I opened my eyes to find myself in a dark empty room. The room was like a place out of time, in there even the ticking of my watch felt relaxed. It was cold and I found myself trapped without an exit. I then blinked; the very next moment I found myself standing at a crossroad, darkness veiled the scenery like thick curtains of a theater but there was something about this darkness. It was not the kind of darkness that makes the street seem like an old fashioned photograph, everything a shade of grey; This was the kind of darkness that robs you of your best sense and replaces it with a paralyzing fear.

Both the streets winded over the hill like a carelessly discarded belt, grey and cracked with age. On each side houses were separated by yards large enough to accommodate farm animals, but this was no rural district. The homes were many times larger than even the biggest of families might need. Yet they seemed empty, abandoned and creepy. I mindlessly took to the left and walked down the street. Fear was corroding my senses but I kept going. After walking for what felt like an hour I found myself standing at the same crossroad. I was confused as hell but I took the courage and walked down the road to the right hoping for an exit. Before long I realized I was stuck in a vicious spiral of maze. No matter the road I took, I kept coming back to the same spot. But I couldn’t stop myself from moving, going round and round in circles, desperately trying to find a way out. Every time I ended up at the same place the scenery somehow got creepier. As if there was something out there watching me, enjoying the sight of me squirming as I fell deeper into its trap. The fear was taking over my body and at some point I stopped moving, I stood at the crossroad alone and cold. Suddenly I felt the hairs behind my neck stand up and a chill ran down my spine. And the very next moment a pair of cold hands grab my neck and was choking me to death.

“Sara Sara SARA! Wake up!” I snapped open my eyes abruptly and sat up, Lena was beside me, looking very worried. “You alright?”

“Yeah! I’m okay,” As I roused from my slumber, I blinked, close my eyes, and blinked again. I realized I was breathing heavy, as if I had just ran a marathon. I drank the feedback of my senses as I tried to steady my breathing and let my mind catch up to reality. I had just had a nightmare.

“You were screaming in your sleep. Are you sure you are okay?” She placed her hand on my shoulder to calm me down, she looked tensed.

“Please don’t worry about me, I am fine. It was just a bad dream.” I smiled at her and she returned my smile with her toothy grin.

“Oh, okay. If you say so.” She retired to her bed when she felt reassured and fell back to sleep. It was half past two in the morning and after that nightmare I doubted any sleep would grace me for the rest of the night. I’ve been having weird dreams and nightmares for a while now. The bags under my eyes and my tired posture were evidence of my fatigue. I sighed to myself as I thought about the long day ahead and tried to summon some sleep to my system.

I jarred out of my sleep to the assault of my blaring alarm clock in my ears. It was a birthday gift from my dad and quite honestly so, it was one of a kind. The alarm rotated between about six different annoying noises of varying pitch and volume. It sounded like a disco for the anti-Christ. A very irritating one at that. I was drowsy and tired as hell and the noise was maddening me. I jolted up, smashing the snooze button as hard as I possibly could. I was not ready to wake up in the morning to rinse and repeat and it was days like these I wished we had a vacation every other day. I reluctantly hauled myself off the bed and to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

Verona High didn’t seem like one but it was a school that liked to encourage and hone the talents of their students. Hence the various club activities and extracurricular courses. Today we had music class early in the morning.

Our music teacher, Mrs. Elizabeth Turner was a cheerful woman who was seldom forgetful and told irrelevant stories in the class about her pet fish Nemo. She loved music as if it was her personal brand of cocaine and wanted everyone she met to share the same passion. But otherwise she was a good-natured easygoing teacher. I would’ve enjoyed her lessons if not for some unpleasant people pervading the class as if it was their personal playground.

“Seriously! Are you really playing the piano? Darling, if you just come to me I would be so glad to teach you a lesson or two about how to play a beautiful piece. Why don’t you consider joining my club,” Donna Perkins in her arrogant triumph, sneered - just a small pouting of the lips; a narrowing of the eyes and a tilting of the head. It was so subtle, it was even more infuriating for me, only who had caught a glimpse of it. There was only one word to describe Donna Perkins, ‘Mean’. Every smile that lit up her features was the wrong sort. It’s like she ran on cold malice instead of any form of genuine affection. Sadly so, she was going to live till her sixties.

The kid looked miserable as people snickered and whispered about him. They were enjoying his distress and no one seemed to even bat an eyelash as his slumped defeated self retreated to his seat. It was at times like these I felt the most impotent. Because I went through the same regime as the boy just now did. I knew how it felt to be abandoned and discarded. But scared as I was towards human relationships, when I decided to live for myself I decided I would not interfere with one’s life no matter the happenstance. I had too many open wounds to lick dry to have new ones made to me. So it might not have been the right thing to do, but survival of the fittest was the first and foremost high school rule. Everyone had to fend for their own self. So I decided to close my eyes and act as if nothing happened.

“Alright! That’s enough. Settle down kids, now who’s next?” Mrs. Turner hollered to quiet down the class. Everyone’s head snapped to my direction and I found myself being ogled at by the entire class.

“I suppose then it is you Miss. Valdez. Will you please come forth the class?” Mrs. Turner beaconed.

Damn it. I hated this. I hated this so so much.

Before I came to Verona High I was like a strand of wheat in the vastness of the prairies. My colours were as muted as those around me, allowing me to hide in plain sight. And I preferred it that way. But now, I was known as ′Princess Detention’. I was the center of everyone’s attention. But not in a good way. It was their way of ostracizing me, but it’s not like I tried to do something about the situation. I let them talk about me, spread rumors about me and ultimately cast me out. Clearly, I didn’t care what they thought about me. People just made me tired now and I was done with them.

I gulped as I walked to the center of the room and took the seat before the piano. ′What now?′ I thought as I sat frozen to my spot. I didn’t know what to do. It had been so long since I touched an instrument. I wasn’t able to play after my dad left me. My hands trembled as I touched the piano and every memory of dad came rushing back to me. It was as if all those years had passed in a matter of seconds and that night came surging back to me. For once again I was lost in the torrid vortex of the moment. I knew I was forever going to be tormented by a past that could not be undone. The trauma, the hurt and pain that had taken place in my heart was evident in my stature now. I sat before the piano bare and scared, showing all my scars I wanted to hide for as long as I can remember.

“Are you alright Miss Valdez?” Mrs. Turner’s voice startled me to my senses and I looked at her with wide shocked eyes. “Are you feeling okay Miss Valdez?” She looked worried. I heard the whole class prattling and eyeing me strangely. And I couldn’t blame them. I knew what I looked like, as if I had seen a ghost.

“Yes. Yes I’m alright. I was just a little nauseated. It’s nothing.” I tried to smile at her but was doing an awful job at it.

“Maybe you should go to the infirmary and get a little rest.” She suggested and I nodded in response. Skipping class sounded such a good idea to me I almost wanted to run to the infirmary.

The school bell rang in a peal and I never felt happier in my life hearing its clanging that echoed throughout the school. I got to my desk and was about to get my things and go when Donna Perkins jammed my way with her 5′9″ model figure.

“Hello there! So you are Princess Detention. I was wondering who this chick is, welcome to Verona High. I am Donna Perkins president of the music and drama club. I know Verona is not like other schools and the rules can be a hassle sometimes but do put up with them, will you! They will do you good and help you get by.” Her smile was as fake as an amateur actor on her first day on set. The corners of her lips fought to fall down and reveal her true self. But she knew she couldn’t let that happen if she wanted to be the center of attention at all times. She needed to act kind and cool and collected, like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. “I tell you what, why don’t you join our club. It is a fun club and I am sure you will enjoy it loads. Hmm!” No thanks. I knew where this was going. I had lived this scenario far too many times to not know what was going on in her mind. I was either going to become a crony or a victim to relieve her stress.

“Thank you for the offer. I really appreciate it but I am sorry. I am not really into music and I have already decided to join the astronomy club. I hope you don’t mind.” I smiled back at her, or at least tried to smile. And I could see she minded it all the more. Her face got puffy and her ears turned red but that pretentious smile was still stuck to her lips like glue.

“Oh, I understand. But my offer still stands. I would love to have you in my club, tell me when you change your mind, okay?” With that, she sauntered off swaying her hips and clicking her shoes, surrounded by her minions.

The class was empty. I always thought this classroom was small, stuffy even, but now that it laid empty I could see how large it really was. All the hustle and bustle was engulfed by a thick silence. This kind of silence would normally chill me, considering I was used to the noise around me. But somehow this was different. The silence almost seemed to have caressed me, soothed my soul and took away my jagged edges. For as long as I can remember, I kept riveting at the grand piano that sat molded to the center of the room. All shiny and pitch black, lovely in its own words. Recollections and nostalgia pang in my heart as I stared at the beautiful structure.

I walked towards it and ran a finger over the black and white ivory keys that marched into view. How long had it been since I last played. The sound, they created stirred up my soul. Before realization struck me, my fingers were already moving over the keys, fluid and crisp in their movement. Music fills the air without effort, like the waves filling holes in beach sand; the sound rushing in and around my soul. Eventually, I lost all sense of everything except the music that tingled my skin. I could feel it transcend the monotony of the atmosphere into something grand. This feeling, was indescribable. It was a bitter sweet redemption.

I don’t remember how long I stayed. I had a vague feeling that I had missed enough classes to call it a day. But the feeling of fulfillment couldn’t compare with the regret. I smiled to myself, having a giddy feeling wash over me and took off to leave when I noticed someone by the door.

Eric Warnard.

Staring at me like I was the stars and he was the inconspicuous little human who could only dream of ever reaching me. It was strange watching him gaze at me with that dreamy look on his face. I was used to him being insolent and having a scowl cemented to his face at all times. I tried to walk past him without making eye contact. Getting involved with this guy was never a good idea. But before I could walk out of the room he grabbed my hand, turned my around, bore into my eyes and said, “Be my Muse!”

TO BE CONTINUED...