The Conductor

Chapter Twenty Four- Jason

I was bewildered and confused by what was going on. All I knew was that my Dad was a time traveller and that there was a creepy phantom woman with a chilling plot to kill him. We were all in formation, standing firmly in the Band Room, waiting for Casper the ghost woman to show up.

I was standing beside my dad, looking as sharp and fierce as I could on the outside, but on the inside I thought I was going to vomit. I was so afraid for my life right now, but why? Oh, I know! It's because I'm the Conductor's SON. HIS SON.

We kept on waiting silently. I was silently writing my will in my head. I didn't want to look like a wimp if I held my Dad's hand, but when you think you're gonna die and you're trembling with fear on the inside, it's kinda hard to not want to reach for your father's strong hands to hold your shaky ones.

"Dad?" I whispered, shakily.

"Yeah?" he replied.

"I love you."

My Dad grabbed my hand. "I love you too. I'm sorry."

I sighed. "It's okay."

The door burst open with a loud bang. Sheet music flew everywhere as the Drum Major strode in, her hands pushed out to the side, blowing energy from her mighty hands. I gulped in fear and tried so hard not to cry when the Drum Major walked up to my father, a whole army of Wood Splits behind her.

"Behold my mighty brigade." my father smirked with a stiff stance. The Drum Major laughed.

"Some brigade," she scoffed, "They have nothing on us."

"We'll see about that." my father said with a brave attitude.

The Drum Major suddenly turned towards me. "You must be Jason." she hissed.

"Yeah, I am." I replied with fake bravery, mocking my father's tone. I tried so hard to not scream as she suddenly grasped my chin in her gloved hand, me squealing with surprise.

"Leave him alone!" my dad barked in rage.

"Ah ah ah, Conductor." the Drum Major warned. "I'm not going to hurt him unless you give me a reason to." My Dad's muscles loosened, but his expression remained the same.

The Drum Major glanced back at me. "You look nothing like your father."

"I was adopted." I replied. "But I'm okay with that."

The Drum Major seemed pleased by that. I wish I hadn't have said that. She could use it against me. It probably wouldn't do much to me, but, however, she might try to guilt-trip my dad, and I didn't want that.

"You remind me of him, though, when he was about your age. He was a weakling, just like you."

I gulped again in fear. I was small and not very strong, but I hated to admit it.

The Drum Major softly set me down onto my feet again. I almost toppled over in fright. I tried to keep my composure as the Drum Major threw her hands at us, signaling the Wood Splits to attack.

I could hear the screaming of my friends and the cracking of wood as they charged towards them and attacked. I was frozen in fear, staring down at the floor, a million thoughts buzzing in my head.

"I'm gonna die," I screamed in my head, "I'm gonna die I'm gonna die I'M GONNA DIE I'M GONNA DIE I'M GONNA DIE I'M GONNA DIE I AM GOING TO DIE!!!"

I hadn't realized there was a Wood Split heading straight towards me while I was pre-mourning my death.

"Jason!!!" My father screamed. I looked up to find a giant Bass monster charging towards me, about to rip my chest open. I stood there in shock as my father linked his arm around my waist, grabbing me and running me clear across the room. He set me down and kneeled down, placing his hands on my shoulders.

"Jason, are you alright?" he asked, frantically.

I breathed in shaky breaths, tears blinding me. I blinked and felt the hot liquid pour down my cheeks. I looked at my dad, mouth gaping open and face heating up.

"I'm scared Dad." I whimpered, trying to not fall apart.

"Oh, Jason." my father cried.

He squeezed his arms around me tightly as I buried my face in his shoulder, bawling violently, having completely fallen apart. I was held there for a minute as my father tried to calm me down.

"Jason, sweetheart, it's okay," he cooed, "It's okay to be afraid." He rubbed my back to calm my shaking, well, everything.

"I remember the first time I fought monsters with my dad. I was scared, too. In fact, I'm still scared. Luckily, I had a good father who protected me with every ounce of will he had, and that's exactly what I'm going to do for you. You know why?"

"Why?" I asked in between sobs.

"Because I love you."

I was trembling a lot less now, and wasn't crying as violently. I held myself against my Dad's warm body. I didn't want to get out quite yet. I felt safe in my Dad's arms. It was nice in there. My Dad was perfect for hugs like this.

"If I learned anything from your Grandpa, it's the fact that he'd go to the ends of the earth for the ones he loved. I want you to have that sense of security as well. I love you so much."

I looked over my Dad's shoulder to find a Wood Split lumbering towards us. In that moment I decided it was time for me to be brave.

Without hesitation, I pulled my Dad's baton out of his pocket, aimed at the thing, and pressed the button just like he taught us to do in situations like this.

The monster disappeared in a cloud of saw dust. My Dad must've heard the sound of it being vaporized, because his head shot up and he looked behind him. He stared in the distance for a moment then turned back at me, a thrilled expression on his face.

"Jason," he laughed, "That was incredible!"

I laughed with my Dad as he enclosed me again. What had just happened? I went from a scared kitten to an aggressive German Shepard just like that.

"Oh shoot, that was nothing." I scoffed, handing him his baton. "I was just protecting you."

My Dad smiled brightly at me and pecked the top of my head. My newly cooled face was heating up once again.

I let go of my Dad after a few more seconds and was headed into battle once again, having new faith in myself and my Dad.

I joined my friends in knocking down Wood Splits, whether that meant shutting them in lockers or hitting them over the head with instrument cases, it was quite fun beating down some demons and kicking butt. Suddenly, the Wood Splits froze. They suddenly shattered into a million different pieces. In a cloud of saw dust they all joined together in the center and twirled together. I coughed and sputtered at the dust surrounding us. I shut my eyes to try and avoid going blind.

I slowly opened my eyes to find a huge, gigantic Mega Wood Split that was twice as tall as my Dad.

"Dad, what is that?" I cried.

"The Head Split." he replied in a daze.