Chapter 26: Coincidence

“Ouch. Ouch. Ouch,” Sally groaned with a whine, “Don’t touch me, Goth-zilla!”

Sally slapped David’s hand off her ankle and stuck her tongue out in front of him. She stroked her leg again and continued moaning and groaning. Tiadora came down and tried to get close to heal Sally but she shoved Tiadora off her feet and allowed the paramedics through instead. They lifted her up in a stretcher and left the auditorium in no time.

It was that particular scene. The scene when Snow White was running away from the wicked witch in the mountains. Sally had accidentally tripped when she had reached at the edge of the Paper Mountains and had fallen to the ground hard on her head. Her ankle was sprained, her forehead had a deep cut and her elbow had punched into her tummy during the fall. It was so chaotic. Sally wasn’t able to walk on her two feet so David had to carry her backstage. Though the play was still running outside at the center stage, there was still the very last scene.

“Quickly, students!” Ms. Serena commanded as she came in grandly but hurriedly in a depressing manner, “The play cannot end without the last scene, so I need someone to take over Sally’s place. Tiadora will you please be a dear and help me out. You’re the one who has a similar face to Sally’s. I need you to fill her in.”

“But… but what must I do?”

“All you have to do is lie down in that coffin, wait till David gives Snow White the kiss, wake up and twirl around the stage with David. C’mon now.”

“Kiss?!”

“Hurry. Waste no precious time and move it. The next scene will begin soon,” Ms. Serena pulled Tiadora to one of the other students, “Martha, bring Tiadora to the coffin. Sprinkle some petals over her as well. Go. Go.”

The girl named Martha did what she was told and pulled Tiadora to the crops room and signaled Tiadora to enter inside as she pulls her out into the stage. Tiadora closed her eyes like how she had seen Sally do it and stayed down. She could feel cold sweat running down from her forehead. Scared and nervous of what she had to do in Sally’s place, Tiadora heard the narrator continuing on telling the tale of the tragic Snow White’s death. Then came a moment when she heard footsteps came closer to wherever she was.

Creak...The sound came from the coffin, Tiadora realized. She decided to take a little peak as she opened her right eye to see David already crouching down almost near her face. David could see that Tiadora felt extremely scared with the situation and tried to figure out a way to prevent this in the very few seconds that he had. He saw gave that please-look in her eyes and then in that spilt moment, the light bulb in his head lighted.

Slowly and steadily, Jason watched intensely as David lowered his head down to Tiadora’s. Somehow Jason noticed that that indeed wasn’t Sally anymore. He knew that the fall in the second-last scene was in fact not part of the play. Jason shakes Kiara, patting vigorously onto her knee, “That’s Tiadora, right?”

“Yeah. So?” Kiara said sarcastically, but deep down Jason could sense the hint of jealousy as well.

“Well, isn’t that your David.”

“I don’t own him, Jason. He can choose whatever he wants.”

And the inevitable happen. Since Jason had gotten himself the good seat, he could see it clear. David closed is green eyes and rested his lips onto Tiadora’s. The whole audience was silent at first. But cheers broke out like a roar as Tiadora finally opened her eyes and was swept away, dancing on stage. Her face looks happy, Jason realized the happy expression. The claps grew louder as all of the characters who played came out on stage and bowed down towards the crowd. Ms. Serena herself was very pleased that she kept on bowing and bowing over and over again. Jason smiled as well and clapped together with the ecstatic audience, as the play was a job well done indeed.

★

"My name is Vitani, a level four flower. I stumbled upon the foot of a civillian who cast a time spell here. I haven't been chosen yet though," Vitani, the flower, began to speak after a long persuasion by Tiadora. There were all at the top of the clock tower. David had suggested so as he felt that Jason's room, which was the previous headquarters, was too noticeable and audible from outside. Tiadora had earlier informed them that the flower was able to see through the Glamra disguise. So to do more investigation and questioning, they brought her to the silent clock tower.

The clock tower, once more, was at the back of the girls' dormitory. Many girls tend to hover around in their rooms after school usually on Mondays, so it was a rather difficult task to get into the clock tower without being seen, especially when Jason was the one making a lot of noise. "But... But, how did he manage to put it without showing it to the audience?" Cornelia recalled Jason's often-asked question when they were on their way there.

"He just did," Tiadora protested to him for the thirteenth time, "David was able to tape my mouth with scotch tape before he kissed me. So basically, with the scotch tape, I wouldn't consider that as kissing Jason, so calm down."

"But... But..." Jason tried giving more questions but h e soon kept quiet when he heard a high pitch voice from afar. The sudden chill in his spine shiver into his nerves as Jason knew the danger that was lurking. So, instead of asking Tiadora questions, he hid behind her and pleaded, "Call me when this is over please."

Tiadora didn't understand a word he had said, but a few moments later Sally caught up with them, along with her sidekick, Shaniqua. She had worn a tight cardigan and with a black mini skirt to match, while Shaniqua was in jeans and a branded blouse as she kept staring at David. Sally, however, kept on glancing around the gang but kept a distance from David. Everyone just stood still and looked at Sally like as if she was nuts, sniffing around them like an animal. Kiara got irritated and scoffed in front of her face, "How's your head, tummy and ankle, Sally?"

"It’s healing, alright. The doctor was kind enough to discharge me this afternoon. Too bad I missed the last scene of the Snow White play. It was really agonizing at that time. By the way, love that new perfume you're wearing. What brand?" Sally looked like she was really interested in the perfume.

"Versade, Escada. An outstanding sensation. Too bad, it's not in the market yet or in your kind of budget for that matter," Kiara did a comeback that Tiadora thought was a little bit too harsh.

"Oh it will be, very soon, Kiara. Don't get your hopes too low," Sally smiled and brushed her long pink hair with her right hand, "So, if I wasn't mistaken, my darling was just over here just now. Where's he now?"

"A darling?" Tiadora was surprised that Sally had a lover at a young age, "Who is your darling, Sally?"

"Why," Sally raised her eyebrows, eyed Shaniqua and gave a cunning smile, "since you're like my twin sister, no offence, Kiara, but Tiadora looks a lot like me than she is to you, my darl, is Jason. And I think I smell his cologne. Jay Jay!!" Sally finally looked behind Tiadora and found Jason squatting down, giving her the please-don't-hurt-me look. Jason gave a little wave when Sally looked over Tiadora's shoulders as he got up from his squatting position and walked in front of Tiadora. "Oh, Jason!" Sally cheered as she put her arms around his neck, "I miss you so much! How about we go out today?"
Jason pulled her arms gently from his neck, and put on his oh-so-charming smile, "Sorry, babe, I've got to go. See you around." And Jason pushed everyone into a dark corner till all were out of sight, leaving Sally with a frown on her face. The clock tower was, as usual, empty. The dust was still collecting the pit, uninviting prying students such as themselves, but in any case, it was just what they needed.

"So, Vitani," Tiadora started out with the business after they’ve settled comfortably behind the huge translucent analog clock, "Don't treat this as a wish. Treat this as a request from me, as a princess. I would like to know if there are any of Xana’s accomplices disguising themselves as students in the school."

Vitani closed her eyes and tilted her head in deep thought. Everyone knew that she was trying to look through the school grounds to find for them, the villains. “Yes,” Vitani suddenly said after ten seconds with her eyes still closed, “There are eight of them here who have been using Glamra, to escape the eyes of the guardians.”

“Who are they?” Tiadora asked, slightly stunned by the numbers who were already under one roof with the other students.

“I need to see them directly into their eyes, to see through the Glamra,” Vitani explained, with eyes still closed in concentration.

“Could you at least tell us what they are doing now?” Kiara suggested willingly, “So that we can know what kind of people that they are impersonating.”

Vitani nodded and replied after a few moments of deep silence, “What I am going to say, are the things that these mages are doing right now. There is one who is currently surrounded by many files and papers. That person is now flipping through a red file which is labeled; Poetry. Another one of them is walking along the corridor of a dormitory, holding onto a brown clipboard.

“Another one is laughing with the many students who surround that person. He or she must have been in a restaurant as there are people eating in the background. The fourth one is doodling onto a piece of paper, an essay on Alexander Graham Bell. The fifth one is playing loud music in his or her room. The sixth one is eating a hamburger. The seventh, is sound asleep. The last one is on a square electronically device,” Vitani opened her pupil less white eyes and stared at Tiadora for a response.

“I guess that’s all I can fish out from you, right?” Tiadora sighed.

“By the Demeric rule number two hundred and seventy five, yes, that is all,” Vitani put head down as a note of apology.

“Alright then,” Tiadora stretched her legs and hugged her knees instead, “Since we can’t teleport back till Veex is over, where is a safe place that no one can find you?”

“There is one place that still has the Fudox barrier. It spreads over six miles in radius. No one can harm me there but the barrier is rather weak though,” Vitani smiled.

“We could send you there till time is done,” Tiadora assured.

“Wait. Wait. What’s a Fudox barrier?” Cornelia halted the conversation that none of the other guardians could understand.

“Fudox is a barrier that is normally used for shielding important places, such as the castle, during my time. This barrier rejects all strangers unless they are generally invited in by its keepers, which are the ones who live in the barrier. Although we are unsure of whose original owner was, we will be able to pass through the barrier without sweat, as the elements bond is tight,” Tiadora elaborated.

“What do you mean by the elements being tight with the barrier?”

“It means that the barrier which recognizes the power of the guardians, obey it like as if we are the masters. This is because the Fudox barrier originates from the combine elements of both Earth and Air. Earth for the barriers bodies senses and Air for the aura of its owners, keepers and strangers,” Tiadora recalled the spell, “This is what I call imagination. It was a good thing Sir Galahad and Sir Thomas came up with this ever-lasting barrier. However, since the power that both David and Cornelia hold, are at its lowest, the power of the barrier will slowly fade. And so, with Xana’s accomplices lurking around the school grounds like this, I can’t afford to let Vitani land in the wrong hands. Do you all mind, if we take here there tonight?”

“Where is the place?” Jason folded his arms.

“The place that holds the Fudox barrier is…” Vitani shut her eyes again, “at a place where there is nothing but sand.”

“A dessert?” David thought aloud, “There is more than one dessert in the world, you know.”

“I will guide you to the destination,” Vitani placed her hand on her heart and smiled, “David, I would like to have a private word with you. Alone. Before I head off to the Fudox barrier.”

“Sure,” David agreed reluctantly as Vitani ushered him to the end of the ledge, which was right opposite everyone’s direction, the ledge where Tiadora and David had sat on that day, outside of the tower.
“What do you think the flower girl wants to talk about to David?” Kiara whispered.

“Maybe Vitani wants to confess her love,” Jason teased and laughed but by himself. When he realized that no one was laughing with him, he quickly kept quiet, “Hey, it was a joke!”

“A lame one, to be precise,” Cornelia added, “So tonight we lift off at what time?”

“After dinner,” Tiadora confirmed, “We take flight after dinner.”

♥

A soft hum was heard along the corridors of the boys’ dormitory to the cafeteria. Jason thought that the tune was brilliant and magnificent if the humming tune was played with instruments instead. He was supposed to go to the cafeteria for dinner, but the music was so hypnotizing that Jason decided to follow the sounds and find out who the mastermind was. Alone, he was, after the meeting at the clock tower. Jason was very puzzled though, that the villains hiding in the school weren’t doing stuff that a villain was supposed to do. Instead the flower had seen them acting like total 21st Century teenagers. They weren’t even spying on us at all, Jason thought as he continues to follow the sound of the tune.

Slowly, the music got louder and nearer. Jason quickens his pace by running. He made numerous turns that Jason realised, was into the small forest that the academy grew. There, behind the library, was a girl humming the very tune that Jason was looking for. The girl continued her song and didn't notice that Jason was a few paces behind her. Jason thought that it would have been rude to interrupt the melody that the girl was playing, so he just stood there and enjoyed the rest of the remaining tune. When the singing stopped, Jason thought that it would be courteous to thank her for the pleasant time, "Beautiful. Nothing like I've ever heard."

The confused teenager turned her head to face him. At first, she didn't seem to want to speak to Jason at all, but she was glad that someone had appreciated what she was singing. "Why, thank you," the girl smiled and walked closer to Jason, "You must be Jason, right? My name's Melody."

"Melody? No wonder you sound so good. Your name already says it all," Jason smiled back at the surprisingly beautiful girl, "You the new student, right?"

"One of five actually."

Jason chuckled, "So was that copyrighted or original stuff?"

"Original. I composed it especially on my Rolls Royce violin."

"Violin? Hey I do violin. I mean I play violin too, unlike my sister who plays piano all the time. Wow, coincidently mine is a Rolls Royce too," Jason admitted and noticed that she was carrying an encyclopedia-sized covered container, "What's that? A bomb?"

"No, it isn’t," Melody giggled at Jason's joke, "It's my dinner. My parents are very sensitive when it comes to outdoor food, so they send someone to pass me my three meals."

"Really? But how do your parents know if the person who is sending to you the package, poisons your food?" Jason raised an eyebrow, but both ended up laughing at one another, "Hey, I'm serious."

"I'm sorry," Melody stopped laughing, "I must be holding you back from your dinner. Very nice to meet you."

Melody turned her back on Jason and walked into the trees. Jason was stunned. He had suddenly lost his appetite for dinner already. Instead, Jason felt a strange feeling pounding. Something inside of him, is telling him to stay, but some part of him felt like he should be going for dinner with Tiadora and the others. Before Jason could answer himself, he heard Melody called from afar, "Hey, do you want some? That is, if you're done talking to yourself."

Jason looked up, and saw that Melody was holding up her opened container at him. With open arms, Jason walked towards Melody and sat beside her under a tree, so deep into the small forest that no one from outside could see. Melody offered him the fantastically roasted chicken and both dipped into the cheesy bowl with nachos as the last course. They talked and talked. Jason felt so relaxed and calmed, that he even lay down on the grass and put his two hands behind his head, "Awesome nachos, Melody. Oh yeah. There's something that has been bugging me. You're french, right? Why don't you have an accent?"

"My parents actually came from USA. They came from well-to-be family, so when they had me before they even got married, their parents tried tearing them apart and took away their blessings for marriage," Melody started her 'French' story, she herself didn't feel uncomfortable telling, "So they escape to France, alone and without a single dime in their pockets. My father, fortunately, was excellent in business. A tycoon took him into his company as a part-time helper, but my father grew strong and became a businessman himself after one year. My mother, on the other hand, worked at an advertising agency, when I was in her tummy. So, they raised me up in France. Though they were still keen to save money when I was young, my parents made me home-school. My teachers were my two lovable parents. They're just so amazing and their life-story is just so inspiring. So with the lack of social 'french' friends there, I have no accent."

"And your parents finally let you go to a proper school?"

"Finally," Melody sighed at the relief of her history, "Actually, I started schooling when I turned ten. Then we moved here about three weeks ago. So, yeah."

Melody closed her container and wrapped it in the purple cloth that she had received it in. Unknowing to Jason, Melody got up from her seat, neaten her skirt and looked at the young dark night. "Exquisite, isn't it?" Melody complimented the stars that were starting to take form.

"Yeah," Jason agreed, and finally noticed that Melody was standing, "Oh. Where're you going?"

"Back to the dorm," Melody said as she pointed towards the hallway that Jason had used to get through, "I think I should go. See ya."

"Oh. Hey wait," Jason grabbed her by the wrist before she started to take off, "Thank you so much for dinner and maybe someday, we could play the violin together."

"Someday," she accepted and walked off into the hallway, disappearing from sight. Jason brushed his hair, amazed by the moment he just had. He stared into the exquisite sky and stretched out his arms wide, like as if he was hugging the blue night sky. He stayed at that position for seconds till Jason heard a familiar sound ringing in his ear.

Busted!