PART EIGHT: The Symphony

THE NIGHT WAS COMING TO A STRANGE POINT. It was sort of the midpoint between day and night. The stars were now shining bright enough to illuminate the mindless people who were staring up at them.

JULIAN was in his house. He was eating food and preparing to face what ever might lie outside his door.

JOHN was speaking with his sister and father. They spoke to him again and again but their words were drowned out by the overwhelming symphony that was playing on the outskirts of town.

X was watching over the town from one of the towers, waiting for John and Julian to somehow appear in the town center.

It was Julian who started out on the journey first. He left his door and noticed that things were lighter than usual. It was like some sun was managing to shine through into the night. As strange as it was Julian tried not to take notice. He pushed through the crowds of dazed people and made his way towards the town center.

When he did reach it the area was clear from the zombies inhabiting other parts of the city. Strangely enough it was just him and it was silent.

"Hello," a voice called out.

Julian turned and looked all around him. No one there. Especially not...

"Hello Julian," the voice called out again.

Julian jumped and turned around one more time. He had definitely heard her voice. Where was she?

"Hello!" he called out in reply. "Show yourself!"

A shadow leaped across the building behind him but Julian didn't see it. Instead he focused on the amazing towers that lingered just under the stars. They weren't glowing as brightly now but instead were sort of flickering. That definitely wasn't good. Julian didn't know WHY they were there but he knew the towers were of great importance.

"Julian!" the girl's voice called again. "I'm over here..."she said and her voice faded away.

It was in that instant when Julian figured out that he would never see this girl again. For the first time in a long time he felt remorse slowly spreading throughout his body like a disease. He should have said more to her. He should have made better use of his time. Now Julian wished this horrible night would end.

And what about his father? Julian had momentarily forgotten that his father had been shot earlier this night. What had been done with his father? Was someone planning to bury him? Julian would have to think about this some other time. He didn't have the brain power to do it right now.

"Hey!" a voice called. This one was different. Julian turned hoping that this was not a figment of his imagination.

To his suprise it was not. John came walking into the middle of the town center. In his hand was a strange metallic object.

"What is that?" Julian asked pointing to his hand.
"Don't worry about it."
"Where's X?" Julian asked.
"Who?"
"You don't know?"

There was a look of genuine confusion on John's face. Apparently he hadn't had the same encounter that Julian did. That reminded Julian about what X had told him. About John's father and sister.

"Your family," Julian said. "What happened to them?"
"They're day-runners," John replied quickly.
"You mean they were?"
"No they are!"

At the moment upon which John stressed that his family was still alive Julian felt something else. Another person was there. It was X, he was sure of it.

"X!" Julian called out.
"I'm here!" a voice called from the sky. "Strange to see a human who looks so similar in the physical."
"What?" Julian called out.
"I'll explain later."

John tapped Julian on his shoulder.

"Who are you talking to and where is this person?" John asked.
"It's X. He's one of the beings in the towers."
"You mean the sky towers?"
"Yeah."
"I'm up here!" X called from the sky. "You must see this!"

Julian felt that strange sensation again and he could see by the look on John's face that he felt it too. Both of their bodies fell to the floor yet they were still standing straight up. Julian looked down to see that their bodies were indeed asleep on the ground.

"Come up here!" X said.
"How?" John asked.
"Think!"

The two slowly lifted off the ground and before they knew it they were about the three and four story buildings that surrounded them. It was strange to see that the city looked so full of life again. All the lights were on but nobody was running the places. X appeared in true form.

"Oh my god!" John said when he caught sight of X.
"Yes, this is my true form. I take it you've seen the towers?"
"Yes."
"That's besides the point though. Look across the city."

The two did. At first they saw nothing but them they watched a particular crowd. One by one the people in the crowd were disappearing, just fading away.

"Why are they leaving?" Julian asked.
"Listen!" X said.

The music coming from the factory was becoming louder and louder. Apparently that made it more powerful.

"Cover your ears!" John shouted. "It'll make you forget!"
"No need!" X said. "Your physical bodies can't actually hear it right now. Only your soul can and it has no effect. At least I dont' think it does."

"This is strange! What are we supposed to do?"
"You know we have to go to the factory," Julian said. "If not to stop it just to see what's causing this."

"I have to say goodbye to my family first. They're probably wondering where I am!" John said quickly.

"John..." Julian started but couldn't finish his sentence for some reason.
"We will make him see when the time is right," X said quietly.


The three quickly made their ways back to the theater. John said goodbye quickly to his father and sister. His father, who never seemed to quit acting. Came off the stage, still speaking lines. He handed the violin to John and said:

"Take this violin. Let them know that music does something other than make people forget," he said.

"You know who they are don't you?" Julian asked.

And X seemed to speak the words as John's father did.

"Yes I do."

to be continued...