Muse Song, #1

by Sarah Biglow

  Erin let out a scream and kicked at the blank wall. “How did she know we’d try that?”

  “She knows where we are and that anyone in our situation would try to escape that way.” Rosa settled on one of the beds.

  I massaged my throbbing elbow. “We have to be sneakier next time.”

  Erin’s energy faded and she slumped onto her bed. “We’re never getting out of here.”

  I tried not to let Erin’s mood affect mine but it was difficult. Our best chance of escape had just been thwarted. We weren’t being fed and we’d been missing for days. Dr. Phillips had the upper hand.

  11

  Abbie’s absence the second day grated on my nerves more than the day before. Despite my stepmother swearing she hadn’t seen Abbie since Tuesday, suspicion still occupied my thoughts as I fought through another pointless algebra class. I hid out in the library during my last period, checking out a couple books that I shoved haphazardly into my bag before the bell rang. Preparation was key if my plan was going to work. The last thing I needed was someone recommending I see a shrink.

  As the final bell rang, I slid my phone from my bag and sent a text to my father saying I was staying after school to study and would be home late. Darting amongst classmates and upperclassmen like a salmon fighting upstream, I skidded to a stop by Mr. McManus’s classroom. The teacher stood in front of the chalkboard erasing the remnants of a lesson. Taking a steadying breath, I readjusted my backpack over my left shoulder and strode in wearing what I hoped was a confident expression. The room was silent for a few beats until Mr. McManus turned and his shoulders jerked slightly at my appearance. “Can I help you with something, Liam?”

  Shuffling further into the room so my voice wouldn’t be overheard by passing students and teachers, I looked Mr. McManus in the eye. “I know what you are.” That came out wrong.

  I frantically unzipped my backpack and shoved my proof under his nose. For his part, Mr. McManus didn’t look completely offended. He allowed me to fan the computer printouts on his desk. I flipped viciously through the pages in one of the library books, finally landing on the one I wanted. I tapped my index finger on a sketch of a woman in a toga with a bird—with large, lamp-like eyes and a short, sharp beak—perched on her shoulder. “This is you.”

  The teacher didn’t deny the statement. He sidestepped me and closed the door. At least he was taking my revelation seriously. Mr. McManus settled in his seat and leaned forward on his elbows. “Why don’t you tell me what this is really about?”

  I dragged a desk over and sat down, my backpack landing empty on the floor at my feet. I still held the book in one hand. A part of me was at a loss for words. I guess I’d been expecting a louder confrontation or at least for Mr. McManus to flat out confirm or deny my suspicions. I hoped he would admit that Abbie really was missing and promise to help track her down.

  “Abbie.” It came out raw in my throat, as though I hadn’t used my voice in months.

  Mr. McManus sighed and his shoulders sagged. “She was suspended.”

  I took a breath. “I know. But she was supposed to be back yesterday and she wasn’t.”

  “How did you know?” Mr. McManus leaned on his desk.

  I set the book down. “She told me on Facebook. But I can’t get in touch with her because she’s grounded. Her mom took away her phone and internet and I—”

  “About me.” The teacher smiled.

  “Oh.” I averted my gaze in embarrassment. “I can sort of see … auras. Only certain people and not all the time. You’ve got one and a giant poster of the Goddess of Wisdom on your door. You like talking about the Greeks as if they still matter today. It wasn’t that hard to figure out after that.”

  Mr. McManus settled back into his chair. “How long have you been able to see people’s true natures?”

  I shrugged. “A year. Maybe two. It happened when I hit puberty. My father explained everything to me.”

  “Your father?”

  Before I realized it, my hands balled into fists and my shoulders stiffened. “Hayden Gray.”

  Mr. McManus shivered at the mention. He narrowed his eyes and puckered his lips like he’d tasted something sour. A small smile crept onto my lips. Knowing a relative stranger felt that way about my father made me feel not so alone.

  The teacher cleared his throat and ran a hand over his mouth. “He told you everything?”

  “Most of it. Who he is and who my stepmother is. He explained what that makes me. I still don’t know how he managed to get custody.” I kicked at the front legs of the desk. “I hate him sometimes and how he thinks he can control everything. I know he has something to do with Abbie’s disappearance.”

  “We don’t know that she’s disappeared.” Mr. McManus shook his head.

  Why was he being so difficult? “She hasn’t been to school.”

  Mr. McManus straightened and caught my gaze. “Just because her suspension ended and she’s not here doesn’t mean she’s missing.”

  Slamming my fists down on the desk hard enough to feel a jolt of pain radiate up to my elbows, I stood up. “So how long are we supposed to wait to look for her?” I started pacing the distance between my desk and his. “I’ll tell the police everything I know. You can too. They’ll have to listen to us—”

  Mr. McManus held up a hand to silence me. “As much as I’m sure you’d like to do that, it’s up to her parents to take that action.”

  My pulse throbbed in my neck, sending anger coursing through me with each heartbeat. “I have to do something. You have to help.”

  “We don’t know that she needs help. But, if she does, I promise I will do everything in my power to find her.” He stood and rounded the desk so that he was well within my personal space. “Now I need you to promise me something.”

  “What?”

  He placed a hand on my shoulder. “You need to be very careful around your father. Listen if you can. But don’t get involved. And don’t tell him about me.”

  I shrugged the teacher’s hand off and shoved my hands in my pockets. “I think it’s my fault.”

  “Why do you say that?” He crossed his arms over his chest and fixed me with an ‘I’m waiting for a well-reasoned answer’ look. Like he did in class.

  “I saw what she was doing. I think somehow they found out. I told her to be careful and now she’s gone. I should have done more.” Before he could respond, I gathered the library books and printouts and shoved them in my bag before pulling the straps over both shoulders. Mr. McManus retreated to his computer and fiddled with the mouse. I made a move for the closed door but the teacher waved a hand at me to stay put.

  “Wait.” He pulled something from the printer. “Abbie’s address. Just to be sure.”

  Committing the address to memory while I unlocked my bike, I sped off in the opposite direction of home. I paused on corners to check street signs and even pulled up a route on Google maps to get me where I needed to be. Slowing at the end of Abbie’s street, I spotted black and white police cars. I didn’t have to guess which house. Certainty settled in my chest like a rock and it pressed against my lungs and forced my heart into an irregular rhythm. I’d been right. Abbie was missing. Now I had to find her before my father had a chance to put the rest of his plan into motion.

  12

  I drifted in and out of consciousness later that night. My stomach rotated between burbling emptily and clenching at the lack of food, but I tried to ignore it. Faint breathing sounds signaled Erin and Rosa were doing their best to doze as well. Curling into a tighter ball, I pulled the blankets up over my shoulders and willed my mind to calm down enough to rest. On the cusp of sleep, a fluttering noise jolted my nerves and pushed any thought of sleep from my mind. The noise continued and I kicked the blankets aside. Stumbling toward the wall with the light-switch, I intended on making it a quick trip. I would keep the light on just long enough to investigate without waking my cellmates. Two pale orbs glowed lamp-like across the room and my heart skipped a be
at. My fingers felt thick and clumsy as I groped for the light. "Hello?"

  No response. After a second try, the light switch cooperated and the bare bulb flickered to life above my head, rousing Erin and Rosa from sleep. Waking them was the least of my worries once I spotted the source of the fluttering and lamp-like glow. An owl sat on the edge of my bed with its head titled in my direction. I couldn’t put my finger on how but I swear the owl felt familiar.

  Keeping my distance from our late-night visitor, I tried to get Erin and Rosa to wake up properly. I took two steps toward Rosa’s bed and nudged the girl in the shoulder. She groaned and rubbed sleep from her eyes. Along the next wall Erin blinked several times and started to stretch her arms above her head. She stifled a yawn. “What’s going on?”

  Rosa pointed a finger at the end of my bed. "Where ... did that come from?"

  I shook my head and settled on the edge of Rosa’s bed. “I don’t know. I can’t imagine how it got in here.”

  Erin followed Rosa’s outstretched finger and scrambled across the room to join us. "Why's it staring at us?"

  We pressed together side by side on Rosa’s bed while the owl continued to watch us. Without warning it took flight and landed on the end of Erin’s bed.

  “I mean you no harm,” a voice said in my head.

  A surprised yelp escaped my mouth and it took two attempts to form coherent words. "Who said that?"

  “I did.” The owl inclined its head a little as the voice spoke.

  "Did ... did the owl just ... nod at us?" Erin asked.

  "That’s ridiculous.” I shook my head. This couldn’t be real. “She must have done something to us. We’re hallucinating because there’s no way that owls can talk even telepathically.”

  “I am no ordinary owl, Abigail.”

  I reached for the closest thing I could hold on to: Erin's arm. "You heard that, right? You heard it say my name?"

  “I know all of you.” The owl inclined its head twice more. “Erin. Rosalia.”

  The other girls nodded once the owl finished speaking. I drew my knees to my chest. "I still say we’re hallucinating. Maybe it’s a delayed side effect of whatever she gave us to knock us out.”

  Rosa shook her head. “I do not think so. I did not see anything before now. And I have been here the longest.”

  “You are not hallucinating. I am very real.”

  Erin yanked her arm free of my grip. “Abbie’s point is still valid. Most owls don’t talk.”

  “Most do not. But I am not most owls. I am Glaukos.” The owl fluttered its wings and puffed out its chest to accentuate its point. The name sounded vaguely familiar but, again, I couldn’t place it. Besides, the bizarre situation took all the focus I could muster. Assuming we weren’t all losing our minds, I’d figure out the owl’s identity later.

  ”I came as soon as I was aware of what had happened. And as soon as I believed she would not bring more.”

  Erin’s cheeks flushed and she scooted closer to the end of the bed. "You ... you know we were kidnapped?"

  I fought the urge to get up and pace. “What do you mean bring more?”

  The owl turned its eyes on Erin. “Yes. I am sorry I was not able to stop her.” It turned to me next. “I was concerned she would abduct more than the three of you. I could not risk revealing myself if she was continuing to collect captives.”

  “So, she’s not bringing more kids here. That’s great for them”—I rolled my eyes—“but that doesn’t help us.”

  “Are there people looking for us?” Rosa’s contribution to the conversation came out in a hushed tone.

  “Your families are doing what they can. But there are others who are worried for your safety as well.”

  “Like Liam.” I hadn’t meant to voice that hope aloud but there was no one else besides Mom and Dad who would be worried about me. None of us had many friends and the thought of Principal Tannery or Ms. Eisner being concerned about me was laughable. Glaukos inclined its head ever so slightly at my comment but I doubted Erin or Rosa noticed.

  Before I could say more Erin moved so that she lay flat on her stomach with her chin propped in her hands. “How did you get in here?”

  “I have my ways. Unfortunately, they will not aid you in an escape. You have amazing gifts, but you must be careful how you use them. There is much about this world you do not yet understand.”

  I succumbed to the need to move and traced the blank wall. The bird couldn’t have just materialized and we knew a door existed.

  “You won't find an escape that way, Abigail.”

  Glaring at the bird and returning to the bed, I shivered as a helpless feeling chilled me all over. The hope this creature brought—that there were people out there looking for us—was drowned out by the dread that we had no means of escape. Still, the owl’s words almost reminded me of my conversation with Mr. McManus after class last week. I shook my head at the thought, convincing myself that it was just my over-stressed brain trying to make connections where none existed.

  The owl adjusted its footing on the end of Erin’s bed. “I also bring a warning.”

  “What warning?” Rosa tucked her pillow between her knees and her chest.

  “Dr. Phillips put you here for a reason. She has not yet made it clear to you but she will. She is not what she seems and is not to be trusted, no matter what promises she offers you. She seeks your gifts for herself. You must be strong and not give in.”

  I bit back the urge to say ‘duh’. There was no way any of us would trust the crazy bitch after she abducted us. Before we could ask what it meant, the owl flapped its wings, inching away from the wall with the door. I turned to look but saw nothing and didn’t hear any footsteps outside. Glaukos hovered above our heads flapping its wings with vigor.

  I jumped to my feet. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “I can’t stay any longer. I’m sorry I cannot be of more help. Know that I and others have faith in you.”

  I raced forward, hands outstretched. “Wait, I need to ask you something.”

  The bird continued flapping in agitated circles above our heads. “What is it, Abigail?”

  “It’s going to sound crazy but there’s this boy. His name’s Liam, Liam Sullivan-Gray. Can you tell him that I’m alive and that he was right?”

  “I will do what I can. But now I must go. Please, heed my warning. Athena be with you.” Without another word, Glaukos disappeared in a puff of feathers. The room felt eerie and empty without the bird talking to us. I hoped Glaukos could get the message to Liam. Not that I had any idea what he would do. Hell, he would probably think he was going crazy too. But he was all I had.

  “Well, that was some exit.” Erin rolled off of Rosa’s bed and retreated to her own.

  “I think it was magic.” Rosa settled the pillow beneath her head and crawled back under the blankets.

  I shook my head at Rosa’s comment. We were all too old to believe in magic, even if I desperately wanted to believe this situation was just a trick of my mind. "What do you think it was talking about ... about Dr. Phillips not being what she seems? I mean we already know she’s a crappy psychologist. I’m pretty sure it’s against the rules to kidnap patients."

  Rosa rolled onto her side to face Erin and me as best she could. She looked bright-eyed and awake. “It has to be about the world we do not know about. A normal person could not keep us from running like she did. I think maybe she has powers.”

  Trying and failing to stifle a yawn, I leaned against the blank wall. I needed sleep, preferably the uninterrupted and dreamless kind so I could sort out this insanity. "What time is it?"

  Erin looked at her watch. "It’s about one fifteen in the morning."

  I turned off the light and made my way back to my bed. In the afterglow of the light I could see Erin looking at me. "What are you doing?"

  I burrowed down under the covers. "Trying to go back to sleep."

  "But you heard what the owl said. We have to do something. We’re in
danger."

  "I doubt she’s lying in wait this late at night. And I’m tired. I need sleep or else I’m not going to be able to even function. There’s just nothing we can do right now." With that, I rolled onto my side facing the wall and exhaled.

  I tried to put the whole conversation out of my thoughts, even just for a little while. A talking owl and possible magical powers just didn’t compute in my current state of battered muscles and exhaustion. Still, deep down, some part of me wanted to believe it was true. Trying to fall asleep, the owl’s parting words rang in my ears: Athena be with you. It had to be a clue, but I just couldn’t force my brain to recall whatever nugget of information lay hidden away in my subconscious.

  13

  I tossed and turned throughout most of the early morning. The owl’s visit weighed heavily on my mind and, try as I might, I couldn’t push away the worry that Liam wouldn’t get the message. Just as I started to doze off, the light turned on above me and Rosa’s and Erin’s hushed whispers caught my attention. Rolling over toward the middle of the room, I found them sitting cross-legged on Erin’s bed with their heads together. I rubbed the gummy feeling from my eyes and sat up. “What’s going on?”

  Rosa faced me, tucking several strands of dark hair behind her ear. "We have been thinking."

  "About what Glaukos said." Erin smiled.

  I settled on the floor in front of them. “Okay. What about it exactly?”

  Erin’s eyes lit up and she bounced her legs on the bed. "Well, Dr. Phillips wants us for some reason. Not other kids. Just us."