The Note

Chapter 1

It all started out with a note, a simple piece of paper capable of ripping away at the false comfort that everyone so blindingly cherishes, and like a knife piercing through skin, drew blood from my heart, as it shriveled up like a dying plant saying its last wish. Please let it all be a dream. Why, you might ask? Well, for all of you out there willing to listen to a poor soul's pitiful story, my false comfort, my beloved sister, was taken away by the chains of fate that led her to a place that I can't reach. All she left behind was a note, one that had ignited my whole being with a fire of rage, but also with a feeling of bafflement for my inability to comprehend the message written on the thin piece of a manufactured tree. It said:

To: Thalia

David's beloved tragedy bent on revenge.

28-83 178-11-92 31-16-41-9 105-8 58-4-90 52-13 75-71-113-39-30-134 114-2 10-5 162-129-37 15-18-157-33-88-80-109-139 40-141-11-56 115-126 170-47-137-7-18-89-32-14 53-146 119-190-29 80-191-173-107-58-160 43-6-116-54-147 175-112 104-41-4

Hint: ..-. / .- / ...- / . // ... / -.-. / . / -. / .

I can't believe it! The last thing she left me before she waltzed right out of my life was a dumb note with her stupid ex boyfriend's name on it and a bunch of numbers that I don't even understand. Not to mention, her hint isn't even a hint at all! What am I supposed to do with a bunch of dots and dashes? Wait, I know this... This looks familiar somehow. I think I remember Lyla, that's my sister's name for all of you that don't know, talking about this when she came back from summer camp. Now if only I remembered the name of what it's called! One thing is for sure though. David knows something, and I'm not going to stop until I squeeze every last ounce of answers out of his lungs. Without a second thought, I grabbed the piece of paper, rushed out the door to go on a manhunt, and then, unwittingly, smacked myself face first into the pole right outside our house. Although I would love to stop and check for a broken nose, I have more important things to attend to that couldn't wait. I've completely forgotten the name of David's street, but my feet remembered the way, so I let it carry me all the way to the dingy, dark alleyway in the back of an abandoned art studio. Let's just say David wasn't the most polished spoon in the drawer, but he had to have some sort of good quality if once upon a time, my sister has fallen head over heels for him. That has got to count for something... right? Clenching the paper in my hand, I walked towards the back door. Just as I was about to wrap about my hands around the doorknob, the door flew open.

"What happened to your face?" There he stood in all his glory, with his shaggy chestnut brown hair, paint stained clothes, and piercing blue eyes that wandered over my face to analyze the predicament it was in.

"Obviously, I was attacked by a pole." I said with annoyance dripping from my voice with every syllable. "Now, let me in would you?"

"Well-" Without even waiting for his reply, I pushed past him, and let myself into his "house".

"Look, I'm not here to talk about my face, which I know is very difficult for you since my face looks like a work of art."

"Thalia, get to the point, or I'm kicking you out of my house. Also, your face looks like it could crack mirrors." He said that with such a straight face that I almost believed him.

"Fine. Have you heard anything from my sister? What does this note mean? Do you know something that I don't about Lyla suddenly disappearing? Why aren't you answering my questions?!" The frustration was finally getting to me, and I was taking it out on this sad excuse of a human being standing in front of me.

David looked at me like I just told him that I jumped off a rainbow and landed on a planet inhabited by robot unicorns and talking trees. "Okay. First of all, the last thing your sister ever said to me was to take care of you, which was like asking me become Belle, and you were the horrid Beast. Second of all, I have no idea what 'note' you're talking about so you might wanna actually show me what you're talking about. Also, I'm just about as clueless as you are. Are you happy now you crazy psycho? I answered all your questions."