Chapter 97 Can We Do It One More Time?
Chapter 97 Can We Do It One More Time?
Isabella's POV
Five hours.
A full five hours of non-stop rehearsal.
"Phew—" Dustin stood in front of me, hands on his knees, gasping for air.
His black sleeveless practice tank was completely soaked with sweat, his solid chest and abs heaving violently with each labored breath. Sweat dripped from his dark brown curls, drops hitting the wooden floor.
He straightened up, grabbed the white towel draped around his neck, and vigorously wiped the sweat from his face.
"Isabella, are you okay? Can you go one more time?"
I looked down at my slightly trembling knees, then at the violin in my hand, hot from being gripped so tightly.
My arms were so sore I could barely lift them. Every bow stroke brought waves of aching pain, pulling at my nerves.
But I gritted my teeth, forced my spine straight, and looked up at him.
"I'm fine." I took a deep breath and repositioned the violin on my left shoulder, chin pressed firmly against the chinrest to secure it. "Let's do it one last time. Practice this routine until it becomes instinct, burned into our muscle memory."
Elena sat in a chair at the front of the practice room, holding that thin conducting baton.
She was unusually calm today—no temper, no harsh scolding.
"Last time. I won't allow any mistakes. I want the most perfect stage presentation."
Dustin moved behind me.
His chest pressed tight against my back, his soaked shirt unable to block the burning body heat radiating from him.
He raised his hand and gripped my waist with practiced, steady confidence.
Elena's baton fell.
The music slowly began.
I closed my eyes and let the bow glide smoothly across the strings.
The first lift—perfect landing.
Dustin's strength was incredibly steady. When he suddenly exerted force to lift me, I didn't feel even the slightest wobble.
Suspended in mid-air, I played that tension-filled high note, the sound clear and full, not a hint off-key.
He slowly lowered me down, the music rising and falling with our steps, every beat matching perfectly.
Right then, the heavy glass door of the practice room was suddenly pushed open.
Click.
In the quiet, solemn practice room, that sound was particularly clear and jarring.
From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a tall figure in black walking in.
He didn't speak or come closer, just stood quietly in the shadows by the door.
I couldn't make out who it was.
Maybe Maurice coming to pick me up, or maybe a theater staff member.
But I didn't let myself get distracted. I didn't dare.
This was the last rehearsal, and our best, most perfectly synchronized run yet.
Dustin and I moved in perfect harmony. Even the usually demanding Elena had set down her baton and sat quietly, her eyes locked on our movements.
The piece was approaching its climax.
This was the hardest part of the entire routine. I needed to step onto the prop platform and maintain uninterrupted playing while Dustin lifted me with full force—the core highlight of the entire third movement.
"Get ready." Dustin's voice was low in my ear.
I took a deep breath and planted my right foot firmly on the step.
Just as Dustin gathered his strength, preparing to lift me into the air—
Ring ring ring ring ring ring—!!!!!
A sharp, piercing phone ringtone suddenly exploded in the practice room!
The volume was absurdly loud, as if it were ringing right next to my ear.
The room's solemn, flowing classical melody was brutally interrupted by this jarring, cheap electronic ringtone, instantly shattering all atmosphere and rhythm.
Dustin's attention was disrupted by the ringtone—just a fatal split-second of distraction.
His right arm, which should have steadily supported my waist and stabilized my center of gravity, was half a beat too slow.
But my body was already airborne.
The instant I lost that crucial support, I completely lost balance in mid-air.
"Isabella!" Dustin's voice rang out, filled with uncontrolled panic.
I had no time to react. Like a weightless doll, I fell straight toward the hard wooden floor.
In that moment of falling, the intense sensation of weightlessness made my heart clench instantly.
Only one thought filled my mind: My violin! I worked odd jobs at the studio for three years, scrimped and saved to buy this violin!
Instinctively, I twisted my body in mid-air, clutching the violin tightly to my chest, forcing myself to take the impact with my back and head.
Bang—
The back of my head slammed hard against the floor.
In that instant, I couldn't even feel pain.
I only saw a blinding white light suddenly explode, as if a bright beam had pierced straight through my eyes.
Then, intense ringing drowned out all surrounding sounds.
Buzzzz—
The world spun.
I lay on the cold floor, staring up at the harsh fluorescent lights overhead, my vision gradually blurring. Through the white light and ringing, I faintly heard an enraged curse from the doorway.
"Damn it!" The fury in that voice could tear everything apart.
"Isabella! Oh my God! Isabella!"
Dustin dropped heavily to his knees beside me, hands trembling, wanting to touch me but not daring to.
The next second, urgent footsteps rushed closer.
Someone roughly shoved the kneeling Dustin aside.
"Get out of the way!" A deep voice filled with extreme rage roared.
A pair of calloused hands, extremely gentle yet with barely controlled force, cradled my face.
It was Terrence.
Why was he here?
Hadn't he already moved out?
Hadn't he gone a whole week without contacting me?
"Don't touch her! Whatever you do, don't move her head!" Elena ran over in her high heels.
"Call an ambulance! Call 911 now!"
Terrence roared at the people around him, his voice filled with a panicked desperation I'd never seen before.
I wanted to speak, to tell them my violin was okay.
But when I opened my mouth, no sound came out.
My limbs went completely limp, totally beyond my control.
A warm liquid slowly seeped from my hair, sliding down my cheek and into my right ear.
The sensation was sticky, carrying a heavy metallic smell.
Blood.
"Isabella..." Terrence cradled my face, those hands that remained steady even when holding a gun now trembling violently.
He gently wiped the blood from the corner of my eye with his rough thumb. "Look at me! Don't close your eyes! You hear me? Don't fall asleep!"
In the distance, ambulance sirens wailed.
Woo—woo—woo—
The sound grew closer. I felt myself being lifted onto a cold stretcher, heard the muffled sounds of wheels rolling and doors opening and closing.
Terrence's footsteps stayed right beside the stretcher.
In the second before I fell into complete darkness, my last thought was—
That run just now was the most perfect Dustin and I had ever been together.