The Hypnotist's Lair
CHAPTER 1: Name That Tune
"Change of plans, guys," Molly said, walking onto the bus to find the three kids slouched down one early morning after a late night in a hotel. Not expecting an answer from the three sleepy zombies in front of her, she finished her thoughts. "Instead of Northern California like I originally said, we've been invited to play in Mexico!" She didn't bother waiting for an excited cheer from the group, but turned around to start up the bus. Jack, forcing himself up from a rather comfortable position he had curled up against the window, moved over to talk to his mom.
"Mexico? Why?" Jack was a little intrigued that his mom would just change a tour date like that.
"Well, it's somewhere different! Somewhere we've never been before. It'll be a lot of fun, and plus it'll take about the same amount of time to get there from where we are that it would take to get to Northern California." Jack shrugged and crawled back over to his position by the window, closing his eyes to try to get just a little more sleep. Molly stopped the bus at a red light and turned back to look at them. Carey had his usual mouth-open deep sleep, and Annie looked like she was falling in and out of consciousness. Molly smiled happily and drove on, flipping on the radio to keep herself awake as she entered onto the highway.
"Annie?" Jack was lightly tapping on Annie's hotel room door. He checked his watch: 9:30. She wouldn't be asleep yet. He was sure he heard her guitar coming from her room. Finally after a good while, the door opened a crack.
"Jack?" Annie had a puzzled and bewildered look on her face. "What do you want?"
"I heard your guitar from our room and—"
"Oh did I wake you guys up? I'm sorry…" Annie looked a little embarrassed so Jack quickly jumped in.
"No no no, I just heard your song and it sounded like… something I've heard before." He shoved his hands in his pockets. He felt like an idiot asking her this – not only because of the song's origin in his head but also because he was asking HER. True she was pretty and smart and he got to travel with her around the country – an opportunity most guys would jump at – but no one could understand their relationship. Ever since Fi left, Jack had hated the idea of Annie trying to be her replacement. Sure Fi could have outrageous ideas about strange stuff, but she was his sister, and this girl thought she could take her place. He always wanted to make it clear she would never be Fi to his family, and she should keep her nose out of his business. A little childish and immature, but it was how he felt. Even so, asking her about this song he heard was the last thing he wanted to do.
"Oh, I doubt you know it," Annie said, shaking her head a little and looking down.
"Why's that?" Jack asked, faking defensiveness. "Because you don't think I know enough about—"
"Oh just stop it, Jack" Annie cut him off again with a smile, and then she got serious again. "You wouldn't know it because I'm not even sure what it is."
"What do you mean you don't know what it is? How's that possible?" Jack thought of the time Fi was learning to play the guitar and ended up playing on of their dad's songs. He knew this wasn't like that.
"I was just writing something and it came to me. Somehow I know I've heard it before, but I can't place it," Annie said, shaking her head.
"Okay you guys, time for bed," Molly said leaving Carey and Jack's room and heading for the doorway that Jack and Annie were talking in. "Scoot, I'm tired, we still have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow." Reluctantly Jack let the door close and returned to his room. He tried to sleep, but he kept sitting up thinking he could hear Annie's song through the walls inbetween Carey's snoring. Finally he drifted off to sleep with dreams of a past that seemed more distant than ever…
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