The Dark Path (Part 1/2)

Miles, The Elemental Of Sound

[Archer's POV]

"What? Are you serious?" I said. I had arrived home when I received a call from Miles telling me he somehow made his stereo system max out its volume causing everything single thing that fragile turn worthless.

"I'm serious, dude. You've got to check it out."

"Not now, man. I need to hit the hay. Pronto. I'll head to your house tomorrow. Try not to sleepwalk out of the window."

I heard the smile in Miles' voice on the other end. "I'll try."

I disconnected the line and went to bed. Alexis was really fun tonight. Her house, on the other hand, was huge. It was a freaking mansion! The driveway was at least 100 metres long. The garden was huge with a fountain and stone statues of horses coming out of the water. In front of the main doors was a roundabout with a statue of Poseidon in the centre. It was a really nice place to live and yet...

Alexis seemed so shy. You could practically miss her if you weren't looking directly at her. I'm glad we could open up to each other. When we were in the cinema, she was sitting next to me. Her hand was on the armrest. I had this crazy urge to hold it but I held it back. We were still acquaintances. She would freak out if I just held it. I sighed. Yes, Archer. You have a crush on Alexis. I went to sleep soon after.

The next day, I left the house early and went to Miles' place. When I arrived there, there were bags and bags of trash bags. Upon closer inspection, the bags turned out to be filled with glass. I chortled. I had no doubt that Miles had to pick up all of this last night.

I knocked on the door. Miles' mom opened the door and when she saw me, she grinned. "Why hello, Archer. Can I help you?"

"Good morning, Mrs. Vance. Is Miles home?"

"Yes, he's upstairs in his room."

"Okay, thanks."

I headed upstairs and went to Miles' room. He was holding his music player in one hand and making weird sprinkling motions with the other towards the player.

"So, Houdini, what's your next trick?" I asked him, apparently startling him.

"Dude, drop the jokes. Last night just wasn't so funny."

"But you where happy last night when I called you."

"I was practically pissing my pants, man. How did do what I did last night?"

"Try the stereo again. Let me see what you did."

"I wish I could, bro, but the thing is on a cloud playing a harp right now. What I did last night doesn't work on my music player."

I thought for a while. Then, I had an idea. "Maybe it's not the appliance. Maybe it's the sound itself."

Miles rubbed his chin. "Maybe. Maybe not. Archer, I'm seriously creeped out about my so-called powers, if I have any."

"What did your parents say?"

"They didn't say anything. My mom just blew her head off and I apologized. Still, I won't be getting allowance for the next three weeks."

"Oh, nasty."

"Yeah." We kept quiet for the next few minutes. Then Miles had to open his big mouth. "So, how's your girlfriend?"

"My girlfriend? Who?" I asked rather confused.

"Don't play dumb with me. You know who I'm talking about. Your sweetie-pie?"

At this point, I knew who he was talking about. I acted dumb just to avoid the topic but to no avail.

"Come on. Alexis? You were all over her, man. How was her house?"

"Dude, it was huge. She lived in a mansion."

"Yeah, sure she did. Anyway, did you go inside her house?"

"Why would I?"

"Well, Love Doctor Miles A. Vance says with a girl, first you get in her mind, next you get in her house, then you get in her pants. Step one? Check!"

"What?! I'm not that type of guy, man. I try to be abstinent."

"Yeah...sure you do. Sure you do."

"Seriously, dude."

"Mm-hmm. So on a serious side, planning to ask her out?"

I felt really nervous thinking about that. Just the thought of asking Alexis out made my back sweat. What if I end up blabbering like a fool on the line?

"No. Not yet." I replied.

"Aah...not now, but soon." Miles started fake crying all of sudden. "My Archer is becoming a man! They grow up so fast."

I put my face in one of my palms. "Whatever, man. Look, I've got to go. Need to head out. You heading to Tyson's later?"

"Yup."

"Okay, see you."

"Right back at you."

[Miles' POV]

Heh heh. Maybe I shouldn't have drank five cups of coffee just now. I feel so high! I think I might have pissed off Archer back there. I chuckled to myself.

Okay, now back to the music player. Still no luck. Bah, humbug. Then, I remembered what Archer said. 'Maybe it's not the appliance. Maybe it's the sound.' I got up and headed to my window. Not far away, I saw a grey hound barking loudly.

"The sound, eh? Let's see about that." I said to myself. I focused my concentration on the barking dog. I placed my index fingers on my temples and squinted my eyes. "Ennnnnn!!!" Nothing happened. The dog was still barking at the same volume. Phooey.

I held my hand out in a choking motion at the dog. Obviously, nothing happened. "Damn. I give up." I just stared at the dog wishing it would quit barking. 'Keep quiet, dog. Keep quiet.' I thought to myself mentally. All of a sudden it felt as though my head become blank. Then, the dog was silent. It was making barking motions but without any sound. Whoa, cool, I thought. Archer thought I was talking nonsense. Can't wait to see the look on his face when I make him talk without any sound. Maybe I can do it when he talks to Alexis...no, no, Miles. That's too hard of a blow below the belt.

I looked at my watch and saw it was time to leave for Tyson's. I went of happily feeling awesome.