Chapter 39. Silence

It's too quiet, and I don't like quiet, not in this way. Quiet in my head, fine, but this feels wrong. He's gone quiet. He's stopped sending messages out. He's ignoring us.

He's planning, he's planning something, what is he planning? I pace the room. Today is Matteo's engagement party. Tomorrow is Christmas.

It's too fucking quiet. Quietly, quietly, not a sound. I'm listening and listening.

"Dario!" I turn, and Marco is staring at me.

"You're singing." He holds out his hands. "We were waiting for you!"

"I..." Something is wrong. Quietly, quietly, not a sound. I'm listening and listening.

"Dario!" I glance at him. "Get out of your head, focus." I can't focus. It's too quiet.

"Okay, tell me what is in your head. You keep singing quietly, quietly, so speak."

"It's too quiet." It's too quiet.

"Right, and I agree it is. It's unusual. He's gone quiet; he's not responding, but stay out of your head. It'