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49 Pagina 1
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“Thank you God... Thank you for the darkness...
you have taken away the last ray of light.
I don t exist anymore! There is nothing more that you can give me
but there is something that I want to ask you:
Please bring her back to me, one last time.”
L eo folded the card in 4. With sad eyes he got up and stood in front of the window.
A dark light entered the room as the autumn storm came down over the city.
The softly lit desk lamp shone over the CD collection that hung on the wall which every now and again
vibrated from the thunder. The skull shaped digital clock read 15.43.
The room was full of things that showed the entire life of a 22 year old boy with a passion for music. The
tickets, the band t-shirts, his 2 black electric guitars, the photos, the posters, the rock stars’ autographs, every-
thing hung neatly on the wall. You could smell the stages, the music, the rock.
Leo stood still in front of the window. He watched the raindrops bounce off and slide down the glass and
waited for the thunderous macabre rhythm of light and sound that would mask the noise from the traffic on
the street below. Only a few trees in the small park benefited from the violent rain, yet they
seemed sad all the same. Surrounded by huge buildings, the shower washed away the pollution
from their naked branches while the leaves at their feet filled with water.
The year 2007 was ending with all its contradictions. Huge wars were on the verge of happening whilst a
malignant grey was slowly eating the earth away. But everybody watched without seeing and listened with-
out hearing. Everyone was trying just to get by, closed in their own little world. Sometimes it seemed that
you weren’t going to make it. Sometimes it all falls down.
Leo quickly opened the window and all the noises were amplified. He poked his head out and felt the rain-
drops fall down his face and slide down his long, dark hair while the cold wind covered him.
He held the tiny card out the window and as he let it fall he looked towards the sky with an angry face.
He watched as it fell slowly, floor by floor, hitting the raindrops and being attacked by the wind.
After falling 7 floors it disappeared between the trees under his building. Most likely landing in the mud
amongst the leaves gathering water.
“It’s all useless...” Leo thought as he closed the window.
That was the worst day of his life.
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Scarlett was dead... she was gone forever.... it wasn’t possible....
Scarlett Rain.
A little suicide
He spent 6 years adoring her music and dreaming with her voice. From the beginning with the VocalVeer till
the final huge success with The Darktones.
‘Dark Side Of The Earth’ sold well all around the world considering it was an experimental record.
But it was the voice, that incredible voice that entered inside you like a blade cutting away the tension and
letting all your problems out. That voice, it seemed was born for the guitars to scream and to bring out all
the adrenalin possible.
That voice vanished from nothing.... so strange.... like it never existed.... because nobody will remember The
Darktones and their extreme music.
‘...A violent storm has been blamed for the plane crash which killed the rock-
star Scarlett Rain and two of her collaborators. The singer was reaching the
location where she was supposed to film her new video...”
Those words were stuck in Leo’s head for three days as he closed himself in his room. He just couldn’t
understand. Flashbacks, memories, smells, stories that built his life up till now were continuously torment-
ing him. They were all attached to Scarlett in some way.
He remembered the first time he contacted her.
One day 6 years ago he read a response to his e-mail signed ‘Scarlett Rain’. He
decided that his mission was to promote the VocalVeer throughout Italy. He
started a website, a fan club and over the years he collected many members,
working night and day during his spare time.
He was always criticised for his fixation by people who didn’t share his love for
their music.
But Leo kept going. Head strong. Against everyone and everything. He closed
himself in his room and turned up the volume to the maximum. That was his
world. Nobody could enter it and no one could understand either. He hated all that was outside of his world
except for his girlfriend Stella and a couple of friends, Mello and Giampy who were musicians who under-
stood him.
Everything crashed in an instant. Leo could no longer find his path. He looked around and felt lost. His gaze
fell over his memories and absorbed the energy that came back to him with a stab.
Here is the ticket of that memorable concert. VocalVeer live in Bologna
Four years have already passed. Leo could still see Mello on the 7:58 am train to Bologna, lying down tak-
ing up 3 seats even though it was a busy train full of passengers on their way to work.
“The poor people,” Leo thought. “I’d rather be homeless than a slave like them.” and he smiled think-
ing about the concert he would see that night.
Just the idea of him seeing Scarlett made him want to mosh alone in the middle of the train.
At the concert they reached the first row watching the show practically on the stage.
Thanks to the fan club the record company gave them two free passes and after the show Leo and Mello man-
aged to meet the band and get their autographs.
Leo finally met Scarlett. What a feeling, almost surreal.... he tried to speak to her but his English was terri-
ble and he couldn’t tell her what he wanted to but he was able to get a picture with her.
That picture was over there on the desk. The light shone over the photo. He looked terrible and she did too
but it didn’t matter. To him it was perfect.
Since that day Leo believed that moment would happen again but the VocalVeer became world famous and
they never came back to Italy to play again. The contact with Scarlett became less and less because her sched-
ule kept her constantly busy. Eventually others had to contact the fans on behalf of her.
3 4
But Leo didn’t care. He continued his work looking for more fans that shared the same passion. He was
happy for their success and happy to see them on MTV once in a while. He felt part of their success and he
wasn’t wrong. In Italy they sold many records thanks to him and his dedication.
He even translated an interview that Scarlett did for an English magazine. She spoke about her musician’s
life, the big sacrifices, the heavy work and hectic travel schedules always moving from one city to another.
The article was called “ CAN YOU HEAR ME?” and he managed to get it published in the Italian
Rolling Stone magazine. He was very proud of it and kept it hanging in a frame above his bed.
Stella loved The Darktones almost as much as Leo. b C A N YO U H E A R M E?
VocalVeer changed their name to The Darktones when Alan Tamparak joined the band. He was called the
‘electric man’. Their music changed and became more electronic, elegant yet more heavy.
Many fans couldn’t accept the change but in a short time The Darktones built a new audience and the critics
began considering them as a new innovative band.
Stella met Leo on The Darktones’s forum that he managed.
The first day they met Leo didn’t even notice her. He spoke only of Scarlett, her beauty and her music. Stella
fell in love with him immediately. She liked that energy, the passion and his way of being different.
Stella wasn’t beautiful. A little overweight. She always wore black, she didn’t look after herself very well
and she was a little embarrassed about her body but she did have the sweetest eyes in the world. She would
listen to Leo for hours and spent her spare time helping him with the fan club.
Slowly Leo began to feel the same towards her without noticing it they kissed for the first time.
Their love was different from the others. The music united them and took them away from everyone, think-
ing and choosing their paths together. They spent entire afternoons together answering messages on the
forum, mailing t-shirts and gadgets to the fans and then finding themselves cuddling on the bed talking about
life and deep things. There was nothing that could stand in their way. They sailed together against the cur-
rent without fatigue, following a different wave and weren’t bothered by the constant criticism surrounding
them.
Now Leo was alone in his damn room full of posters of ghosts, with piles of The Darktones t-shirts packed
and ready to be sent. Three boxes full of membership cards, autographed photos and 5 copies of the last CD
on his new stereo that he bought after working all summer in a pub.
“Fuck.” he thought.
His computer was on and the forum of the website had been blocked for 3 days with desperate messages from
the Italian fans of Scarlett, but Leo wasn’t going to answer.
That was Leo’s last day in the rock world, with his long hair, of him wearing dark, of his music addiction, of
him being different from everyone else.
That was the last day.
7 YEARS LATER ... OCT 2014
T he traffic in the city is crazy when it rains so you can imagine how crazy the traf-
fic becomes when it storms. Cars and trams blocked, streets flooded, branches fallen covering the roads, peo-
ple honking their horns.
A wonderful Monday morning for those like Leo who had to get to work in their car!
A few calls made to tell the office he’d be late and two appointments cancelled, a couple of bad words to a
stressed taxi driver and an urgent need for a coffee...
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Finally he saw the metal building of F u t u r e n e t and he took a deep breath.
Now the only problem was to get to the entrance from the parking lot without getting himself, his suit and
his shiny shoes wet as he didn’t have an umbrella.
It has been just over a year since Leonardo Mucci started as one of the most promising internet production
managers in Milan demonstrating his great abilities, a computer science degree with the highest marks and
his own office at Futurenet, an American company that hired him immediately after his university grad-
uation offering him a very attractive salary plus commissions.
How could Leo refuse the offer? He delved into this new adventure with a great enthusiasm.
He lived alone in a beautiful loft near the Naviglio and went to the most fashionable bars in Milan, never
missing a happy hour or a brunch with other businessmen. He had a company car with all the comforts and
every now and then he went on small trips with his colleagues on their boats or weekends in the mountains.
He was the youngest amongst them all and the elder admired him for his ability of becoming one of them
and adapting to the environment so quickly. He liked his new life a lot and didn’t mind working overtime.
After parking his Audi Leo ran quickly to the back entrance.
He walked proudly down the corridor saying hello to everybody, including Marisa Bettini who was definite-
ly his next victim. She was a little hesitant towards him but Leo believed that in time she would come
through. He couldn’t think of any other reason as to why she started dressing so sexy since he started show-
ing an interest in her.
There were many sexy women at F u t u r e n e t but it was quite easy for Leo as a manager to find him-
self in bed with one for other reasons, not sentimental.
Cristina Penati for example was his secretary and every morning when she saw him arrive she would latch
on to him leaving the scent of cheap perfume that filled the 4th floor.
“Good Morning Mucci Mucci!” is what she called him and he couldn’t stand it.
“Cri, I’ve told you a million times to not call me that PLEASE”.
“Mmm.... outside it’s pouring and you have arrived perfectly dry Mucci Mucci,” she said jokingly.
Leo smiled and entered his office where his coffee awaited him along with his daily appointments.
His windows were high up above the city and the rain was falling diagonally like it was going to enter the
room.
Sitting in his comfortable leather chair, he wiped his hand across his forehead before starting his hard day of
work. He touched his hair, his face and the jacket he was wearing.
How strange.
Outside it was pouring but he was completely dry. He even didn’t have an
umbrella when he got out of the car and ran at least 100 feet before entering the
office.
How could he have not got wet?
Suddenly his eye caught a sticky note from his boss on his desk and he forgot
all about the rain.
He had an important meeting in the afternoon. Leo had been preparing a pres-
entation that he had to give in English to the big bosses that were coming from
America. He had all of the information and knew the important sections.
English wasn’t his forte but he was sure that they would be able to understand.
He stole the opportunity of this presentation from his colleague Stanconi who
was too weak to survive in the company. Though Stanconi’s english was perfect, in this environment the
stronger person always wins.
When Leo was called to the 7th floor his legs were trembling, but the first rule for a good manager is to pre-
tend he was calm and sure of himself.
The big table was already filled of people that had been arriving from the various corridors until Mr. Bettin,
the director of the Italian office closed the door and welcomed everybody.
Leo felt better when he saw that the foreign guests had earphones that translated what he would say. So he
5 6
could do the presentation in Italian! Strike!
The meeting proceeded lightly with a few jokes here and there, serious moments and some discussions.
Finally the moment arrived for Leo to get up and he stood in front of the microphone with his notes. He
smiled and started his presentation.
“The idea is not to let our clients wonder about this interrogation. Our whole system develops around
this attitude..... the real business is here. There will be a huge turnaround in the production of our new
operating system that will change the way the web works worldwide...”
He couldn’t finish the sentences without clapping and nods of approval.
The words came out by themselves, and it seemed all so easy even if it was a complex and difficult subject.
He talked and talked. It was like his head wasn’t there but his words continued coming, saying all the right
things, the exact things that they wanted to hear. But his head wasn’t connected. His thoughts started to fly
and slowly rose up and out through the window into the rain and for a few seconds he felt an incredible sense
of freedom, a disconnection from what was going on in the room and from all the unknown, cold, money
making people in it.
For a few seconds Leo felt free again like he used to feel when he ran in the
streets with his friends and smoked marijuana sitting on the small stone wall in
the park.
It was just a moment then he came back to reality and he stopped talking.
There was a moment of silence. RUNAWAY
A fat sweating American at the end of the table stood and started clapping for
Leo and everybody joined him. The clapping was amplifying in Leo’s confused
head. Mr. Boni moved close to him and whispered:
“Well done you sly fox.” c
Sly Fox. Is that what Leonardo Mucci had turned into, a man without limits, ready to attack and run over
everyone in his way?
The meeting finished and everyone gathered around Leo with big smiles, shaking his hand and telling him
things that didn’t make sense. Gradually he was losing his breath. Faces surrounded him, people congratu-
lated him with a pat on the back and strange voices entered his brain.
“Great job, Mr Mucci!” “Awesome Mucci!”
“It’s your moment… Its coming….”
What is coming? What happened? He couldn’t understand since it wasn’t the first time he’d faced a meeting
like that. Maybe it was the stress building up.
He excused himself and walked out of the room without an explanation. Sweating and trying to breathe,
“Why now of all times am I having a panic attack?” he thought agitated.
He wanted to escape.
He aggressively pushed the main entrance door and started breathing deeply. The rain was falling down his
face and the wind was slowly taking away his pain. People were passing him in all directions with their huge
colored umbrellas trying to avoid stepping in the puddles.
Finally Leo was out and he felt better.
Suddenly he felt a hand delve into the pocket of his jacket and he saw a woman dressed in a black cape with
a hood running away fast.
“Hey!” he exclaimed instantly. He put his hand in his pocket and found a piece of paper. Looking around
he tried to see where the lady had run to whilst he opened the crumpled paper.
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“It can’t be....” It took him only a second to realise and he turned white.
He ran after the lady down a small alley where he saw her go. But he couldn’t
see her. Like a crazy man he asked strangers nearby if they had seen this woman
but no one had.
“Leo!”
A sweet voice called him from behind. He turned around and remained still,
unable to breathe, he couldn’t believe his eyes! He couldn’t reason, he couldn’t
think. His mind was confused. Trying to remain on his feet with his eyes fixed
on that face, praying it wasn’t true, that it was a hallucination.
“Don’t be scared,” she said taking off her hood.
There was a moment of tension.
“But... you ... are ... dead!” those were the first words that came out of Leo’s
mouth, with an astonished look as he saw Scarlett Rain in person in front of him.
His hands were sweaty as he held in his fist the piece of paper that he’d thrown
out the window in the rain 7 years ago. Scarlett’s expression turned to sadness
as she lowered her eyes and turned to leave.
In a second Leo’s brain turned on again. “It wasn’t real, she’s not dead... but how
can she have not aged in 7 years, how can she remember me, what is she doing in Milan, maybe its not her,
maybe its a look alike.... but above all how can she have that piece of paper?”
Millions of doubts came to mind but he was covered with a deep sensation.... of love... yes he felt love for
that petite girl who was standing in front of him.... he couldn’t speak.
“Wait, please wait!”
She stopped and without turning around she said:
“I am an angel.”
Leo was shocked and unable to move. Silence came over them. They couldn’t hear the noises of the city,
the cars, the people. They could only hear the raindrops hitting the street like they were in a town immersed
in the mountains with the silence of the valley all around. The rain fell softly all over. Scarlett turned to look
Leo in the eyes.
Immediately he believed her.
THE CHAUFFEUR n posters and the room came to life with the guitar and the photos.
Leo took her hand.
He didn’t want to go back to the office and take his car. He started walking
without knowing where he was heading. He wanted to stay with her and to keep
her away from the people, to understand. He just wanted to understand.
He took her under the roof of an old tram stop away from everyone.
They sat on the metal bench. Leo noticed that they weren’t wet even though
they were sitting in the rain.
“Don’t worry” she said. “The rain is my friend, as long as it rains you don’t
have to worry.”
“What does that mean?” asked Leo.
“It will rain for a few more hours but when it stops I will have to go”.
“Go? You mean that...?” Leo understood, she wasn’t back forever. They were only given a short time
together. His only wish was that it rained for as long as possible.
God had listened to him. THE ANGEL AND H time.
THE RAIN
“There is something that I would like to do.” said Scarlett.
“Anything.” responded Leo.
“I would like to see your old room, the one that was covered with my posters, the computer, the pho-
7 8
tos.”
“Well.... my mother still lives in that house.... but it’s not how it used to be...” Leo was flushed with
embarrassment with flashbacks, images of him pretending to play his guitar jumping in front of the mirror
imagining himself as a rock star...
“It doesn’t matter.” Scarlett said. “The smell in the air is what will show me how things used to be”.
W hen they stepped in the room, Leo’s mother quickly opened
the blinds.
"When it rains I keep them shut." explained Anna, a middle aged lady with a
sad air around her from a hard life, yet wearing a happiness of seeing her son after
b
more than four months from his last visit.
"Don't worry mum, please leave us alone." said Leo with a low voice while
Scarlett sat on the bed.
"I’ll go and make a coffee." Anna left the room closing the door behind her.
Scarlett slowly looked around, touching the bed delicately and inhaling the air.
The room was very different from Leo's “rock" days. No more posters hanging
on the wall, the desk had been moved and everything was more orderly and
clean.
Scarlett moved closer to the side drawers.
"My photo used to be here...” she said with a trembling voice.
"Yes.. it’s true... I said goodnight to you every night before sleeping."
responded Leo smiling sweetly.
Scarlett laid down on the bed and closed her eyes. A little tear fell.
Leo didn't know what to say or do.
He remained silently looking at her.
That room held so many memories. It seemed almost impossible that Scarlett was there. He dreamt about it
so many times, imagining meeting her in the weirdest ways but he had never thought to find Scarlett Rain in
his room. It was crazy. It was like the last seven years never existed, the walls were covered with the old
It almost seemed as if he had heard the phone ring and his mum was calling him from the kitchen, "It's
Giampy on the phone!”
Like always it was as if his bed wasn't made, the equalizer on the stereo moved up and down, the PC's screen
full of stickers, socks all over the room. Like he saw Stella lying on his bed,
hugging his big teddy bear and smiling at him adoringly. He could almost
smell the plastic packaging of the t-shirts and the paper that he used to send to
The Darktones fans.
Leo moved closer to the window.
How that view was so familiar. It reminded him of the school football match-
es at the park and the neighbours complaining about the loud music.
"It’s here that I threw out that piece of paper..." said Leo smiling, a little
ashamed.
Scarlett moved closer to him and she looked outside. She didn't say anything,
she seemed sad, only trying to live those few moments without wasting any
She took Leo's hand and squeezed it. Leo could feel the shivers down his
spine.
He was holding the hand of an angel, of a divine creature and at the same time he was with the person that
he loved the most in his life. What should he say? What should he ask?
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"Why are you here Scarlett?" he was terrified but he tried to be strong. "Why did you choose to come to caress.
me?" “I have to go home, my mom will be angry with me, it’s so late.” said Stella softly.
"It's nearly time..." she responded looking at the sky. “No pleeease!” Leo responded instinctively. “Stay a little bit longer. Little Star... its such a beautiful
"It's nearly time for what?" night...” He often called her ‘Little Star’…
"It’s going to stop raining soon..." She sat next to him on the little wall and he hugged her tightly.
She didn't answer but Leo felt there was a precise reason why she “Promise me Leo!” she said decidedly with her eyes fixed on him.
came to him and that she knew exactly. “Promise what?”
"Close your eyes." said Scarlett staring at him. “Promise me that you will never change, that you will always believe in
Leo closed his eyes and he could feel Scarlett's hand heating up, your dreams. I'm not worth half as much as you and one day maybe you
more and more. He felt a strange sensation as if he was leaving his will decide to go away... but promise that you will always stay the same.”
body. The same sensation he felt in the office earlier. “Stella, please lets not have these serious talks.” he responded laughing.
He opened his eyes and found himself sitting on a small wall. Leo He laughed that day, he laughed at something serious. Stella knew that he
was in the park underneath his house, it was barely dark, he heard would change.
somebody laugh. He was confused and couldn't understand. He was But how did she know? Know that he would leave her.
hanging between two dimensions. She knew him better than he knew himself. And she looked at him sincerely
"C'mon take a drag!" with those eyes full of love and true affection.
It was Giampy... he was passing the joint. Without thinking Leo took it. How many of her feelings had he ignored? He had removed those special moments from his life to give
He had already lived this scene. It belonged to the past, what was he doing there?
"You know what bro?" said Giampy looking at the sky. "We are really crazy.”
o importance to his career and concentrate on his stupid social life.
Now what had he become? A delusion for his friend Giampy who believed that he was different from the
He said it in an unusual way, not jokingly like always, but with a more deep, serious tone. Leo looked at him others, he believed he was free. A delusion for Stella that one day she had to forget about him because
and Giampy continued looking into space. 'Leonardo Mucci had decided to change his life.' A delusion for his mother, neglected and alone in that apart-
"We will never be like them. They want to teach us to live but spend their whole life making sacrifices ment on the 7th floor that had to belong only to the past.
for money, for the house, for the job.... I will never become like that Leo.... really... I feel ... free... yeah
that should be the right word... maybe I'm not but that’s how I feel..." What had he become?
Silence. VAMPIRES
When he came back to reality he realised his face was full of tears. Scarlett smiled at him and continued hold-
“We are vampires and we are immortal!!!! Aaahhh!” Leo yelled smiling in his black ing his hand to console him.
outfit with open arms to the sky letting himself be swallowed by the night. “What's happened to me? Please tell me what happened to me?”
“Scarlett Rain caused your change and Scarlett Rain had to come back and save you.” said Scarlett
smiling.
The Light That We Are on things “So you're telling me that you are here to save me?” asked Leo in disbelief.
world, it fluctuates like vapor “I couldn't just leave and watch you sink.”
There is a strange light on the
but nobody sees it. for many the light is dim. In a second, Leo felt weak. Weak like he hadn’t felt for a long time.
There are but few like us and of thought, so huge of heart,
and different but so full “I hadn’t ever noticed but my happiness was here, closed in this room with my things. How is it pos-
Because we are deep, angry in which love was in our hands, sible? My happiness was running to get my dreams and not make them come true. I suffered so much
so bound to the past and to times s of leaves,
ng our dreams in fantastic dresse when you… well when…that day the world fell on top of me.” He was unable to stop the tears falling
bleeding its tears outside and adornibecame immense.
our spirit
and we died for love but for hours we stay from his eyes. “I had to do that otherwise I would have gone crazy. I had to freeze my heart. I did-
d to watch the birds migrate and n’t believe that I could cry more… I promised that I would not have cry for anyone… well…what do
There are but few like us stoppe
there listening to life flow. looks, in I have to do Scarlett? What do I have to do?”
in the same thoughts, in the same
Like aliens we will find each other Scarlett hugged him.
the same dreams. ize me immediately. “Do only what you feel is right to do. The important thing is to remember who you are, where you
When you look at me you will recogn
come from and what are your true dreams. Don’t ever substitute them with other people’s dreams or
Or at least that is what he thought that day so many years ago when he truly felt free and immortal. else you’ll suffer. You are a special person and you will do amazing things in your life… And not only
Though now it was different. the things you are doing now, closed in that office full of zombies.Those are people already dead Leo.
What happened to that guy? Where had those special nights with his true friends gone? They don’t know, but they are. You are better than them. Listen to the music, Leo, please it will be like
For a moment his mind turned back to his life in the city, amongst the people he dealed with, thirsty for you are here with me. Never stop listening to the ‘Dark City’ single…. and I will be there with you..
money, superficial friendships and vapid women. Remember who you are Leo…. Remember always who you are.”
Scarlett turned and was ready to leave the room.
He felt a hand caress the back of his hair, an incredible sensation, the sweetest moment of his life. Leo wiped away his tears. “Where are you going? Please don’t go!”
Nevertheless Stella used to always do that and he had never noticed how much love was locked up in that “I must go back to the park, the thunderstorm is finishing.”
9 10
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T he park was deserted and full of puddles and mud. A stray dog walked by and passed the odd
person taking the shortcut home to dodge the rain.
The sky began to open up in the east revealing the most amazing colours. The rain was still falling gently
and the grey light from the rainy day disappeared as the sun slowly set.
“There are so many things that I want to ask you.” said Leo.
Scarlett looked at him sadly . She couldn’t answer his questions and Leo knew.
“I have to go.” She said suddenly and for Leo it was like someone punching his heart.
They kissed each other sweetly on the lips and their hands let go forever.
Leo couldn’t say anything. He watched her as she walked away, alone in the park without turning around.
The rain stopped.
fading roses CHAPTER II
C
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F or three days Leo remained closed in his 'famous' bedroom. He didn't go to the office or to
his apartment. He turned off his cell phone and hid from the outside world. Only his mum remained and she
was overjoyed to have him for three days. They spoke a lot about things they had never talked about before.
Leo wanted to know so many things.
“What happened to Giampy and Mello?” he asked one night at dinner whilst they were eating a plate of
spaghetti.
“Ah, the terrible two-some!”... responded his mother. “Giampiero went to live in America, I think to
play in a band but they aren't famous even though they tour a lot. I met his father about a month ago.
They are all worried about him... and Marco Melloni is still hanging around. Every now and again I
see him here at the bar, always playing on the poker machines. He's a bit crazy but always smiling and
friendly with everyone. He always asks about you. You three were a bunch of hooligans!! ... unfortu-
nate about Stella.”
“What do you mean? Where is Stella?” asked Leo preoccupied.
“What do you mean... you don't know??” Anna fixed her eyes on her son, embarrassed.
“Know what?” asked Leo anxiously.
“Darling, Stella died from a terrible disease, a year after you moved
away...”
Leo shivered. He immediately stopped eating, he stood with a blank look.
“But why didn't you tell me?” he said angrily after a moment of silence.
“She called here once when she was already in hospital but when I
told her that you were studying for your degree she didn't want me
to tell you anything...” said Anna.
“But how could you not tell me anything?” Leo, hurt, let out all of his
anger on his mother even though he knew that it wasn't her fault. He prob-
ably wouldn't have done anything back then anyway ... even if he did
know.
He realised in that moment that he loved that girl and as sudden as it hap-
pened, she disappeared.
He ran to his room and closed the door behind him. Everything in his room reminded him of Stella... he
couldn't stay there anymore. He grabbed his jacket and ran out the house.
“Stella...Stella...no... Stella!” he walked around in the night looking into space, not knowing if he should
cry, be angry, run or stop.
NOBODY
“Leo!” it was Mello who saw him walk past.
Leo had a shocked and upset expression on his face and Mello could tell immediately as he hugged him.
“Stella, I didn't know anything about what happened to Stella.... why didn't anyone tell me?” Leo con-
tinued asking.
“It was her that didn't want to... I thought you knew... I'm sorry my friend.” Mello finally saw the Leo
that he once knew and smiled.
“Calm down... listen... now I have something to cheer you up. I just heard something on the news in
the bar. I really couldn't believe it and I immediately thought of you. It's crazy that you just passed by
right now...' Leo more confused tried to concentrate on what Mello was saying.
“Be strong...Scarlett Rain isn't dead!”
v All alone, he took a deep breath and played the CD, listening to the whole song from start to finish with full
Leo looked at him motionless.
13
“I'm not joking! There was just a segment on the news. She pretended that she was on the airplane
and then she disappeared into the world. What kind of story is that? She went to India for 7 years.
Yesterday she decided to come back and start singing again. She is obviously a bit older now and not
as beautiful as she used to be but its her and that is the important thing, right?”
“It's impossible…” he said with what little strength he had.
There was a flash of lightning in the sky and the wind started to pick up.
“Come into the bar Leo, its about to rain and maybe we can see the news on another channel.”
“Marco, turn on the news channel!” said the manager of the bar.
Leo was looking into space while he tried to organize his thoughts. The news wasn’t true. Or was it?
Maybe it wasn't an angel! Or maybe that angel was just in my imagination.... but it was impossible.
Even his mom had seen her.... what was happening...?
In that exact moment they tuned into a local news station and Leo saw the images that he never thought he
would see: Scarlett Rain, being escorted into a black car. Leo moved closer to the TV and listened to every
word before running outside.
Mello didn't understand and followed him.
Leo ran, with the rain falling on him and the thunder and lightning roaring in the sky.
“Scarlett is alive!” he thought. “Scarlett is alive!”
He remembered the words of the angel:
“While it rains, you don't have to worry. You are a special person and you will have a lot
of success in your life. The music will save you... listen to the single Dark City.
Remember who you are Leo, always remember who you are.”
Leo was confused. He ran and then came to a sudden halt.
“Listen to the single Dark City.” this sentence remained in his head. Why this single?
'Dark City' was the last song on the album of The Darktones... why had the angel specifically chosen that
single? The cd single of “Dark City”never existed!
Without thinking, he ran towards his house with Mello who tried to keep up with him.
He ran upstairs, took the keys to the garage and ran back downstairs again as fast as he could.
He opened the garage and started rummaging through the boxes trying to find his CD collection.
“My CDs...” he thought.
Mello finally caught up with him.
O
“Help me Mello, I have to find a CD!” said Leo
with his hands covered in dust whilst flicking
through
DARK
hundreds of CDs. Without thinking, Mello CITY
started helping him and after half an hour they
had found the album containing 'Dark City'.
The cover was all black and in small letters on the back was
'The Darktones'.
Leo remembered the packaging perfectly. It was a Darktones classic. ‘Dark City’ was a piece that was
ignored by the mass media but very famous and loved by the true fans of the band.
Leo left Mello in the garage and ran upstairs into the house again with the CD in his hand. He shut the door
to his room and locked it with the key to avoid his mum asking him what had happened.
concentration.
14
exp booklet5 for pc.qxp 04/08/2006 19.54 Pagina 9
The notes diffused into the room and filled the air and the voice There was even a little poem about a girl who looked at the sky and said:
of Scarlett entered with such depth just like the old times.
The song finished and Leo played it again, turning up the volume. “We are little dots in the world. The moon is wrapped around
He noticed that he had remembered the words to the song.
Leo focused on every single word trying to find a hidden meaning or a response to the confusion that he was us with its light from afar and the little stars fall like
experiencing. But the song finished and Leo continued to play it over and over still not understanding. angels on the earth they light the path to our dreams...”
“The angel never existed,” he began thinking. “That wasn't Scarlett Rain, it seemed like her but it was-
n't,” he thought listening to the song over and over for the 10th time, sitting on his bed with a lost look. Leo stopped.
The song finished again and he was frustrated.
Mello knocked on the door. “Leo, it’s me, open up, c'mon!” “The little stars fall like angels…”
Leo took a deep breath, got up and opened the door. Mello walked into the room.
“What are you doing?” he asked. He felt a strong pain to his heart.
“Nothing... nothing... I'm just going crazy,” responded Leo turning towards the stereo when he heard a He could hardly breathe from the emotion.
small sound from the speakers. The rain covered everything. The sky was crazy. The wind whistled aggressively and the dark swallowed.
He hadn't pressed 'stop’ at the end of the song and the CD continued spinning. “Wait!” said Leo. “I heard Leo stood still in front of that wall, still in front of his past and his future.
something.”
He pressed rewind to where he heard the sound, turned up the volume and pressed play. Stella. His little star.
There was a strong rustling sound of the volume.
Mello looked at it but didn't know what to think. “The angel is Stella!” It was an intuition, a sensation, a certainty.
Until a weak, soft voice was heard in the background, mixed into the sound of the rustling there was a sen- Stella came back to help him, to save him. She came back with the look of Scarlett Rain, the girl that Leo
tence in English. was infatuated with.
“What did she say?” asked Mello curiously. But he didn't really love Scarlett, he loved Stella.
“I didn't understand...wait!” Leo rewound a couple of seconds and put his ear close to the speaker. Stella came back for him. n
And again he heard the strange voices. Stella had found the little ticket that day, 7 years earlier and had kept it till her death.
“The writing ...is... on the wall.... The writing is on the wall! That's what it says.” It was now all clear. Leo, sitting on the little wall, dripping wet looked up to the sky with the rain that filled
“The writing is on the wall ... what does it mean? It has to mean something..” Leo asked himself. up his eyes. He felt good after such a long time.
“Leo, do you want to tell me what on earth you are doing?...Are you losing your mind?” He shed a tear that washed down with the rain.
“The writing is on the wall.... the writing is on the wall…” he said repeatedly, nervously pacing up and down And smiled under the thunderstorm.
his room. “But what writing? And what wall?”
He stopped.
Stella was there with him and there was only one thing that he could do.
“The little wall!!!!” “Mello!” MY SOUL
Mello was waiting for him leaning against the tree.
His eyes lit up, ran out of the bedroom and into the hallway where he opened the top drawer of the cupboard “What Leo?”
frantically looking for a little flashlight. When he finally found it, he grabbed it and ran out of the house like Leo turned to his friend.
a tornado, with Mello, seeing the humour in the situation, following behind. “Now that Scarlett is alive…” he looked up. “I left all of the contact details of the fans of The Darktones
“Wait!” he yelled. with you, right?”
Leo ran towards the park through the rain. There was a moment of tension, of silence, the rain out of the blue stopped and Mello smiled.
Here it is. The little wall from his adolescence. He didn't have time for memories now. He had to find 'the “You can bet on it man! Wowwww!! Welcome back Leo! Rock 'n' Rooooollll!!!!”
writing on the wall.' “Rock 'n' roll forever.” responded Leo.
He turned on the torch and shone it over every centimeter of the little wall. Mello watched Leo from under
a nearby tree, still and cold.
Leo found so much graffiti of all kinds: football, love, music, small, big. So strange as he'd never noticed it THE END
before.
How many things had happened on that little wall of stone. How many kids and how many friendships had
passed...
“Mary, marry me!” “Luca, I love you, Sara.” WRITTEN BY FRANCESCA CHIARA IN MARCH 2003
“IRON MAIDEN”
15 16
exp booklet5 for pc.qxp 04/08/2006 19.54 Pagina 10
VAMPIRES (The Light That We Are)
We are the dark side of the earth - We stop the world from
turnin' - We are the frozen past that hurts - Because your
future's failing - And you can't keep destroying (Feel the rain)
- We are the noise that you can't hear - We are behind your
eyes and - We make the sculptures of the air - With all
your dreams and nightmares - Because we hear your prayers little suicide
(Feel the rain) - And now you're alone there - With all your You live for just another
sins and all the shame - You're cryin' - You're screamin' -
Save me save me! Vampires - I wanna live like day - You breathe for just
svaem
e ptihrerosug-h I dawrkannensas gwiviteh yyoouur meyyesl-ifeWe -areAnthed another day - Nobody hears
light that you can't see - But you can feel its presence - And you when you pray -
you're so lost and you're so weak - Because you feel the vio- Nobody hears you and she's
lence - In every word you're sayin' (Feel the rain) - We are A-way - And your heart is
the ones you used to hate - Just cause we are not your sla-
ves - Your orders were like petals - At the end your roses broken - And nobody hears
fade - At the end your roses fade away! - And now you're you - And you're running
alone there - With all your witches in your head - They're dan-
cing - You're screamin' - Save me save me!... out of life -
Poetry “The Light That We Are” - page 9 And to die is easy - Cause
nobody hears you - But you
cannot leave her - She's
NOBODY your little suicide -
You lose youself whenever - You close your eyes - Cause that's when She's your little suici -
you can see her - There you can't lie - Your world is gone, her touch is de - You breathe for just
gone - Now you feel like - A black hole - Where feelings disappear
(disappear) - The wrong code - The “no more”! - You run and you
another day - (You love for
hide - And you hate and you die - And you burn tonight - just another day) - This
Cause you're nobody (nobody) - You're dark without light fuckin' world cannot erase -
- You are a flame without fire - And you love tonight - The pain you feel and she's
But you're nobody (nobody) - Hey hey hey! - She's beautiful A-way . . . +
like heaven - But you're in hell - She's golden sand of desert - As you
cry in your cell - Breathin’ in and breathin’ out - It hurts like death...
exp booklet5 for pc.qxp 04/08/2006 19.55 Pagina 11
fading roses RUNAWAY
CAN YOU HEAR Arms around me I The ground is burnin'
feel safe - Light of THE CHAUFFEUR
burnin - I need to hide Out on the tar plains the glides are moving - All looking for a new
ME? candles on your face - The sky is turnin tur- place to hide - You sit beside me so newly charming - Sweating dew-
We run we move from town to town - So - It's our last day nin yeah - And I can drops glisten freshing your side - Way down the lane away living for
tired my make up's melting down - The day- together - It's our fly - I'm sick of all the another day - The aphids swarm up in the drifting haze - Swim sea-
light's coming as we drive - It is my world last day - Dance people - I'm sick of me - gull in the sky towards some hollow - Western isle - My envied lady
it is my life - We run - You're sure that we I'm sick of livin livin
will fade away - I hear you laughing as you
with me - It's our holds you fast in her gaze - A n d t h e s u n d r i p s d o w n b e d d i n g h e a v y
last day together yeah - And all I need is behind - The front of your dress all shadowy lined - And the droning
say - "Nobody makes it anyway" - But we - Run away run away e n g i n e t h r o b s i n t i m e - W i t h y o u r b e a t i n g h e a r t - Sing Blue Silver
can't lie - if we are made to die - Then we baby - My fading run away from love - - And watching lovers part I feel you smiling - What glass splinters
will die - roses in this scent Run away from hate -
lie so deep in your mind? - To tear out from your eyes with a word
No you can't tell you don't know of rain - On these Run away run away from to stiffen - Brooding lies - And I'll only watch you leave me fur-
how it feels - You don't know wet leaves you you - I've got to run ther behind ...
how it's breaking me - (can you hold me - With now -
hear me?) - You think you can It's time to burn - It's
sell all the tears that I bleed - love and with pain time to fly - (Runaway MY SOUL
You don't know how it's killing - And our burned runaway runaway now) Reflections got so clear and - The
me - (can you hear me?) - dreams are cra- - No more fear to runa-
Burning like ice cause this can't ving and starving way! - (Time is blee- mirror hurts but it can't lie - The
ding - I've got to
be my place - Right between for prayers - But run away) shell I built is broken - The fire's
hell and paradise - (can you nobody prays - I am so unsubstantial back to melt the ice - My life is like
hear me?) - This is your world Nobody prays - - That you can't
but I'll show you my rage - Look touch me - And you the thunder - How could I live
at me can you hear my voice? for us - Dark is can't hurt me anymo-
coming like a veil -
You live we burn yeah it's ok - But if we
re - Cause you can't without the sound - Acting a part I
I start to lose see me - But I can see
turn in ‘ to butterflies - Tied hands beco- you naked - With all blundered - I change my skin - I'm
me beautiful wings - Then start to run
myself again - It's the sins you hide - back around! - (I can feel you here) -
cause you can't win - The push inside will
our last day toge- Yeah now you are
find its way - Will burn exploding to your
ther - It's our last naked to the bone - And I'm not dreamin' - (I can feel
face - Music inside of me will be - The And this is why I... you near) - I'm not alone and you're
day - Dance with
sound of rain - The sound of life - You'll run away from life -
need it to survive -
me - It's our last not gone - I'm not alone! - My soul
day together baby... Run away from DARK CITY
We'll win the war….We lose it. death...+ is exploding - It's white just Dark city - I feel the scream -
THE ANGEL AND THE RAIN like the lightning! - My soul is dark city - It's in the wind -
Now baby hold me tight - I know nothing is right - I have to go - Believe I'm only a reloading - It's dark just like Dark city - Here I can be - Dark
ghost - Believe I'm in the past - Go - Ah shhh touching me - Ah do you feel - Ah eterni- the thunder! -I'm back with all city - electricity - Dark city - the
ty - Ah - T o m o r r o w y o u ' l l h e a r t h e c a l l ( over and over and over my weakness - With all the tears, dead's alive - Dark city - And I
and over again) - They're never gonna get your love - Tomorrow can't hide - Dark City - is killing
y o u w i l l b e t h e o n e - M y a n g e l y o u w i l l b e t h e s u n - I n t h e r a i n - In with all the laughs - I burned my me - Dark city - The fear to stay
my cold and rainy days - When I'll be old and grey - I'll see you there - My angel in mask of bleakness - I rock again - alone - The fear to stay alone ...
the rain - And I will feel the same - Love ...T o m o r r o w w i l l n e v e r c o m e - T h e y ' r e I've had enough!
never gonna get your love - Tomorrow you will be the one - My
angel you will be the sun - In the rain
exp booklet5 for pc.qxp 04/08/2006
www.thelovecrave.com
Thanks to our families and to our friends.
Thanks to Mauro Lentola for always being there with us on stage.
In loving memory of Franca Palamara
19.55 Pagina 12
Recorded and mixed by Danilo "Stone" Di Lorenzo and Tank Palamara
at Moonhouse Studio - Milan - Italy
Recorded by Tank Palamara at HellagoodMusic Studio - Milan - Italy
Mastered by Alex Klier at LXK Studios - Munich - Germany
PRODUCED BY TANK PALAMARA
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION BY FRANCESCA CHIARA
Computer programming by Tank Concept story "The Angel And The Rain" and
Palamara Poetry “The Light That We Are” by Francesca Chiara
Orchestra in "Fading Roses" arranged by Fabio Translations by Bernessa Weber,
Roveroni Laura Kilgour and Flower Knutas
Intro voice in "Little Suicide" by Fabri Kiarelli Photos by Tony Barone
“The Chauffeur” is published by Gloucester Graphics and art desing by Francesca Chiara
Place Music LTD Casellati
Special Thanks:
Kai and Bjoern at RepoRecords, Olaf Sprick, Bob Parolin, Danilo “Stone", Tony Barone, Fabri Kiarelli,
Fabio Roveroni, Mao Granata, Nando DeLuca, Pat Scalabrino, Ale & Gianluca at Moonhouse, Alex Klier,
Bernessa Weber for your precious help and support, Flower, Laura Kilgour, Lidia for make up, Nello
of Fotografando, Guido Cribiori, Marco Dark Callegari for 3D work, all at Francesca Chiara's fan club
(Tommy, Dani, Mirko, Jari, ...), PTD, Diego "Diz", Bloody Mary, Emiliano Sicilia, Nikki Spinogatti, Paolo
& Pat, Toto, Monta, Andrea Asanelli, Gioia, Chris Canali of Flash, Stefania Monaco, Paola Mazzon, Nicole
Schmidt, Fabio Nosotti, all at iMusic.
LABEL : RepoRecords www.reporecords.de
DISTRIBUTION: Alive www.alive-aag.de
BOOKING : WingsOfDestiny www.wod.de
PROMOTION : Hardbeat Promotion www.hardbeat.de
Reporecords.de Reporecords is a trademark
Made In Germany of Schmidt & Böttcher Gbr
All rights reserved. Ritterstrasse 9
Unauthorized duplication
is a violation of applicable laws 31785 Hameln
© Copyright 2006 Germany
REPO 015 L-M-60654