Phoenix ("Behind the Mask" Sequel)

Part 1 - Whereabouts

I take my bowl full of popcorn and adjust myself at the couch, turning on the TV. Maybe some silly program will make me sleep.

As I scan the channels, I stop at the sports channel, as I see Ana's picture in the screen, behind the TV host.

"The question everyone is making right now is: what happened to Ana Taira? The Brazilian skater was the sensation last season and got every single title she could, beating top skaters like Yuna Kim and Mao Asada. But the end of the season was just like a Hollywood movie to her, and not in a good sense. Ana and her friend, the Japanese skater Yuzuru Hanyu, were kept as hostages of Luís Filipe Sartori, a 38-year-old Brazilian businessman that was later confirmed as the killer of Elizabeth Jao, murdered last March. Sartori was also accused of kidnapping six other girls in Brazil, raping and killing them. According to Brazilian Police, Taira was also a victim of him a decade ago, but escaped. Sartori was killed by a policeman at Eco Vision headquarters, in Toronto. After the incident, Taira was nowhere to be seen, didn't give any interviews, and cancelled her participations in numerous ice shows all around the world. What is going to happen to Ana Taira? Is she going to sit down right at the Olympic season, where she has real chances of a medal? We all hope that Ana may recover from this traumatic experience, and that she may return to the ice as soon as possible."

I sighed while I listened to the woman on TV. Two months have passed since that fatidic day at Eco Vision, when I almost lost my two best friends. Ana called us two or three times since she left, and gave us no hint of where she's hiding. Yes, because this is what I call it. Hiding.

Well, and about Yuzu...Considering what he has been through, he is doing well. I mean, he's practicing normally and fullfilling all of his obligations. But it is just that. The smiley, playful Japanese friend of mine is gone. In his place is just a ghost with squinted eyes that skates incredibly well. Nothing more than that.

**RING RING RING RING RING**

"Joder... Quién es?" I asked myself, as I saw an unknown number on the screen. "Hello?"

"Hi... Javi?" a female's voice answered. "I... Yumi... Yuzuru... Mom..."

"Oh...Hello, Mrs. Hanyu! What happened?" I was kind of worried. I have an idea of what could make her call me past midnight.

"Yuzu... with you?" her voice was shaky, worried.

"No, Yuzuru is not with me..." I replied slowly, careful so she would understand me. "Did he go home after practice? Did you call him?"

"No...He...Not come home...Not pick the phone...I...worried..."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Hanyu. I'll look after him, okay?"

"Please Javi...Help me..." Her voice was quivering. She was crying.

"Don't worry. I have an idea of where he may be. I'll call you as soon as I find Yuzu. Just calm down, okay?"

I get up, sighing, changing quickly and leaving the apartment.

.............................................................................

Outside Cricket, only the street lights are on. The building seems to be empty. But as soon as I approach the main door, I can see that it is slightly opened, and I can hear the muffled sound of Romeo and Juliet's soundtrack.

I knew it. He's here.

I get in, and shiver as the cold air from the ice rink hits me. On it, only part of the lights are on, and Yuzu is skating, alone, as if he is possessed. Over and over, he tries his most difficult jumps and misses all of them.