ABDUCTED

The Musical

Chapter 7. Page 159

Wednesday December 7–19 days

I woke up to the sun shining on my face as birds chirped outside. I jolted up, remembering where I was supposed to be last night. "Holy shit!" I shouted , speed running my entire morning routine. Nina offered me breakfast as I sped down the stairs. "Where's the fire?" my sister, Gretchen, asked once I entered the kitchen. "I slept through an important outing last night. Someone I care about might be really mad at me," I sighed. She scoffed, moving a perfectly curled strand away from her face. "Do tell, little brother." I shook my head. "Come on. Who did what? I'll take care of it." I shrugged; avoiding eye contact like I had something to hide. Of course I did. I had spent the last two years of my life dedicated to one person. I had one goal in life and it was her. My mind slips away when I think of her. I just stare off into space.

7.160–

Gretchen raised an eyebrow, murmuring something I couldn't quite hear. Applause erupted out of nowhere from an invisible audience. I looked around in confusion as Nina walked into the room. However, she wasn't alone. Two mysterious staff members trailed behind her. They were dressed similarly with a traditional black and white maid outfit and an antique Butler's uniform. They were wearing these strange masks that obscured their faces. The masks were painted white with opposite facial expressions. The maid wore a deep frown with sunken eyes that only showed tragedy and disparity. The butler wore an eerily wide grin. His eyes showed chaos and greed. Their presence made me feel uneasy. "Where the hell did they come from?" I shouted. Both Nina and my sister ignored me as the staff formed a line. The mysterious maid stood in front, hands at her side like a mannequin. Nina was next in line; her head fully in view up to the bottom of her chin. Finally, the butler stood behind Nina; tall enough to display his smile to all. I watched in horror as Nina slipped on an expressionless mask;hands shooting to her sides with a slap. "What the fuck? What the fuck?" I repeated. Gretchen, took my hand, sitting me down in a chair that hadn't been in the middle of the room before. "You could use a buddy," she sang. The lights flashed on beat. "Don't you want a pal?" 'Yes I do! Yes I do!" My sister sang in a squeaky voice as she waved my arms to the rhythm. I realized she had begun singing the intro to "Say My Name" from the Beetlejuice musical she loved as a kid. I remember her forcing me to learn every dance and song to perform for guests at my parents' parties. I was always Lydia.

7.161–

The Mayo Clinic defines the word "Hallucination" as " a perception of having seen, heard, touched, tasted, or smelled something that wasn't actually there." The main causes are medications, sensory problems, substance abuse, side effects from surgery and anesthesia, high blood sugar levels, mental health conditions, and neurological problems. While I was sure I wasn't having one, the thought crossed my mind as I peaked back to see the staff still on the same formation only now they were holding weapons. The maid held a steak knife up to her own neck. Nina carried a mallet for tenderizing meat at her side. The butler wielded a torch high in the air with his right hand. The same torch Nina used to use when she'd make my sister and I crème brûlée. He held a rope in his other hand. They stood motionless like an eldritch totem pole. I looked over at Gretchen only to notice a terrified look on her face as she performed. She glanced towards the staff every so often as if to check to see if she were delivering a satisfying show.

"Gretch. Gretch, we should go," I suggested, growing more nervous by the second. She ignored me, still doing her one woman show. "Gretch!" I called louder. Still, she ignored me. I looked back to see the staff had changed positions. Now, they stood tallest to shortest right behind the chair I had been sitting in. I jumped up with a screech, rushing over to my sister. I began to beg her to leave with me; tears welling up in my eyes. Gretchen shook her head in a panic; and she continued to sing and dance. "Gretch! I can't leave you!" I yelled, yanking her arm. The music began to distort once I interrupted the show. My sister pulled her arm back, picking up exactly where she had left off. I looked at the staff to see they were now a few feet behind me. Trembling, I tried pleading with my sister one more time. "Gretchen, please. Let's go." In that moment, I felt like how I did as kid; scared and alone.