Age 17: The Headliner
At 17 the magic was born through mischievous distraction. Not the best motive, but it certainly made headlines…
As the auditorium darkened Sarah fidgeted in her seat, shifting position in an attempt to peer around the exceptionally tall man who sat in front of her. She settled when she could see most of the stage.
If I could see properly, maybe this wouldn't feel so endless, she mused.
It was unusual that Sarah didn't feel utterly entranced on a visit to the theatre. She loved the escapism; envisioning another world, another time, made lifelike before her very eyes. She would drift into that world, that story, until she felt almost part of it. She dreamed of the day she could perform on that very stage, bringing those same characters to life. Sarah empathised with them all - the damned, the deceived, the downright drippy, and she longed to play each and every role.
I won't just play them; I will bring them to life, she thought, as her view was obscured again. She groaned aloud, and hoisted herself onto the arm of her seat. Distracted, she caught sight of the flame lamps at the side of the set, glowing with artificial light.
Pretty, but not realistic, she decided.
Almost in defiance of such thoughts, the jets leapt to life, spitting a sharp burst of undeniably real flame.
What the…!? It happened so quickly Sarah couldn't be certain it really happened at all, and her focus was drawn back to the action onstage as the scene changed: a new backdrop depicted sprawling countryside, dainty white birds painted into a delicate blue sky.
An authentic stone fountain, complete with water jets and sprays loomed centre stage. The leading lady played coy with the handsome rake who could so easily be her downfall. The actor was well suited to the role; he looked the very embodiment of mischief.
He looks like… Sarah stopped the thought before that name escaped, even privately. After last year's incident when Toby had been so scared, Sarah resolved to put such fanciful imaginings aside.
She appreciated every detail of the beautiful set as her eyes swept the stage: idyllic, she thought.
And so it was, until the very birds she marvelled at suddenly became a white mass of squawking feathers, not at all angelic now they were alive; they sallied forth in a tight group, soaring above the audience, skimming the heads of startled people in the front rows. Ushers gathered around the auditorium in response to a raised cry, their expressions puzzled. Worry turned to delight amongst the patrons, who soon believed they had witnessed some elaborate stagecraft. They cheered and applauded, then settled once more.
Sarah felt baffled. Whatever these strangers imagined, she knew exactly where those birds had originated, for she had been staring at that part of the backdrop the moment they became real.
Am I doing this?! I can't be, it's coincidence. It makes no sense. Things like this don't happen in real life. She squirmed in her seat, uncomfortable as other occurrences bombarded her mind - the incident with Toby and the shattered glass the previous year stood out, but there were other little things: she would lose something for days then it would reappear from nowhere, or she'd find herself thinking about someone and they would appear, or call her. Little things, inconsequential things, easily explained away; coincidence.
Okay, stop it now, concentrate on the show. Sarah willed the story to take hold, and it did, until the tall man in front started not only moving around, but leaning across and talking to the woman beside him. Sarah was distracted again, and annoyed.
People can be SO inconsiderate she thought, fidgeting.
That was when the stone fountain, such an elegant centrepiece, spewed forth cold water onto the romantic scene playing out at its base. The actors, rapidly soaked through, could not retain the illusion; something was very wrong, and they backed away, calling out in distress. People appeared at both sides of the stage, gesturing frantically, but still the water frothed and sprayed from the fountain, out of control.
Soon the stage area was saturated, but it continued, pouring such volumes that water cascaded from the stage and out into the audience, raining cold water onto the first few rows, who scrabbled as one to move out of the way, to no avail; they were soon soaked too.
The house lights came up as an anxious cry rumbled through the auditorium. People started moving towards the exits as a hasty announcement declared that due to technical difficulties the performance would be suspended, and directed people to calmly head toward the exits.
Sarah remained immobile, growing horror creeping over her, making her as cold as those poor water-logged patrons.
"Whatever's the matter girl?! Come on, we have to go!" the woman next to her looked panic stricken, gesturing impatiently, flapping her arms, eager to be gone. Sarah moved, allowing the frantic woman and her friend to pass, but she remained transfixed - the ever-flowing water had by now engulfed the stage. The many backstage people were trying with no success to stem the flow.
I did this. I don't know how, or why, but I know I did.
Sarah turned away in shame, one of the last people to vacate the theatre. She hardly dared look back.
"Have you seen this?" her father quizzed; excited and bemused, he brandished the local newspaper.
Sarah paled, anticipating his next words.
"Look" he pointed to the blazing headline - NEW PRODUCTION HALTED AS UNEXPLAINED DELUGE FLOODS STAGE - Is the show set to become a damp squib?!
At least it didn't make the front page, she consoled herself, gazing steadfast into her cereal bowl, making non-committal sounds of acknowledgement.
"Sarah, isn't that the show you saw last night? You didn't mention anything" Karen observed.
"Yes… but it was late when I arrived home, and I've hardly seen either of you this morning…" she hoped the slight exaggeration would go unchallenged.
She made her excuses, leaving the half-eaten cereal behind, a soggy, congealing mess - rather like she'd left at the theatre last night.
"There's definitely something strange going on with that girl" her father sighed, clearing away the neglected breakfast.
"Perhaps it's a boy" Karen giggled girlishly.
Sarah, having caught the tail-end of the conversation, scowled, her thoughts full once more with the Goblin King who had offered her her dreams. She remembered him less often these days, but these little exchanges with her family always managed to call him to mind.
You really have no idea, either of you, she thought, no idea at all.
A/N: So, thanks to those who reviewed/favourited/followed this story. As always, all feedback is very welcome so please do let me know what you think. I'll try to get the next chapter posted soon.