What Keeps Our Hearts Beating

Chapter 17

Lacey stared horrified at the package that arrived that afternoon. Of the ostentatious and expensive costume that her father had sent first class for her to wear to the dance the following day. Of a hummingbird. Why the hell would she ever want to wear this ridiculous costume?

She had been set on wearing something she had scrounged around, some 90's grunge outfit that would go with her love of Nirvana that she was contemplating singing "Smells like Teen Spirit" and that would be sufficient. But now, she was torn. Sure she was excited her father was coming to the dance, but to have to humiliate herself by wearing this costume and with Raiph and Brasen there to see her like some weird sexy bird.

She flung the satin sequined costume back into the box. Her father just kept thinking of her of some bird from the peacock woolen hat and now this. Like she needed to be protected, or maybe it was more the fear that she would be flying away from him for good. She couldn't fly away fast enough.

Sandra walked in, looking disheveled from all the last minute party planning. She froze as she stared at the contents in the box, her eyes narrowed in anger.

"You can't enter the costume contest with that!" she sneered, looking like she wanted to peck her eyes out with her claw like nails that she had grown and manicured bright red for her elaborate costume she was sewing together. Sandra even had Dr. Snore fix one of the old sewing machines in the room so that she could use it to mend her costumes. Ming was surprised Dr. Snore was even capable of doing such a task with his shaking hands.

Ming continued to monitor the hallways and the examination room that Lacey had rigged with a hidden camera during one of her blood transfusions, staging a fainting episode. As dangerous as it had been, Lacey knew that they needed some additional evidence if they were going to get her father and Mrs. Halloway on board to help them. She still had fears that when the dance came Mrs. Halloway and Lacey's father would refuse to help them, or worse, turn them in to Dr. Weber ruining any further chances of helping Brasen. But this was their only shot and they had to take it.

She needed some fresh air, feeling like this old manor was suffocating her with the musky scent that resonated in the air as she walked down the dark corridors. Everyone was busy preparing for the dance the next night and she decided to take a walk out on the terrace. She walked briskly into the empty dining hall and nodded to one of the guards who reminded her not to go too far out at this hour so close to curfew. She gave a knowing smile and opened the double doors onto the veranda and the sultry autumn wind immediately embraced her. She closed the doors behind her and walked out onto the old wooden balcony that overlooked the acres of gardens. At night the only light was from the manor house and the beautiful stars that illuminated the sky. She put her arms against the balcony railing and gazed up at the magnificent display of stars that shone so brightly that she could almost reach out and touch them. Back in NYC, she could hardly make out any stars in the night sky due to the intense light the city produced. But out here in the middle of nowhere Long Island, it was magical. It made her feel like she could believe in miracles. That she was so small, in this vast universe, a small piece to a puzzle she could never begin to comprehend. Why was she the one chosen to lose her mother so young? To be here at this moment in time with a heart that was failing her? Or maybe just to embrace this brief moment, to breathe and feel and enjoy this fresh crisp autumn air filling her lungs, her mind, and her soul. The wind howling against the tree branches rocking back and forth producing shadows across the field beyond. At the pictures they created like they were telling her a story. A cloud shifted and the moon hovered high overhead like it too was watching her and gazing upon her with envy and admiration. Like it wanted just a moment to walk in her shoes, to feel the grass beneath her feet as she sauntered out into the field barefoot, ignoring the guards warning as she ran and danced and yelled up at the moon like the wolves acknowledging that I see you. I feel you. I believe in you.