Clef 1.1
Summary: Taylor had always enjoyed music. It brought peace to her life and allowed her to vent emotions without doing anything brash. When her mother's flute shattered, she thought her life was going down the drain. Then the locker happened, and her mind nearly shattered when bugs crawled into her ears. Then she started hearing things...
I own nothing. If there is a * then that means a song is being played, and the name of the song can be found at the bottom of the chapter. Warning, there is bullying and offensive language in this fanfiction. It's Worm, people, don't flip over a few curse words.
Songs in this chapter:
Lost in Thoughts All Alone from Fire Emblem Fates
Demons by Imagine Dragons
Taylor is affected by music, and has constant music in the background for ambiance. People notice it, but its cool. She can control it more directly for combat, but it can be covered up by other songs from an alternate source like enemies. The lyrics and titles have to do with how well they work. Also cannot use same songs over and over. Simple ones are weaker but can be used more often. Through Fire and Flames vs Lung? You're Gonna Go Far Kid for working out, and Death of a Bachelor for when fighting Uber/Leet. Some songs give minor cape powers: Pirates of the Caribbean would give temp Hydrokinesis, etc.
April 22, 2005
Crystal clear notes filled the air as deft fingers manipulated the flute. Taylor giggled happily as her mother played the instrument. "My turn, my turn!" she laughed excitedly.
Her mother smiled down at her. "Of course sweetie." she said happily, passing the flute over to Taylor.
"What should I play?" she asked. Annette Hebert tilted her head in thought. "You pick."
The young girl nodded excitedly and pressed the flute to her lips, gently blowing. The notes that came out were the same as what her mother had played, but at a faster pace. Her mother began humming along as the song played. They sat like that for a while, in tune with the music, until she reached the end of the song. "That was wonderful." her mother said genially. "You've improved a lot!"
"Yep! I've been practicing that song for you! Remember, it's your favorite!" Taylor smiled adorably.
Annette chuckled. "Well, then I'd like to give this to you." She held out the flute.
Taylor gaped at her mother. "Really?" she said hopefully.
"Of course, I hope you can use it as much as I have." Annette laughed.
"Thank you thank you!" Taylor jumped around in excitement.
July 6, 2009
7:00 AM
Taylor hugged the flute to her chest, stress clouding her features. She gazed at the beginnings of a journal, a desperate attempt to keep track of every infraction the bullies made against her. "I miss you mom..." she muttered, humming a few notes of music. After her mother's death, Taylor had been traumatized, the only thing that saved her from a mental break was the flute her mother had given her.
It seemed the terrible trio, Sophia Hess, Madison Clements, and Emma Barnes, were upping their game lately, and Taylor didn't know how much more she could take. She came up with the idea to bring the flute discreetly to school, so she would be calmer and not react to them. 'It wasn't like the teachers at that place were going to do anything.' she thought irritably.
She arrived at school, rapidly tracing the paths through the halls to avoid Emma and her friends. Arriving in class, she sighed in relief, and pulled out her homework. The day continued, with Madison and Emma harassing her at every turn, stealing her work and using it as their own, spilling shavings from the pencil sharpener on her, and knocking over food and drinks near her in the cafeteria. Every time they made a move, she simply focused on the form of the flute within the backpack, and her emotions simmered down.
It is now 1:30 pm, just after Taylor's World Issues class with Mr. Gladly. She left the class in frustration, growling about how Gladly didn't even blink when she was being bullied right in front of him, yet clearly saw it. "Oof!" she gasped as a hard shoulder checked her. 'That would be Sophia.' she thought, turning to face the arrogant track star.
"Aww, Hebert I didn't know you wanted to be a dog!" Sophia laughed. "No wonder you're always crawling in the mud. Oh well, nothing short of parahuman intervention could make you more of an animal than you already are." Taylor glared. "Oh, sorry, you're not an animal. You're a whore and skank, which are close enough."
Taylor saw red, and staggered to her feet. She nearly slapped the bitch, but stopped when she realized how devastated her father would be if she did. She straightened her shoulders and strode off down the hall, the small crowd backing away. 'Cowards. None of you stood up for me. You don't deserve to live.'
She made it off of campus before she realized something was wrong. She almost missed it, but a small voice in her mind reminded her. Her bag wasn't the same shape. Paling, she twisted around and felt her bag. Then she dropped it to the floor and frantically began searching it and looking around. The flute was gone.
July 7, 2009
8:00 AM
Unable to contact any of the bullies to see where the flute could be, Taylor had to wait until the next day to ask. Taylor stormed through the halls, striding right up to Sophia Hess. "WHERE IS IT?" she screamed furiously.
Sophia raised a brow. "Where is what? Your dignity?"
"I don't have time for your shit you bitch. Where is my flute?!" she growled at Hess.
"Wow, looks like you grew a pair." Emma said as she walked up. The meaning of the sentence was not lost on Taylor as she self-consciously thought about her underdeveloped chest. "You deserve a reward." The way she spoke the word was as if it was the most disgusting thing in existence. "It's by the dumpster out back, where you belong."
Taylor was gone before the entire insult left Emma's mouth. She rushed past teens who were clearly in with the ABB, and flew out the back door. She saw a doggie bag on the ground and rushed over and tore it open. She stopped. Then a keening wail tore past her lips as she stared at what used to be her flute. It was covered in a mixture of substances so vile that she nearly puked on the spot. That wasn't the worst part. It had also been smashed repeatedly with a blunt object, and was melted. There was no possible way to repair it.
She stumbled away with the bag in her hands, and dunked it into the nearest girl's bathroom sink. Her mind was in utter shock, unable to function fluently. She finally realized what was happening. She passed out.
Power. Not a solid object, but an ideal. Something all beings strive for. Condensed. A shard. Searching. Potential found. Located. Need? Information was read, then incorporated. Connecting.
July 7, 2009
12:23 PM
Taylor stirred with a groan, sitting up on the white linoleum floor. She staggered from the room, limply holding the slightly cleaner flute in her hand, not caring about the filth. She made it to the nurse's office before she passed out again.
Connected. Integrate. Music. Emotion. And a Corona Potentia was formed. Growth. The Gemma was large. Not too large, but enough to be significant. Completion.
July 7, 2009
3:37 PM
Taylor left the nurse's office shakily, but healthy. She was informed that she didn't have any physical wounds, but was in minor shock. The nurse simply gave her a form to let her father know what had happened and sent her on her way. She had barely enough time to wash out the flute completely before her dad picked her up. The ride home was silent, Danny somehow knowing that a something important had happened. At home, she sat on her bed while Danny went to a meeting with the Dockworkers Union. She sat on her bed, listening to music, cradling the flute in her hands.
"Why?" Taylor said aloud. "Why me? Why did I have to have this happen to me?" she cried. She lay down, listening to the sounds of Imagine Dragons' 'Demons' playing quietly. * She softly sang the lyrics with the notes, tears slipping down her cheeks. The lyrics perfectly fit her mindset, and she began settling down.
The song ended, and she moved to turn off the Walkman. A chill went down her spine. The Walkman was't even on.
Most songs in this story will not have existed at that point in time, but I'm ignoring that. When a * is placed, a song is playing. The bolded word paired with the * signifies how the music is portrayed. I won't put in Youtube links, but you should find them simply by googling exactly what I put as the name.
Check out my other stories and leave a review. Also I'm open to suggestions for songs as the story progresses. All music will become very important later.