THE OTHERS

Chapter 4: Music

His hands were contorted gruesomely at the back where he fell, the trail of blood glistening behind him. I screamed. Had he wanted to keep it a secret? Why would he if his life was in danger?

His receptionist rushed inside the room to see what was wrong. She gasped, stifled a scream, and looked at me sternly.
"Miss Hale?! What happened? Did you do this?"
As if I'd confess if I did.
"No, of course, Miss Kaufman! The Master was talking to me about Darcie's death, he wanted to open the door for me when I was supposed to leave, and there was a huge cut on his back! After which, he fainted. It looks like he fainted at least."
"Well, I'll see if I can get help. Run along now, Hale. Oh dear, what shall-"
"Goodbye Miss!" I said, managing to cover some of my worry, but still sounding terrified.

I rushed back down the labyrinth of corridors, making my way back to the classroom, where I knew Miss Baker would be angry. I walked past the Art room, the Drama class and- the Music class. The door was slightly ajar, I noticed, there was light, tingly music playing. There was no class. I opened the door more to see the person playing the piano. It was Amber.
"Oh hello, Liz!" she said, smiling so much it looked like her mouth was going to rip off. But it was a pretty smile anyway. Did she always look so perfect?
"Hey, Amber."
"So did the ol' Master tell you what I'm here for? Do you want a bagel?" she asked, taking a bagel out of her pocket that smelled divine but didn't look appetizing at all.
"Yes, he did actually. Um- no thanks, I have my own lunch. Is it even lunch yet?"
"No, I'm just hungry," she laughed at my scared face (rule- breaking had a very serious punishment at B.R), and took a huge bite out of her bagel, "Lizzie, the class you were in finished two hours ago, of course it's lunch! You sure you don't want this? It's turkey and egg."
I winced, declining her offer again, "Two hours? It definitely wasn't that long."
"Well- um- do you want to hear a song?"
Before I could even answer, her hands started jamming on the keys, creating some sort of catchy, fun tune, not what I was expecting. She continued playing, slowly transferring the tune to a slower, depressing one. I couldn't help but notice she was very talented. Even Clara, who had won numerous awards in playing piano, wouldn't have been able to pull that off.
"Do you know where I'm from?"
"Well, no."
"I travelled all the way to Bybourne with Glenn for a long time."
"So, you're not from here?"
"No, my place is different."
"Alright then, I'm going to make my way back to the lunch room."
"I'll come, let me finish this song, it's important."

I paced around the room, touching the instruments and ocassionally plucking the strings of an old banjo.
"Let's go!" Amber pulled me towards the door, then stopped, "are you sure you don't want to go back to the office?"
"Um- no. Why would I?" I asked, a puzzled look on my face.
She rolled her eyes, "To see if the Master is alright, of course!"