The silence was eerie.
The kind that usually was only found in those old horror movies from the seventies. The kind where you knew pretty much exactly what was going to happen, when the bad guy was going to jump out, and how the story would end.
The only difference here was that Justin had no idea what was going to happen. No idea when the bad guy was going to jump out. And absolutely no clue how this story was going to end.
But he knew one thing. However it was going to end, it would end tonight.
It was strange to him how a mere hour ago he was so happy. It was a small happiness. One brought on only by a few words and a little progress. But either way, he was happy.
Now all he felt was fear.
He was terrified. He had absolutely no idea what Trystan was going to do. What was she going to do to Erin? What if he couldn't stop her? What if he didn't find them in time? He knew he had to hurry, but she never did say how long he had to find them.
Running around the side of the building, Justins legs couldn't seem to move fast enough for his liking. He couldn't feel the ground under his feet, or hear his footsteps heavy on the pavement. He felt nothing but his fear, and heard nothing but the sound of his heart beating loudly in his ears.
Looking up, Justin looked at the familiar building.
He had been here many times. Too many times to count. It was a place that held many memories for him. But this memory, the one made tonight, would always stand out.
Looking up, his eyes scanned the illuminated sign above the building.
Orlando Arena.
It was the only place he could think of that made sense to Trystans riddle.
The place he broke her heart.
First, his immediate reaction was New York City. The place where this all began, and should have ended. But that was impossible. He had seen Erin only an hour before, and there was no way for her to get to New York in that time. Plus, how in the world would Trystan ever get her there? A plane? Security would pick her up before she even got to the gate. Usually, a gagged woman was something to draw attention to.
Cleveland was second in his mind, only because it was the second time he had seen her. But it didn't add up. He was nothing but nice to her that day, giving her tickets to the show and talking with her. Agreeing to meet with her. He didn't break her heart that day. There was no way it was right.
The only other thing he could think of, was Orlando Arena.
The day of their last show of the tour. When Trystan and Madison showed up at the meet and greet. When he took Trystan backstage, and told her to leave him alone. He did it as best he could, trying to break it to her nicely. But really, how do you do that? If a girl is crazy enough to follow you across the country, then there really is no way to make this easy.
In her eyes, it was when he first broke her heart. It was the day he told her to stay out of his life.
It was the day it all began.
And now, it was the only place he could think of.
Running around another corner of the building, Justin searched for a door. He had been here so many times, but rarely was he every outside. He always entered through the stage entrance at the back of the building, or through the bus loading area. Both of which were already locked. He tried three doors already, none of them open.
He couldn't help but wonder how in the world Trystan would be able to gain access to the building. Such a high security area was sure to be difficult to enter. But if there was one thing he learned about Trystan Michaels in the time he had known her, it was that she never let anything stand in her way.
All he had to do was find a way inside. That was the easy part.
There were so many small rooms, backstage areas, and conference centers in the building, there was no telling where they would be. He would have to search the whole building, and that would take up valuable time. Time he didn't have.
Skidding around another corner, he slid to a stop in front of the fourth door he found. Grabbing the handle, he pulled hard.
Nothing.
Pulling frantically, nothing happened. It was locked tight.
Breathing heavily, Justin looked around him.
Night was falling now. Only a soft glow from the setting sun lit the sky dimly. Above, the first stars of the night began to show themselves. Faintly, he could hear traffic out on the highways, the sound of busy travelers going on their way, completely oblivious to what was going on in his world.
Looking around, Justin searched for another entrance. He thought hard, trying to remember where he was outside, in the hopes of remembering some way inside.
There should be a maintenance door around the next corner. Thinking hard, he faintly remembered Joey getting locked outside that door once a few years ago when he was trying to find a bathroom.
Bursting into a run again, Justin raced around the next corner. In the dim light, he could see the door.
The lights on the outside of the building were coming on now. Dull white lights lit the sides, a light above his desired door bringing it into focus.
Reaching his destination, Justin grabbed the handle, barely coming to a halt in his run. Pulling hard, he threw his body into his attempt to open the door.
It opened easily.
At first, Justin was shocked. He couldn't believe it actually opened. After so many failed attempts, he thought this one would end in failure as well.
Lucky for him, it didn't.
Pulling the door open wider, Justin burst inside.
The hall in front of him was dimly lit. There were no events going on in the venue tonight, and only a few necessary lights were kept on when the building was not in use.
This would only pose as another problem to him. If he couldn't see well, he couldn't find them as easily. And he wouldn't be able to see if someone was near.
Running down the hall, Justin stopped when it came to an intersection. Left, or right. Which way should he go?
Thinking hard, he tried to get his barings inside the huge building.
To the left was storage. Usually where the tour buses came in and unloaded. There wasn't much over there other than a few rooms to hold equipment, and maybe a few dressing rooms.
Knowing Trystan, whatever place she chose to hold Erin captive, would have some sort of meaning to it. Some kind of history or purpose in her life with Justin.
That didn't leave too many places, but it was still only a guess. In actuality, she could be anywhere.
Sighing, Justin began to run down the hall to his right. This was the area that held the most possibilities, so it was the logical choice.
All he needed now was a little luck.
Turning a corner, he found himself standing in a familiar hallway.
It was the hall that be brought Trystan down that day to his dressing room. Where he took her that day to demand her to leave his life.
This had to be it.
Running up to the door in his right, Justin burst inside.
The room was dark. Not a single light lit the inside. Reaching his hand out to his left, Justin searched blindly for the switch. Finally finding it, with a trembling hand, he switched it on.
The room burst into light, and Justins heart stopped.
Nothing.
The room was completely empty.
"Shit." he said aloud, before turning and running from the room.
Running down the hall again, Justin checked several rooms. The ones used for wardrobe. Make up. Even the one they used as their games room. None of them held any sign or clue of Erins whereabouts.
Reaching another cross road, Justin stopped to catch his breath and his thoughts.
"Where could they be?" he thought out loud.
Knowing Trystan, she would want to make a big deal of this. He had learned she loved to make a show of things. She had a flamboyant nature, one that demanded an audience and to be noticed.
Justins head raised quickly, his eyes widening.
That only left one place.
His feet were in motion again, barely touching the floor beneath them.
He had to be right. He knew he was right.
The dark hall flew past. Closed doors blurred as he ran, his arms pumping hard at his sides and he rushed.
Running around what seemed like the hundredth corner, Justin found himself at the entrance to the floor. This was where the fans entered the floor for concerts. Where athletes entered for sporting events.
And knowing Trystan, she would want to make this an event.
Running out onto the quiet concrete floor, Justin was nervous as to what he may find.
There was no stage set up. No floor for basketball. Nothing. No chairs. No screens. No speakers.
Not many people saw the arena when it looked like this. Simple, without any of the extra gadgets that were brought on by the different users.
Looking around, he saw the lower level of the arena. Seats surrounded him as he entered further. His shoes tapped lightly on the concrete beneath his feet as he ventured further inside.
There were a few lights surrounding him. All were low and far apart. Not really enough to cast any serious light on anything inside. If this was where they were, they were well hidden.
Stepping out into the middle of the floor, Justin looked around the quiet room.
"Erin?" he yelled. The sound echoed around him. Bouncing off the empty walls, coming back to him with an eerie emptiness.
He was met with a silent response.
"Erin, where are you?" he yelled again, taking a few steps forward.
"Erins a little tied up at the moment." a voice answered. "She cant answer you right now, but if you leave a message, Ill get back to you."
Justin stopped in mid step. He turned quickly to face the sound of the voice, turning towards the front of the arena.
He couldn't see anything. The dim lights were no help at all. There were a few that lined the upper arena, and a few that illuminated the entranced to the floor. Nothing that helped him in his search.
Squinting his eyes, Justin fought to see.
Suddenly, he saw a movement. Slowly, Trystan appeared approximately a hundred feet away. Standing away from a wall, she was lightly brightened by a light from an entrance.
"Justin, I'm so happy you finally made it." she said, her voice sweet. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it."
"Where is she?" he said, anger in his tone.
"Now, now," she scolded. "We'll get to that. I must say, I'm touched that you remembered. I mean, there were so many choices for you to pick from with my clue. Where you broke my heart. Leaves a lot to sort through, doesn't it?"
"Where is she, Trystan?" Justin repeated, taking an angry step towards her.
"Ah!" she spat, holding her hand up to stop his movement. "Don't be pushy. I know your anxious to get this over with. I am too. The sooner you end things with her, the sooner we can be together. But we have to do this right, Justin. You have to let her down gently."
Suddenly, lights illuminated the arena, casting a bright yellow glow on everything inside.
Justins eyes fought to focus as the light burned around him. Holding his hand up, he shielded his eyes as they adjusted.
Looking around, he found Trystan again. She stood slightly closer to him than he had thought. In her hand was a small box. A remote of some sort. A small, frightening smile on her face.
"Like I said, Justin," she continued, her voice calm. "You need to let her down easy."
Trystans eyes turned to her right, looking upwards towards the middle of the arena.
Justin followed her gaze, in search of what she was looking at.
Finally, he found it. And the moment his eyes focused, his heart stopped.
It was Erin. She was bound by her hands and legs, stopping any movement or escape. Her mouth taped shut, enabling her to make any sound or protest. She sat perched on a long, rectangular platform a few hundred feet above the concrete floor. It appeared to be the kind of platform used by maintenance and tour crews when assembling lights. It was small and square, held only by a few strong ropes. A few cords hung from the edges, dangling high above the ground. A fall from that height would kill her.
"Let her down gently, Justin." Trystan said, bringing his eyes back to her. "Because I wont."
