"True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen."
-La Rochefoucauld
"No!" I whispered, clapping my hands over my ears trying to shut out the tidal wave of horror that accompanied the grim scene in front of eyes.
Broken shards of glass... everywhere... on my dress, on my hands, on my face...
"Stop..." I moaned unable to tear my eyes away from the car wreck.
Blood... on my hands... can't seem to wipe it off... Dad...
Choking back a sob, I turned and ran blindly not knowing where I was going but just needing to get away. I knew not how long I ran, nor did I care. But when I finally stopped, my lungs gasping for air, I found myself staring at the school's theater from a distance.
I almost laughed in spite of my tears. "Always go back to the music." Dad had constantly said. Well, I figured, why not? I'd been curious what the inside was like, and there was no time like the present.
There were no cars in the parking lot and for a moment I worried that I wouldn't be able to get in. But when I looked in the small space between the school and the theater, I saw a door that the janitor must have forgotten to close the whole way. I slipped in and paused to let my eyes adjust to the dark.
After tripping over several boxes, I finally discovered another door and I found myself in the main auditorium. I gasped in delight; the interior was fashioned as an outside theater from ancient Greece with small statues in various places around the auditorium. I also saw the Greek masks of comedy and tragedy appearing throughout the huge structure. The ceiling was meant to be a nighttime sky, it's coloring was dark blue with tiny individual lights blinking on and off slowly to simulate stars. It was beautiful, and for the first time in many weeks I felt at peace; like I had finally come home.
Softly, not wanting to disturb the magic of this place, I walked up the steps that led to the stage and looked out into the empty seats. If I closed my eyes I could just imagine all the seats filled up with proud parents and eager theater lovers for the school musical.
The school musical... Hmm. Feeling a bit foolish, I sang a few scales softly to the empty theater. More confident, I started to sing "One Hand, One Heart," one of my favorite songs from West Side Story. I closed my eyes and I almost heard the male part of the duet, singing along with me perfectly.
Suddenly, my eyes flew open and I stopped singing. That wasn't my imagination! Someone was singing with me! I scanned the stage and the auditorium, searching for whoever had sung. I saw no one... but now I felt strange... there was someone nearby... I could feel his presence...
"Who-who's there?" I ventured nervously. Nothing replied but the sound of my own breathing. "Is it the janitor? If so, I'm sorry... I didn't break in or anything, there was an open door..." Still no response. I gulped and hurriedly climbed down the stairs, glancing over my shoulder and around me, unable to shake the feeling that I was being watched.
I made it to the door in the dark corridor and opened it. A breeze sighed down the dark hallway, caressing my cheek like a hand and I thought I heard someone whisper "Christine." Once again I spoke to the silent theater. "Who's there?" My only answer came from a sharp wind that almost pushed the door shut. The hair on the back of my neck tingled and I ran out of there as fast as I could.