The night the Rhymer went whack

75

Nick was a lonely soul.

As a child, with just he and his mom, Nick didn’t understand his loneliness, he just perceived it as isolation, but once he matured and began understanding and perfecting his gift, he classified his feelings as such. Even during his silencing, it was never completely sound-free, he heard his heartbeat, his lung’s breathing, and the churning in his belly. He heard his thoughts and ideas.

The world had become a tool for him, more say a canvas, as his life’s purpose had been to see how his abilities could entertain him. Even during the bad years when he witnessed all the killings, rapes and assaults, he’d see the passions on people’s faces and always wondered where did those deep feelings come from. His love for his mom was more derived from a dependence, viewing her as just an extension of himself. All of this gave question to Nick as to the power of human interaction and the need for that togetherness.

Same with the animals, especially his canine friends and how they licked and loved each other and enjoyed the presence of one another. He took note through the years and concluded that he had none of that. Just him and his sounds.

So when Nick first began venturing across the world and holding his concerts, he used his extensive understanding of soundproofing to build small silent centers, places designed for a reset, a realignment when someone’s internal beat became askew. Well, that was his overt intention, that was what the world saw and respected and needed, but Nick was actually in search of a like soul, someone who shared his gift. His centers were the box, stick and carrot.

Exact silence for any extended period of time is maddening. Especially in a world inundated with chaotic noise. It only takes a few moments for silence to wash over you and produce harmony, but soon, that silence would become deafening, leaving your body searching for a beat to align itself with.

***

Emily had found her opportunity. Her mom had gone shopping while her abusive father had passed out drunk. She had had enough, her family hadn’t fed into this whole musical harmony vibe but she once, when visiting a friend, heard Nick’s performance and felt the uplifting mood that good noise could bring. When she finally returned home, her parents sensed her pleasure and forbade her from ever leaving home again and restricted her to hard work in the process. That rhythm of joy she received quickly left, but what she had witnessed and learned couldn’t escape her heart. Until now.

She grabbed her bookbag, stuffed it with toys and darted through the woods never huffing or puffing nor stopping until dusk set upon her. Still proceeding forward, walking briskly as darkness set, she came upon the only house absent of lights. She was exhausted and hungry but there were two dogs protecting its front door. Big dogs, and they scared her. Nixing her thieving idea, she tried to slink past, walking slowly, but they spotted her.

Barking, they advanced upon her and with no escape, tired and scared, she just stood there defeated, expecting her fate. They approached swiftly, but didn’t attack. They sniffed her legs and panted then jumped on her and showered her with licks. They brought her to the ground and all three rolled playfully on the grass. They stopped and as she sat there giggling, they darted toward the house pausing once to make sure she was watching and staying until they saw her rise to follow before continuing their journey up the steps and through the front door.

The house was small, immaculate and inviting. No one was inside, but the cleanliness indicated that someone had been taking care of it. Hungry, she went into the kitchen and made herself a bowl of cereal, all while the dogs sat and watched her actions. She ventured into the living room and made herself at home. She plopped down in an oversized recliner, grabbed the remote and turned on the television.

She watched for a while but soon she began dozing off and that’s when the dogs barked again. And as her head continued to nod, not only did they woof, one came and tugged at her pants leg. No longer afraid, she stood up and watched as they both ran upstairs. She wiped her eyes then followed as they stood at the top of the steps standing guard at the only opened door. She entered and it seemed more quiet than the rest of the house. Perfect, she thought. Now overwhelmed by tiredness, she laid down on the bed. Satisfied that she was situated, the dogs left and on their way out, the smaller one grabbed a hold of a rope hanging from the door. He pulled it shut, as taught, sealing her into the soundproof center that Nick had created.

The room was special. Not just soundproofed but designed with no escape. The guard dogs were programmed to not reopen the door for at least sixty minutes, just enough time to see if someone was blessed with Nick’s gift. If not, they’d go insane; there was no other option. Sixty minutes later, the larger dog, as trained, reopened the latch and Emily emerged, no longer sleepy but vibrant and alive. She patted each dog on the head, went downstairs, grabbed her bookbag and left. Skipping along, she decided to head back home, but first she passed her best friend’s house and decided to pay her a visit.

“Where have you been! Everyone’s looking for you,” her friend exclaimed as she hugged her best friend tight. Emily answered with a sly smile and a blank stare, receiving the hug but not reciprocating. Then her friend gasped, having just received a quick thrust of the knife Emily had hid behind her back. No change of expression except for a slight sinister smile, she bent down over her dying friend and proceeded to stab her a few more times before slicing her throat nearing decapitation, to complete the murder.