Jessi's POV

I placed my Grandmother's violin case on the ground, and opened it with a soft click.

Gently picking up the violin, I tightened the strings, and the bow, before putting rosin on it. Then, I plucked a few of the strings, tuning as I did.

Finally, I was ready to play. Putting the violin case open in front of me, for tips, I placed the bow on the violin strings, positioned my fingers, and began.

At first, a few people stopped, mostly older women walking their little terriers, and art students sketching on the benches, drinking their Starbucks coffees. But as my performance progressed, several others joined the crowd, and I eventually had a backup dancer, and a young man in a beanie playing the guitar.

I pulled out a Stravinsky piece, then Beethoven. Finally, to end it off, I played a modern piece by Lindsey Stirling, before bowing and packing up.

After I packed up, and headed to the alley behind a D&D's, where they occasionally let me play. Opening my violin case again, I counted the profit. 280 dollars, and two quarters! This was the most I'd made since some old guy paid me $400 and hour to play at his niece's wedding.

"Hey! Psst! Jessi! JE-SSI!" I turned around to see Vince, my best friend since the orphanage kicked me out. He walked on crutches, because 'of a birth defect' he told me.

"Hey, Vince!" I smiled.

"What's the income t'day?" He asked.

"$280.50!" I replied, excitedly.

"Seriously!? That's great, Jess!" Vince exclaimed, giving me a big bear hug. Just then, there was a low growl from behind us. Vince and I turned, and there was a massive, black dog staring down at us, its eyes ruby red.

"HELLHOUND! RUN!" Vince cried. I didn't need to be told twice. Grabbing my violin case, I sprinted off, not thinking twice about Vince.

Only when I was halfway to entering Long Island when I remembered Vince. Surprisingly, he was a foot or two behind me, panting to keep up with his crutches.

"Good. You're on the right path. Follow me." Vince said, between pants. Confused, I nodded, and followed Vince as we took a left, and plunged into a forest.