims.

"That's none of your business. Make sure that everything is working!" Madam Lana scolds and storms out of the crowded room.

"I heard that another VIP was coming tonight," Rose, another dancer, states. "Do you remember Mr. Iero? The one who argued with Mr. Solazzo over Arthur. He was invited by Mr. Solazzo tonight."

"They don't really get along..." Claire pouts. "Why come here together?"

"It's hard to know what's going on inside these brutes' heads."

"By the way, I haven't seen Arthur in days. He isn't with Mr. Solazzo either..." Claire glances out.

Rose laughs. "Haha, he must've gotten bored by him already."

______

Solazzo is sitting right in front of the stage and he is observing the dancers quietly. The dancers do their best to catch his eye, but his gaze remains empty. He plays with his drink, twirling the ice cubes with a few flicks of his wrist, then drinks a bit of his whisky. He indicates to one of his men to come closer.

"Is he here?" asks he, frowning.

"No, boss."

"Keep watching the main door. He is surely going to show up." He scowls and drinks up his whisky.

Solazzo's men nod. Before withdrawing, they hear a thunderous voice coming from the entrance. Solazzo sits straight up and peers at the door mistrustfully.

"He's here, boss! He's here'!"

"Stick to the plan," Solazzo orders. "Is everything ready?"

"Yes, boss," a subordinate asserts.

Almost all the seats of the Sparrow Hall are occupied by Solazzo and his men.

A man wearing a black trench coat appears at the entrance with a dozen men after him. He approaches Solazzo without a moment's hesitation.

"Bambino, what a surprise! I didn't think you would come." Solazzo greets. "Why the long face, Frank? I am inviting you to have a drink, not a fight. Sit down! Tell your men to relax, too! The next show is prepared specially for you."

Frank frowns, but he accepts to sit down. A merry, dancing jazz music rises and three dancers in bunny suit arrive on stage. Their shy expressions and sling silhouettes seduce all the men of the club. Solazzo is enjoying the show, tapping his feet in rhythm with the music.

A man pushes a box covered in red velvet on stage.

"Look, Frank! That's my surprise for you!" Solazzo exclaims through his cigar, smirking.

Frank isn't smiling, but instead his frown deepens. The bunny dancers lead Solazzo to the stage. The latter gives Frank a wide smile.

"Watch this, Frank!"

Solazzo swiftly tugs the velvet sheet off the large box, and knocking it over with a kick. A loud thud echoes and something falls out of the box.

"It's a corpse!" Rose screams. The dancers scream and run backstage while Solazzo's and Frank's men are standing by.

A man fell out of the box and lies on the ground lifelessly. His clothes are shredded and stained with blood. His tousled hair is darkening his face.

Frank emits a soft sigh, unimpressed. "What do you want, Angelo?"

Solazzo approaches the body and tugs the hair up, revealing a bludgeoned and bloody face. "Have you forgotten about Gerard, Frank?"

Even if his face is covered in blood, Frank recognizes Gerard. He balls his fists tight and attempts to repress his rage. "I will do whatever you ask me. Let him go."

Solazzo doesn't bother to hide his uttermost contempt and hatred. "I must say that I wasn't expecting such generosity from you by inviting you here. What makes you believe that you are in position to negotiate? I intend to have a bit of fun, today. Too bad that you aren't part of my plans."

Solazzo points the barrel of a gun against Gerard's head.

"Angelo, stop!" Frank shouts. Frank's men hold him back before he can rush on the stage. Solazzo's men are surrounding them. Any sudden movement might as well be their last.

"I am capable of magnanimity, especially towards those whom I share pleasant memories with. I am referring to this sweet little snitch, not to you. You were like a son to me, Frankie! My heart is bleeding!" Solazzo presents the gun to Frank. "There is only one bullet in there. I will let him go if he survives five shots. What do you think?"

"No, don't do this!" Frank howls and struggles against the hold around him. Pete Wentz wouldn't let go, though.

"Boss, push it down! You're gonna get everybody killed!" Pete aggressively mutters through gritted teeth.

"Let's begin! One..." Solazzo pulls the trigger against Gerard's temple, but the gun only emits a faint clicking sound. "Not bad! Let's hope that his luck doesn't give up on him."

______

"Let's hope that his luck doesn't give up on him."

The sound of a gunshot wakes me up. My eyes have a hard time adapting to the room's luminosity.

"Let go of him, Angelo! Let go or I swear to God I am putting a bullet between your eyes!"

Is this... Frank...? Something heavy is weighing on my back. I try to free myself, in vain. Solazzo is pressing his foot down on my back.

"Your Gerard is awake, Frank."

Solazzo's voice gives me the shivers. What is he planning on doing? He has been torturing me for days... You are going to regret not tying me up, this time.

I try to move my fingers. To my greatest surprise, I still have some strength left in my hands. After some painful groaning, I fall back on the ground like a dead fish.

"Oh, poor boy, he has passed out again." Solazzo pouts. He looks at the gun in his hands and remembers that he still has work to do. "Let's resume... -Ah!"

Taking advantage of his lack of attention, I bite Solazzo's leg. Almost immediately, Frank shoots and wounds Solazzo's arm. Frank's shot turns the club into a battlefield.

After freeing myself from Solazzo, I manage to roll on one side of the stage. Once I fall, I am embraced in a warm and familiar hold.

It's Frank. I look at him with my dumb gaze through the seeping blood of my face and he smiles at me. Despite the danger, Frank is holding me firmly, not letting go.

"I am sorry, Gerard," says he gravely. His words make tears well in my eyes.

"It's not your fault." I shake my head and jump at the sound of gunshots. "All this happened because I made a mistake. If I had earned Solazzo's trust enough, none of this would have happened."

"Attempting to murder him was a mistake. I... I shouldn't have accepted to make you take such big risk."

Before I can answer, a gunshot goes off nearby.

"We have to leave!" Pete exclaims. Frank sets me down and checks that I can stand. I nod at him ; our eyes can speak for themselves. His men cover for us as we run to the dancer's changing rooms, holding each other's hand.

In the short distance separating us from backstage, Frank loses two other men.

"We must go now, boss," Pete urges, barricading the door. Frank looks at the door and frowns his eyebrows. He is visibly preoccupied by our current situation.

"Pete, Giorgio. Get Mr. Way our of here. The others, follow me to the main hall," he decides. Pete and Giorgio start to protest.

"No..." I breathe out. "W-why go back? Come with us. There is nothing worth staying here."

Frank gives me a sincere smile. "I have my reasons to stay here. Don't worry, Gee."

I shake my head frantically. Tears are threatening to spill. "No. I will not go if you stay."

Frank puts his hands on my shoulders and my teary eyes meet his bright and confident ones. "I have scores to settle with Solazzo. Your presence would only be a source of distraction. Do you understand?"

I don't answer and I look away. There is nothing I can do to make him change his mind. Frank cups my face, bringing my gaze back on him. He puts a tender kiss on my forehead before pressing it to his own.

"It's going to be okay..." he promises softly before letting go of me. He turns back to his men. "We are going to make an exit. You two leave afterwards with Mr. Way. Ensure his safety at all costs."

Once his orders are given, Frank heads for the door. I want to follow him, but I know it would put the both of us I great danger, and this I don't want. And so I decide to stick with his plan, with all the reluctance in the world. My reason is telling me that this is the best thing to do, but my instinct is telling me that I am making a huge mistake.

A hand on his gun and the other one on my arm, Pete looks at me with mixed emotions. Giorgio raises his gun and stays ready.

"No matter what, you must follow us. Alright?" Pete looks at me. Though my eyes are hooked on Frank, I nod at Pete.

Frank turns around. One way or another, he must have felt my gaze, and we look at each other in the eye. I can see the joy, the sadness, and the anger in his eyes. They remind me of the good and the bad times... But I can't really describe them in details...

"Alright, let's go." Frank loosens his tie. He exits the room without any hesitation.

The gunshots rise twice as loud as soon as we exit the backstage. Most of Solazzo's men take Frank as a target. Solazzo probably organized this reunion for the sole purpose of killing Frank.

Pete and I managed to get out of the Sparrow Hall unharmed. Giorgio wasn't so lucky. I look back at the large club.

"I can handle myself, Pete. Frank needs your help," I tell him, worried to death.

Pete shakes his head, uncompromising. "Boss asked me to stay here and protect you."

"I am not in danger here!" I exclaim. "Aren't you worried for Frank?"

Pete tries to stay adamant. "I would never disobey. But I also believe that he isn't gonna-"

Boom! A sudden, violent explosion echoes inside the Sparrow Hall. The windows shatter and glass flies.

"It was... an explosion? Tell me this was part of the plan. Pete. Pete?" I shake his arm but he doesn't answer. He is looking up at the building, agape. I look back at the club in horror.

"It was. We weren't expecting Solazzo to use explosives..." he manages to utter, wide eyes hooked on the building.

My first reflex is to run inside, but my wrist gets grabbed. Pete has the reflex of tugging me back. "What... What should we do?" I ask, panicked and unable to look away from the building. I am too shocked to consider crying. "Should we call the police?"

"No. If we call the police, boss will get into big trouble."

"I'm going back. I have to find him!"

"Wait, Mr. Way! Listen to me-"

I free myself from Pete's hold and run towards the Sparrow Hall. Something hits the back of my head, and I fall on the ground...

"Sorry, Mr. Way. I can't go against the boss' will."

______

The weather is always nice here. Every evening, I walk alone on the beach, bathed in orange light. In a town as quiet as Cefalù, time is slowed down. In this idleness, I review again and again those events in my head. The events of that fateful day, six months ago, are still on my mind....

When I woke up, I was already on a boat heading for Sicilia. Pete told me that it was all part of Frank's plan. Before they went to the Sparrow Hall that day, Frank ordered him to take me to Sicilia in case of unforeseen circumstances.

I asked Pete what was considered 'unforeseen circumstances'. He smiled without answering. The only thing he said was that Cefalù is the only place out of Solazzo and his men's reach.

When we arrived to Cefalù, I found out that this place was Frank's hometown.

Pete left me with an old lady before he left. He said that he would come back. Life in a city as small can be quite monotonous. If only I could see Frank sooner, instead of having to wait.

I walk on this beach every day, in hope of seeing a boat on the horizon. Perhaps tomorrow, the day after, or in a month, I will finally see the person I await.

______