Haunting Melodies [One Shot]

Haunting

Epigraph

"Life is but a dream for the dead."
-Gerard Way

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I clambered up the stairs that led to the attic, remembering my grandfather's orders to bring the Christmas tree down.

I coughed and sneezed as the dust threatened to swallow me whole. I tried not to let the deafening silence of the attic get to me; it was more than eerie.

I squinted as I searched for the box, and upon finding it, I yanked it out from under the cupboard and lugged it back to the stairs. But before I could descend it, something fell from above the cupboard that stood in the far end of the attic. Even from all the way where I stood, I could tell that it was a cassette player.

I let out a frustrated groan and made a mental to come back up and place it back atop the wretched cupboard. My grandfather was clearly a hoarder.

I made my way quickly to the living room and set the box down in front of my grandfather, who began the slow process of setting the tree up for Christmas tomorrow.

"Thanks Cole. Maybe when you're free later, you could help your sister with dinner?" he says, half distracted by the shiny blue ornaments, smiling to himself.

"Sure, pa," I said, before heading back up the stairs.

Night had already begun to fall, and the attic was nearly pitch black once I came back. It wasn't even six in the evening, and I hurried to switch the lights on.

I picked the cassette player up and examined it in my hands.

It was only slightly dusty, and it seemed well kept, as if grandfather had used it recently. Sure enough, there was a tape inside.

Maybe I'll just...

I stuffed it into the back of my pocket and helped out with dinner.

My sister glared daggers at me as I spooned my dinner down at a pace she was all too familiar with - I had something to hide in my room.

But as usual, I beat her to my room and locked the door behind me, leaving her to do the dishes. I'll get Hell for it later. I sprawled myself across the bed and pulled the cassette player out from under my pillow.

It was evidently originally white, but now it was leaning more towards grey.

I scowled after toying with it for a minute or two. Was there not supposed to be some sort of play button?

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw...

My radio.

Somewhere in the unfortunately hazy recesses of my mind, I recalled that it played tapes too. Removing the tape from the cassette player, I gave it a little brushing and placed it in my radio. Cranking the volume a few notches louder, I pressed play.

Nothing came out at first, but after fiddling with the volume again, it played loud and clear.

It was a song.

A Christmas song. What were the odds?

I leaned nearer towards the speakers, listening to the girl singing. It was definitely a Christmas song, but it sounded too much like a haunting lullaby. I honestly wasn't sure if it was just my imagination or my eyelids, but the light in my room flickered for a beat or two.

I ignored it and shoved the thought away as best as I could manage.

I quitely mulled over the captivating allure that her voice seemed to have. It was sweet, and there was an undeniable grace to the way she held a note or two, or even as she strung on to the next word.