The Key of Hearts
Page 22
Chapter 22
After a few snail-paced days passed and still no clues, Selena decided to call the one person who could give her some answers. Xavier sat next to her on the porch to her house as she dialed the number. His dark eyes laid on Selena and the phone with reluctant acceptance.
“Grandmother Chela, I’m worried that we haven’t seen anything linked to The Key of Hearts.”
“I think it has something to do with Xavier,” she explained lightly.
“It has something to do with me?”
“Yes,” Grandmother Chela answered simply.
“What do you mean, Dona Chela.”
“Your heart isn’t in this,” Selena explained, exasperation in her voice.
“That can’t be it,” blurted Xavier.
“My granddaughter is right. You need to get yourself straight. It’s a matter of life and death.”
While checking her e-mail, Selena received a troubling message. She quickly printed it out and showed it to Xavier. He looked at it with suspicion.
Selena,
As you know I’ve been away to a cheerleading competition with Cherise. I’ve got something very important to tell you about her, but I need to talk to you in person. Meet me tomorrow at the theatre during lunch break.
Your friend,
Cora
P.S. bring Xavier.
“What could Cora want to tell us about Cherise?” Xavier asked.
“I don’t know,” Selena said with apprehension but they would have to wait for the answer.
Finally at lunch, Selena and Xavier anxiously reached the theatre. Because it was built only a few years ago, Ms. Bermudez, the Theatre teacher, had had a say in how it was made and she preferred old fashioned proscenium arch theatres with audiences facing the front to new experimental ones where audiences sat around the stage. She had even had a cat walk installed above the theatre where lights could be manipulated by a person walking through the pathway.
Selena quickly looked around to find no one there. If truth be told, the theatre seemed a little spooky to her. Subtle lighting partially lit the stage but the rest of the room was in the dark. Selena and Xavier went towards the stage, and he grew impatient next to her.
“Let’s go. I’m getting a bad feeling about this,” he stated.
The double-doors opened, startling both Selena and Xavier. Instead of Cora stepping in, Sebastian looked at them with an uneasy expression as he sauntered in..
“What are you doing here?” he asked, puzzled.
Xavier’s dark eyes narrowed. “We’re waiting for someone.”
“Who?”
“That’s none of your business,” stated Xavier. “What are you doing here?”
Sebastian rolled his eyes and let out a snort. “I’m in drama, remember?”
“But it’s lunch time,” blurted Selena.
“I like studying my lines in here.”
“Really?” Xavier asked with sarcasm and suspicion.
“What are all of you doing in here?” asked an annoyed Ms. Bermudez who had just walked in from back stage unnoticed since they were too busy concentrating on each other.
A harsh noise resounded through the theatre. Clang! Clang! Metal was breaking!!! When everyone in the theatre looked up to the direction of noise, part of the catwalk had broken off and was falling fast. Very fast!