Jessica walked through the glass doorway. The entryway floor was made of white and grey tiles, and carpeted hallways led in both directions, left and right. On the far wall was a huge trophy case. Jessica walked up to the trophy case and peered inside.

Her wide blue eyes looked over silver and gold trophies and plaques on four shelves that seemed to cover the whole wall. Proudly arranged on the shelves were award after award. Jessica moved sideways along the glass case as she read each trophy’s engraved plaque: First Place Band, Founder’s Day Sweepstakes Award, Best Showmanship, Battle of the Bands Open Division State Champion, Conservatory Trustees Award, Holiday Band Championship, Grand Marshal’s Award, Pageantry and Musicianship Award, Best Show Band, Host Honor Musicians National Merit Scholarship. Some of the trophies looked like they were three and four feet tall!

Placed in the center of the display was a huge wooden gold-engraved plaque with green trim with the face of a proud looking lion in the center. It read “Tree Shores High School Marching Band and Drill Team” across the top. Underneath the logo were the words “Scholarship, Musicianship, Excellence.”

“Sugoi. . .” Jessica exhaled in awe. Some of the awards had a picture of that year’s band. Every picture seemed to have at least three dozen gold sousaphone bells towering over the back row of formations of what looked like hundreds of musicians.

There’s more people in those bands than in my whole junior high school! Jessica thought. I hope I’m good enough to play in the band here. She looked down each of the halls, but didn’t see any people.

I must be really late by now, Jessica thought. Seeing no other signs with directions to the band room, Jessica decided to try the hallway to her right. She walked past several classrooms, but they all had numbers above 100. She reached the end of the hallway and turned to the left, beginning to hurry as she looked for room 74.

As she neared the end of the hallway, she saw that one of the doors was open! Maybe someone was here!

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ou are in danger if you stay here.”

Jessica Hoshi awoke from a dreamless sleep to the muffled sounds of people shouting and a dull distant pounding and thumping. She blinked and looked up at the arched shadowy ceiling of an unfamiliar place. The dull gray stone floor was covered in a heavy dust and the air was chalky and stale. Jessica noticed she was wearing her jeans, favorite shirt and jacket from yesterday’s trip to the Tall Ship Tour at the Lakeshore Promenade.

Another girl stood only a few yards away. She wore a mask and cowl that covered her head except for her eyes. The silvery hilt of a vicious-looking sword was visible over her right shoulder and her cape reached nearly to the floor. Behind her was an enormous wooden door with brightly burning sconces on either side. The flames made a thick sound as they slowly flickered in the cool murky gloom. Other sounds could be heard from behind the door. They were faint, but to Jessica they sounded like trapped people trying to get out.

“Who are you?”

“This will serve no good purpose,” the shrouded girl said. Jessica heard a rustling sound from above. She glanced up and caught a quicksilver gleam from the black eyes of a large falcon watching them both.

Jessica moved closer to the door, anxious to hear exactly what the sound was. She wasn’t certain, but the faint sound of shrieking was almost clearly audible.

“That’s far enough.” The masked girl’s voice was sharp with authority and a slight tone of hostility. Her cape and armor were jet black, and deep purple gemstones gleamed from the edges of her sword’s hilt. She glared at Jessica.

“What’s the matter? Why are they crying!? What’s happening to them!?” Jessica said, now sure she could hear the sounds of people trying to escape from the other side of the heavy wooden door.

“It is too dangerous for you to remain here. You must leave.”

“I have to help them! They’re scared! Can’t you hear?!”

“You can’t help them.”

“But I can’t listen to them scream like that and not do something! How can you be so cruel?” Jessica’s voice took on an accusatory tone. The girl did not answer. “What are you doing here if you aren’t going to help those poor people!”

“Protecting you.”

Jessica lunged for the door handle, but the shrouded girl caught her by the arm and shoulder and shoved her back.

“This doorway leads to your death,” the girl said. Her eyes were as dire as her warning.

The sound from the other side was nearly deafening.

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