Poveglia Island (GAC Story)

Eighteen

When they came back to their hotel room, Zak immediately avoided everyone, heading to his bedroom, closing and locking the door. Staring at the bed, her stuff was still scattered about on her side. Gently picking it up, he put it in her suitcase carefully. As he picked up one of her shirts, he smelled her favorite perfume: sun-ripened raspberry. Folding it up, he put it in the suitcase as he felt like his heart broke into a million pieces.

When he was finished, he zipped it up with his slightly shaking hands, feeling all his emotions slamming him like a huge tidal wave. Breathing heavily, he set the suitcase on the floor when he suddenly started throwing things. He threw the pillows, a few of his things, including his phone, his digital recorder, and his own suitcase.

"Whoa! Zak calm down dude!!" Aaron exclaimed when he barged in the room, holding his friend by the arms. "What the hell is that all about, man??"

"She's fucking dead and it's my fault!" Zak snapped. "I don't care what anyone says it's my damn fault it happened! I never should've agreed to go back there, Aaron! And we wouldn't be in this fucking mess right now!!"

"It's not your fault that this happened, it was her decision to go back!" Aaron said.

"What'd I just say, Aaron??" Zak said, suddenly shoving him back.

"Dude, stop!" He yelled. "Don't lay a burden on your shoulders that you don't need! She chose to do that, not you!"

"Aaron, just leave him alone for right now." Nick said, standing by the doorway. "Give him time...it's all we can do if we can't talk to him."

Aaron only nodded before quickly heading out of the room, but Nick stayed where he was.

"Jackie gets out in the morning, I just got a call from the hospital. By then, we'll go get her and leave to head home."

With that, he closed the door, leaving Zak alone in his thoughts.

"We have got to get it through his head that it isn't his fault..." Aaron said, plopping on the couch in the living room area.

"I don't think it'll work until he gets better.." Nick pointed out. "You know he is with that kind of stuff..it takes a few days for him to not be so moody."

"I mean I understand why." He said. "But he didn't need to look like he was gonna kill me, or even shove me."

Nick shrugged. "Hopefully after we get some rest it'll get better."

Aaron only nodded, standing up and heading to his room. Lounging on his bed, he turned on the TV when the news caught his eye, the English subtitles rolling across the bottom.

"We are facing the most haunted island in Venice, Poveglia island. And as you can also see, a few policemen are investigating the area of what could be a missing person case." They began. "A police officer found what could be described as foot drag marks, leading to the open water."

Aaron's eyes widened as he sat up. "No.."

The news anchor held up a picture. "After identifying the footprints that they could scan, they came across this person, their name listed at the bottom. If you see them anywhere, please contact the police right away."

Aaron shut off the TV, the picture of the person still in his mind. Immediately heading out of his room, he ran up to Nick.

"Dude, I don't think we're going anywhere for a while.." He said.

Nick raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"The news just had a report about a possible missing person..from the island." He said.

"But it can't be--"

"It is." Aaron said. "They showed a picture." He took a deep breath and gave his friend a serious look. "The picture was Lily."

TO BE CONTINUED...