The Conductor

Chapter Twenty-Robert Jones

I stood facing the Drum Major with a firm stance. The sight of her made me sick inside. I remembered when I defeated her so long ago. Had I not done a thorough job?

She slithered towards me, her cape majestically blowing behind her. She smiled at me with a blinding glare.

"I must say, it is so pleasant to see you again." she hissed.

She stalked me like a wolf to a rabbit.

"And who is this?" she asked, acknowledging Miranda.

"Someone you should not touch or mess with or so help me I'll--"

"What will you do, Conductor? Huh? What will you do?"

I clenched my jaw in frustration. The Drum Major continued to stalk me. I was defenseless against her. My baton could do nothing to her.

"Miranda, run." I whispered.

"And leave you here alone? Are you--"

"Miranda, run." I cut her off. She sighed sadly and bolted down the hall. The Drum Major hysterically laughed.

"You're so pathetic." she howled with laughter. I was trying hard not to say something I would regret.

"Remember when you happened to defeat me? Remember when you stabbed me with my own baton? Remember when you put your true love in danger to seal your pride and win?"

"I was only trying to protect her." I barked.

"But somehow she was still in the hands of danger, wasn't she? She was a fool to love you."

Now she was hitting it where it truly hurt. I was truly in love with Brenna. She brought so much meaning to my life. I would never purposefully harm her, ever. I would die fighting for her if that's what circumstances happened to be. She loved me immensely. Every day I was constantly reminded of how loved I was thanks to her. It fills me with regret that I hardly take time out of my busy life to spend time with her.

I tried to fight back tears as I stood up straighter and more firm.

"I think it's funny how you talk so much about my lover when it seems you don't have one for yourself."

The Drum Major invaded my sight as she said, "Say that one more time."

I gulped in fear.

"To shorten things just a bit, I said, "At. Least. I. Have. A. Lover.'"

"Some lover you have!" she screamed in rage. I should have shut my mouth. I should have swallowed my pride.

"I could slaughter her right now! I have so much power over you and you dare to defy my authority! You're so--"

"Pathetic?" I smirked. "Thanks to your constant reminder, I know that now."

The Drum Major screamed in rage as she pushed her hands out to both sides of the hall, doors and lockers bursting open and a cold wind slithered down my spine.

"You'll regret what you said!!!" The Drum Major was holding me by the neck now, her eyes glowing with rage, as I struggled to break free from her grasp.

"I will seek vengeance, you'll see." she boomed.

I was trying so hard to break her grasp around my neck. My breathing struggled to sustain me. I was falling unconscious when I heard a familiar voice.

"Hey!" she screamed. The Drum Major turned around to face them and I could see a crowd of my students in a mighty brigade, holding instrument cases, pencils, and weapons of any sort. Miranda was at the head of the angry mob, holding her Clarinet case in her hand.

"Let him go." she screamed.

"Or what?" she laughed.

"We'll attack."

The Drum Major laughed. "Are you kidding me? I could take you all down in a single blow."

"Wanna bet that?"

The Drum Major's face muscles stiffened as she dropped me to the floor. I hit the floor and I gasped for air with a violent coughing fit and sputters here and there. I watched as my students charged towards the Drum Major. She laughed at them pitifully and grabbed the corner of her beautiful cape, twirling around to magically disappear in a cloud of purple smoke.

My students ran over to me and surrounded me, giving me some room.

"Who was that?!?" Kirt screamed.

"And what attacked us in the Band Room?" Alec screeched.

I was darted with so many questions and there was only one answer to them all.

"Guys, guys calm down!" I yelled over them, standing up. My students grew silent as they watched me, totally perplexed.

I sighed. There was only one answer to all their questions.

"I need to tell you guys the truth."

My students nodded with a few mumbled "Okays".

I breathed in deep and exhaled slowly.

"I am a-- Time, Traveller." I stammered.

"YES!!!" Miranda screamed, jumping up and down. "HOLY FUDGE, I WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG!!!"

All of the girls were jumping up and down and screaming now. I smiled awkwardly as they came to a stop.

"Dad?" a familiar voice said from the end of the hallway. I turned to find Jason, his blonde hair in his face, looking confused and frightened, wearing his over-sized wrestling hoodie.

I gasped in surprise. "Jason!"

We both ran towards each other and engulfed each other in a father-son hug. I held him in my arms for a few seconds then let go.

"You're safe!" I exclaimed.

"I am." he replied. "Are you?"

"Yes!" I laughed. I suddenly noticed a large gash in the cartilage of his right ear, blood running down almost halfway to his neck.

"The Wood Splits hurt you, didn't they?" I gasped, softly.

"Yeah, a little bit. But I'm fine, I promise." he replied, brushing his hair in the way to cover it up.

"I'm so sorry. It hurts, doesn't it?"

Jason was in Orchestra and Band. He played the Violin and the Clarinet.

"It just stings a little, that's all. Nothing a bit of TLC from Mom can't fix."

I smiled. "I'm just glad you're safe. I should've come back to save you, and I'm sorry."

"Dad, you saved me from these Wood Splits plenty. I just got a gash in my ear. It doesn't even hurt that much, anyway. As a matter of fact, you saved everyone. Don't regret that."

I pat him on the shoulder. "You're a good kid."

I turned towards my students. "As for you guys..."

*Pause for effect.*

"I'm going to need your help."