At her next orchestra rehearsal, Serena was shocked to encounter two members of Sniper there. Lerato and Faith were talking to the director . . .or rather. . .they were trying to, at least. Faith was gesturing madly while Lerato translated what she was saying to a very confused-looking conductor.

"Sir, I don't speak much sign language," Lerato confessed, "but I think she's saying she wants. . .a cheeseburger. . .No." Faith was shaking her head vigorously. "She. . .doesn't like basketball. . .NO!" She was waving her arms now, trying to make it explicitly clear that she was being mistranslated. "She. . .something about a bird. . ." She scrunched up her face and slapped her forehead.

Serena tried desperately to stifle her laughter as she stepped up to them. They all turned to look at her and fell silent at her approach. "She says that they want to audition." She grinned at their perplexed expressions.

"Serena, you never told me you knew Sign Language."

"You never asked." Of course, she never understood any sign language, but for someone who can read minds, it's easy to pretend.

"Well what instruments do you play?"

"We both play viola," said Lerato, whose face had turned scarlet with embarrassment over how he butchered Faith's translations, "but there's one more coming any minute who plays string bass."

As if on cue, they heard Natalie's voice call from the doorway. "Sorry I'm late. . .um. . .A little help here?!"

Serena, Lerato, and Faith ran to help her pull a trolley through the door loaded with two violas and a bass, which barely fit through the doorway. Once they finally got the bass on the stage, they turned back to the conductor.

"Well," he said, looking at his watch, "It's still early. Why don't you three play for me now?"

"Alright," said Natalie. "We've been rehearsing this trio for weeks. It's called 'Ride the Storm.'" In a few moments, they were rosined up and ready to play. They stood in a row and held their bows in position. With a nod from Natalie, they began to play.

As soon as they began to draw their bows across the string, Serena sank into a seat and found herself carried away by the rich chords to another place. The room she was in simply faded away and she could see herself on the beach of a deserted island. There was no one else there- only herself and the music. She couldn't remember ever having felt so peaceful.

Then the tempo of the song began to quicken as the sky above her began to pour down buckets of rain. The waves began crashing up on the shore, each one bigger than the last, washing debris onshore and splashing over her, making her splutter at the briny taste of the ocean water. Somehow, over the crashing thunder, she could still hear the music intensifying, as though directing the scene around her.

Then the song abruptly slowed. The sun poked out from behind the dark clouds, and the pouring rain became drizzle and then ceased. It was tranquil once again just long enough for Serena to catch her breath. But then, as quickly as it had come, the eye of the storm passed over her and once again she found herself surrounded by torrential downpour, more violent than before. She felt her chest tighten with fear, and her outcry was barely heard over the thundering rain.

Suddenly she was back in the front row of the auditorium in the seat she had sat down in before. Her breath was heavy, and she could feel her pulse in the skin on her face. It was a startlingly odd sensation to suddenly be dry after an ordeal like that too. It took her a few moments to realize that it had all been in her mind, but it had all felt so real. . .

Then she abruptly became aware of four pairs of eyes staring at her in concern. "Serena, are you alright?" asked her conductor.

"Yeah, I'm fine. . .I guess I just. . .dozed off. . .It's been a long day."

Faith said something in sign language, and Serena read her mind to find out what it was. ~Are you sure? Maybe you should go home and get some sleep.~

"No thanks, Faith. I can still play."

Before anyone could say any more, the other members of the orchestra began arriving, and a shadow slid out of the auditorium, unnoticed.