City Of Dreams

Nine

Everywhere around me was black.

A shade of black I never knew existed.

A dark, more void-ish looking black.

I looked around me.

'The hell?'

A sudden burst of sound causes me to jump.

It was music.

Loud music.

But why?

Some spotlight sort of shit caught my attention.

Addie stood under the spotlight.

Oh God.

There's going to be a musical number.

"So you found a place where the grass is greener?..."

Yep I was right.

"And you jump the fence to the other side..."

Crap.

Her face was angry but almost emotionless at the same time.

"Is it good? Are they giving you a world I could never provide?"

Another spotlight behind me flashed, causing me to spin around.

The scary director lady from Wicked stood under the light this time.

Fuck I still can't remember her name.

"Well I hope your proud of your big decision...yeah I hope it's all that you want and more."

She walks closer to me and Addie starts to sing again.

"Now you're free...from the agonizing life you were living before..."

Lights flash behind me to Darren.

He looks angry and upset.

I take a step back.

"And you say what you need to say, so that you get to walk away. It would kill ya to have to stay trapped when you've got something new."

He walked closer, continuing to sing.

Why do i always get surrounded by singing people?

"Well I'm sorry I had it rough. And I'm sorry I'm not enough."

His face turned sad.

They all sang together.

"Thank God they rescued you... So you got whatcha always wanted. So you got your dream come true...good for you. Good for you."

Addie started again.

"Got a taste of a life so perfect, so you did whatcha had to do...good for you...good for you."

The scar on her face still taunted me.

The music continued on for a few seconds until another light flashed and Oak stood under it.

"Does it cross your mind to be slightly sorry? Do you even care that you might be wrong?"

Darren started behind me.

"Was it fun? Well I hope you had a blast while you dragged me along..."

No.

That's not what I meant to do.

Not at all.

Is that what I did?

Addie stood right in my face.

"So you say whatcha need to say, and you play who you need to play. And if somebody's in your way crush them and leave them behind..."

They all gathered around me in a circle, singing down to me.

"Well I guess if I'm not of use, go ahead you can cut me loose. Go ahead now I won't mine...."

I put my hands over my ears.

Another spotlight switched on at the far end of...whatever.

Katie frowned at me.

Tears pooled in my eyes.

Stop it.

She started singing too.

"I'll shut my mouth and I'll let you go...is that good for you? Would that be good for you, you, you?"

They all joined in as Katie joined the circle.

I squeezed my eyes shut and sank to the floor.

"We'll just sit back while you run the show. Is that good for you, you, you."

I involuntarily stood up and started singing too.

"All I need is some time to think...cause the boat is about to sink. Can't erase what I wrote in ink...tell me how can you change the story? All the words that I can't take back, like a train coming off the track. Cause the rails and my bones all crack..."

They keep singing around me.

As they sing, they walk around in a circle around me.

I shake my head, singing again without really meaning to.

"I've gotta find a way to stop it! Stop it! Just let me out!"

I push through the circle, leaving the others behind to circle me.

I paced and tried to find a way away from them.

They.

Kept.

Singing.

"So you got whatcha always wanted? So you got your dream come true? Good for you. Good for you!"

I was abruptly stopped and pushed to the floor.

They sang the last part, all staring at me.

"So you got what you always wanted?"