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MARIA

I shot up that morning with the most pounding migraine grounding into my temples, with a wave of nausea hitting me, flaring upwards into my throat. It was too fast that I was already opening my mouth to spew the moment I opened the bathroom door.

Once I had made it to the bathroom, it all flew out into the toilet, a putrid and sour mess leaving my body, my stomach ejecting itself of all of its unpleasant contents. My hand reached out for some tissue and quickly wiped my mouth, my head looming over the toilet with my hair hanging either side.

I heard the footsteps behind me and quickly flushed down fluid, rubbing my throbbing head as I turned to face him. He was wearing his long trousers and a simple black vest, his large arms by his sides. He had just woken up; his hair was messy and sticking up everywhere, and his eyes still looked droopy. I had woken him.

"I'm fine," I groggily muttered before he could ask, about to take a step around him until he moved to the side slightly, blocking my way. I looked up at him; a worried gaze was fixed on me. I gently sighed, rubbing my forehead as I could already tell what was coming.

"You barely slept all night, and now you're sick? Ria-" My eyebrows knitted together as I groaned loudly, my irritation causing him to raise his eyebrows at my coldness.

I tried to ignore his perturbation, unemotionally answering, "I ate too much yesterday. That's all. You don't have to follow me to the bathroom, Leo." Leonardo pressed his lips together, holding in a huff. He slowly exhaled as though to calm himself as he responded slightly passively and aggressively, "You had one meal yesterday, and that was yoghurt."

"Thanks for noticing," I shot back, a tight and sharp tone coming from me.

He watched as I brushed my teeth, his sighs telling me much about his concern. I didn't want any of it. I didn't deserve it.

When I had finished, I moved my hair behind my ears, struggling to stay alert and calm. My head felt like it had been hit repeatedly by a hammer, a constant pulsating pain soaring through from the back.

"Can I go back now?"

"You're not okay," Leonardo quietly recognised, allowing me to move around him and go back into the bedroom. My joints and muscles felt inflamed, so sore and achy. All I wanted to do was sleep. I trudged my way back into the bedroom and climbed onto the bed, throwing over the warm comforter over my body and burying my head under.

"Thanks, Leo," I sarcastically replied, my voice muffled under the duvet. The heat smothered me. He followed me into the bed, and I shuffled to the end of the mattress, shutting my eyes tight and hoping he'd leave me alone.

"You're falling again," Leonardo noted, an empathetic tone lacing his words. I ignored him, feeling myself begin to crumble at the sound of his comforting voice. "Why don't you tell me how you feel?"

"Leave me alone," I harshly responded, though my voice came out quieter than intended. I couldn't stay indifferent with him. His hand found itself to my hip, holding on as reassurance.

"We said we wouldn't do this," Leonardo reminded me in a strict but worried tone. "That if something was wrong, we'd talk about it and not avoid each other." I felt my heart race at his words, just as the tears began to slip out of my eyes silently, my bottom lip quivering and my heart seeking for his consolation. "Talk to me, Maria. You haven't eaten or slept well in days. You're worrying me." His hand rubbed my shoulder under the duvet.

Leonardo so softly said, "Tell me everything about that night and how you're feeling. Please."

"I feel like shit," I finally mumbled, holding back a sob. The hot tears began to stream down my cheeks as I kept my head against the pillow, unable to contain my sorrow any longer. "My best friend is missing, and I know it's not my fault, but I keep overthinking everything and panicking." I let out a breath, feeling the tightening in my throat as I felt as though I swallowed a lump.

I trembled as I continued, "I keep thinking over and over about that night, and I just..." A sob escaped me, my eyes welled up with tears. "I can't feel anything. I can't eat, I can't sleep, and I can't breathe knowing that she's she's. ." I bit my bottom lip as I tried to fight the tears, a deep and agonising pain of dejection filling my heart.

"I keep thinking about that note. ."




That sinister message had been left on the wall of her trashed house, written in scarlet, dripping red. Each ominous word sent a harrowing and strong shiver down my spine as each word slowly entered my mind, bringing anxiety into me.

You're next, little red.

The dark blood had dripped all the way back down the cream wall to its original source; a dead swan lay beneath on the ground, rigid and still, with the rest of the haunting message left on a blood stained note on top of it.


Excited? Our meeting will be grander and sooner than you think.
Get your pointe shoes ready,

From your only love


"She's gone. ." I managed to whisper, finally speaking the moment I came out of her apartment. I stood outside her door, my eyes fixed onto the floor before me, unable to take in what I had just seen. I was dazed, struggling to accept the fact that Rosa had now been a part of the missing girls. Too many thoughts had initially run through my mind that it had all suddenly gone blank, incapable of taking in anything else. Rosa was gone; that was all I had managed to realise.

"Maria," Vincenzo called as he came out of the apartment, scrunching his face up slightly at the sight of all the police officers coming in and out of her place that had been violated of its privacy and respect. His voice had hit a wall; I felt numb, slumped up against the floor, crouched down. I couldn't feel my legs anymore and had no energy to move or talk.

He gently shook my shoulder as he came down to my level, a warmer and more sympathetic look coming onto his face; it looked unfamiliar. Vincenzo had looked at me so sincerely since we were kids.

He softly said, "Sorella {sister}. Can you look at me?" My eyes slowly rose and met his deep hazel ones. A darker shade than his brother's. His brother. The thought of Leonardo made my heart twist; I unexpectedly needed to see him; I needed his comfort. My thoughts hit me all at once again: Rosa was gone, I couldn't protect her, and I let her disappear into thin air after being so comfortable for a while. I never should've let my guard down and lost sight of what was truly important, and just like that, she was taken too.

I hadn't realised I was crying until Vincenzo pulled me into his large arms, hugging me tightly on the ground and rubbing my back slowly. "Vince. ." I cried out, unable to contain my sadness any longer. "I-I..I-" My words were fragmented, breaking into sobs before I could even say anything. "Rosa!" I sobbed. My hands gripped onto him as I struggled to control both my anger and regret mixed with intense pain. My whole body was raging, hot with frustration and from all the stress. I felt my hoodie begin to heat against me.

"Ria, it's not your fault."

"She's gone, Vince," I managed to let out in a muffled voice, sniffling as he moved back to gaze at me, wiping my cheeks with the back of his large hand. I stared at him through teary lashes as I tried to speak clearly, "What if she's hurt? What if they do something to her?" I broke out in another sob, my hands covering my face as I continued to cry, fearing the worst again.

Vincenzo moved my hands away from my face slowly. A change in his expression matched the change in his tone as he more seriously said, "You're panicking. This is not the right reaction to this."

My eyebrows furrowed as I sniffed and wiped my eyes. "What?"

His eyebrows narrowed and his face grew strict, the sweetness in his eyes disappearing. "This is exactly what they want—your fear." I bit my bottom lip, wiping my eyes again as the tears continued to leak out. Vincenzo's intent eyes never left mine as he maintained, "Are you scared?" His direct and authoritative tone had brought an end to the tears in me. I swallowed, unconsciously straightening my back at his strong demeanour before me.

"I'm terrified," I honestly answered, blinking a few times as my eyesight began to blur again. He held onto my arms and stood, bringing me up to my feet with him, then placed his hands onto my shoulders.

             Vincenzo's stern eyes gazed into mine as he said, "From here, you need to come out of this stronger, angrier, and better. Don't let anyone see your weakness."

"I know I shouldn't be so anxious, but," I couldn't maintain my tears inside, another sob overcoming my words. "But I'm so stressed—I can't stomach anything."

"And now I have to fucking get up and put on a brave face all day in front of all those people."

I wiped my face and after a moment of silence, I managed to calm down. I squeezed my eyes closed. "But I swear I'm going to finish them. The person behind all of this," I paused, the tears subsiding as I felt the fury build within me. "Will regret even having this psychotic idea."

He wrapped his arms around me, hugging me from behind, and kissed my temple. "You and I both," Leonardo firmly responded, holding me. "Thank you for talking to me." He nestled his head into my neck and I gently sighed, feeling comforted by his presence.

"I hope she's alright, Leo."

Leonardo didn't respond for a second before tightening his arms around me as he softly replied, "Me too. I hope she's okay too."

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~ Author's Note ~

That was a very short aftermath of Rosa's kidnapping. Next chapter is a lot longer.

Next chapter is Maria's final event before the Grand Performance.

Will all go to plan?

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