by Shantel Williams
Everything happened so fast. With my parents in tow, I left the house and got inside the car. We headed out for my audition at the performing arts school in town. This was a moment I had been looking forward to for years. I had always wanted to be a performer and this was my chance to prove to the professors that I deserved to be in this prestigious school. I looked over the lyrics to “O mio babbino caro” as my father drove us down the road. Looking up from the paper, I noticed dark clouds beginning to form in the sky.
We arrived at the school moments later and my nerves got the best of me as we walked down the hallway leading to the auditorium. Do I even belong here? I always dreamt of being a student. But was I worthy? My name was called; it was my turn to sing. I took a deep breath, my hands shaking rapidly, and began. I sang as if it were the last time I would ever sing. When it was over, I noticed all three judges on their feet, clapping with tears in their eyes.
“Bravo! Bravo! You’re in!” They cheered.
I beamed as I ran off the stage, and wrapped my arms around my parents, feeling their warmth and excitement. My mother let go of me and looked into my eyes. I wondered if she was okay because she was so quiet. She pulled out a box from her coat pocket and handed it to me.
“A little gift for my special girl.”
I opened the box and saw a beautiful diamond heart necklace. It shone in the light as I took it out of the box. I had never seen anything so beautiful. She took the necklace from my hands and put it on for me. We hugged tightly and she kissed the top of my head.
“Thank you, Mom. I’ll wear it forever.”
It was the last time we would share a happy moment together.
We raced to the car to celebrate my success. My parents were going to take me to my favorite restaurant in town. As my father drove, the rain began to pour. His eyes were glued to the road and the rain kept pouring harder. My stomach felt queasy; I noticed how dark it was outside and how hard the rain hit the window. Before any of us could say a word, a loud smash filled the air. My body flung itself away as the car flipped continuously into the dark.
◊◊◊
I woke lying in bed in a strange room. The room had Victorian era furniture; long, dark, red velvet drapes covered the window. Elaborate golden candlesticks illuminated the space. Where am I? Where are my parents? I looked around and saw a door in the corner of the room. I had to get out of here and make sure my parents were okay. Whatever happened to us couldn’t have been good. I rushed over to the door, and tried to turn the knob as hard as I could, but it was locked tightly from the outside. I banged on the door as loud as I could.
“Let me out!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.
No matter how long and hard I banged my fist on the door, no one came to my aid. My fist started to throb, so I stopped. I touched my chest and noticed that my locket was gone. I scrambled everywhere in the room to try to find it. I couldn’t lose that locket. Did I lose it during the collision? The doorknob began to rattle and my heart beat rapidly. I didn’t know what or who to expect, but I hoped they would explain what was happening.
A young woman, about my age, peeked her head into the room searching for me until our eyes met. Her lips formed a smile like she had known me long ago. “Hello! You must be Juliet!” She said.
How does she know my name? I had never seen this woman in my life, but strangely I wanted to trust her. Maybe she would tell me what was going on and where my parents were.
“I am.”
“I’m so glad you’re up. Quick, you must get dressed and get ready for the party.”
She ran to a large dresser that was in the corner of the room and opened the doors. There were many formal dresses lined and sorted together by color. She picked out a yellow one and smiled as she studied the dress.
“The party? What party?”
“The party to celebrate your arrival. Madam Luna always throws a party for her guests,” She held out the yellow dress for me to take it. “Here, wear this. It’ll look good on you.”
She handed the dress to me and was about to walk away. “Wait! Don’t leave!”
The woman turned back around and looked at me. Her eyes stared into mine, waiting for me to speak. “Why am I here? And where are my parents?”
“I’ll tell you everything once you’re dressed. I’ll be back once you are done. Just knock and I’ll be here.”
She walked out of the room and locked the door behind her. I didn’t want to go to this party because I needed to find my parents. But I had no choice.
I knocked on the door when I finished dressing. The door opened quickly and I was greeted by the same woman. We walked down a long, dark hallway that had dim candles on the walls like the ones in my room. A shiver ran down my spine as I looked at the paintings because at first they were joyful depictions of life, but in a split second they changed to deathly images. I turned to the woman.
“Now will you tell me where I am? And where my parents are, too.”
“Your parents are dead. They died from the accident you had.”
My heart shattered. How could this happen? How could they leave me? And why was I still alive?
“Am I dead?” I asked.
“Not quite yet.”
“What do you mean?”
She took a deep breath before we walked down the elaborate staircase. I waited for her answer while she stood there in thought. Was I really dead? She turned and looked at me for a moment, which seemed like eternity.
“Madam Luna saved you in time before your soul was taken away.”
Instead of answers, more questions swirled through my mind.
“Who is Madam Luna?”
“She owns this place. She only picks the best people to live here.”
“I am considered the best?” I asked.
The woman held the handles of two tall doors. Faintly, I heard classical music being played inside the room.
“Of course you are,” She said with a smile.
The doors opened and inside was a large ballroom of people dancing in their formal clothes. They swirled around the room to the waltz that was being played. I stood there, unsure of what to do until I heard the woman say my name.
“Welcome to Madam Luna’s! Dance, eat, drink, and be merry. Have fun and remember: don’t ever upset Madam Luna,” the woman said before she walked away.
“Wait, what’s your name?”
“I’m Ruth. I’m the one who welcomes the new residents here. You’ll meet Madam Luna very soon.”
I stared at the people dancing; the others drinking and laughing with one another. They were having the time of their lives, celebrating someone they hadn’t even met yet. I felt out of place seeing everyone so happy. I had lost my parents. I shouldn’t be celebrating just because some strange woman chose me. I was about to leave until I looked up at the stairs that were in the back of the ballroom. There was a man standing at the top, watching everyone below him. He looked dignified as he wore a very expensive suit and held a thin black cane beside him. His eyes were cold and mysterious as he stared out into the horizon. There was something about him that put me in a trance.
“That’s Greyson by the way,” Ruth approached me. “Madam Luna’s favorite guest. I would stay far away from him if I were you.”
Ruth walked off and conversed with a man a few feet away. I looked back at Greyson and our eyes met. I froze; his ice-cold eyes stared at me for a few seconds. A sly smile formed on his face before he walked off. I could hear Ruth’s words. I would stay far away from him if I were you. But I knew I couldn’t. I was hooked and wanted to know more about him and this strange house that I was forced to stay in.
