CHAPTER 34: THE DAY AFTER THE STORM

The hallway of Neravalle cracked with white light that illuminated the path.

As Natalia walked this path with Vittorio, she felt less tense than before.

Sure he didn’t say a word. But she felt everything in the unsaid language.

Maybe she just understood him. Or maybe it was her delusional mind trying to cope with the idea she understood him.

Bottom line, he didn’t need to speak to her for her to know that he actually felt sorry for her.

Guilt gripped her in a chokehold, causing her to reminisce about the day.

If she hadn’t gone out with Daniela, perhaps, none of this would have happened.

Vittorio suddenly stopped walking. "We’re here," he said.

She paused, and looked up at him, and then to the side. She saw the door. The only thing that separated her from her friend.

"Thank you for bringing me," she said sincerely.

"It’s not your fault," he said, just as she was about to open the door.

Natalia stopped, her eyes watering. "Su-re," she tried to say, but she choked.

Vittorio’s hands moved forward, but then she turned her head towards him, and he swiftly withdrew it.

"Will we leave this place soon?" She asked in a clearer voice.

"Maybe. Goodnight Natalia." He turned around, and walked away immediately.

Natalia swallowed the unanswered question in her chest, and pushed the door open.

She walked in to see both Elio and Marcello in the room. But her gaze swiftly shifted from them, to the bed.

Closing the door behind her, she hurried over to the bed.

"Val," she called out softly to her sleeping frame, carrying her hands into hers. "My beautiful girl."

"I’m so sorry, Natalia. This is hugely my fault," Elio said.

"And mine too," Marcello added.

She sniffled, as she looked at them. "Tell me what really happened," she demanded.

The boys exchanged glances, and then Elio cleared his throat. "Luce found her in the sea. Apparently, she was drowning."

"Val!" Natalia cried out, as she turned to her. "Please don’t tell me this was on purpose. Is it because I left you alone? I’m so sorry. You said you would never attempt again. Please tell me you didn’t," she stroked her forehead as tears gushed out of her eyes uncontrollably.

Elio’s brow knitted. "What are you talking about, Natty? Why would she drown on purpose."

Natalia didn’t say anything. She only continued to stroke Valentina’s forehead.

But when the burden was too much for her fragile heart to keep in, she found herself talking. "Val used to be very depressed. It made her suicidal. She has had a couple of attempts in the past. Whenever she’s alone, she gets very agitated. She can’t stand complete silence. There has to be some sort of sound playing. Music, a running tap, just anything at all–" she broke off to clear her stuffed throat.

"So you think this was an episode?" Marcello questioned.

"She knows how to swim. Why would she not swim out to safety? I don’t know if it is, but I can’t really rule it out. She’s usually better at hiding discomfort. So it looks like she’s composed, and not hurting. But we’ve been through a lot in such a short time. I should have asked her some important questions about where she was mentally. But I just thought since it’s been years since she tried, maybe she has gotten better-happier. Maybe I was wrong."

Elio breathed out. "Natty, the Valentina I saw today, all things considered, is not one that would have just given up on life. I don’t know what happened. I can’t pretend to know what truly happened. But I genuinely doubt she did any of this on purpose, okay? So don’t worry yourself about her being in a depressive mood. She’ll be fine."

Natalia smiled through the tears. "Promise?"

"Yeah." He nodded.

She buried her head beside Valentina, and continued to cry.

****

Rays of light trickled into Natalia’s face, causing her eyes to blink open.

With a start, she woke up.

The first thing she did was look at Valentina.

Her stomach dropped when she didn’t see her laying on the bed.

"Va–" her words ceased when she looked behind her to find Valentina seated on the couch, tapping her feet on the floor.

"Good morning," Valentina smiled when she noticed Natalia was awake.

She jumped up, and dashed towards her. "Val? Are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere? Why are you on the couch? You look so pale." Her hands cupped her face, as she inspected every inch of it with her eyes.

Valentina kept smiling. "I have a slight headache, but that’s it. Tell me, how did your day go with Daniela? Did you learn anything important?"

Natalia’s heart clamped, as she shook her head in disbelief.

"What? Did it not go well?" Valentina asked, misreading the expression on her face.

"No, this is the look of someone who can’t believe you’re asking about something that doesn’t matter when you almost drowned. Are you insane?!"

She shrugged. "But I’m fine. I feel grungy, and slow, but I’m fine. Why can’t I ask about something important to you?"

Natalia sighed. "You sweet thing. You’re what is important to me right now. You wait here, okay? I’m going to make you breakfast. Something you actually like." She rose to her feet.

"How’s that going to happen? The walls blend in this place. You’ll never find anything or anyone. Besides, this is a new room." She looked around.

"Well you said they have cameras all around, remember? If they see me walking around aimlessly, it’ll send them a message that I need to talk to someone important."

"Oh— good luck," she said, and continued tapping her feet.

Natalia looked down, as pity claimed her eyes.

She didn’t just want to cook anymore. She needed to bring the radio too. Valentina needed the noise.

Natalia walked out of the room, and began walking down the hallway.

Every time she thought she had found a new path, she ended up returning to where she started from.

"Ugh!" She groaned when it happened a third time.

However on the fourth try, she stumbled on Sonia.

She blinked to make sure she was seeing who she thought she was seeing.

"Sonia?" She called out to her.

Sonia looked up. "Miss Natalia!" She hastened her steps, reaching her in no time. "Good morning miss."

"It’s morning already?"

She nodded.

"Wow! I need to find a kitchen to make something for Valentina."

"See!" She pushed the tray forward. "I bring food, and medicine for headache. Carpo send me," she said.

"Luciano sent this?"

"Sì."

"What is it? Valentina is a very picky eater."

"Pancake and hot cocoa."

Natalia’s eyes widened. "Did she tell you she likes it? How did you know?!"

Sonia shrugged. "Carpo say."

"Hmmm— well let’s go then."

Together, they walked to the door of the room Valentina was being kept.

"How come I can’t ever find the right path, Sonia?"

She smiled. "Neravalle secret," she threw her a wink, as they walked into the room. "Val!" She screamed at the top of her voice, and bolted straight for the couch.

Valentina laughed on seeing Sonia. "Hello cutie. How are you doing?"

Just one question asked, and Sonia dropped the tray in her hands on the table, and began to spill everything.

"Carpo really angry. But carpo send this to you. Carpo really really angry!" She explained, leaving the girls both confused, and very much intrigued.