The stage. How it called out to her. The power behind it and what beauty it held. The faces of the masses and the cheers that echoed the halls filling her with a bliss that no one could replace. She never cared if money was in place, the gift of music itself was priceless in her mind and everyone should have the beauty to enjoy it. That very proof was the little trinket of her own, laying delicately in her hand.
Yet her mind seemed to filter between places, from the happiness she felt to the icy cold that enveloped her body. The prodding and poking to her body as the voices surrounded her, the details of what they wanted to do with her and others, the overwhelming power that came to her just to wake to a destroyed room gave her the notion things failed. Demands for her to be silent, never to utter a word or hell itself would devour her and everyone around her. Frightened, frozen, angered, yet leary, she listened to those voices, until they pushed her to her breaking point.
Jenny shot up out of her bed, sweat lining her brow as the memories came to her once more. The facility and the people within it, demanding her to show what she had, yet when she finally did in anger, it cost more than she could have imagined. With a shaky sigh, she left the comfort of the bed just to peer out the window. The full moon cascaded its silver streaks within the small space, showing her the wonder of the city life she witnessed yet not cared much for. Silence. That's all she could give, absolute silence. She wanted to speak, to sing the very night away when her mind troubled her, yet she was terrified to do so. The sight of the demolished building after her torment was her proof that she could never repeat her past again.
The chirp of her phone gave way to the time, her notion for her to press on. She had to find that home, that mansion. It was where they told her to go, the others like her. That they themselves would meet her soon there. She didn't know why or for what but something in her told her to go and do as told. That there were more answers than questions lying there.
Gathering what little she had and paying for the room, she was off once more. Walking the lit streets as shops laid still in the night, the crisp air gave way to the days of change and cooler weather coming in, more reason for her to hurry as well. The calm of the night was a splendor in itself, reminding her of home and what beauty it once held. Once. How odd that a word would make much sense in her head yet be perfect for that moment. She had not seen home in years, either of them really. She missed Europe and even America at times, remembering the walks she had, the concert halls, the people that flocked to see her, it was just a nostalgia she missed dearly.
Early dawn light peaked over the horizon, it's subtle hues of orange and pinks tickling the dark sky away, giving way to the bright that would be the day before her. Birds flew overhead as she made her way around the small town, some leaving for their business as they gave a gentle greeting to her and others beginning their routines for sale and more. She couldn't help but smile. Remembering the small shops from home and England when she would wander the mornings in her older years, the start of her day, that's what that was to her.
Her mind fluttered back and forth between the nations she visited, the people she adored and loathed, the music she heard every day to the music made from nature itself. The singers that graced by her with dancers in tow, musicians readying themselves for a performance as the conductor gave words to them all, a smile bright and wonderful upon their face. Children dancing around her, begging for her to sing as the elders around them nodded in anticipation. Yes, it was all of that, those years long gone before her wanting and now here she was. In a world ten times louder, confusing and yet awing. There was more music and taste and style with everything she heard around her. It was strange to say that the world had evolved so much since her passing yet somethings were universal. And one of them came to her ears. The familiar keys of Moonlight Sonata caught her as she passed a home, such beauty in one song and from a composer of such a sad life as well. No matter how much talent the man had, he still suffered in misery.
Shaking her head lightly, Jenny moved on, wanting to find the home she was told of. Wondering what laid within and why it was so valuable. She tried to remember who told her to go, yet nothing came. Every time she tried to think of the others, her head began to pound. A blinding white pain ravishing her skull, making her pause for the day as she tried to will the damning thing away. Yet even in the pains, she could remember only key pieces. The violin playing gently, the pianos giving a lively tune, more voices singing familiar pieces of opera, and a lone harp being strung to bring forth a melody which she could hear. Yet after that, it was nothing.
The pain moved around her skull as she tried to ignore it, just to hear someone yell, "Look out!"
Darting up, she saw the large mirror being pulled from the home as she stared at her own reflection.
"Are you alright?" she heard the woman ask her as the men continued moving into the truck.
Jenny gave a slight nod as she touched her throat and motioned she couldn't speak.
"Oh, well that's not good." the woman gave a small smile to her, "Best keep your eyes open my dear. You don't know what you will find if you're eyes are constantly down."
Jenny nodded, knowing the woman's words were true as a thought came to mind. Pulling her pad out, she jotted down the mansion, asking its whereabouts.
"Oh, the Otowa place? You want to go there, why?"
"I was told to." she penned out.
"Well, good luck to you then, it's quite mad at times." the woman nodded, "Keep on this street on the right and you'll find it. Just listen for the ruckus."
Ruckus? Lucky? Mad? What the hell was she getting herself into? Giving thanks, Jenny followed the woman's words and continued down the street. Her mind was still a buzz between her memories and the woman, how on earth was she going to be able to handle any of this? It made no sense, none at all to be honest. There were too many holes in each story, including her own. What would they do, what would they say? Would they turn her away? Would they demand the impossible out of her? She was clueless and her confidence in this whole ordeal was slowly going down the drain as a loud boom caught her attention. Smoke billowed from a backyard as she got closer to a home. Sure enough, the gate's plaque read Otowa, she was there. And it seemed hell broke loose as yelling and fighting were heard from her spot.
"Ok." she thought, "You left the building with no issue, you can do this."
Pushing the gate open, she quietly made her way in as more could be heard behind the doors. Butterflies lined her stomach as she approached the large doors, the musical notes giving the home a small comfort to herself as the large pieces came open. A small brunette of a woman came out, seeming to collect her anger as her fist shook at her side. Jenny stood there stunned, unsure of what to do or...well say but before she could move she looked up.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you out here." she said, "Can I help you?"
Pulling the pad out, Jenny wrote her request, "I'm looking for the Otowa home, I was told to come here."
"You were told to come here, by who?"
Her eyes darted to the ground, how was she going to explain this? Jotting down on the paper, she explained what she could to make sense including her memories and disability of not speaking.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear this about you." she said, "I don't have much room, and I'm not sure where I could place you. And there's the notion of rent."
Before the woman continued, Jenny paused her as she handed the woman the envelope given to her. Giving a small bow, she heard her gasp, only then did she see the large amount of money within. Who the hell had all that?
"Well, maybe I can fit you in somewhere. I'm Kanae by the way."
The smile she gave her was warm and inviting, and for once, she wasn't afraid of the outside world of new that she was thrown in, now there was a comfort that seemed to be alive more and more than she believed as she wrote on the pad once more.
"I'm Jenny."
