Song 39

Meloria lay awake against the 100% cotton sheets, her body wrapped in a cocoon of blankets as she looked up at the ceiling, Jonny’s words still resonating through her mind. The idea of writing a new song was fine; she was more than happy to do that. Already coming up with ideas for the tune and lyrics. The thing she worried about was singing in front of such well-known performers, having their eyes fixated on her. She could already hear that woman calling her pathetic as she walked off stage, and that was something Meloria couldn’t stand the idea of.

Then there was Raville.

The way her looked at her, it was like he was looking at a ghost. Being called ‘pathetic’ was nothing compared to being looked straight through. She hoped that maybe it was because she looked different from the last time they saw each other, and not because Raville had forgotten about her. Forgetting the moment they met at the manor and performed together. The way he looked at her smugly, as if knowing Meloria knew the lyrics to the song he was playing.

Meloria always knew there was more to Raville; after all, how did he know that song? A song that had been locked away in the school's music library, only to be played again when Meloria found the record after decades of being tossed aside. “That’s it,” Meloria shot up in a sitting position. The song she should sing at the showcase tomorrow is to make sure Raville will never forget her again. Jumping out of bed, Meloria ran over to her suitcase, pulling it open and looking for her treasure—the one thing she refused to leave at home. “Perfect,” Meloria declared, holding up the record.

The following day, as Jonny had said, all the performers scheduled for the show met up at the theatre where the show would be broadcast to everyone in Reybu. When the show coordinator explained about the broadcasting, that was when Jonny noticed Meloira withdraw into herself. It was one thing to perform in front of a few thousand people; it was another to perform live in front of an entire country.

Meloria sat in her chair, hands on her bouncing knees, as one by one, the other performers took to the stage. Everyone was flawless, even though today's showcase was simple and had no stakes; everyone gave their all in their performances.

When Raville took the stage, it was apparent he never gave up playing the piano despite his father’s outburst. His fingers danced along the keys, and his broad shoulders never slouched as he played. His performance was truly mesmerising.

The woman who scorned Meloria was Asmi, a violinist who had been performing in solo concerts since the age of nine. The way she carried herself up onto the stage, she owned the stage. No one else mattered, and she demanded everyone’s attention. She started to play, and that was when Meloria began to sink into the chair. This can’t be happening, she screamed internally as Asmi continued to play. She missed no note, her fingers moving with practiced ease. Everything about her showcase was perfection. I can’t compete with this!

“Meloria,” Jonny spoke in a hushed but stern tone, pulling Meloria up by her arm. “I told you to behave, remember?”

“Jonny, I can’t do this,” Meloria whispered, her face full of panic. “I can’t follow that. Among all these people, I am going to get lost.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Jonny snapped, looking up as Mleoira’s name was called. He stood, pulling Meloria up with him and dragging her to the stage. Meloria whined, trying to dig her heels into the floor, desperate not to go onto the stage. “You are going up there!”

Jonny practically threw Meloria up onto the stage, Meloria jumping over her own feet as she landed centre stage. She looked back to the stairs, Jonny holding his arms out, taking up a stance like a guard dog, and mouthed ‘sing’.

Meloria turned around, seeing the other performers waiting for her to begin. I can’t do this, she panicked, her knocking knees hidden under her skirt. Her head shifted left to right; not one person was paying her any attention. Even the coordinator seemed to have given up on her before she even began. She gulped, seeing no point in continuing. They weren’t going to be impressed. She looked to the other side of the stage, determined to make her escape, yet at the bottom of the stairs, arms crossed, was Raville with a straight face. He looked neither excited nor irritated by Meloria being on stage. That's right, Meloria smiled, looking into Raville’s eyes. I was going to sing this for him.

Without looking at him, she gave Jonny a thumbs up, signalling for him to play the music. Time to put on a show, worthy of being an idol, Meloira smirked, twirling around, facing the others as the music began to play.

I am glowing in the morning sun

With my wings, I’m reaching for the sky.

Asmi’s eyes widened, looking to the stage. Watching Meloria’s every step, listening to every note, she couldn’t believe it. A singer? They brought a singer to taint her performance. She gritted her teeth, her nostrils flaring as Meloria continued.

Won’t you take my hand?

Let me carry you to a place where we can glow together

Come with me~

I’ll take you where we can glow

Come with me~

Where the flowers blossom into the rainbow

You and I have a journey that’s waiting for us

Nothing can stop me,

Nothing can stop you

Our wings are helping us be free

The music came to an end, Meloria taking her final pose, her face turned toward the sky, though her eyes gazed over to Raville, who, if she were to squint, Meloria could see smiling. As the others began to applaud, Meloria bowed, thanking them for their time before leaving the stage. Jonny’s opened arms, closing around her tightly as she showered her with praise. “That’s a showcase!” He laughed, sounding like a proud father.

Meloria turned around, her smile softening as she watched Raville take his leave. She put a hand on her chest, feeling her heart race, knowing she had accomplished the first step toward getting closer to Raville.

While the other performers remained at the theatre, Raville had taken his leave and decided to head home. He no longer lived in the Thornewood manor; instead, he and his father had been relocated to the edge of Sodaina, closer to his father’s work, for both convenience and observation.

Entering the home, the maids were ready by the door to greet their young master. In unison, they chimed “Welcome home,” as Raville threw off his coat and handed it to the maid at the end of the line.

“Bring me the key,” he ordered in a low and commanding tone. The maid who held his coat moved swiftly, placing the coat on a hook on the wall beside a small cabinet. She opened the cabinet, grabbing the key labelled ‘basement’ before hurrying to present it to Raville. “Do not disturb me this evening, no matter what you hear from the basement.”

The maids exchanged worried looks before nodding and quickly dispersing to continue with their duties. Raville made long strides to the old, clunky door that led to the basement, using the key to unlock it. With a click, the door opened, revealing the staircase, which was illuminated by candlelight, leading down to the basement.

There was a heavy thud with every step down, Raville humming to himself as he made his way down, the door behind him closing itself as he reached halfway down the stairs. The humming turned to whistling as the light at the bottom of the stairs changed from chandelier to neon green tubes that ran along the floor.

His eyes followed the tubing, leading his gaze to a body sitting in a large mechanical chair, surrounded by wires and screens that displayed vitals and what appeared to be memories. The figure was bare and skinny, with bones protruding against the skin; its black hair was dull, long, and unkempt. “Good evening,” Raville spoke, pulling up a foldable chair. He sat down as he started to roll his sleeve up, revealing his arm with minor puncture marks running along the crease of the elbow. Raville grabbed a nearby needle that connected to the body, inserting the needle into his own arm. As the tube began to vibrate and glow, the body started to scream and cry out. “I know it hurts, Raville, but I need to know everything about Meloria. And you’re going to tell me whether you want to or not.”