The Angel's Silence 21

She was afraid to move because he could have a gun, but what if he didn't?

What if this was the VPK (Valle Pacifica Killer) she slowly reached for a flashlight that she had in the back of her vehicle. If push comes to shove, she could use it to defend herself. The dark figure was almost near her when she grabbed onto the flashlight as tight as she could, and swung it at him with all of her might. She slammed the back car door, and ran to the front seat when she looked at the ground, and realized that no one was there.

"How could that be?"
She thought to herself while getting back into the vehicle and driving away.

***

John pulled open the shower curtains and saw a small boy folding his arms over his bent knees.

"Who are you?"
Asked John

The boy was crying too much to answer.

John asked repeatedly, but still no reply.

Finally, after nearly five minutes of reasoning with him to come out of the shower, he did.

He appeared to be no older than ten, with slightly long sandy blond hair and an oversized long sleeved white shirt that was dirty and full of holes.

"My name is John, and I am a police officer."

"Oh, no. Please don't arrest me.

I am sorry I broke in, but I had nowhere else to go.

Please, I'm just a kid."
Said the boy

John knew that this was his chance to get some answers

"I'll make you a deal. I won't arrest you if you answer some questions, okay?"

"Okay!"
Answered the boy

"First, what is your name?"

"Adamo."

"Okay, Adamo. How old are you?"

"Ten."

"Where are your parents?"

"I don't know."

"How could you not know where your parents are?

Did they leave you here alone?"

"No. My dad left when I was only a few years old. My mom took care of me, but she got sick and died.

They made me live with this foster family, but they were mean to me, so I ran away.

Not many people ever come to this motel, so I usually just sneak into one of the empty rooms at night.

They never lock the windows. I wasn't expecting anyone to show up tonight."

"Oh, Well I am sorry to hear about your parents, but you have to go somewhere.

You can't stay here forever."

"I can't go back to the foster home. Please. Can I stay with you? Please?"

"Well, I am only going to be in town for a few days.

Then, I have to go back home to New York."

"Wow! New York!

I have always wanted to go there.

That is where my mom was from. I can move to New York with you."

"Trust me kid, you would not want to live with me. I am not married, and I work a lot, so you would be alone all the time. Plus, I am really a pig. I never clean, and live in a small apartment. It is not a good idea. Don't you go to school?"

"I used to, but not anymore."

"Why not? School is very important."

"No, it's not. Everyone there makes fun of me, and calls me stupid because I'm not the smartest kid there."

"Well, neither was I. I was dyslexic, and had to be in special Ed. Everyone teased me so much that I hated school, and never wanted to go back.

Nevertheless, my father told me how important school really was, and forced me to go back. It was tough, but I made it through, and so can you. You don't want to grow up without an education."

Just then, there was a loud roar of thunder followed by a large bolt of lightning.

Adamo screamed, and ran back into the bathtub.

"It's all right, Adamo. You can stay with me tonight, but tomorrow I will have to find somewhere else for you to live.

Adamo tried to fall asleep, while john stared out the window at the lightning above. Wondering where the VPK was at that very moment.

***

Elena tried the phones again, but they were still out, and there was no sign of the storm letting up any time soon.

She was still lost, and becoming more and more worried for Antanas.

It almost felt as though he were already dead.

The hospital seemed to be getting further away as the moments passed.

She was at a stoplight when she looked into the rear view mirror and saw Antanas convulsing.

She began to panic. She ran the red light. There were no other vehicles out, and this was an emergency, so she figured no one would mind.

She was wrong.

She then heard police sirens. She held out for as long as she could, but soon realized that she was only going to get herself into more trouble if she continued driving.

She pulled over, and did her best to explain to the police officer why she ran the red light, and was speeding. She did not think he would buy it, but all he had to do was take one look at Antanas in the back, and he realized that this man was in serious trouble. He went back to his vehicle to retrieve a First-Aid kit, and returned to Antanas. He wiped away the blood seeping from his head, and put a bandage on it, but he knew it wasn't enough. He escorted Elena to the hospital. 24 minutes later, they arrived.

(To Be Continued)