Reading Between the Lines

Chapter 31: Regression

I sit on a beach chair near the bow of my cruise ship, devouring all of the turtle sundaes I could possibly want like it's a lifeline. As I stare out into the deep blue waters of the sea, admiring the dolphins that jump and squeal like it's their birthday, I think to myself: this is where I'll be in 15 years once I'm an investment banker. Eating all the Paciugo and playing with all the dolphins I want.

But just as the ship sails towards the horizon...

The loud, blaring noise of a trumpet is heard. The waters swell, and the dolphins frantically jump back into the water to escape the horror, and the sun cracks in half.

Looking back, thinking it's a monster, I wield my ice sword. I can take them; who do they think they are interrupting my me time like that?

But, no. It's just a normal human being. Wearing a black coat, a black mask, white sunglasses, and a fedora. Like a modern-day Invisible Man.

"YOU DON'T SCARE ME!" I run towards the assailant, ready to unmask and destroy them. But as I take off their tacky fedora...I meet large brown eyes and freckles instead.

"Heh?"

She gives a smirk before raising her trumpet to her mouth and plays Also Sprach Zarathustra. A crack below my feet shakes the ground below me, and soon enough, the center of the boat starts splitting in two. Before I can even look down, the cruise ship breaks as quickly as it forms, making me sink into the sapphire abyss.

"NOOOO!"

***

"NOOOO!" my eyes open unconsciously as I launch myself off the bed, landing on my butt. My eyes sting from the rays of light stabbing them like mini-knives, and my muscles feel like a wind-up toy permanently turned back.

Ugh, what time is it?

I look around the room, realizing that the beautiful cruise ship was not on the sea. We're not on deep sapphire blue water, and there are definitely no dolphins. The white starboard and deck were just my walls, the sunset was just my bedding, and the dolphins were my random dolphin doodles I did out of boredom because I finished my homework early.

Wait, that means the trumpet thing was a dream too. At least that's a positive!

"Good morning!" a high voice suddenly plays in my ear, followed by the blaring trumpet music again.

And I spoke too soon.

I know I like Strauss, but not as my alarm.

"Divya, what are you-" I rub my eyes and look at her holding her gold trumpet in her hands, all dressed in workout gear. See, this is why I didn't do marching band in high school.

Oh, no. Please don't tell me this is what I think it is. My good workout clothes are still roughed up from the last session!

"It's 7:30! You know what that means," she wiggles her eyebrows before laughing sadistically.

"I thought you said one was enough," I whine while I try crawling back into bed. It's literally sunrise, and I only have class at 3. These are my sleep-in days!

She scoffs and puts her trumpet down, "Come on, it's not that bad," I snap my head towards her and widen my red and tired eyes. Yeah, after I got my ass handed to me by that Afanc Cameron in the last training session, let's just say I'm a little skeptical.

No matter how much I try and intimidate her by staring into her with my crusty red eyes, she doesn't budge. Doesn't move a muscle. Her built yet curvy frame stays by the door frame looking sneakily at me, and despite how much wind I send her to try and knock her down, literally like a tall tree, she stays unwavering. She knows at this point that no matter what happens, I have to do what she says.