Chapter VII

Chapter VII

A Chapter by Chryiss
"

Be aware of switching POV's.

"

Nico’s POV

Lighting? Check. Sound? Check. I peek behind the cerise drapery. Audience? Check! And it’s a go!

I thumbs up at the band. The drums start with the rhythm.

Tata tat tata tat... And BAM! The electric guitars and piano kick in, soon followed by Lucien’s singing.

Other than the Talent Show, the music club is generally divided into two different groups, boys and girls. Lucien, Mikael, Andy, and from last year, Eren, make up the boy’s band. Violet, and two other girls whom I’ve never met before, make up the girls. 

However, unlike the guys, the girls are a singing group, even if they play an instrument. Very rarely has there ever been a girls band comprising of a drummer, guitarist, pianist and singer.

As for me, I’m just the technician behind all the madness.

---

“That was amazing!” squeals Elisa.

“Mm; it was really good,” agrees a black-haired girl beside her.

“Only really good?”Mikael teases. She nudges him in the side, giving him an amused smile.

Seeing his teasing ways return, I felt glad Mikael was back to his old self. For some reason, he’s been kind of down the last two weeks. I guess that’s the magic of music!

Or my superior technical skills.

Grinning to myself, I suddenly am conscious of someone’s eyes upon me.

It’s the girl.

“Who’re you?” she asks, her body partially hidden due to the dimly lit backstage.

I step forward from the shadows of the wall I’ve been leaning against.

“Nico,” I say cooly, then with humor, “The Technician.”

I swear I heard her breath catch when I stepped into the light, but she recovered quickly.

“...Esteire,” she replies faintly. Then, without notice, she flees through the back door.

“Esteire?!” Everyone clamors at once.

I tip my head to the side wondering what that was about.

Mikael gives me a glare. What did I do do?!

Lucien eyes me. You too??!

Everyone else stares at me. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME??!!

Elisa exited after her.

What. Just. Happened?


Elisa’s POV

I automatically look at Nico, baffled at my sister’s unwonted escape. Then it dawns on me. I rush after her, striking the door open with such a force I knew I’ll come to regret it later. Sore hands won’t stop me now.

“Esteire!” I scream out into the subdued light of the late afternoon dwindling into evening.

She’s several meters away; her back’s to me.

“Esteire,” I repeat feebly.

This was so unlike my sister. What was wrong with her?! For crying out loud! I nearly had a heart attack when she ducked out like that!

The sun was beginning to set, casting sheaves of golden vermillion throughout the darkening cyan blue. 

Shafts of the descending light radiated about her, as if transforming her into a incandescent spirit.

The resounding rumble of music streaming from inside disappeared as time seemed to halt. And, as if on cue, my sister turned around.

“Elisabeth.” Her voice was barely audible. 

Before me stood a girl, with the loneliest eyes in the world.

---

Lucien was slumped over in a chair, his elbows supporting his head up, Mikael was pacing the room like an angry panther, Eren was staring inscrutably at the floor, and Andy was next to a bewildered Nico.

The aura was that of a funeral parlor.

They finally perceived my presence and hasten towards me in a frenzy. I could tell they all wanted answers.

For Esteire to act they way she did, well, it’s like the equivalent of a person jumping from a three-hundred story building, surviving, then getting hit in the head by a penny falling from the same building and then being reborn as a rock. 

Rocks aren’t even alive.

Lucien calmed them down and inquired what was the matter with Esteire.

“It’s a long story, but in short, Nico looks like the splitting image of a person my sister dearly loves.” I paused. Everybody gawked at me blankly.

I added, “Someone who she thought she’ll never see again.”

Same expressions.

Then Mikael indelicately asked, “You mean dead?”

“No you moron!” I flail my arms at him.

I calm myself and clarify, “Just before we had to leave the U.S. due to my dad’s work, she found out that he had left the country without any kind of explanation as to why. A month later, she got a voicemail from him apologizing for his unexpected departure and ending with his hopes of being able to see her again. She tried calling him back, but only got a message saying it was not a valid number. She’s been heartbroken ever since...” I trailed off. I was afraid if I said anything more, I would remember what I’ve tried so hard to forget.

I was not so lucky.

The past careened into me like a deluge, prying open those malicious memories of months past. It seemed like yesterday it happened.

March 19th, 2012.

My sister stared incredulously at her phone. Her hands were trembling. I looked over her shoulder. My eyes widened at the caller’s name. She bolted upstairs.

I wasn’t sure what to feel. Extreme anger at him for inflicting such misery upon sis or exuberant joy for possibly ending her misery. 

After debating for a couple minutes whether I should follow, I dart upstairs.

She was standing the middle of her room.

I took a few hesitant steps forward. Her whole body was quivering. Then, she crumpled to the floor. I caught her just before she slammed into the ground. 

She was weeping as if someone beloved had died, her sobs coming in between her body’s violent shudderings. It was like a double-slap in her face after discovering his disappearance a month ago.

Esteire is strong. 

She had dealt with that first blow so well. I almost believed she didn’t have feelings for him anymore. But, I understand now. She had been suppressing the grief this whole time.

I feel like a terrible sister for not realizing.

I try consoling her, “Shh, it’s okay Esteire.”

Wrong choice of words.

“It’s not okay.” Came her muffled reply.

“You don’t understand.”

I didn’t.

“Just...leave me alone. Please.”

I was stung a little; I don’t deny it.

I really didn’t know what to do. 

I gasped. 

I was breathing heavily as if I had just ran a marathon.

“Elisa! Elisa! Are you okay?!” Andy jostles me.

“Relax...I’m okay,” I reply weakly.

“That doesn’t sound very reassuring,” comments Lucien.

I take a couple of deep breaths. My pulse regulates, and I feel fine again.

Everyone seems relieved.

I’m happy they care about me, but I would’ve liked them not to see me like this.

“I’m sorry. I just had a flashback.” I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. I vigorously blinked them away. “If you saw how devastated she was...”

Andy hugged me, saying the words I probably should’ve said to Esteire, “We’re here for you if you need us.”

“Thanks,” I sniffle. Miraculously, I didn’t cry. 



© 2018 Chryiss


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Chryiss
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Added on November 21, 2018
Last Updated on November 21, 2018


Author

Chryiss
Chryiss

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An artist. A dreamer. A writer. A storyteller. I am Chryiss. These stories are the culminations of my imagination. Will you share in my daydreams? My latest fantasy novel, My World To Live, is ava.. more..

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