nanowrimo chapter 3!

FINALLY XD

“I forgot to tell you, I sent someone out to interrogate the blonde. She didn’t give us anything useful.”

“Sir, didn’t she say that bit about our subject living in the past?”

“Eh… I guess… We all know that. Even her classmates do.”

“And didn’t she think about comparing her own mother to our subject?, sir?”

“Excellent job. You tapped into her thoughts. Maybe you’ll amount to something someday.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You want to be really useful? Try and interrupt our subject while she’s practicing.”

After an online conversation with runnergirl69, or Evangeline, Kathica sealed herself in her soundproof section of her family compartment. A small black case rested against a bland white wall, providing striking contrast. She picked it up, along with the small paperback book that rested behind it.

Kathica undid the case’s metal padlocks and took out what looked like an intricately carved piece of wood with strings running through it. A violin, as it was referred to in the book she’d found about how to play it. Before she’d done her soundproofing project, she found the violin and book resting in a corner of her room, and was intrigued by them. Luckily, her parents were out, so they didn’t notice the soft screeching noise she made, but she didn’t want anyone else to hear it. Least of all an Authority.

Those screeching noises had, over time, been replaced with something different, something beautiful. The sounds leaped and swerved around the room, flowing gracefully from one note to the next. Kathica’s tanned fingers were a blur, dancing on those thin strings. She controlled the bow and listened as the melody slid from one note to the next. Making these sounds came naturally to her. This was all she was good for, other than knocking out older kids and making good grades in math.

Music, the book called it. Kathica liked the sound of the word. It just felt… nice, comforting. Like she did when she played it. The piece she was working on had mostly high notes, so she took it down an octave. She loved the rich, deep sounds of the lower part of the violin’s range, and preferred them over the tinny higher reaches.

Kathica kept playing and playing and wishing more than ever that she could time-travel back to the past, where her passion wouldn’t be considered a frivolity. She could imagine it: a music-player weaving melodies from air, and other people gathered around, sitting still and listening and loving it. If everyone just took time off from their fighting and seriousness and did something “frivolous” every now and then, she thought, this war-torn world would be a better place. Of course, no one listened to insignificant children like her. For now, these fantasies would have to remain in her head.

Her computer beeped again, but it wasn’t because of runnergirl69 this time. Kathica had received a message, but it was from Address Unknown. She ended her piece with a long fluttering trill, then set her violin and bow down and looked at the screen.

“Report to your compartment’s door at once,” the message said. Knowing better than to trust complete strangers, Kathica ignored the message and kept sawing away at her violin. She was on top of the world. Nothing could stop her now, except maybe being taken away by the Authorities.

Another message arrived for her. “Kathica Finley Perlman, I mean it. Go outside. Now. Your future awaits you.” Finley. That awful word. No one, not even Evangeline, knew her middle name. She hated it so much that she begged her parents not to tell anyone about it. Surprisingly, they agreed.

She packed up her violin and book, setting them in the closet where her clean Uniforms were, and walked out her compartment’s front door. Her parents weren’t home that day, as they were always building some new contraption for the soldiers. Kathica didn’t mind being so distant from her parents, as she was quite independent.

The husky, broad-shouldered silhouette of an Authority blocked her door. Great. They had discovered her “frivolous” hobby. This was the end of her normal, peaceful existence. Her days were most certainly numbered.

“Kathica Perlman. At last, we have proof that your so-called passion is the highest frivolity that exists. You probably know what’s coming next, don’t you?” She did. She knew too well. She was being sent to military training camp, and then on a suicide mission. Even though she could knock out DeSilva and Anderson with one sweep of her fist, she couldn’t intentionally hurt anyone.

“Yeah. Basically, I’m gonna die.” Kathica said those words with bored indifference. “But I have one last wish: to take my violin and book with me. And I want to be able to practice whenever I have time. Oh, and can I message my best friend real quick? In private?” To her surprise, the Authority agreed.

Kathica logged on to her computer and sent Evangeline a farewell message. “I’m leaving today. I don’t know why, but the Authorities are sending me off to training camp. If anyone at school asks about me, say that my parents got relocated. I know you hate lying, Evangeline, but do it just this once. For me.” She knew that she was lying too, but she didn’t mind. Kathica was the best liar she’d met. Still, she cried, beside herself with tears. She’d never cried before.

Evangeline’s reply was quick: “im so sorry kat! :( good luck staying alive!” The message seemed light and insincere, but Kathica knew it wasn’t. She could feel her friend’s panic, could imagine Evangeline’s sorrow at her only companion being gone. Evangeline just wasn’t very good at putting her thoughts into words.

Kathica packed up her computer and a clean Uniform. “You won’t be needing those clothes,” the Authority said. “Training camp has it’s own Uniform. You’ll probably like it better than this one.” She wasn’t so sure about that. If it was a Uniform, it was bound to be awful.

In a failed attempt to cheer herself up, she imagined training camp as a place with green polka-dotted walls and absurdly high ceilings and lots of music and frivolities. It wasn’t actually that funny. In a situation as dire as hers, nothing was funny.