Cedric Baburry's Story

Emma tapped her bare feet on the mattress as she stared at the wall. She'd been in this place for only two days and it was already on her nerves. For example, the weird nurse dressed in pink was still sitting in the corner just watching. The woman had what Emma could only describe as "Dead eyes"; soulless blue corneas that wouldn't leave Emma no matter where she moved in the room. She was one of the many people Emma saw here at Coldwater. The nurse, Nurse Shadewyn, had been following her since she arrived and laughed whenever she snapped at someone for calling her Emmaline. It was Emma, plain and simple. No one could ever tell her different.

"Miss Harper, it's time for your common hour" The other nurse from the outside called from the now open door. She was a pudgy woman that asked to be called Mrs. Angie. She was one of those people you couldn't stand as soon as she opened her mouth. All that came from it was her perky do-gooder attitude and orders for more medication.

"I don't want to" Emma said, turning her attention to a spider on the wall. She wondered if she could suddenly change into a spider and eat Mrs. Angie.

"You haven't even met the other patients, Emma. How could you know what you want" Mrs. Angie insisted in her no-nonsense tone.

There was no question about it, today would be the day Emma left her room.

"Seriously guys, I can walk myself. It's not like I could get lost or anything..." Kallin groaned as she was led into the common room. She'd been here a for well over six months and still, no one at the damn rehabilitation center trusted her. Without a word, she was practically shoved into the common room and abandoned there. Seeing as she was one of the first people there, Kal sighed to herself and headed towards the piano. She could feel them watching, and she knew they were just waiting for her to mess up. With a frustrated sigh, Kal began her morning routine. Sitting down, she allowed her fingers to gently float over the ivories before she began to play. It was a slow, melodious noise that flitted throughout the common room. Without a word, one of the doctors leaned against the piano with his clipboard.

"You know Ms. Wright, they say that music mirrors the soul." He pointed at her with his pen and a malicious grin. In response, Kal did an upbeat show tune type of song. She smirked at the doctor before lifting one hand up and flicking him off before returning to her playing. "How... charming."

"Sorry Dr. Dumbshit, I impress the ladies." Kal beamed with a cocky smirk. The doctor hastily wrote on his clipboard, face red with anger.

"It's Dr. Dumsheer." He hissed, putting his pen away into his breast pocket. "You're going to have a new patient today. Be nice."

"Is he an asshole? I don't play well with assholes." Kallin did a little flourish on the piano before charging into another overly chipper song.

"I don't think this place could handle another asshole." Dr. Dumsheer muttered, glaring smugly at the teen. Kal rolled her eyes. "Don't forget group therapy today." He almost sang that out, knowing how much the girl despised group therapy sessions. With that he left Kallin in the common room, and she immediately went back to her previous slow, methodical tune.

Emma really didn't like the shoes Miss Angie insisted she wear. They were white and made from soft canvas. She also had to get dressed, pulling on her favorite pair of jeans and the pink hoodie her nurse at the hospital had given her. It wasn't much, but it made her feel a little better as she was lead down the dull white hallway. Someone had told her that the center was old, like ancient old. Apparently people used to think all-white rooms were comforting. Emma thought they were terrifying; sterile and cold.

"This is the commons room Miss Harper. You will spend an hour here every day. If you behave and go through your treatment you'll get more time." Miss Angie ushered her inside the doors, smiling. "Play nice"

Emma hovered near the doors as the nurse shut them. She was the only one in the wide, airless room save for a girl at the piano. She was playing, hardly paying attention as Emma slowly crept across the room, sitting in a small, leather chair nearby. She loved the sound of pianos and had even played one before her father brought home the witch. After that it was quiet hours 24/7; no time for a piano loving girl.

"Any requests, love?" Kallin smirked, glancing over her shoulder at the girl. When Kal had heard the leather of the chair, and it caught her attention. She must be new. With a wink, Kallin struck the piano with another melody and turned her attention to the ivories. "Kallin Wright, but call me Kal or KJ. If you wanted a real show, I'd pull out my guitar and sweep you off your feet, but sadly, they don't let me play that often. Something about it being a weapon." Kallin shrugged nonchalantly. Her fingers danced across the keys, finding a rhythm that was familiar to Kallin. It was a song she'd written for her guitar, but had adapted it to piano since that's all she really had. The player was glad that there was someone else there now though, someone to entertain.

Kallin recognized the girl's shoes, remembering her first week. Now though, she had more freedom if that's what you called it. The black tank top that showed off her abs and faded jeans that Kal wore weren't her best attire, but it was comfortable. Luckily, she was now allowed to wear her desired clothes and even her boots. But that was only if her behavior was acceptable. Freedom here was a joke, and Kal knew that the game was rigged. As irritating as it was.

Emma ignored the girl's voice, focusing instead on the fingers on the keys. Her nurse said that she'd see things that weren't there. Emma didn't believe that though. She knew if things were real or not, and this girl was as real as the nurse in the corner. She turned her eyes upward toward her face, catching the girl's eyes. She'd called herself Kallin but mentioned Kal and KJ. Emma didn't understand why she didn't want to be called Kallin. It was a pretty name. Fitting for the pretty girl in front of her.

"Emmaline.....Emma" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Emma Harper" She titled her head to the side, looking up at Kallin. "You play well."

She wondered how long Kallin had been in the center. Her father told her that some people had been there since they were babies. and that some of them never left because they never got better. He wanted Emma to get better, but she wanted her to stay in there permanently. "Why are you here?" Emma asked, a little bolder than before. She tapped her fingers on her knees as she followed the keys again. The song wasn't familiar, but it was simpler than most, and seemed like it would be easy to pick up.

"Well Emma Harper, I'm here because I am a danger to society. If I were to escape, the entire would would go to hell." Kal grinned, chuckling a bit with a sarcastic tone. "At least that's what people tell me." Kallin breathed deeply as the music filled her with a calm, her fingers sliding carefully over each of the ivories. But abruptly, she stopped and spun around on the bench. Smirking, she stood up and held her hand out to Emma. "But let's talk about something important, love. I know I'm pretty good, but how about you play me something? Only fair, right?" Kal grinned, quirking an eyebrow. Kallin couldn't identify exactly what it was that was stirring inside her... maybe protectiveness? Kallin's brow furrowed for a moment before she shrugged it off. Since she couldn't decode her emotions well, it was easier just to brush them aside and go with the flow. "That is, unless I'm too intimidating." The last part was a joke, and Kal wiggled her eyebrows to emphasize that.