Static Reflections: Book 1 of The M... - Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Tyler and Boris devoured their warm home-cooked meals greedily, guzzling the orange juice down and not even speaking to each other as they ate. The German shepherd thought it was delicious and he felt like he hadn't had anything quite like it. His grandfather never cooked and restaurants didn't make food like this. Another luxury within luxury.
Boris set his glass down and wiped his mouth with his red pajama sleeve. "I wonder what kind of insane thing Leah will come up with."
The canine shrugged. "Not sure. I don't even know what witches can do."
"Remember how I told you about Nick?" Boris questioned, tapping his cup.
"Yeah . . . ?"
"Well, Leah showed me using some kind of witch mirror box. That's how I knew because I was honestly concerned about him, too."
Tyler blinked. "Really?"
"Yes. He was—is—my friend." Boris scooted his chair back and stood up. "Alright, I'm going to the ballroom."
"Why?" Tyler looked up.
"There's something I've been waiting to do there," the otter told him. "Want to come?"
"Well . . . I don't have anything better to do, so I guess." Tyler grumbled.
Entering the grand expanse of space that was the ballroom, Tyler noticed that two chandeliers hung from the ceiling of the room and that there were wooden shelves that held countless records. Across almost the entire floor was a large red rug (maybe the biggest Tyler had ever seen) with intricate designs lining the entire perimeter. There were a few chairs spread about the edge of the room and a record player sat waiting next to one. On the other side of that was a light brown wooden piano that the Downing's caretakers took good care of. There were a few windows with dark purple curtains along the walls.
"This is where the parties are usually held," Boris began. "I'm thankful they usually kept them in one room . . ."
"Never asked, but why do you hate parties anyway?"
The otter shrugged. "All of those animals, all of the noise, animals bumping into you, the lack of a social battery, an overwhelming feeling of anxiousness."
"But people are just having a good time," said Tyler. "It's like being at the rave."
Boris groaned. "That was torture, Tyler. I was focused on the mission, sure, but I didn't want to be there! I just wanted to get it over with and leave."
"And come back here?" Tyler blinked.
"No . . . I honestly don't know why we're back here or what happened. That's never happened before."
The German shepherd made a mental note in his mind to mention this to Leah. "Shit, dude . . . I dunno. At least we'll have shelter for the next few days or however long it takes."
"Yes . . . I agree. We're lucky we can find solace here," Boris nodded. "Speaking of . . ." He looked toward the piano and walked over, sitting down on the bench with its soft black surface. Slowly opening the cover obscuring the precious ivory keys, Boris smiled at the sight of the familiar instrument before him. He could see his own ghost hands fingering notes rapidly. The otter pressed a C key down, enjoying the ting that came after that.
Tyler waltzed up behind him. "You gonna play something?"
Boris's eyes were still scanning the instrument as if he were looking at someone he hadn't seen in a long while. He ran his fingers over the excellent surface of the keys and nodded. "I think so. I think it would be good for me."
"Then, what's stopping you?"
Boris nodded and straightened his back, bringing his hands up in an arched position over the ivories. His fingers wiggled and glided across the keys like they were made of ice. He took a deep breath and then began playing a somber and dark melody that filled the entire space of the room. Tyler watched the white notes go up and down with each press and lift, and his ear twitched as he took in the song.
It wasn't something he had heard before in his short lifetime. Then again, he'd never really listened to piano music when he had the opportunity to. Many of Water on Fire's tracks featured Boris on the piano, so he was acquainted with that. As for other pianists, Tyler couldn't name one.
The music that played was sorrowful and heavy like Boris instilled hidden emotions from his fingertips into the keys. A glance up and the canine could see that the other animal had his eyes closed, taking in every second of the song with wist and solidarity.
He looked at ease.
Tyler had to admit that his possessed friend was very talented, but he was never one to shy away from believing this, even from the start. Though Boris may have been stuck up back then, there was no doubt that he was an incredibly gifted and passionate musician.
As for Tyler's musicianship, he was always daydreaming about music and songs that he could play. He began learning guitar thanks to middle school, though he never had an easy time remembering everything.
On top of the lack of motivation, he didn't want to practice either. It didn't seem like he was ever going to improve until one day, he saw this incredible band perform live, and it changed his heart forever. He wanted that to be him up on stage, playing his heart out for thousands of screaming fans who appreciated him for what he did.
Water on Fire gave him that chance. They had toured two albums and worked on a third, but this entire Absalom situation got in the way. Still, Tyler got to taste the sweetness of being a rockstar and living the dream. And part of him knew he would never have that again. Suddenly, the song felt as though it were a funeral march for his hopes and dreams.
As Boris finished, he pulled his hands back and stretched his digits. "I can't tell you how incredible it feels to be playing again."
"I bet . . ." whispered Tyler. "Hey, I have a question."
"Yes?"
"Are you able to play real songs? Like songs from Spottyfy?"
"I can certainly try."
The German shepherd pulled out his phone. "There's actually this song I've wanted to show you before all of this . . . I was gonna on our next hangout, but yeah."
Boris slouched once more, nodding. "Go ahead."
Tyler opened the app, and, lucky he had the song downloaded, pressed play. It began with a sinister-sounding guitar accompanied by an acoustic strumming in the back. The percussion came in and then the vocals.
Under blue moon, I saw you.
So soon you'll take me.
Up in your arms too late to beg you,
Or cancel it, though I know it must be
The killing time,
Unwillingly mine.
Boris froze in time. Completely frozen. He knew that he had never heard this song before in his life, but it sounded familiar, like a distant dream that was so close, yet so far away. That's how he'd describe it, that feeling.
As the chorus came in, the piano disappeared from in front of him. Now, he was sitting on the branch of a tree, looking at a strange goat he had never seen before. The goat was laughing about something, but Boris didn't know what. The clothing was unlike what animals wore these days, being rather colorful. Boris could just make out himself saying, "What's so funny?" It sounded separated from reality, somehow.
The song continued to play, but Tyler noticed that Boris had changed. Something about him changed. What was it? "Hey . . . are you okay? You look like you're about to barf all over that piano." When the otter didn't respond, Tyler touched his shoulder. "Hey! Are you possessed again?"
Boris pulled back with the ferocity of a mouse trap snapping shut. "I think you should stop this song right now."
"What? Why?"
"Just stop it!" Boris shouted.
Tyler blinked, tapping the pause button and looking up, concerned. "What the hell, man?"
The otter shook his head. "I don't know. I don't know! The feeling I got . . . I can't describe it. It's like . . . I knew that song."
Tyler scratched his head. "Uh . . . maybe you do, then? It's not that complicated."
"There was something else . . ." his friend whispered. "There was . . . a goat."
"Huh?"
"A goat I'm sure I've never seen before. I don't know . . . ."
"I seriously don't know . . . ." Tyler took the words Boris was speaking, crumbled them into a ball, hung that on a string, then batted it around like a feral cat in his mind. He tried to uncover an answer from the dirt, but it was too deep in the earth no matter where he dug.
"I . . ." Boris swallowed, pushing his feet on the ground to stand up. His eyes slowly closed, and they struggled to stay open as he stumbled.
"Boris?"
"I don't feel so . . . ."
Tyler rushed forward as Boris's body began to collapse. He caught him in his arms, the otter's head hanging limply over one. "Bor! Boris! Hey, wake up!" The German shepherd slapped his cheek. "Hey! Hey!" No response. The canine looked around. "Shit, not again . . . ."