The Conductor

Chapter Eighteen- Miranda

I was walking down the hall and out into the commons. For some reason my Keyboarding teacher wanted me to run a paper down to the Band Room. I had no clue why, mostly because Mr. Jones wasn't there. Apparently not everyone knew.

I didn't bother to read the paper, because that's just rude, but I wondered what a Keyboarding teacher would be doing giving a Band teacher a document. Was it about student grade averages or something? I had no clue.

I walked along, the plastic hall pass in my left hand, the papers in my right.

I could hear the Orchestra playing beautifully and having fun as I walked in there. I wasn't particularly fond of them, but they made beautiful music.

I walked in at a quiet moment and the Orchestra teacher, Mrs. Helgeson, greeted me.

"Hello!" she said in a friendly tone. "Can I help you?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." I replied. "I came to drop these off for Mr. Jones, but since he's not here I don't exactly know where to put them."

Mrs. Helgeson hummed to herself in thought.

"Maybe just set them in his office?" she shrugged.

"Alright, thanks!" I replied, walking away and waving.

"You're welcome." she replied as she began to corral her students.

I walked into Mr. Jones' messy office and set the papers down. As I was about to walk out, I paused in sadness.

I missed Mr. Jones. He brought so much light to Band, and without him it wasn't complete. I sighed as I looked around. His computer was off, there were things all over his desk and papers strewn everywhere.

I frowned and walked out. The Orchestra was quiet, listening to Mrs. Helgeson. I smiled at Casey and Shel and was on my way.

I suddenly stopped in the doorway. I remembered I had left the hall pass on Mr. Jones' desk. I turned around and awkwardly walked back into the Band Room, and into Mr. Jones' office. I had just barely grabbed the hall pass when I heard a splitting wood noise, the same one I heard last Friday!!!

I stopped. I gasped in surprise and turned around to watch what happened next from the office. Mrs. Helgeson paused for a second, then continued.

The noise sounded again, only louder this time.

The silence fell upon the Orchestra students and stayed there. The noise once again occurred.

To my surprise the Cellos and Basses split into a million pieces and fell apart, sprawling all over the floor. Girls screamed in shock and I gasped once more in surprise.

But here's the scary part: After the wood pieces had fallen to the floor, they reformed into terrifying monsters with wooden limbs and bridges for their necks. They had glowing green eyes and they moved pretty slow.

I shut the door and watched, not daring to go out there and fight them. They were attacking the students! Alec was in danger! Marisol too! And so were Casey and Shel!

The students fought back as best as they could, but it wasn't enough. They were losing whether anyone wanted to believe it or not.

I was panic stricken as Shel and Casey clung to each other as a monster was about to kill them with a thorny foot.

Suddenly, a very familiar voice rang out.

"Hey!" he screamed.

I slowly stood up from my hiding spot underneath the desk. I rose up and looked out the window so I could see who the voice belonged to.

It was Mr. Jones, pointing his famous Conductor's Baton at the beasts, standing firm, a strong look on his face.

The monsters were now turned to face him and frozen in whatever action he had caught them in. Orchestra kids scrambled clear to the other side of the room and watched Mr. Jones' every movement.

"You had better stay away from these kids, or I'll unleash my weapon! Yeah, remember me? I'm back!" he yelled with a mighty rage.

The monsters whimpered and stammered back to where they once stood behind the music stands the students were using. They split apart once more, and this time formed back into their original form.

When all was said and done, I opened the door and raced over to Mr. Jones.

"You're back!" I yelled.

"Come with me." he said in a mysterious voice. "We need to leave, now."

Without hesitation, I joined Mr. Jones in running down the hall.

"Where are we going?!?" I yelled.

"Somewhere too secret to talk about it right now!" he replied.

"What were those?!?"

"Wood Splits!"

"Wood Splits?!?"

"Yeah, Wood Splits. Cello and Bass monsters."

We were halfway through the hallway when the blonde girl I saw a few days before stepped out. She had a sinister smile on her face.

To my surprise, she burst into something like a lava rock, purple rays of light spewing everywhere. Her flesh practically melted off to reveal a purple, ghostly figure that was male. Her silk cape blew behind her as she returned to her "purest form".

She smiled at Mr. Jones with a wicked laugh.

"You're back, Conductor." she hissed, slowly walking towards us. "And I'm pleased to say you're not the only one."