Prologue
I sat on the window seat of my second story window, staring out into the countryside. Outside, the Pevensies were lounging in the Professor's garden. I gazed out past the apple orchard, past the rolling hills, past the lush forest, at the reflection of the afternoon sun on the lily pond. I stroked the cold, smooth wood of my music box. I opened it, hoping to hear the sweet tune once again fill the room, but it was silent. The Pevensies continued to chatter below, but I could no longer hear them.
I placed my father's most recent letter tenderly into my music box. Inside lay his picture and the silver locket I had gotten that day for my sixteenth birthday. I stared at the locket's pattern and closed my eyes, imagined a river, flowing swiftly between two banks. I tried again to open the locket but it still refused to open.
"Oh mother it still will not budge!"
"I am sorry, Annalise. I wish it would too."
"I do love it though mother, even if it doesn't open," I hugged her and she hugged me back.
"Happy birthday," She whispered and kissed my forehead. I turned the key on my music box and let the soft, fluid music lull me to sleep.
When I awoke, the sky outside my window flashed with brilliant lights. A crash sounded outside our house and my window shattered. I was suddenly awake and alert. Somewhere in the house, my mother screamed my name. I pulled on my robe and grabbed my music box. I hurried down the stairs skipping a few on the way down. My mother was waiting for me at the back door. Fear flashed in her eyes as she opened the door.
Outside, the air lit up orange and red. The whistling sound as bombs dropped filled my ear. We were sprinting over the cobblestoned street toward the bomb shelter, my hand around hers, pulling her away from our home. Suddenly, I was thrown down by a great force. I lay sprawled on the ground, unable to move, unable to hear. I raised myself slowly and got to my feet, my music box still clutched to me. I hurried into the bomb shelter and my mother slammed the door shut behind me. I crawled into one of the bunks and breathed deeply, slowing my breath back to normal. I stared at the blank walls of the shelter. My eyes were just beginning to close when my mother broke the silence.
"You are going tomorrow," her voice echoed of the concrete walls. Outside, the bombs had finally stopped and it was quiet.
"What?" I asked, no longer tired.
"It's no longer safe for you here." She replied and I turned to face the dirt wall. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, trying to calm myself before I said something I would regret. I could feel my face burning as my hands clenched into fists, my nails biting into my palm.
"Good. I don't want to be here with you," I shouted, ignoring my mother's sharp intake of breath. Only later, when I was calm enough, did I remember that she had cried herself to sleep.