The House Of The Dead

Chapter Seven|Music Box|

WADES POV

After the little "feast" I had with Hector, I started to feel at home. Yea, my family wasn't there and there was just a bunch of walking and talking skeletons. But it made me feel a little bit at home. Hector was like an older brother to me, Burr was like that brother that seemed mean but has a soft side, Maria was like a sister to me, she made me remember my little sister, Theodosia. I loved Hamilton and my parents let me choose the name for her.

I was in my room, starting to wake up. It was 7:45AM. Then I got a sudden thought. "Wait a minute... Theodosia, Hamilton.... I have a music box!" I forgot about it! My parents gave it to me when I was very little. That would probably explain my love for Hamilton later. Of course, they weren't going to let me hear swearing at such a young age, so they got the music box version. No lyrics, just music. 

I quickly search in my backpack. Silently praying that it didn't fall out when I fell in the river.

I keep searching until I feel something cold, I grab it and lift it up. It was a small music box, it was gold and silver. 

Oh gosh, I'm getting nostalgia. I remember listening to it when my parents would argue back and forth about the bills. It would make me feel safer to listen to calming music than my parents fights. I remember listening to it when I couldn't sleep. 

I remember the songs I had on it. I remember Dear Theodosia, Stay Alive(reprise), Its Quiet Uptown, Burn, Wait For It, History Has It's Eyes On You, and my favorite, The Story Of Tonight. I grab the little knob on the side and start winding it up. I hope the water didn't damage it...

I can slowly hear the songs start. I had a little knob on the side, each for each song. (A/N yea, that's not how it works. I just didn't want to have to write another 5 music boxes XD) I chose to do The Story Of Tonight to feel at home. 

As the song starts, all of my anxiety just flows away. I can hear the music just softly playing. I start mumbling the lyrics to myself.

"I may not live to see our glory. (I may not live to see our glory)"

"But I will gladly join the fight.(but I will gladly join the fight)"

"And when our children tell our story..(And when our children tell our story..)" 

"They'll tell the story of tonight."

I liked singing along, it was like Karaoke, but softer. I wait a few seconds for the little "Let's have another round tonight." To end. Then when I know it's my cue, I start singing again.

"Raise a glass to freedom, something they can never take away, no matter what they tell you. Raise a glass to the four of us. Tomorrow they'll be more of us.. telling the story of tonight."

I stop singing and just listen to the music. Mentally still singing the lyrics.

The music was so soft and calm. It made me feel at home. Before my mother died, before my father left.. When things seemed perfect.. 

my thoughts are quickly cut off when I hear my painting door swing open and hit the wall.

I jump back, still startled. I shut the music box and turn around. It was Hector. "H-hey- Hector!" I said, still starled. "Hey Wade! Just so ya know, if you come down the whole Skeleton family is down there! I dunno if you want to come or not, but I told them about our little feast and they're trying it! I told them it was something called Thanksgiving. For some reason the British skeletons said they didn't mind, whatever that means." I softly chuckle, I forgot to tell him what Thanksgiving was about. "What is that?" He asks me, taking notice to the music box behind my back. "I-uh- Oh! This?" I ask, knowing what he's talking about. "Mhm, what is it?" Should I tell him about the music box? Should I just say it's nothing? No, Hector is my friend. I guess I should tell him.

"It's a music box that my parents gave me." I explained. "A moosic box?" He asks. "A mu-sic box. It plays music." "Oh! Music! I thought it was another crazy human invention. I know what music is. I've never seen it played in a box before. I normally see it in CDs." 

"I can show you. Here, choose a song." I turn the box over to where the knobs are, showing the song options. He looks over them all and then chooses. He chose Stay Alive(reprise).

I wind it up and the music starts. I start singing the lyrics in my head, not wanting to distract Hector from listening to the music. 

After a while the music stops. Hector looks impressed. "That's actually a really nice melody! I like it!" I agree. "Here, all of the skeletons are in the kitchen. Let's have breakfast with them."

This was going to be great.. breakfast with the whole skeleton family.