The Music Department

That night as Charlie was sleeping in his oversized bed, he abruptly awoke. At first he just thought it was his restlessness, but then he heard something. It was very faint. If his bed creaked even a little, he wouldn't have been able to hear the sound. Charlie listened closer. It was music; a slow, beautiful piece that sort of floated to the listener. If Charlie had laid there he might have fallen back to sleep, but he didn't. He hopped out of bed, shoved his feet into some shoes and grabbed a flashlight.

For starters, Charlie thought to himself, there's only one place that would have musical instruments. "The Music Department". The song was still drifting along as Charlie made his way down two flights of spiral stair cases. Charlie went through the many hallways and arches. At last he came through the final door that opened to the main hall of The Academy. Charlie slipped through and closed it without a noise. Okay, now to the Music Department. It was not hard for Charlie to find his way in the dark. The different departments all had monstrous doors and the appropriate head stone depending on the department.

The music that was once very light, and slow had now sped up. It still wasn't really fast, but quicker nonetheless. And it had gotten louder. Charlie was surprised that none of the dorm lights were on.

Charlie rested his hand on the brass door knob. He hoped whoever was inside wasn't dangerous or angry. That would be bad and his dad would be furious. But somehow he looked past all that and turned the knob.

Inside the music department was even darker than the main hall. Charlie couldn't even make out the shapes of the doors that should have been a few steps in front of him. He couldn't see the long rug that said all of the teacher's names and the instruments that they taught.

This narrow hall was silent. Charlie was so used to hearing students chatting, instruments being played (sometimes badly). It was so black. Charlie was scared to go forward. He felt that this must be what blind people felt like. Every step Charlie took was harder to take. It was just … very … eerie and lonsome.

Charlie's heartbeat quickened. He was psyching himself out in a major way. And the mysterious music was not helping. It was still persistent and had gotten a bit louder. Charlie was defiantly close. But the blackness was threatening. It made Charlie tense up. His eyes were wide, ready for anything. But what was anything.

Charlie felt for the wall. There! He could grab the molding in the middle. Charlie was quite a bit more confident now. A few steps and…yes…the first door on the right was Mrs. Saventar's class. She taught the piccolo. Next was Mrs. McDun who taught the flute. And so on and so forth. The brass instruments got bigger and eventually turned into winds and then other halls would split off from the brass hall and would include percussion, strings and others.

Charlie wasted no time in making his way to where the keyboards would be. He turned off the first hall and looked, again, into darkness. He started walking, but something strange happened. The music Charlie was intently looking for got quieter as he walked in the darkness. Charlie stopped. What was going on? He walked back to beginning of the hall. It was louder! The percussion hall started with drums. The pianos were on the other end! Charlie walked toward the pianos again. The music got softer. Now Charlie was confused. Shouldn't the music be getting louder as he got closer to the source? He didn't move for a few seconds so he could think. There was someone playing a piano. I can hear the song from my room, but the closer I get to the source, the softer the sound gets. Wait, what if the source isn't here? Charlie was too tired to think any more. He would ask his friends in the morning. Now was time for much needed sleep. So Charlie left the hall. He walked past the brass instruments and out the door.

Almost as soon as he left the Music Department, the song stopped. It had been gaining tempo, but just stopped. Had whoever it was seen Charlie? He didn't want to find out. Charlie ran the rest of the way to his room.