Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Dinner Play

June 29th, 1992

Friday, 4:09 PM

Los Angeles, California

The next day, Janet came and got the girls and went off for shopping at the stores downtown. Michael had to get ready for a meeting on when he was going to schedule the release of his new album he was going to create. Turning the shower on, he stood in front of the mirror for a minute, thinking...just thinking. He has been doing a lot of that lately, but he has his reasons to. The mirror began to fog... making it harder to see his reflection. Shaking his head, he snapped out of his trance and began to remove his clothing.

He stepped in and let the hot water hit the top of his head. The steam filled the room, Michael rested his forehead on the cold tiles. " So many images running through my mind," he closed his eyes," so many voices." He turned towards the shower head and looked up at the ceiling," I don't know which ones to listen to. It will all make sense sooner or later.... I hope." Later, he turned off the shower and stepped out with his towel, and walked back to his room.

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" Janet?"

Janet was sitting on the bench like chair infront of the dressing rooms. She was texting her friends on her phone and looked up to see Sasha walking out in one of her red dresses she picked out for the dinner tonight. " How does this look?" she asked. Janet scanned her up and down.

" Looks great." Janet said, giving a weary smile. Sasha saw the change in her voice and walked over to her. " Are you okay?"

Janet looked her in the eyes and looked away and quietly said," Yeah. I'm fine." Sasha didn't believe her and she told her with concern," You're not telling me thing truth, Ms. Janet. What's really going on?" Janet stared for a minute, about to lose concerntration and suddenly rose up," I said I'm fine," she smiled sounding for lively," Nicole, Shauna. You're turn, let me see those dresses."

Shauna walked out first, showing them what she had. It was a pretty pink sparkled tubed dress with a little black floral pattern at the bottom. She had a big smile on her face. Nicole walked out with a nice blue dress that stopped to the knees.

" I hate wearing dresses," Nicole scoffed as she looked in the mirror at it. Janet cooed at her," But it's very beautiful on you." she clapped her heads," Okay now let's go get some matching shoes."

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It was about 7 o clock when Janet dropped the girls back off at Michael's home. They had their own keys and went in theirselves when no one would answer the door. It was really dark in the house, all of the maids were gone home and no body guard in sight. Shauna called out for Michael but no one answered, so they all called in unison. Still no answer.

" Where'd he go?" Nicole asked. The others shrugged. There were headlights shinning through the windows, making them all turn around. At first they had froze, until the person came out of the car. It was Michael, he walked inside the house and turned on the lights and stared at them. After a minute, he said," OH, you scared me." and nervously giggled.

The girls giggled along side with him, he walked passed them. " You have thirty minutes to get ready or we'll be late." They all scampered up to their rooms. Michael went to his room and took a card from the bottom drawer of his dresser, took a look at the gun he had in the top drawer, and walked away.

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7:35 PM

Providence Restaurant

.....

Michael helped the girls out of the limo and walked up to the person for seating. " Table for four please." he took out the black card with his name in gold and flashed it infront of the man.

" Why of course, Mr. Jackson. Right this way." they followed him to their table," you're waitress or waiter will be with you momentarily." he walked away.

Shauna was looking around," Wow this is really fancy, it must be very expensive." Michael fixed his tie and responded to her," Yes it is, but that doesn't matter." It was dark in the restaurant, and beautiful because of the lit candles everywhere and newly added chandelier.

..........

After they ate, the owner of the restaurant announced a show from two unknown female singers, so some people had to push their tables back. " Can I please ask for everyone to blow out the candles on their tables?" he asked kindly through the microphone. Every candle went out one by one, getting darker by the second. Sasha turned to the candle on their table to blow it out but before she was about the blow.. the candle had went out. She looked up and saw Michael and he smiled, " Save your breathe. It might be your last."

" What do you mean?" she asked. Michael put a finger on his lips," Shhh. They're starting." and pointed to the two women with the blue like spot light shinning on them from above. They began to sing and they all watched in awe at how beautiful their voices were. Michael turned around and saw men with sunglasses on coming in one at a time, it had to be about 6 of them.

What? No, it's too early, what are they doing? he thought. Three men went on one side of the room and the other 3 went opposite. Michael's heart began to race, he felt into his pockets and had a flash back to where he didn't bring his gun with him, and swore under his breath.

" Say something, Michael?" he looked up and saw the girls staring back at him, and tried to shake it off," No." They blinked and looked back at the singing women. The singing was almost over, he had heard this song before. " Excuse me. Going to the restroom." he told his company, and moved his way from the table.

Michael walked towards the door and looked back, one of the men were looking at him but turned their head back to in front of them. Michael doubled his steps as he dialed one of his bodyguards. They didn't answer the phone.

"Answer the damn phone!" he cursed.

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Nicole looked at Shauna and said," They're good." Shauna nodded in agreement. Sasha said," I know, this song sounds so familiar, though." Nicole looked at her friend bewildered," What do you mean?"

Sasha looked back at her," I mean, I think they play this song before someone is about to die. You know, like in a movie or something." she shrugged her shoulders. Nicole stopped and thought for a minute, looked back at Sasha who seemed to be thinking as well.

" Huh? That's wierd." Nicole said.

" I know." said Shauna turning her attention back at the song.

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Michael paced himself back and forth, yelling silently on the phone," Hurry up, bring me my gun! Don't ask why! You know NOT to ask why! Hurry!" Michael stopped walking and turned around when he heard the sounds of screaming and shooting of guns.

He held his phone towards the main entrance," You hear that!?" and hung up his phone and ran back inside full speed, the people were running around panicking. He looked hopelessly for the girls but he couldn't see them anywhere. He ran into one of the men who were doing the shooting and tackled him onto the floor, took his gun, and hit him with it. The other men were still shooting and the place was still dark from lack of candle light.

Someone jumped him from behind and made him tumble back harder against the wall, knocking the other person out. He touched a button on his phone, signaling 911. Michael ran out the building, and saw his bodyguards with the girls. He stopped and his eyes widened and said," You're alive?" he blinked," I mean... You're alive!" and hugged each one of them.

Shauna was crying, the whole fiasco scared her half to death. Michael and the bodyguards got in the car, joining the rest of them. Michael was cold and out of breath. His heart rate increased times two. He looked out the window and saw the police speeding pass them back to the restaurant.

" That wasn't supposed to happen..." he said to himself as he checked on the others to see if they were okay.