The Three Music Boxes

Music, equally peaceful as it is terrifying.

The men move closer as I contemplate my answer, I've got to think fast. Four with guns and most likely he has one as well. Think, come on think. If they keep approaching like this, perhaps, I can subdue them if they get close enough. All four at once is impossible, especially for one not adept at battle like myself. Could you tell?

That aside how do I keep them approaching? Any smart person would keep there distance when operating a ranged weapon.

Huh? What's that sound?

Very faintly I hear familiar sad tones ringing. It was one of the boxes.

"Do you hear that?"

"What, the sound of everyone around us. Yes!"

She couldn't hear it. Why was it playing? Steadily it's volume getting louder and louder, each step the men take. I didn't have the...

"Any Ideas?"

"Nothing yet, just keep them approaching"

"Tsk"

A terrible plan I know, Aldis was getting antsy again.

She made a small step forward out of haste, swinging her body forward just a little.

"Uh uh uhhh"

He finally pulled out his gun, his distinct etched mark identical to mine. Wait, that's it, I have a gun. If I can cause a distraction we may gain the upper hand.

I'm running out of time, and the longer this is drawn out, the more dangerous it becomes.

"Your a smart girl Al, you should've known we would find you"

"Piss off"

Al? They have know each other, why didn't she tell me? Ah! It's so hard to think with all this music.

Weary she wanted to attack, the man guardedly approached. Aiming his gun at her, as to keep her still.

"Why did you leave us Al?"

"Shut up"

"Oh? Do not forget"

With distain he slammed his pistol into her abdomen. Slapping and grabbing her face afterward, she shouted in pain. Slowly but forcefully passing his fingers along her jaw.

"Who you are speaking to" after a short breath he continued "It really was nice to see you again Al, it's a shame it has to end this way"

"Pft"

"You little.."

She had spat in his face, now is the perfect time. I first scan the now battlefield, pulling out the pistol as fast as I could. Quickly loading, aiming for the goon furthest from me and firing. I then executed a quick turn, leaping towards the closest on my left.

*bang*

After the first shot, the sound of gunfire starting freely drowning the air around us. I must be nervous, my sweat was dripping in my mouth. While this was going on Aldis took this opportunity to say hello to her old friend.

She made a feint, then, opened up delivering a blow to the body, almost ordering him to drop his gun. She kicked it away and went for another shot. One stealthy uppercut that, had It met its mark would've caused major damage. Moving his body deftly back he dodged and in return threw a punch with his right, snapping her head back. The impact forced her to take a couple steps in retreat. He assertively closed the gap kicking her inner thigh dropping her to a knee. The ground crunching upon impact. I'd love to step in but I have my own problems to deal with.

I threw a disrespectful elbow to the nose before grabbing him by his shirt. Nearly loosing my grasp due to shaky hands. He was now in hostage position, my arms around his neck, guarding my front from danger.

"Let me go!"

"You wish" I charge forward, crashing into one of them, using the impact to flee to the encroaching darkness around me.

Let's think this through

"There! In the shadows"

*bang bang*

"Never mind then"

I scurried through the trees, urgently waiting for them to begin reloading.

Come on...Come on...NOW!

At that moment I launched myself first aiming the nozzle of my pistol away from me before whipping at the back of his goons head

He fell crashing to the floor, however, I didn't hit him hard enough. He was still conscious

I've now placed myself in a very deadly situation.

Both the other member and the thug on the floor were aiming at me. Coincidentally they fire within close proximity of each other.

"Dammit! I'm gonna get hit" Erratically I froze bracing for impact, the bolstering melody reaching a bursting climax.

I can't believe it....I'm...Ok?!

My inexperience was showing, I had closed my eyes when I froze up. I opened my eyes in disbelief, this is the part of the tale your not gonna believe. The entire battlefield was silent. Two black figures covering me.

Upon closer inspection they were, well, I don't know of a better way to describe them than this.

Skeletons.

My knees buckled as I backed up in a tremendous panic, within the blink of an eye they vanished. The battle concluded for the moment as everyone was confused and out of breathe.

I composed myself and dashed towards Aldis grabbing her by the hand

"Run, NOW!"

"Tsk"

"Somebody shoot them!"

"On my que to jump to the left"

We both fled as fast as we could, keeping our heads low, not looking behind us

"You ready?"

"Wait, What the hell?"

*Click*

"NOW!"

We both jump away from each other, her left, and I right.

*Bang*

Phew. It surely was narrow, but the bullet missed stopping dead in a nearby tree. We continued our retreat.

We ran until we could no longer, collapsing in a forest.

*Gasp* *Gasp*

Aldis was the first to recuperate, her fitness really is impressive.

"You have some explaining to do"

*gasp* *gasp*

"What was that?"

"I..I don't know, it was loud,and and all I could hear was..was this music"

"Music? you mean from those boxes?"

"Yeah.." I pulled one out to inquire. No matter what I did or how hard I looked nothing happened, they were just boxes.

Shortly after I've finally caught my breathe and began to move deeper into the forest

"There is a stump on your left, watch your foot"

"How do you do that?"

...

"Hey! I'm talking to you"

"Is this... some kind of sick joke?"

...

"Khatar?"

Tears came flooding down my face, I hadn't realized it until now. This entire time I was just ignoring the pain, masking it, instead of dealing with it.

"This is probably...the forest you told me about right?"

I couldn't respond so I nodded my head. I'm sure she could hear the pain in my voice. I didn't even realize it. While I was running, I was thinking of a safe place, my safe place.

Home.

Aldis kept her distance, I'm sure she wasn't sure what to say

I couldn't bring myself to go any further.

"I'm sorry"

*Ruffle*

The music started playing again, while a peculiar sound from the bushes catch our attentions.

"Tsk, I'm too late!"

A wild boar has charged towards me. Aldis was a bit too far behind to react in time.

"Run!"

I brace for impact

A skeleton appeared once again. Deflecting the blow.

"Again? Wait? There's something familiar about that..."

Facing the animal it awaits the next charge. Swiftly cutting off its head, again disappearing into the night.

Father?!

"Wait? Is this thing protecticing you?!"

"I..I dont know"

It was..It was then I learned, the terrifying power of music.