Ch. 1

Melody was an outcast. Or at least she felt like one. She walked the hallways of Green Mountain High trying to go unnoticed. Keeping up the façade of seeming like the perfect student, daughter, friend, it was all too much pressure that people just didn't understand. But that didn't matter so much today because this Saturday night was the Masquerade. Soon, she would be dancing in a room filled with anonymous people. Tomorrow would be the night she might finally find herself. Pfft. Yeah, ok. Keep dreaming, she thought, taking a sip of her vanilla latte. Suddenly, a whoosh of air and the smell of lavender invaded her thinking space.

"Oooh Meeelll! Guess what?" Her best friend Lys came swooping into the booth across from Melody.

She rolled her eyes and said, "Gee I can't wait to hear this one. Yes?"

"Guess who just invited me to attend the Masquerade with him? C'mon, guess!"

"Luke."

"Luke! Oh, can you believe it? It's finally happening! I've waited so incredibly long for this moment…" Melody tuned her out and shook her head. Once Lys went off rambling there was no telling when she'd stop. Instead, she focused her thoughts on the Masquerade. Each year Green Mountain High held its annual end-of-the-year Masquerade. The past two years she went because Lys had dragged her and their friend Corin along. This year was different though. This was their junior year. Junior year was the year when a few special class members were selected to join the exclusive club, the Mystiks. Their secrecy and membership was highly covert and barely anyone knew what it was they even did. Melody had heard that every full moon they went out to Willow Glenn under the cover of darkness and practiced dark arts. But just how true are rumors anyway.

A sharp jab to her side made her yelp in surprise. "Melody! Are you even listening?" Lys looked at her crossly.

"Yeah, yeah dress shopping, accessories you'll look fabulous, blah, blah, blah."

"Oh Mel you're always up in the clouds. I'd love to know just what goes on in your mind."

Before she could answer, another person joined them at the table.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Corin slid in next to Melody. He was the boy-next-door kind of guy. He and Melody had been friends since the sixth grade and throughout the course of their friendship, he'd developed a not-so-secret crush on Melody.

"Oh, Lys is just talking my ear off again, but what else is new."

Corin laughed. "You should know by now that's just how she is."

"Hey! I happen to be the only one in this trio who brings any life to the conversation. Just for that, you should thank me." Lys pretended to look hurt.

"So who do you think will be chosen tomorrow night?" Corin asked.

"Who knows. They seem to choose at random. But legend has it that once you're chosen, you become…different. They do something to you to change you. Haven't you seen how they look when they come back to school? Their eyes are all silvery and they seem to glow almost. It's positively creepy!" Lys shivered.

All three looked at each other. Finally, Melody spoke. "Well, I sure hope it isn't me. Or any of us." Both Corin and Lys nodded in agreement.

Lys checked her watch and gasped. "Oh crap it's nearly one! I have to go, make sure you're both ready to go and at my house by six! Catch ya later!" She waved and swished out the door.

Corin and Melody glanced at each other in uncomfortable silence. Then Melody spoke, "So, Lys is making you go again, huh? Lucky you. I know just how much you love school dances."

Corin shrugged and looked bashful. "Yeah well there's really no arguing with Lys." "Haha, I know. Well, I should probably get going too. I'll see you Saturday." She got up to leave but Corin stopped her.

"Wait Mel. I was wondering, I mean…I thought it would be fun if…Would you go to the Masquerade with me?" He looked up at her with impenetrable brown eyes.

Her heart jumped and her breath caught. She had not been expecting this at all. Think, Melody. Say something, she scolded herself. "Ah, sure. Sounds like fun." She managed a wobbly smile then turned and rushed out of the café. Slumping against a tree, she massaged her forehead.

"Oh, my God," she groaned. "Why, Corin?" Still dazed, she started home.

Her house was an old Victorian home, pale blue with white edging the eves. Her bedroom was in the tower. Opening the door she plopped her book-bag on the floor, grabbed a granola bar and a water bottle, and started up the stairs to her room.

"Mom! I'm home!" She called. She crossed the hall into her room and collapsed in the hammock swing hanging from the ceiling. "Mom?" She called again.

"Hi sweetie! I'm in the kitchen, darling." She heard her mother come upstairs and stopped in her doorway. "So, how was your last day of school?" she asked drying her hands on a dishtowel.

"Fine, I guess. But you'll never guess what happened! Corin asked me to the Masquerade. Can you believe it? Corin! Ugh, mom what am I going to do?"

"Corin? Oh sweetie, that's so cute! You know how long he's had a crush on you," she gushed.

Melody groaned. "Mom stop it! I need advice. I said yes out of pity. It would be cruel to say no to your best childhood friend."

"Well yes it would be. It doesn't mean you two are anything more than friends. It's a date not a marriage proposal, Melody. And besides, you're going with Lys too so it's not like you would be alone." Her mother came and her cool hand stroked the raven hair off Melody's forehead. She closed her eyes and sighed.

"I guess you're right mom. Ok fine. I'm going to just hang in here for a bit."

"That's fine dear. I'll call you down for dinner then."

"Mhmm." The door shut and Melody opened her eyes. She got up and fetched her notebook and a pencil. Opening to the first empty page she began to write.

10 June

Tomorrow is the Masquerade. I really hope I'm not chosen to join the Mystik ranks. (or any of my friends!) I believe there's more to them than what there seems to be. They're frightening beings. I don't trust them. I've heard they use the power of the moon and can do things no human being should be able to do. They won't choose one of us. I'm almost certain we aren't what they want. But enough of Mystik talk. The Masquerade is something to look forward to. My dress is beautiful. It's all silvery like it's covered in stardust. The full skirt swooshes around my ankles and the bodice fans out at my collarbone with ivory pleats. Tiny seed pearls are sewn in to add to its allure. I love it. My shoes are silver slippers. Lys calls them my Cinderella slippers. While my dress is like the moon, hers is like the sun. It looks beautiful on her with her fiery mane of hair. I guess I am a bit excited that Corin asked me I must admit. Although I really only said yes because he's my friend. Oh well. The Masquerade is tomorrow night and I will keep Mystik thoughts far from my mind. Until next time,

Melody

Melody sighed and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She thought about the Masquerade and the Mystiks. Who are they really, she asked herself in her mind. What did they want? What purpose did they serve? Her thoughts were interrupted by her mother calling her to dinner.

"Melody! Dinner!"

"Coming mom!" She snapped her notebook shut and hurried down the stairs.