Toska /// Felix Escellun

Chapter One- Miss American Pie

       "A long, long time ago
I can still remember how that music.
Used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance.
That I could make those people dance.
And maybe they'd be happy for a while."

    The street lights blurred as the car passed them, being seen as streaks of yellow in Anya's vision. Her cheek was pressed against the cool glass of the window, smooth against her skin. Her reflection stared back at her with a somber gaze, brown eyes shining with glistening tears and lights that hazed while they passed.

"But February made me shiver.
With every paper I'd deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep.
I couldn't take one more step.
I can't remember if I cried.
When I read about his widowed bride.
Something touched me deep inside.
The day that music died."

    Talvi's tuneless words, despite being simple whispers, carried throughout the vehicle. This was Talvi's favorite song. Anya couldn't hear much of her singing over the sound of the car's wheels navigating over the rocky roads. It was a low hum in her ears that she despised. Anya's tiny heart began to race with every turn of the wheels, leading them from the inner suburbs and into the deep, dark woods. Tall pine trees covered the area like a thick canopy of green, casting black shadows in every corner. Anya's mind went to the possibilities of the monsters hiding in there. Things like possessed creatures, with gleaming red eyes, or something like a shadowy monster forged from darkness.

    "So bye-bye, Miss American Pie.
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry.
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye.
Singin', "This'll be the day that I die."
"This'll be the day that I die."

    The breeze carried through the thick, dense forest, whistling above the car as Lakara drove. Her wrinkled hands slid over the steering wheel, turning through the previously carved out paths. Alaric's crooked nose, pale, white eyes, and long, pinkened scar going across his cheek were illuminated by the red stone in his palm. Turning her head ever so slightly, Anya looked over to watch Alaric thumb through the pages in his spellbook. It was an old, leather-bound one with gold filigree and a glittering, purple gem in the center. The words on it were all written with gold ink, penned in a language that wasn't Earthly. Velan. Words that Anya could recognize.

    Frontal lobe. Dust. Calisiolite.

    "Did you write the book of love?
And do you have faith in God above?
If the Bible tells you so?
Now, do you believe in rock 'n' roll?
Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?"

    Anya's heart lurched when Lakara stopped the car slowly. Talvi's singing also slowed to a stop when Alaric shut off the radio. Anya's legs felt like noodles and her eyes were buckets of bleach. Stomach churning with uneasy nervousness, the older girl glanced over to Talvi.

    Talvi's deep, brown eyes shone brightly with fear swirling behind them. Instead of her childish grin she had mere seconds ago, she now had a scared frown etched into her young face. Anya's heart fell in her chest like a heavy block of concrete. Talvi was only six. A six year old shouldn't be scared to go home.

       Lakara opened up the car doors with a click. When her wide, tawny eyes met Anya's, Anya felt her heart lurch again. Lakara's old smile was melancholy with her brows angled up in remorse. Dried tears subtly stained her bronze cheeks like a mark of worry and dread. A salty tear made its way down Anya's light, umber-toned cheek.

    "Mama," Anya's whisper could barely be heard, "do we have to?"

    Lakara's lip curled slightly, though her eyes were downcast. Anya could smell the cinnamon clove perfume that her "mother" wore. It was spicy and powerful enough to keep you awake, but calming enough to rest your racing heartbeat. Furrowing her brows, Lakara sucked in a breath.

    "Don't worry, my little minnow," the brunette murmured, her wrinkled hand reaching out and stroking Anya's cheek. Shivers chilled the young girl, who began to twirl a loose thread on her jean shorts, winding it around her tiny fingers. Lakara tilted Anya's head up, resting her aged thumbs over the girl's jawline.

    "Don't you worry," she whispered, her words slicing the dark, airy atmosphere around them, "you will be home soon, my minnow."

    In the far distance, just behind a few berry bushes and trees, a dark, swimming portal opened up in the forest. Ebony black like the deep dark sea, or a fraction of the void itself.

    And just behind Anya, Talvi's whispers could be heard again.

    "This'll be the day that I die..."